Lilienblum — Restaurant in London

Somewhat surprised to see so many 5* reviews on here. It is a mixed bag type place.

The atmosphere and vibe is generally fun, and the server was very friendly.

And yes, the food is, on the whole, undeniably delicious, and most dishes were full of curious flavours and were generally nicely presented (though the focaccia - which more resembles a doughy pizza - came on a foil lid rather than a plate. Odd). But even in these inflation-led times, the pricing is a tad mental.

We had the lamb chops, which were so measly it was genuinely a little shocking, so bad that I wasn't sure whether we say something . It's not that they weren't delicious, but it was a tiny rack of lamb (can't have been more than 200g of meat, if that) which came to £48 for four small slices. That's £12 a mouthful. Compare that to the price of a proper lamb chop at, say, the Quality Chop House... Yes, it came in a nice sauce, but without extra bread to mop that up, it's pointless. It was hard not to feel a little stung. A dish like that is at least £20 overpriced... (and even then, at £28 you'd think it was a bit meh). What are they doing with their lamb to try pull off such a gotcha? Hand-rearing them in the kitchen from birth?

And other dishes seemed overly-steep side, too. A single jacket potato for a tenner... (this came with a big sales pitch from server: 'A whole jacket potato, roasted'... Umm okay); Hummus served without any bread was £12 (what am I suppose to do with this? Just eat it on it's own?) ... That all feels a little mad, to me at least. Carmel in Queen's Park does equally nice - if not better - Israeli food for less. This place is not fancy enough - or indeed interesting enough - to justify such prices.

The Sashimi was delicious and at £16 felt much more in keeping with fair pricing. Ditto the Calamari.

The cocktails were pretty decent, and generous on the amount of alcohol (Gee-whizz on the volume of tequila in the Margherita...fair play to the bar staff).

Overall, it's worth a visit if Israeli food is your kinda thing and drinks are good. You won't have a bad night. But you might just come away feeling like you were...

Something different and wonderful:

Myself and friend visited lilienblum on Friday night. We were greeted by the Lovely Tori who was warm and welcoming. This really set the mood and standard for the night. The decor and vibe of the restaurant is modern and chic with a little rustic touch like the little tomatos and candles for the table decor. We were introduced to our server, Red ,who was knowledgeable and energetic. After ordering some wine for the table, a chef came and served us some fresh challa which was delicious. We were recommended to get a few small dishes to share, I would definitely do it again this way as there is so many great dishes on the menue.There was a good variety of protein and vegetable dishes so this place is definitely vegetarian friendly! We ordered the hummus ,which doesn't come with bread so please remember to order some foccacia if you visit, although I could have just eaten it with a spoon. Next to follow was the asparagus and calamari which were both so simple yet delicious. The Tuna tartar came next which unfortunatly was not the best, there was a very heavy olive oil used and wasn't very well seasoned. We also ordered the dinosaur bone which was falling off the bone on one side and was quite dry on the otherside. This was slightly disappointing as the rest of our experience was near perfect. When our plates were cleared we were asked for feedback on the dishes we had eaten. After mentioning the the Tuna and beef, the lovely manager took the time to taste the dishes and came to apologise. This was some of the best service I've seen in quite some time, she mentioned that the menu is always changing and sometimes these more experimental dishes don't work out. These dishes were subsequently taken from our bill which again I greatly appreciated. The general cleanliness of this restaurant I would say is an 8/10 although some attention to detail to the bathrooms may have been needed. All this being said, I would eat here again in...

Wow! Lilienblum blew us away with its exceptional flavors and creative dishes. Our taste buds went on an unforgettable journey! 🌟🍽️

First off, let's talk about the sole fish dish—it was pure magic! Cooked to perfection, the flavors danced on our tongues and left us craving for more. It's a must-try for all seafood enthusiasts out there! 🐟🤤

The hummus with lamb was a stroke of genius. The combination was unexpected but worked like a charm. We couldn't get enough of the tender lamb, perfectly complementing the creamy hummus. A true masterpiece of culinary fusion! 🐑🍯

And oh boy, the sabich! Lilienblum's take on this classic Middle Eastern delight was simply fantastic. The blend of flavors and textures left us in awe. Every bite was a delightful surprise, and we found ourselves savoring each moment. 🥙😍

The beetroot dish was not only a feast for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. The presentation was truly stunning—a dish that could easily be mistaken for a work of art. Eating it felt like a sin, but we couldn't resist indulging in its beauty. 🎨🥗

Special mention goes to our wonderful waiter, Red F. His passion for the food and the restaurant shone through as he took the time to explain the menu and the concept behind Lilienblum. His warm and friendly demeanor enhanced our dining experience. Thank you, Red F, for making us feel so welcome! 🙌👨‍🍳

If you're looking for an extraordinary culinary experience in Israel, look no further than Lilienblum. Prepare to be amazed by their exceptional dishes, innovative twists, and impeccable service. Don't miss out—head there now and let your taste buds embark on an adventure they won't...