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It’s the holy month of Ramadan. And although Ramadan is about spiritual growth, food does take the spotlight. It’s the absence of food that non-Muslim know it for, and it’s the social gatherings over food many Muslims look forward to when it’s time to break the fast — also known as Iftar.
So this week, we’ve scouted out the very best places to eat at for Iftar during Ramadan, including Meet Bros for halal steak and Cinnamon Kitchen for a proper sharing feast.
And how could we forget? It’s St Patrick’s Day next Monday, but we know that if you’re celebrating, you’ll probably want to have all your fun at the weekend.
We’ve rounded up all the best ways to spend St Patrick’s Day in the capital, from a special edition Guinness Tiramisu to Patty&Bun’s Patty O Bun burger made with Irish Beef patties, blue cheese and stout-infused onions. And what if we told you that you can win a free trip to Ireland? Read on to find out how…
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for March 15 and 16, handpicked as always by The Slice.
Welcome to the Slice
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This week in London
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 11 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.
1. Try £3 tacos at Nine Lives
The Mexican food scene is growing and growing. The UK is finally getting a slice of the pie, with fiery, fresh authentic flavours. And as a lover of Mexican food, it feels like heaven. Being at Nine Lives for just two short hours was enough to call it my heaven too. Inside you’ll find rattan chairs and tropical overhanging plants – you almost forget you’re in south east London.
An equal amount of love put into both their cocktail menu and their food menu means their dishes sing just as much as their drinks do: Nine Lives manages to achieve something a lot of bars fail at. There’s a good chance you’ll leave happy regardless of what you choose, but we’ll help you out: the guacamole, served with homemade totopos, is packed with bursts of fresh lime, tomato and onion. Then there’s the crunchy baja tacos with hot chipotle mayo, and a good helping of pickled cabbage to cut through the spice.
For drinks? Take your pick. Long or short, light or with more of a kick – the menu is huge and they have it all. Each drink is given three adjectives to help you make your all-important decision. The Mezcal Paloma gave me flashbacks to summer, smooth and refreshing with a bitter-in-a-nice-way kick from the grapefruit. I’m sure it won’t be long until I’m back again, next time to try their £3 tacos.
Nine Lives do a £3 tacos and £10 champagne offer every Tuesday from 5-9pm. Does it get any better than that?
Botanos (snacks) from £5. Tacos from £8. 8 Holyrood St, London Bridge, SE1 2EL. Book here.
2. Where to break your fast for Iftar during Ramadan
By Hiyah Zaidi
Villa Mamas
Best for: trying authentic Middle Eastern and Bahraini cuisine
I knew Villa Mamas would be good the moment I walked in – although I may have underestimated how good. As Ramadan begins, the fully halal restaurant – Bahraini but with Iranian and Middle Eastern influences – has laid out an Iftar menu to soothe any hunger pangs. And boy, it’s enough to feed the spirit too.
Indulge with a hearty butternut soup, dubbed immediately by my sister as ‘a cure for all ailments’. Served cold, it had the perfect synergy of tangy and sweet. It’s a light, yet satisfying way to open your fast. It makes for a harmonious pair with the Bahraini Chicken Machbous – they both sing with delicate saffron.
But for all my sins, it’s dessert that’s heaven: melting saffron ice cream sitting on crispy dough balls. A perfect way to end the meal — or at least one day of Ramadan.
Iftar Set Menu, £65 pp. 25 Elystan Street, Chelsea. Book here.
Cinnamon Kitchen
Best for: a sharing feast
Tradition dictates that fasts are open with dates but Chef Vivek Singh adds his own spectacular twist: a succulent charred date filled with refreshing saffron marzipan, paired with a refreshing mango lassi. But the surprises don’t stop there. Cinnamon Kitchen has created a sharing menu for Iftar, so it’s hard not to describe the starters as a parade (complete with child-like excitement as the dishes come out).
A special mention goes to the stir-fried shrimps which were nothing short of magic. The hosts were elegant in their execution, and knew the perfect time to send out the mains, creating an experience that lasted into the night. After a long day of fasting, desserts feel like a well deserved treat, and what better than a comforting scoop of traditional South Asian ice cream, Kulfi? This menu, with chocolate-drizzled Kulfi in tow, will leave you wondering if visiting a restaurant 30 days in a row is a normal thing to do.
Cinnamon Kitchen Iftar Menu, £38pp. 4 Arches Ln, Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms. Book here.
Meet Bros
Best for: trying halal steak
Halal steak seems to be a rare find in London and Meet Bros aims to meet (pun intended) that niche. Catering for the Islamic market, it’s a popular place for any celebration. The unassuming front leads to a rather decadent interior — a gothic castle lit up with string lights and mood lighting.
The restaurant generously serves dates when it’s time to break your fast, although they also play a snippet of the Adhan to mark when it’s time for some Muslims to open their fast. There’s even a prayer room for those who want to pray. It’s no secret that Muslims love meat, and on the first night of Ramadan the restaurant was filled with people – perhaps wanting to try the steak like me. But this means the meals came out very slowly. Though when my food did come, it was a perfectly juicy medium-rare steak, accompanied by creamy Parisian mashed potatoes.
What took me by surprise was the vegetarian mushroom truffle pasta. An almost addictive combination, the pasta won the edge over the steak for a meal that satisfies after a day’s fast. And for dessert? A simple pineapple turnover does the trick.
Ramadan menu. 29-31 Craven Road, Paddington. Book here.
3. Indulge in charcoal grilled octopus with ‘nduja sauce at Terra by Carlo Cracco
Forget all the WFH scaremongering, the Square Mile is still buzzing on a Monday evening – good news for the area’s restaurants. That includes one of its newer additions, Terra by Carlo Cracco, the Milanese Michelin star celeb chef.
Situated on the first floor of Eataly (geddit?), the homage to Italian produce and dining, the two-meter grill dominates. We dine on impeccably fried artichokes, lemon pesto, mint and mullet roe, while chef Cracco converts me to smoked pumpkin. I never liked it before, yet now I’m hoovering it up, savouring the smokiness from plant-based milk flavoured with sage, almond and mushrooms. Charcoal grilled octopus with a textured ‘Nduja sauce is crispy yet tender. Beef cheek braised in pomegranate juice is the perfect side of savoury.
It gets better. On Butcher Monday’s Terra serves premium cuts at butcher’s prices – so get there early to score a juicy steak for around a tenner. Mangiamo!
Pasta from £18, mains from £26. Eataly 1st Floor, 135 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD. Book here.
4. Fink’s needs your help!
Fink’s have opened a new bakery on Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park, but they need your help to transform the ground floor of the space into a full-scale bakery. They’re raising money through their crowdfunder, which will allow them to add locally made, freshly baked bread and viennoiserie to their existing offering of beautiful cakes and more.
Take a look at their merch rewards as part of the crowdfunder here. We can vouch for their cakes, and we imagine their bread will be just as heavenly!
5. Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a one of a kind tiramisu
The limited-edition Guinness Tiramisu for St Patrick’s Day is a real treat. It’s a twist on a classic tiramisu with chocolate Guinness cake, mascarpone and lots of Irish whisky. Pastaio. Available 14-17 March, £9.50.
6. Try the Patty O Bun burger and win a trip to Ireland
The Patty O Bun Burger is landing once again at Patty&Bun for St Patrick’s Day. Look forward to two juicy, Quality Assured Irish Beef patties made with blue cheese, stout-infused onions, and Patty&Bun’s signature bacon mayo, in a fluffy demi-brioche bun. And you could even win a trip to Ireland!
To enter, like and comment on their Instagram post (and share it on your own page for a bonus entry). The competition closes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 31 March 2025.
7. Don’t like Guinness? No problem
Not a fan of Guinness but looking to avoid that ‘St Patrick’s Day pressure’? Introducing the Schneaky Espresso Martini Glass: a clever pint glass that disguises an espresso martini as a classic pint of stout. Punters can get a free espresso martini in the glass – just use the code word ‘Schneaky Espresso Martini’ at the bar. Available at Hoxton neighbourhood pub Howl At The Moon.
8. Watch the final round of the Six Nations
It’s the final round of the Six Nations this Saturday, with three matches taking place – Italy v Ireland, Wales v England and France v Scotland. And you can watch them at Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social (the biggest beer hall in the UK) to see who takes home the trophy. Tickets are likely to sell out quickly. Book soon!
9. Go to the UK’s only watch party for the Australian Grand Prix
Racing fans, you’ll want to hear this. The F1 Arcade is hosting the UK’s only watch party for the Australian Grand Prix. You can catch the race live at the F1 Arcade London from 4-6am (have your coffee, or something stronger at the ready). Expect unlimited racing simulator sessions, Aussie Avo on Toast for brekkie and more. Doors open at 3am. Book here.
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