Restaurants / Reviews
Souk Kitchen
It was only a matter of time before Souk Kitchen opened a second premises after the resounding success of their first restaurant on North Street opposite the Tobacco Factory.
Their new gaff on Apsley Road off Blackboy Hill in Clifton is now what the sign outside declares as “cafe & supplies”, with branded jars of rose petals, and their own blends of spices including sumac and baharat for sale on shelves in the area down a few steps from the main dining room.
But what has made the original Souk Kitchen so popular remains. This is vibrant food drawing on a myriad of influences from across the Middle East.
My chargrilled lamb adana with sour cherry pilaf, zalouk and seasoned yogurt was so good I was tempted to lick the plate clean.
Over the other side of the table, a rainbow chard, spinach and feta burek was like a Greek spanakopita but with added colours and spices, accompanied by a vibrant and fragrant salad with a lemon dressing bringing out the flavours in a mix of walnuts, tiny cauliflowers, olives and winter leaves.
We sat towards the front of the restaurant in what previous incarnations used to be a small outside area but which is now bricked in and under an awning, no doubt ready to be unfurled in the summer months.
Most recently The Apsley, the most striking aspect of the new Souk Kitchen is two large murals as colourful as many of their dishes featuring pots and pans and assorted other shapes arranged in interlocking circles.
A £10 lunch deal includes a crispy spiced lamb served with a glass of wine, which includes red, white, rose, sparkling and even an orange from Georgia.
It’s a winning start for the new Souk Kitchen – its new Clifton home set to be just as much a success as the Bedminster original.
Souk Kitchen, 59 Apsley Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2SW
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