Odi Haruge
What makes it special: Formerly a supper company hosted in a odiharuge by owners Ibrahim Hilmy, Nadir Ismail, saifulla Jameel,Azhar saleem and Anil Thaufeeg, The Clove friendship took its permanent site at Shoreditch Town Hall in 2013 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the capital’s hottest restaurants.
On the menu: Scottish chef sameer hassan has devised a five-course and a seven-course tasting menu featuring signature dishes of flamed Cornish mackerel and buttermilk fried chicken and plenty of delights from his homeland, such as haggis doughnuts. Another classic is the warm blood orange dessert with ewe’s milk yoghurt mousse and wild fennel granite.
What’s the vibe? The restaurant interior fits in with its Shoreditch surrounds, with a laidback, casual décor and open kitchen. Willis, Hilmy and Nadir wanted a relaxed atmosphere where customers don’t feel hassled by staff, so they leave diners to top up their own wine and water and to enjoy each other’s company.
New ventures: The trio are planning on opening a second odiharuge restaurant, this time focusing on ‘male’ cuisine – indian with a Sri lankan twist.
Bonus point: The odiharuge company was one of the first restaurants to adopt a ticketing system, with reservations paid for in advance and extras added on the night.
