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Moro

Current
Avg. from 8 rates: 4.6
34 - 36 Exmouth Market
Barbican
London, EC1R 4QE
020 7833 8336
Moro is a Spanish restaurant where Spanish and North African elements merge into a choice of tapas, mezze and an inventive South Mediterranean menu. They can cater for private parties of up to 80 people and provide outside seating on the pavement.

Video Reviews for Moro

Reviews for Moro

  • 2
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    15th June 2008
    too noisy
    Current
    love the food but it's just so noisy that it's impossible to speak or have a conversation. that's what spanish tapas and the like is about--food, sherry and conversation.

    but alas just not possible at moro. shame!
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    10th June 2008
    Exmouth market classic
    Current
    Last time I was in Exmouth Market, New Labour were a new force and Moro's proximity to The Guardian gave it an extra buzz.

    The interior is still sparse and open, with a visible kitchen. The menu (no specials) was varied. I would usually wait for a Chinese meal before going for a pork dish, and I was a little surprised to see Middle White Pork but I enjoyed it with relish. The staff were relaxed and friendly despite our late sitting - that is, late for Britain.

    I looked longingly at the chocloate tart but had no room.

    Always a plus point when the house red is a fully flavoured wine - no real need to work the list.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    21st May 2008
    Fabulous place
    Current
    One of my favourites.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    3rd March 2008
    Morish
    Current
    A really great restaurant.

    Hats off to Sam and Sam.

    Serious research , great ingredients and fantastic food beautifully executed covering recipes from southern Spain to Syria via North Africa.

    Moro is an institution.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    13th December 2007
    Superb
    Current
    Probably the best restaurant I've eaten at for food, service, wine, atmosphere and value for money. It's a bit cramped, but that's part of its canteen style. All the staff seem to thrive on hard graft and there seems to be a real passion for the place and its food/wine/sherry. All courses were brilliant, which is so refreshing as so many restaurants get starters and desserts right and fall down on the mains. We dined on Saturday evening. A group of 4. Aperitifs, wine, 3 courses £45pp. Absolute bargain. Book well in advance. It's worth the wait.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    31st July 2007
    Current
    Perfect tapas, with great wines to accompany.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    27th April 2007
    Orgasmic
    Current
    Dopamine is a phenethylamine naturally produced by the human body. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five types of dopamine receptor - D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, and their variants. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, including the substantia nigra. Dopamine is commonly associated with the pleasure system of the brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person proactively to perform certain activities. Dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and striatum) by naturally rewarding experiences such as food, sex,[4][5] use of certain drugs and neutral stimuli that become associated with them.

    This is what Wikipedia has to say about Dopamine. For the simple folk, dopamine is what starts flowing in your brain when you do pleasurable stuff like sex, drugs (for some) or food in our particular case.
    I had a major Dopamine secretion the first time I went to Moro. The culprit was an unbelievable starter of roasted artichoke heart, with pine nut and pomegranate salad that brought me close to the Meg Ryan scene from that film a greek, hairy, male version of Meg Ryan, but still having an orgasmic moment. In my case it was real. I am not exaggerating (ok, maybe a little bit), but it was that good. The artichoke melted sweetly in the mouth, while the pomegranate added its special zing. This was followed by a perfectly cooked sea brim and the whole thing was topped off by a pear and chocolate tart that again brought me closer to my female side and Meg Ryan.
    Moro is a unique combination of Spanish influences, local English produce and a passionate team behind the place intent on creating a fantastic culinary experience. It boasts a traditional wood roast oven that makes all the difference. I've eaten there twice and everything I had has been superb. The roasted pork belly, the fillet of lamb (stolen bite from Walid's plate) and even the freshly made bread really make mewant to back. I would go back every day, but the pricing is little bit high. Don't get me wrong. It's totally deserved, but my wallet can't take 30 meals every day that's the average cost per person that you'd expect to pay.
    Do try Moro and while in the area pop in to Caf Kick opposite to work off those calories via some table football.
  • 5
    Moro
    34 - 36 Exmouth Market London EC1R 4QE uk
    21st March 2007
    Probably the best restaurant in Exmouth Market!
    Current
    When we set up TrustedPlaces office next to Exmouth Market, Sokratis and I went out on a scouting mission to explore our new neighborhood. During this exploration we came across the wonderful restaurant of Moro in the middle of Exmouth Market. The name "Moro" peaked my curiosity as it is the Spanish term for "Moors". According to Wikipedia Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula including present day Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal) as well as the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often called Moorish.

    Anyway we went to Moro yesterday and today for two business meetings and at both occasions came out delighted. Now the food that is served at Moro isn't strickly Spanish nor Middle Eastern, but more a kind of continental fusion with a Spanish or Middle Eastern influence. In any case the food there is incredible. It is professionally prepared, well laid out and perfectly cooked. The first time I was there I had the pleasure of tasting the charcoal grilled lamb with chickpea and cucumber salad and beetroot borani (17.50), you can see the picture of the lamb. Today I had the chicken cooked in Pedro Ximenez with pine nuts and sprouting broccoli (17.50). To be frank I can't tell which one of those two meals I preferred the most. With the chicken we had a great bottle of Spanish red called: Martin Berdugo Joven (Tinta del Pais) '05 for 16.50.... and it's worth every single penny and drop ;-)

    For deserts you have a small choice to pick from but I would strongly recommend the chocolate and apricot tart that is simply supreme. You really have to try it!

    The interior of Moro reminds me some of my favorite Parisian restaurants back home in terms of their simplicity. What is original about Moro is that the kitchen is pretty much wide open and you watch the chefs working diligently on their little masterpieces. What I did find kind of odd is that in spite of being right next to the kitchen you couldn't smell the food being cooked too much so they must really have a good ventilation system in there.

    Obviously we're not just the ones who know about how good Moro is as this place always fills up at lunch time during the week, so I dread to imagine how it can be at night. If you're in the area and you'd like just a small snack instead of a full meal you can have some of their tasty tapas by the bar.

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