21st March 2007
Probably the best restaurant in Exmouth Market!
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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Love the food pic! ; )