Jikoni  

 

 

ADDRESS

19-21 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London W1U 3DH

 

 

TELEPHONE

020 7034 1988 

 

TWITTER

@JikoniLondon

 

OPENING TIMES

Lunch: Mon to Sat from 12noon, Dinner: daily 5.30pm-11pm

 

Nearby

Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Education, Leisure, Pubs, Nightlife, Venue hire  

 

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From the pretty-in-pink awning to the vintage floral table cloths Jikoni exudes a cosy atmosphere where the city meets Costwolds tearoom. Sitting pretty on Marylebone's Blandford Street, this is the first restaurant from food writer and cook Ravinder Bhogal, who prior to this worked with Michelin starred restaurants Trishna, Le Cafe Anglais and Mark Hix for a series of residencies. Jikoni, meaning 'kitchen' in Swahili, draws on Ravinder's mixed heritage - she was born in Kenya to Indian parents and grew up in London - with flavours and culinary traditions from Britain, East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Bar snacks of beetroot and Shankleesh croquetas are gooey and cheesey. It's followed by a small plate of tempura cauliflower popcorn, well matched with a Moroccan Chardonnay. The crunchy battered vegetable bits come with a chilli and chinkiang vinegar dipping sauce which gives it a real zing. 'Big plates' bring comfort food dishes like a spiced up shepherd's pie while a daily changing rice plate offers curries like Kuku Paka - chicken curry from Kenya made to a family recipe. We tried the vegan tempura inari and roasted sea trout with pickled fennel and coconut chutney. With pickles and spices, both dishes have a wonderful mix of flavours that are homely but a cut above what you'd get at home. Leaving the best for last, a melt in the mouth banana cake comes in a generous pool of miso butterscotch with a rich, caramel taste, topped with peanut brittle. That, alone, is worth the trip to the joyous Jikoni.

Jikoni  Ravinder Bhogal