Berber & Q is a vibrant Middle Eastern BBQ joint beneath railway arches, serving up smoky meats and standout vegetarian dishes, all paired with lively cocktails.
"What to get:This hummus-packed pitta situation. Berber and Q is a restaurant that knows how to do truly inspiring things to a cauliflower. No, we’re not talking your bog-standard cauliflower and cheese, we’re talking cauliflower smothered in shawarma-spiced butter, tahina, pine nuts, and pomegranate seeds. Now you can get their excellent cauliflower offerings as part of their DIY shawarma kit, that also comes with pita bread, spicy zhoug, and their signature hummus. Yes, you’ll have to shove the cauliflower in the oven for twenty minutes before leaving the house and crack out some tupperware, but if you managed to find your partner’s ex with nothing but their first name and the informative nugget that they once played professional netball, you can do this." - heidi lauth beasley
"Berber and Q Shawarma Bar is raising funds to support NHS workers by delivering food to hospitals near their restaurants in Exmouth Market and Haggerston. You can read more about it on their GoFundMe page." - rianne shlebak
"You’re over burgers. Been there, done that, got ketchup down the t-shirt. When you’re looking to change things up, go for the family sharing box from Middle Eastern grill specialists, Berber and Q. There’s lemon and saffron marinated chicken. There’s merguez sausage. There’s shawarma. And yes, there’s several of their house pale ales too. Barbecue, sorted." - heidi lauth beasley
"Josh Katz has created an experience akin to eating in a cavernous, smoky nightclub but the food more than makes up for his antisocial approach to the volume dial in Haggerston. Thrilling from the moment the tray clatters onto the table, piled with fire-flashed chops, colourful salads and sauces that hark back to the best Middle Eastern kebab shops. Be sure to order the whole cauliflower shawarma with tahini, rose and pine nuts." - Helen Graves
"Though meat, and generous hunks of it at that, is the main attraction at this Middle-Eastern BBQ joint, the array of pickles and vegetarian side dishes are a major highlight here—the Moroccan Spiced Carrots and Blackened Eggplant are pretty great, just to name a couple. In fact, we'd build a meal out of side dishes alone here. We'd also recommend sharing plates with a group and coming ready for a night out as the cocktails, each with their own Middle Eastern twist, are lots of fun as is the music that ramps up as the night rolls on."
