Reviews of Nutshell. (Restaurant) in London (London).

Nutshell

271 Reviews

172 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

30 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4ER, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Nutshell, Restaurant in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Open hours of Nutshell

Popular times

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Reviews of Nutshell

E. R.

Incredible - the flavours are amazing, delicate and the plates very refined. The lamb is our of this world, but all the other dishes we tried were very flavourful. A true gem with original flavours and associations. The waiters and the setting are also very nice, the only downside is maybe that the value for money of the dishes is unequal (the date tart was £8 for a small piece, but the lamb was c.£23 for a large portion full of flavours and ingredients). Go there, one of the best Middle-Eastern restaurant we tried in London!

D. w. D.

In a Nutshell…… Food quality 9/10, Portion size 5/10, Price 6/10 The service was friendly and the venue design was a little made.com. Being sat downstairs meant we could see the kitchen staff. Some looked a bit bored, albeit occasionally joked between each other. Would be great to see how this could be made more inclusive as I’ve been to places with an open kitchen and they use this space to create a buzzing atmosphere and encourage customers to be sat around and watch the food unfold. We went for the set menu for two people. When the hummus came out, it was the equivalent of 2 tablespoons of their hummus with herbs on top. It was nice and tasty and it set the tone for the portion sizes of what was to come. At £45 per head, the plates were more a taster whereby two scoops of each dish was the quantity standard. The mushroom croquettes were nice, yet small in size. The dessert was yum and plated beautifully. The quality of the ingredients were good overall. Add a £30 bottle of wine and water and the bill came to £140. It felt very steep for what we received on the plate.

P. S.

Nutshell is in a great location. The decor is very nice and they have created a good atmosphere. The service is also very good. The menu is interesting - a lot of the food lacked seasoning or just flavour in general. I actually found some dishes to be quite bland - for instance the hummus. The bread is delicious. The mushroom croquettes were decent. The beetroot dish was tasty. They appear to know how to cook meat very well - the lamb was outstanding (although we both needed to add salt) - however as an overall dish it’s somewhat lacking. Without ordering a side of the chips you would be left hungry. The deserts were good. Cocktails seemed good too. Almost everything is hugely overpriced. We ordered the set menu and were told we would get all the starters (we did not) and, they offer a specific cocktail as part of the set menu however if you don’t want that specific drink they are not able offer a different drink as part of the deal. Overall an interesting place to go once - I won’t be rushing back.

I. Y.

Went for the taster menu and it was tasty. Needed to add sides to main which pushed the price up. Highlights pea hummus and beetroot borani, lamb for main and dessert where all divine. Service was really friendly would highly recommend

D. J. M. L.

Great service, lovely stuff, elegant and relax ambiance. The Nutshell Hummus (vegan)Peas, watercress, lemon tahini, pomegranate, preserved lemon & puffed quinoa is a must as so is the bread. As a main for vegetarians the kofte berenjin is delicious and lovely. The king of the night was the dessert Anjeer Cheesecake! The mocktails were delicious too, specially the xmas one

S. A.

Pauline and Edna were fantastic - they recommended some wonderful dishes and were extremely attentive. The food is very flavourful and presented beautifully! My favourite dish was the hummus as had a lot of different textures.

D.

The restaurant has an upscale modern style, offers a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere, and has seating on two floors. The menu, which can be found online, is compact and offers an array of meticulously curated items. You can order from the set menu, which is £45 per person and includes a specific cocktail, appetizer, main dish, and dessert; or you can order a la carte (which is what I did). My meal looked like a work of art and tasted like one too! The flavour of the duck with the grapes paired well together. There was a slight nuttiness to the sauce which added to the overall quality of the sweet and salty pairing. Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Nutshell, however, the ratio of portion size to price (with the portions being small and the prices being a bit high) results in Nutshell being a treat rather than a dining staple. Ordering from the set menu may be more filling, but it’s expensive, so keep in mind that a single main dish at Nutshell isn’t likely to leave you full.

N. W.

I love this place a lot! Super nice and elegant interior, exquisite food! Always come here when I’m in the neighborhood. The food is super refreshing! I’m a bit fed up with pizza and pasta. The menu here is not like in other places and it’s constantly changing. Could you please bring back green dates? They are the best what I’ve tried IN YEARS! I read a lot of comments about portion sizes and high prices, but: 1. You can go to some other places, where pizzas and burgers are served, you’ll be well fed there. Isn’t it a bit absurd to go to a high cuisine restaurant and then complain it doesn’t serve a kilo per dish? 2. Prices are a bit high, but consider the ingredients (which are excellent), interior design and location. Again, isn’t it a bit absurd to go to a restaurant (not a cafe) in the city centre and expect to be charged £15 per person? It’s impossible. The staff was always nice and friendly to me.

V. H.

The bread is delicious and the mushroom kofteh starter and jackfruit main (photo below) is very tasty. I felt they try to introduce too many flavours in each dish and it goes a bit overboard. I also felt pushed by the waitress to order a lot of dishes when it wasn’t necessary.

C. F.

Really enjoyed my meal here, the flavours are just incredible! And the presentation of the dishes are beautiful too. Had the bread to start, which was very fresh, with tzatziki followed by the lamb and the duck. The only thing I’d say is the portion sizes are quite small, but the flavours certainly make up for that. Would visit again for sure!

N. M.

Tried this place on the bank holiday weekend and we sat in my favorite spot at the bar counter overlooking the kitchen as I love watching all the action. The service was attentive and our waitress made great suggestions and was patient with all my food questions. (I can be really annoying like that!) I loved the food and there are many options for vegetarians and vegans alike! The restaurant is very close to Trafalgar Square so if you have plans @nationalportraitgallery or @londoncolieum this is the spot to dine at pre or post visit! I’ve already booked to go again!! More @itinerarywoman on Instagram

G. R.

A gorgeous, gorgeous time. Service, fantastic, food, sublime..a wonderful taste menu, varied, original. Would recommend everyone to go...

C. G.

Intimate restaurant, we had a great evening with great food and good drinks. The size of the plates on the set menu was deceiving, we all thought we were going to be hungry but we were absolutely happy with the portions afterward. Staff was also really nice as we hid a birthday cake on the kitchen for our birthday celebration

D. L.

Service was great, we sat at the bar. Food so so unfortunately. Some of the dishes were great and some weren't :/. It is a very nice modern twist on traditional Persian food, very creative menu with a very nice variety. If you are a a big fan of this cuisine you need to come here. More about the food: The dumplings weren't fully prepared (You could still see the unprepared color of the dough)and the sauce was a bit too sweet and not thick enough. The beef was great! Same for bread and sambusak.

S. S.

All 6 of us really enjoyed our meal here. We practically ordered everything on the menu and it was all delicious. Items that stood out include: the starter bread, the short rib and the samosa-like triangles. A couple of people ordered some of the gin drinks which seemed interesting on paper but ended up tasting just like any regular gin and t. My only other reservation was that the portions were on the smaller side, especially for mains. So although they’re meant to be shared, we had to order more to make sure everyone could have have a taste of everything.

E. K.

It’s my second time in Nutshell, and honestly everything is great. The staff and welcome .. and the FOOD is exceptional from appetisers hummus and aubergine to mains especially duck and Lamb, and finally the dessert the date tart and cheesecake are a must. Go with a friend(s), and an appetite to try different plates.

H. C.

Lovely service. Food is good, something different. Set menu has a nice variety. The cheesecake was fab!

K. V.

possibly the best lamb ive had in my life. the sampling menu for 2 is recommended. we had a great time and the staff was very attentive and courteous. dish names were in Persian (with english descriptions) and the cursive was new to me, but i could tell that all ingredients were freshly sourced and carefully prepared. will certainly visit again

Z. M.

Great food, healthy and well executed. We had the set menu, I really liked the starters and the lamb, we didn’t have time for desert. If you have a show at 7 at the ENO next door, leave at least 1h30 to have time to have the meal.

K. S.

Delicious food, small but very tastefull portions. Nice ambiance, good chairs. Thank you!

D. H.

Wonderfully designed restaurant with a modern vibe in a great location! Their bread,spinach and chard bourani,oxtail dumpling and jojeh were divine! They have taken the essential notes of Persian tastes and targeted a totally modern approach! I loved their interpretation of Iranian spices and tastes! Its prices are higher than a normal Persian restaurants but I believe it is for a very good reason! I would say it is the most successful Iranian restaurant in town so far! Lovely staff and great food! In the nutshell :This is what is called: taking a cuisine to the next level!:)

G. H.

Absolutely phenomenal food. So tasty. Orange wine Was a revelation!

P. B.

Good but a little pricey IMO Came here on the back of a number recent reviews raving about it. I enjoyed it but perhaps not as much as them. Beautifully presented food. But being a glutton I found the mains a little on the small side. Oxtail dumpling I would probably skip next time but very much enjoyed the aubergine starter and the chicken dish (name escapes me) Service was pleasent

M. W.

The maitre’d was very unprofessional. Gave us a lot of grief for being late (which we totally understand we were late, we called in advance…) and made us feel really uncomfortable sitting down. He seemed incredibly stressed for no reason and made us not want to have dinner here. The restaurant was not full; tables near us were not turned so it’s confusing why he was so upset about us being late. The food was good and the server once we sat was very nice…not super attentive, but nice. However, since we felt so unwelcome at the beginning, it tainted the experience.

D.

Presentation of food and interior was beautiful. The food itself had too many overpowering flavours but intrinsically it was bland. Although quality of food is good, tasty food is not understood here, adding saffron fusions with nutty flavours is not something that works. It is too much of an experiment and not much of an experience. The end result, left feeling underwhelmed, under fed and overcharged.

B. L.

most unusual modern Iranian food. beautifully presented and decorated with tantalizing flavors. friendly staff give helpful advice. cocktails looked amazing.

M. M. D. C.

Really nice cozy place just outside the craziness of Tottenham Court Road. Food is elegantly serve in (maybe too) small portions and service is super attentive and detailed. I plan to come back to try the few missing dishes - menù options are just enough to satisfy me.

C. S.

Nutshell was amazing! We were welcomed in by Pauline - a friendly and attentive waitress who knew everything about the food. We sat at the bar and watched the food being cooked. There were so many flavours, all cleverly chosen. The food was beautiful and we can't wait to go back!

S. B.

Just amazing! One of the best restaurants that I have been.. incredibly tasty starters and mains…

R. M.

Lovely restaurant with excellent food. We tried many dishes and all were quite unique and absolutely delicious. The lamb I had was possibly the best lamb I've ever had.

A. K.

mixed. glam and expensive. cocktail and shallow parts of drinks menu were undistinguished, as was the dessert with fig cream. small portions, admittedly some were intensely tasty and bright. but, in the UK's second-best trick of foot-shooting, the menu gives you inscrutable Persian names for dishes, so you can't tell that a chicken skewer is a chicken skewer, you have to ask and be made to feel like a numpty. what arsery. followed by, and I kid you not, a guy who told us the obnoxious enhanced interrogation light above our table could not be tilted aside, because it would affect the overall ambiance. which means I'm just an annoying temporary shadow to the lighting mater's plan, not a customer to be made to feel comfortable. it's okay, but I'm unlikely to be rushing back.

E. M.

It’s a very pretty restaurant with lovely staff. The food is nice but not traditional Iranian. Found the bread a bit messy and oily to rip and eat.

E. S.

Very tasty food. Small quantities but it's what you can expect for a Michelin restaurant. A bit overpriced. Staff was lovely.

N. I.

Updated review: Nutshell used to be one of our favourite restaurants in London, we’ve visited 4 times since it opened. Our last visit left is disappointed, while the decor and service were good, the food has decreased in taste considerably. Both the mushroom kotlets and the lamb have lost in taste and texture. The bazaar bread is still delicious, but not enough to justify a visit. Not sure what changed in the kitchen, but it wasn’t for the best :(

S. T. A.

Really amazing presentation, okay food, however the portion size are a tad bit small

S.

Not traditional Persian food! Don’t even serve rice. The most least Persian dishes and I’m speaking from experience of working in a 5 star Persian restaurant. Not even one chef is Iranian which explains why they lack the traditional food quality. Only thing that was good was the waitress who brought life to the restaurant. They have old menus on their website which is misleading so would recommend updating it. Won’t be returning again to have non authentic Persian food.

r. d.

Good food but very pricey for overall.

A. P.

Wonderful place , atmosphere, cuisine!! Big shout out to Marwa and Mo for making us feel so welcome abd comfortable!! We will be back soon ! Xx

I. L.

Fantastic service, fantastic food. Can’t think of anything I disliked. Highly recommended address in central London

J. C.

I’ve been to Nutshell multiple times since it opened a few years ago, and had dinner there again last night. It’s immediately obvious they have been working hard during lockdown: the food has developed, been refined, the cooking is confident and the results are genuinely delicious. The hospitality is as warm as ever and the results are stellar. An absolute joy to see this restaurant reaching its full potential, and I can’t wait to go back again.

R. A.

Perfect! Enjoyed a great and vary dinner. Food and drinks were perfect. The performances were awesome too. Very entertaining!!

S. K.

Delicious food, great service, generous with the alcohol in the cocktails.. But not the cheapest. Can easily add up..especially for hearty eaters

X. K.

Interesting concept - fusion Persian cuisine and cocktails. I enjoyed the food and the service.

a. v.

Fantastic experience, I haven’t eaten this way in a long time in London. Beautiful design, comfortable sitting, genuine and caring service. Nutshell is a gem in st Martin’s Lane. The menu is incredibly creative, all textures and spices are mixed in the most harmonious way. Lots of choice for gluten and dairy free eaters. Meet is all halal. Very nice staff, I went there for lunch and the experience was great, I definitely see myself come back for dinner, the ambiance and atmosphere is relaxed, the playlist is great. Fantastic culinary experience, something different which definitely is worth trying, can’t wait to go back

L. W.

Revisited gastronomic Persian, best enjoyed as a sharing experience. Somewhat slow service for the price but good overall, just lacking a je ne sais quoi of inspiration?

Y. E.

Absolutely amazing food, amazing service, amazing wine selection (including wines from Lebanon, Armenia AND PALESTINE!!! - doesn't go unnoticed)! Also extremely well priced for a 5 star meal! and vegan friendly too which is always a must. Would definitely recommend to anyone

A. G.

Excellent service! Food is delicious- especially lamb and mushroom croquettes! Will definitely come back

B. W.

Really enjoyed my meal and drinks here. Everything we tried on the menu was delicious.

L. O.

Really great food, delightful drinks, and perfect service. And all at a very reasonable price

T. M.

The ambience and the service at Nutshell are great, however the star of the show is the food. The food is inventive, Persian-inspired, small and medium plates which are executed beautifully where the flavours are clean and fresh and sometimes mingle in unusual but pleasing ways. Highly recommend this restaurant if you live in London or are visiting on a trip.

S.

Delicious food and very nice atmosphere, staff and décor. Was taken here by my Persian friend and was not disappointed!

G. B.

Amazing new modern Iranian/Persian restaurant and we stumbled upon it totally by chance! It’s been open for all of two weeks. We sat at the bar and the staff and the chef were extremely friendly and very professional. The food is simply incredible with tapas style dishes that are full of flavour and leaves you wanting more. The flavour profile is also very unusual - pomegranate, rose etc. It is great for vegetarians with a lot to chose from. I almost don’t want to leave a review so that others don’t find out about it!

U. A.

I’d wanted to try this place all year, but then a certain pandemic that shan’t be named got in the way. I’m happy to say that this was my first major trip to a central London restaurant since the easing of restrictions and that it was worth the wait! I had the peach salad which was well mixed and carried a good undertone of fruit. The grilled salmon was also a well judged main course. Will be back soon.

H. D.

Nutshell was always our go-to place to eat if we were anywhere near. The food was always inventive and delicious, beautifully presented with exciting new flavours. Although lockdown has deprived us of the restaurant experience, the Nutshell Feast Box is a revelation. Although it seemed daunting at first, with so many separate items, it turned out to be easy to prepare and produced a 5 star restaurant quality meal. We had the vegetarian menu containing the signature bazaar bread (we have so missed this!) a wonderful tapenade, a colourful beetroot borani, mushroom croquettes and butternut squash kofte. Each dish came with beautiful additions (burnt onion yoghurt, whipped feta, even the sesame seeds to sprinkle on the bread). To finish (and we struggled to find room for this) was a delicious date tart and clotted cream. The whole meal was sensational and amazing value for money. Do try it - it will lift your spirits in these dark days.

a. p.

Good service, pretty surroundings, great food presentation but sadly food is not great, too much flavour and overpowering tastes - I used the word sickening yday, maybe was my poor English but still at the end I felt I could not eat a lot of the food as just too strong tastes

T. F.

Wonderful creative Persian food. Highly recommended especially for a special occasion

Y. D.

Food is really good! Love the bread + hummus. The lamb tastes refreshing with the apricot sauce and raisins too.

F.

We went here with our friends (thanks Asif for the recommendation). What a treasure, hidden in plain sight. From the time we entered to the time we left the service was impeccable. Waiters took the time to answer all our questions and were very attentive throughout our experience. Food: was deliciously yummy :) One of us is a vegetarian and they also had a considerable amount of food they could order. Between 4 of us, we tried all of the starter dishes and most of the mains and were not disappointed at all but rather quite the opposite. Drinks: I tried 3 cocktails and they were all 5 stars. Recommended? Yes Coming back? Yes

F. C.

We went to Nutshell as we are big enthusiasts about Iranian food and we found every single plate delicious. The decor and ambience are trendy yet classy and all the staff are very friendly, attentive and welcoming. Among all the dishes I tried I loved the lamb meatball but the big surprise for me were the desserts: I never usually order desserts because I’m more for savoury foods but I would eat that fig cream dessert every day if I could! It was a fantastic experience, highly recommended

S. A.

I was amazed how delicious was all food and especially bread. Just super treat for stomach and soul

T. H.

Persian at it's best: The Nutshell does not have a huge choice on the menu. But what there is, is quality. We had three different mains plus a couple of starters, all to share among 3. The portions are not very large. But it was a good choice and we all got a satisfying meal. The service was great and friendly and that puts an extra gloss on the occasion.

K. V.

Like the ambience and decor the food looked pretty but flavours were lacking. Maybe it is my lack of eating Persian food but I expected more depth in flavour and found everything too sweet. It is also quite expensive for the portion size you're getting. Simply not my cup of tea.

L. O.

The food and service was incredible, but the ambience was lacking. We were upstairs and the music was really quiet, the lights bright, no candles or anything (on valentine's day as well!), and the tables are really close and it feels like they really pack you in. A little more attention to the vibe and this would have been a perfect evening! Thank you to our lovely waitress who was great

G. B.

We visited Nutshell last night as part of their soft launch (30% off food). The restaurant is beautifully decorated and in a prime location close to the theatres. The menu is compact, and designed to be shared by the table. Unfortunately while the food was generally very good, it was let down by some of the ridiculously small portion sizes for the money. One of the grill dishes is lamb cutlets - for the full price of £18.50, diners can expect to receive just two tiny cutlets with a mouthful of lamb on each. The poussin was similar - an absolutely tiny portion. Sharing dishes need to be of a sufficient size to actually share with your fellow diners! The service was also strange - the restaurant was heavily staffed, which led to the service being overly attentive to the point it was simply irritating. It also really felt a chore for the waiting staff - none of the staff in the restaurant seemed to smile, and it was all very transactional. Most bizarre was that a soft launch is typically a learning experience - not once did anyone - including the the two front of house staff (not in waiting staff uniform) - ask us how we found the meal or for any feedback - it was as if they didn't particularly care. When we left the restaurant we were nearly the last guests left - this did not stop all of the staff completely ignoring us as we left, when they could have thanked us for visiting and shown us out. I am afraid if the restaurant proceeds like this, they will struggle to succeed on their food alone in such a competitive market.

G. D.

All vegetarian dishes and the chicken were very tasty. Dishes are small mezze style, no mains. We ordered 2 bread, 1 feta, all the vegetarian dishes and a grilled chicken dish, desert and mint tea for 4 and paid almost £40 each. A bit pricey, but it's very good quality. I left satisfied and I will be back, especially for the Orange and Coffee dessert.

R. H.

I love Iranian food, home cooked and restaurant and I was skeptical of whether a central London restaurant would do it well. I have to say, I was completely blown away by it. Everything was so well considered and beautifully put together. The food was so innovative but captured key flavours that I've grown to love. It was really really clever but good food. The service was expectional, best I've EVER had. So much fun and sincere witty fun and passion for the food from the staff. I would say hands down, one of the best experiences I've had in terms of food, service and all around good time. Expectional!

Z. A.

Some good dishes, some bad dishes - just like at every restaurant. While the service was good, the food was not worth the inflated price tag it came with. Unless you know you'll be spending the evening in great company, do not come here, as the food won't 100% blow you away.

J. D.

I've been waiting for it to open for a while now and I have to say I agree with another reviewer on here. The food is definitely more suited to it being a bar with some good nibbles rather than a sit down restaurant. Bread, tapenade and small bits being excellent. However the Stove and Grill dishes were off the mark, the octopus I just didn't like and my partner though it odd and crisped up too much. Oxtail dumplings being excellent yet the accompanying sauce lacked something and had a slight detergent quality. Overall I'll give it another try in a couple of months when it has had time to settle in. 5 dishes and 2 drinks coming in at £90

V. M.

Seems like a new place with good food and ambience. Nice selection of appetizers to share. One of our party was gluten and dairy free, they did their best to support by serving separately. Not noisy, one can talk to friends or have a business conversation while enjoying the cuisine.

F. S.

Insanely good! We had high expectations for this new restaurant, and we were not disappointed - every single dish was masterfully cooked, full of flavour and packed with fresh ingredients. Lots of choice for vegetarians too - we honestly can't wait to be back to try all the dishes we couldn't fit into one sitting!

R. D.

Went to this restaurant for the Christmas feasting menu and was very excited for a foodie December treat. Standing at £45 per head, we expected more food and a quicker service than what transpired. Although the food was very tasty, we waited over an hour for our mains and only were given 3 starters to share for the 'feasting menu'. After asking about the menu specifically and why we weren't given the 6 sharers, it seemed uncomfortable; it was suggestive that we were given enough food. I would take the a la carte next time.

N. K.

The food was insane, the staff so friendly and the decor beautiful. I loved the bread (I would have it delivered to my house daily if I could) and the food was only uphill from there.

M. B.

Food was lovely. Tables way too close to each other. Music constantly cutting in and out (extremely annoying). Menu Iranian / Middle Eastern so needed to be explained (just add what the food is, in full on the menu as waiting staff missed dishes out and explained things badly). Beer awful - (low alcohol, English, blonde citrus, cloudy lager), no draft beer. Service only okay. Expensive. Wouldn’t go back!

C. F.

Nutshell is a wonderful restaurant. From the smooth Art Deco styled decor, the calm and relaxing atmosphere and the sublime food, it’s a brilliant experience. However, if there’s one reason above all else you should visit nutshell, it’s for Pauline. Pauline is a waitress, or shall I say THE waitress. She is charming, full of energy and as soon as she starts talking to you, you won’t want to leave, but when you do, it’s Pauline that will make you want to come back.

K. J.

Great fresh balanced and varied flavours, friendly and quick service. Nice cocktail list. The upstairs room is a bit lacking in ambience but at least is nice and calm for conversation. Need to return to try the desserts!

S. A. P.

I loved the old dishes but this time I was blown away with the amazing new dishes especially kebeh kurdi, kotlet and Mazandarani lamb with amazing smells and flavours. It was amazing that some of the dishes were very tasteful with exotic Persian tastes while some others were delightful and mild with elegancy. Zard mocktail was also amazing and very refreshing and tasteful.

A. B.

Contemporary persian cuisine. Great and intimate atmosphere.

L.

Most of the food was delicious, the staff was friendly, and the interior design is beautiful. One of the dishes was a bit disappointing, especially for the price (the seafood and tamarind chilli). These are basically all small dishes so expect to pay at least £45 per person if you want to leave full and get a drink (cocktails average £12).

T. B.

Great service and great food. The lamb was truly exceptional and Pauline was the perfect host.

D.

Let's get this straight. Service was excellent. At times theatrical and very entertaining. They all knew their menu well, and had genuine opinions and suggestions. In the long evening we had, our tumblers were never empty, Richard made sure to keep topping us up, great guy. Other two waitresses upstairs were very kind, even changed my drink that I didn't like, without asking. That was very kind and thoughtful. I think you'll have a great night, if you order right. Everyone who has already mentioned are totally 100% correct. Portions are unusually and uncomfortably small. You shouldn't need to order two main, because the main is too small, that is exactly what we had to do. You can pass off the tiny mezzes and call it "tapas" but if you truly mean that you want it to be shared, then the portions really must reflect that. Not saying make it a buffet or fit for a hungry builder. But hey just be reasonable, you'll figure it out I am sure, as you've got a lot of things right. I also agree that there are a few things, that if you do order, you'll get bang for your buck and maximum flavour. Here's the hack - Smoked Aubergine, Whipped feta and the bread to start. Lamb shank, and potato confit, or chips as they call it. And finish with the Persian sundae. You'll be full and happy. What was a real, real let down. Was the rice. We associate a good Persian/Iranian with really good rice. Long fragrant well cooked grains of rice. But it was all under cooked. Really terribly undercooked. It was so bad I couldn't figure out how it was allowed to leave the kitchen, it had no place on a paying customers table, but the bin. Or maybe to use as example to how to not cook rice. C'mon, it is not that hard. I also made a special request to make my food less oily, and then I rang and mentioned again and was told chef is aware. Needless to say, it was not honoured. I'm not sure what happened there. I'd go back. Food was good, but there were many fillers, it wasn't their greatest hits. I guess it will take some time. I hope they (restaurant) are reading these reviews and receptive towards welcoming the constructive criticisms. Because, there's plenty options, and I won't return if same disappointments reoccur.

P. C.

Great to see an innovative new restaurant on St Martin's lane. It's seems advisable to book, although when we arrived about 9:45 on a Friday evening they managed to find a table for two. The food is an interesting twist on Iranian and served meze style. The staff were all excellent.

s.

Nice to see another modern persian restaurant in central London. But don’t go here expecting all the traditional food. I asked for a portion of zereshk with my rice but they couldn’t accommodate and they also didn’t have any doogh (Persian sour mint yoghurt drink) The bread was really good but the portion wasn’t big enough. Generally most of the portions were a little on the small side. If they could get a few more traditional things on the menu and male portions bigger I would rate then higher and go back.

V. A.

I wanted to love this restaurant and I sure wasn't disappointed. My husband and I ate here last night. We had the Bazaar bread - soft yet crispy, basic yet decadent; we paired the bread with the olive tapenade which sounds seemingly banal but it has earthiness, crunch and sweet, sour all in one mouthful; for small plates we had smoky aubergine topped with blackberries, crispy onions and other delicious little things, and Adasi - spherified yoghurt on a bed of perfectly spiced, perfectly al denté beluga lentils. For mains we tried the Fesenjun which was a glorious tree of cauliflower grilled to perfection, resting on a bed of rich, walnutty, almost mole-like base. I had lamb cutlets in a sour cherry sauce which were out of this world. This was served with potato tahdig which is potato elevated to its highest form - potato discs bathed in saffron butter, stacked neatly. I rarely applaud a cocktail, they are oft too sweet and desperately unimaginative. However at Nutshell I can recommend not one but both of the cocktails we tried - mine, a Mexican in Tehran was made from Tequila infused with dried lemon, a rim of sumac and lime, apricot liqueur and lime juice; my husband tried the sour cherry Negroni, earthy and herbaceous, served with a bay leaf. Enough said, go!

G. 9.

Nice food. Wouldn't say outstanding for what you'd pay but staff are very friendly and the whole experience is very nice.

A. V.

Overall the food, ambiance and service was very good. As a first generation Iranian I was excited to see that there is a restaurant that has modern Iranian food. I didn't even know what modern Iranian was! I've only ever seen restaurants with traditional iranian food... And it's a battle of who can get it more right. (And finally a restaurant with subtle decor!). The panir sabzi (whipped feta in this case) was Soo good! My mom wanted the recipe. The adasi was really good too. Fesenjun was different but good. However the khorest bademjan was unexpectedly spicy... Which I like spicy but I'm not sure how I felt about this. Otherwise it was good. The bread was amazing (but too small... Possible by design). The tadig tasted like really thick safron French friesn😬. Net net, I'd recommend and go back.

H. M.

Went there on a weekend. Loved the atmosphere, food was great and well thought through. My only wish for to be even a greater place is for the portions to be ever so slightly bigger without compromising the fantastic taste the created. Will be back again

M. G.

Good option for pretheatre. Food was tasty and affordable, decor was nice. The only thing to improve would be the service... The wait staff seemed distracted despite it being 6pm and not busy. Waited 20min for a glass of wine which we had to follow up on multiple times.

E. K.

AMAZING!!!! Go Go Go while Jeremy head chef is there in charge and making sure every plate that goes out is perfect, which they were. Perfect plates and perfect tastes! The vibe is great, the staff are really lovely. Can't recommend this enough!

C. I.

Minimal menu. Small portions. The kofte was fine. The octopus was soft with nice spices. The yogurt dip with dill and nuts tasty. Chocolate desert with pistachio nuts a bit sweet. 55 quid. Nothing else

R. S.

Delicious food and lovely staff. Will definitely return!

F. B.

Beautiful food, lovely staff and excellent service. Try the Persian Sundae

J. B.

The service was pleasant and the environment stylish, but I felt the food sounded better than it tasted. I would not race back for more but would ok if a friend wanted me to join them there.

A. A.

Very good service, beautiful setting, food was ok (but far from mind blowing). Just overpriced for what you get in terms of portion size and flavour depth.

S. H.

Exceptional flavors! Pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff.

M. N.

Today I had lunch at Nutshell. Very nice and friendly place with wonderful decoration. I seriously recommend Kofte Tabrizi, Khoresht Bademjan, and Albaloo Polo with Jojeh Poussin. Also the chief is making perfect tradition Iranian sweet, called zulubia.

m. h.

Oh wow! Stumbled upon this place after the restaurant which we were trying to go to was closed. What a find. Everything was delicious. I love the sweet-sour of their food, the decor is beautiful, staff wonderful. What a find! My new fave place!

E. G.

Went there during opening week. Very nice ambience and attentive easy going service. Delicious food - I would especially recommend Kofteh Tabrizi and Zubilia. Interesting wine list and yummy cocktails. Will be back!

M.

Best meal we had in a long while,fresh elegantly plated.Service very efficient and non intrusive we will be back for sure!

S. K.

Excellent food, especially the bread! 😂

I. B.

This place is amazing! I eat a lot of Persian food but the chef here really takes it to the next level. Everything is good - try anything, thank me later.

F. V.

We loved this place...we shared 4 starters, all very good and the bread was amazing! We also liked the mains a lot..very high quality for a very nice food experience! I suggest it!

P. H.

Had the tasting menu with a group and really enjoyed it. Great service!

R. N.

Service was excellent - warm and very friendly. Mezze starters were tasty. Vegetarian mains were good. Desserts great!

J. D. K.

Amazing food and good value. Thank you so much to Pauline who made our night

C. C.

Really good food and service. Pauline is the best waitress you could think of and tells you a story for every dish. Highly recommend !

L. H.

Never thought that Persian food can be this delicious too. That chips are must try!!

J. S.

Great Persian flavor in nice well lit restaurant. I am normally more of a meat and potatoes person but enjoyed the light fare and concoction of flavors.

F. A.

All the dips were pretty exceptional and the cream fig was like nothing else... Bread yummy. A lot going on with the dishes coming out... I think less pomegranate on everything but overall service food was really good

R. C.

Great tasting inventive iranian food in a bright and buzzing atmosphere. Staff were friendly. Do not miss out on the fresh baked bread 🤤...

R. S.

We went for the set menu and the food was plenty and delicious. The service was second to none. Would definitely recommend!

S. J.

Very modern look with a great bar, enjoyed our night out with friendly staff

P. F.

Great staff. Was only there doing a service.

M. E.

Excellent food, pleasant ambience and attentive staff. Especially Pauline made our visit worthwhile, wholeheartedly recommended.

N. R.

Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, beautiful food! The portions aren't huge but they are beautiful and flavoursome!

K. K.

Great contemporary Persian food. Nice ambiente. The restaurant is run by a couple that is taking good care.

D. C.

Amazing food and great service! The lamb shank was exceptional! A bit overpriced but worth it.

M. C.

Utterly brilliant especially for vegetarians. Have been there 6 times now. And the staff are marvellous and extremely knowledgeable. Do book

K.

Lovely restaurant, perfect for a light dinner with friends. Portions are rather small even the mains but delicious

S. W.

Relaxed, great staff, awesome flatbread, nice fusion of ingredients, colourful and tasty. Will go again, super for veggies

M. B.

Very tasty food, hard to work out what each dish actually was, without googling it! Small measures of wine.

S. S.

Lovely food, great service.

M. C.

The service was great, but the food was underwhelming and over priced

F. G.

What amazing place, a must go place. Food is just perfect and service to spot on. Will definitely be back.

R. G.

Lovely lunch - not the cheapest, but about as expected. Good service.

S. M.

Wonderful. Lovely food, beautifully presented. Charming staff. Really excellent.

S. B.

Very nice food but small portions and overpriced. Friendly service, nice decor, great location.

T. W.

Delicious food, beautiful interior. Desserts to die for! The only downside is service.

A. J.

Amazing customer service. Served by the owner who takes great pride in her work. Expensive but enjoyable

c. b.

Ridiculously good food, like actually exquisite, I can’t recommend it highly enough!

J. R.

1st time fantastic food and service...highly recommended

G. P.

Outstanding food, amazing array of flavours in a very understated setting

S. F.

Amazing Brilliant food Incredible staff especially the lady from new caledonia 6 stars!

M. S.

I've lived in Iran for 27 years and the Joojeh was genuinely one of the best

s. h.

Delicious food, amazing service and stunning decor. Will be back!

D. W.

Fresh and vibrant meze, and beautiful octopus. Yum!

K. T.

Terrific and unusual food. Really friendly staff.

D. A.

Excellent and interesting food. Wine is a little expensive

C. C.

Very good and interesting food. Bit pricy.

D. H.

Amazing restaurant and delishes food. Great service

A. S. H.

Delicious food and excellent drinks list.

E. S.

Great restaurant.. nice food.. excellent place

N. J.

Very very good !

G. B.

Pauline was wonderful!

J. R.

Iranian fusion cuisine. Tapas style

S. K.

Persian dishes that are exotic even to Persians!

M. B.

Great food! Great bread.

E. L.

Fantastic food. Great service

K. S.

Persian food but different.....

T. S.

Delicious food and amazing service!

S. B.

Fantastic food and venue!!

M. S.

delicious

s. f.

Amazing place!!!

L. F.

Delicious bread

a. a.

Very yummy

M. L.

Nice but it’s not Iranian. Everything was fine until the “Tahdig chips” hit the table. Tahdig means bottom of the pot and I would expect the chips to actually come from the bottom of a pot, not fried or roasted Instagram potatoes. Tastes Lebanese at best.

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