We wanted to make a night of it – to dress up, go out, drink cocktails and eat delicious food, to laugh and reminisce, to let our hair down, somewhere classy but relaxed. Branca it is then.
It had been a while, so many places so little time, but we’d popped in for the deli lunches a while back REVIEW: Branca in Jericho proves how to diversify as its deli counter days pack out the restaurant and loved their innovative approach to filling the stylish restaurant during the day. Because after 25 years in the business the Jericho restaurant is still continually evolving.
But come evening and Branca’s elegant but casual mediterranean vibe comes out to play, diners greeted by the huge curved bar, cocktails being shaken by the skilled mixologists who still make the best cosmos in town, leading onto the long, airy restaurant, decorated with art and wire sculptures, the garden doors opening out onto an enticing terrace full of people enjoying the sunshine, where Branca’s food comes into its own.
Not only a great night out, but it ticked all the boxes and delivered exactly what we’d asked for – a stylish, relaxed and seductive evening
And there we sat, the perfect setting, as the sunlight filtered through, waiters twirling like dervishes, wine being poured, conversations growing and laughter echoing around us.
There’s a great value two course £19.50 early evening offering from 5pm-6.30pm which runs Wednesday-Friday and Sunday (£6 extra for three courses), but as it was a Saturday night, we wanted to take our time.
Having focused on Italian food for years, Branca has cast its net further afield in Europe to encompass more of the mediterranean’s delicious offerings.
Having focused on Italian food for years, Branca has cast its net further afield in Europe to encompass more of the mediterranean’s delicious offerings
So we drank some delicious cocktails and soaked up the atmosphere until we got peckish and ordered food to match the mood – the grilled king prawn skewer with garlic butter flatbread and aioli (£12.50) – the prawns huge and juicy offset by the lemon and garlic, the crispy fried squid with a fennel & frisée salad and spicy tomato salsa (£12), a nice change from the usual dips, and a generous portion, the squid fresh and clean.
The serrano ham with celeriac & chickpea coleslaw, tropea onion and crispy flatbread (£12.50) was simple and delicious, the flavour of the ingredients allowed to speak for themselves.
But the most surprising starter was the special – a whipped feta with chermoula spiced cauliflower, squash, lentils and rocket (£12.50), hard to ascertain from the menu but sounding exciting. And it was, the fresh herbs, garlic and spiced chermoula dressing encasing the soft, sweet, oily veg topped with a large dollop of the light, fresh, herbed, whipped feta – an intoxicating dish. (see main pic)
the most surprising starter was the special – a whipped feta with chermoula spiced cauliflower, squash, lentils and rocket
The mains offered an equally dexterous and eclectic choice, from the classics – pasta, pizza, fish, burgers and salads as well as some more unusual combinations, allowing the four of us to try lots of different things.
Kicking off with pepperoni, fontina cheese, chilli and spinach pizzas (£16.50), – the cheese more silky and pungent while equally as stringy as the more traditional mozzarella), contrasting with the strength of the pepperoni, hit of heat and earthy dabs of spinach.
The spaghetti was a real scene stealer, again simple but packing in the flavour, the gentle crème fraîche and garden peas, enriched with the hot salmon and hit of horseradish, the perfect summer offering.
The spaghetti was a real scene stealer – simple but packing in the flavour, the gentle Crème Fraîche and garden peas, enriched with the hot salmon and hit of horseradish, the perfect summer offering
As for the moroccan lamb kebabs, summer slaw, garlic flatbread and hummus (£24) they also matched the vibe, the huge skewered chunks of marinated meat so flavourful and juicy, accompanied by a huge portion of fresh slaw, oily flatbread and homemade hummus
The Lebanese spiced aubergine, chickpeas, tomato, harissa and green tahini dressing (£17.50) sounded more earnest but was anything but, like a middle-eastern stew and as rich and fragrant, served with perfectly cooked, plump, soft aubergine scattered with pomegranate seeds and immersed in the tahini dressing a bit like a green goddess and equally as piquant.
We were having so much fun, the evening ran away with us and it was getting dark before we realised we’d better crack on with dessert – the peach melba and the Basque cheesecake then. The peach melba however was a bit of a dud as the peach was so hard we couldn’t cut it, but the cheesecake was soft and dense, its caramelised flavour enhanced by a fruit puree and flaked almonds, a fitting end to a lovely meal.
We were having so much fun, the evening ran away with us and it was getting dark before we realised we’d better crack on with dessert
What a heavenly evening, literally everything we’d hoped for, and delivering on every front (what’s a peach between friends). Not only a great night out, but Branca ticked all the boxes and delivered exactly what we’d asked for – a stylish, relaxed and timeless evening. here’s to the next 25 years!
Branca is at 110-111 Walton Street, Jericho https://www.branca.co.uk
