OMA

• Where? Borough Market, 3 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
• How Much? ££ – £££
• Book ahead? Yes
• Cuisine? Greek inspired, small plates
• Vegetarian options 🌽 – Limited
• Vegan options 🌱 – Limited
• Gluten free options 🌾 – Yes
• Dog friendly 🐶 – No

OMA, the latest must-visit spot in Borough Market, is tucked away down a narrow walkway off Bedale Street, right beside its sister restaurant, Agora. Exuding an air of sophistication, OMA is the more formal of the two latest additions to the market, notable for its simplicity, chic style, and minimalist decor. The modern restaurant offers terraced seating and impressive window views of the market, creating a unique and bustling dining experience. While the atmosphere is more mellow than the buzz that steams from Agora, OMA is still incredibly lively and is well-suited to small parties and special occasions.

Overall, the experience was delightful. The staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating when assisting with our order, and this level of service continued throughout the visit. The energy and sounds of the market rippled through the terrace and into the main dining area, infusing the restaurant with vibrance and liveliness. The window-wall illuminated the restaurant, providing a unique perspective from above. Our only slight complaint was the slow service of food and drinks, waiting 20-30 minutes between dishes despite the restaurant not being full. This was slightly disappointing, particularly as our drinks were also served unusually slowly. While these may be teething challenges for a newly opened restaurant and are likely to improve in due course, they didn’t go unnoticed. I still highly recommend a visit, as the food and atmosphere are wonderful, and it is certainly unlike any other London restaurant I’ve visited.

The Food

The menu has a variety of small plates, from breads to skewers, and it’s suggested to order 6-7 dishes for two people. We tried seven dishes, mostly recommendations from our waiter, and were completely satisfied. For drinks, OMA offers a great wine selection and some tasty cocktails. I went for the clementine gimlet, which was really refreshing and delicious! Here’s what we ordered:

Wildfarmed Laffa – £3.50

Rating: 7/10 – Laffa is a simple and smoky flatbread, that is perfect for tearing and dunking into spreads. With its delicate and flaky texture, it’s incredibly light and the ideal dish to start off a meal.

Açma Verde – £3.50

Rating: 8.5/10 – Açma Verde is a cross between a garlic knot and a bagel. Its deliciously buttery and fluffy texture makes it a delightful treat, one that I could happily indulge in all day long. It’s thicker and more filling than the Laffa, with a buttery centre that melts in your mouth, and is perfectly paired with the Salt Cod Labneh.

Babaghanoush, Tahini, Jerusalem Artichoke Crisps – £6

Rating: 7.5/10 – The first of the dips was a rich and creamy babaghanoush, layered with thin crisps of artichoke, creating the perfect crunchy bite each time. The flavour profile is subtle, with the natural earthy flavour of the aubergine stealing the spotlight.

Salt Cod Xo, Labneh – £6

Rating: 9/10 – This was probably my favourite dish of the meal in terms of flavour. The oily, salty cod crisps on the bed of thick, tangy labneh created a perfect combination. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, but the flavours worked together perfectly.

Gilt Head Bream Ceviche, Green Tomato + Apple Aguachile – £11

Rating: 5/10 – This is clearly a matter of personal preference, as I’m not particularly fond of ceviche. The textures and flavours didn’t quite appeal to me. While it does provide a refreshing contrast to the heavier bread dishes, I wouldn’t reorder it. The excessive amount of juice at the bottom of the dish was off-putting, and the texture of the bream cubes was strange.

Charred Squid, Garlic + Za’atar oil – £17

Rating: 8/10 – This dish was another standout for me. The squid was incredibly tender, delicately seasoned with lovely herbs and za’atar oil, and just melted in your mouth. It was fresh, tasty and perfectly seasoned, making it a definite reorder for me.

Lamb Clay Pot – £24

Rating: 6/10 – This dish was slightly disappointing as I had seen so many fond reviews of the clay pot dishes prior to my visit. The highlight was the incredibly tender and rich lamb, however, the flavours plateaued after a while, resulting in every bite tasting like a mouthful of thick gravy. It is served on a bed of orzo-like grains, which only added to the slimy, gravy-like sensation. In my opinion, it was too rich, and the textures just didn’t work for me.

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