This January, Oren - Dalston’s much-loved Mediterranean inspired restaurant from chef Oden Oren - introduces ‘Slow Sundays’, a brand new sharing menu available exclusively at Sunday lunch. The 3 course menu will see Oren turning off its grills to focus for the first time on warming winter braises, inspired by the slow-cooked stews and bakes of the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean.
Designed to be enjoyed over long Sunday afternoons in Oren’s intimate dining room, the ‘Slow Sundays’ menu begins with a mezze of the restaurant’s classic small plates brought to the table to share family style. Diners can mop up Labneh with marinated aubergine with Oren’s signature Stone-baked flatbread with za’atar, tomato and extra virgin olive oil, as well as enjoying plates of Cured sardines with pink peppercorns, Tunisian pumpkin salad and House fermented pickles.
After the mezze, guests can choose from a number of larger main courses, with options including a braised Beef short rib with chard, dried Persian lime and freekeh and fresh herb-flecked Hake kebabs with Moroccan peppers, sheep’s yoghurt and sauteed potatoes.
A plant-based option of Wild rice and spelt mejadra with Delica pumpkin and tahini combines sweet baked pumpkin with nutty grains, in a contemporary take on the classic Levantine rice dish.
To finish, Oren’s Spiced quince crumble sees the orchard-fruit flavoured with star anise and cardamom, and served with zabaglione as a comforting pudding for the colder months.
The ‘Slow Sundays’ menu is priced at £32 per person, with additional snacks and sides available as a supplement. These include Masabacha (a warm dip of mashed chickpeas) with tahini and egg, Trout gravlax with labneh and preserved lemon, and Sauteed potatoes with garlic and coriander.
To begin the meal, Oren has also designed a limited edition Harissa Bloody Mary cocktail. The chilli condiment is made in-house with burnt and chopped peppers, adding a sweet and spicy twist to the savoury drink. For those who aren’t recovering from their Saturday night, Oren’s low intervention wine list features bottles from small growers across the Mediterranean, with a selection of red and white wines sitting alongside orange and pet nats.
Oren’s ‘Slow Sunday’ sharing menu is available now, from 12 - 5pm every Sunday. The menu is priced at £32 per person for three courses, with bookings available for groups of up to 6. Reservations can be made via the Oren website, HERE.
