The Palomar on Rupert Street: what to order and when to go

First, the address. The Palomar is at 34 Rupert Street, W1D 6DN, where Soho meets Chinatown, a few minutes' walk east of Berwick Street. It serves what it calls the food of modern-day Jerusalem, with the menu drawing on Southern Spain, North Africa and the Levant.

The counter is the point

Most of the eating happens at a zinc kitchen counter facing the open kitchen. The Infatuation puts 75% of the seating at the counter, and Hot Dinners calls it one of the best counter dining experiences in town, "albeit not the quietest". That is the deal: lively, close, and a good place to watch plates being assembled.

The Good Food Guide describes a refurbishment that extended the counter to seat groups of four, added velvet-lined booths for couples and larger tables for up to ten. The energy, it says, still centres on the counter stools. The Good Food Guide rates it "Good".

A little history

The Palomar opened in May 2014, run by siblings Zoë and Layo Paskin, who previously ran the clubs The End and AKA. The Caterer reported that they opened with head chef Tomer Amedi, with a raw bar and dishes from the stove, plancha and Josper grill. Londonist and the JC both described it as a spin-off of Machneyuda, the Jerusalem restaurant, and Londonist placed it at the "scruffy end of Rupert Street". It has held a Bib Gourmand since 2014, according to its own site, and the Michelin Guide lists it in the 2026 edition.

One note: it is not a kosher restaurant, and the menu has included pork.

What to order

• Kubaneh. Yemeni pot-baked bread, served warm with a tahini dip and a tomato dip. Reviewers compare the texture to a buttery croissant, and The Infatuation counts it among the reasons people queue for the counter. Start here.
• Polenta Jerusalem style. The signature dish. A 2014 menu described it with asparagus, mushroom ragoût, Parmesan and truffle oil, but menus change, so ask what is on it now.
• Lamb skewers with carob molasses and zaatar chicken schnitzel nuggets, both mentioned by the Good Food Guide.
• Malabi, a rose-scented milk pudding, if you have room, praised by the JC.

The Good Food Guide's advice is sound: begin with a couple of snacks, and watch what is being plated for your neighbours before you choose. To drink, the restaurant describes a wine list of "current and future icons", plus cocktails, beers, spirits and low or no alcohol options. The Infatuation name-checks a cocktail called It Won't Kill-Ya.

When to go

Go early. The Infatuation recommends the first seating at the bar, and says you usually put your name down for the counter and come back later, ideally waiting in a pub nearby rather than taking a table at the back. Walk-ins are always welcome, according to the restaurant. It suits birthdays and lively evenings, not hushed conversation.

The restaurant says it is open every day for dinner from 5pm. Listings also show weekend and midweek lunch, but times vary between sources, so check the website for current hours.

Sunday lunch

Every Sunday, 12 to half two, priced per person with a minimum of two guests. It opens with a mezze of warm kubaneh, two dips of your choice and grilled seasonal pickles. Mains come with crispy layered potatoes and baby gem salad:

• Herb-buttered spatchcocked chicken: £35 for three courses, £30 for two.
• Ras el hanout lamb shoulder: £45 for three courses, £40 for two.

It ends with the pistachio baklava ice cream sandwich, which the restaurant calls a Palomar favourite. Order the lamb shoulder.

Booking and budget

Bookings open up to a month ahead for groups of up to six, and up to two months ahead for groups of seven to fourteen, who get a set menu. You can ring 020 7439 8777 or email reservations@thepalomar.co.uk. Guides put it in the pricey bracket, and one Tripadvisor diner estimated about £50 a head for food and drink. Treat that as one diner's figure, not a rule.

Details and bookings at thepalomar.co.uk. For the full picture, see the Michelin Guide listing and The Infatuation review.