Nestled in the heart of London’s iconic Borough Market, Oma stands as a testament to the beauty of the Greek isles and the bold flavours this part of the world can bring.
As you enter Oma through a discreet side door down a small passageway of Borough Market, you are met with beautiful interiors and an open fire kitchen. Whether seated in the vibrant dining room or out on the terrace overlooking the lively market, Oma exudes an infectious energy that perfectly complements its location.
From the moment you sit down, the passion of the staff is palpable as they guide you through the menu —from breads and spreads to crudo, skewers, and shareable dishes.
Start with the spreads, and the salt cod XO is an absolute must. Paired with warm laffa bread—a soft, thin Middle Eastern flatbread—each dip becomes utterly irresistible. You could devour ten of them and still crave more! Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to try the acma bread, which is a soft Turkish bread shaped like a bagel. At Oma they roll it into parsley and garlic butter, and I regret missing out.
Then came the crudo. Fittingly, “Oma” means “raw,” and the raw bar, displaying a fresh selection of seafood, is a central feature of the restaurant. The seabass crudo with jalapeño, lime, and ginger was incredible, served as small, shareable plates ideal for grazing.
While Jake normally avoids salads, I couldn’t resist the black figs, mizithra cheese, and almond saláta. And those who know Jake know his love for scallops, so we couldn’t pass up the hand-dived scallop in a rich chilli oil butter—it was one of the largest scallops we’d ever seen, and just one was surprisingly enough!
Had we not eaten so much already, we would have dived into the skewers – the turbot and the Cornish lamb would have been top of our list, but this was meant to be a casual lunch… Oh well, it just means we will have to go back!