On a warm evening in London there are few places nicer to be than Broadway Market. As the sun sets, people spill out of the pubs onto the street, filling the air with laughter and the scent of street food. Set among this scene is One Saturday, a newly opened Middle Eastern restaurant serving cocktails and small plates.
Upon entering the restaurant, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for the Mediterranean. The interior is pale blue and burnt orange, giving the impression of late summer sunset. It has a tranquil, quiet vibe. With few customers present, apart from on their outdoor seats, the smell of fresh paint lingers in the air. Everything is eerily tidy and the soul seems missing slightly.
One has to hope that this will fade as the customer base grows. Currently, it feels relaxing, but the restaurant is still finding its feet.
This can be seen with the variety of cocktail options. There are almost too many to choose from. So many, we joked with the waiter that they should offer a cocktail tasting menu. After long deliberation, the Rosé Aperol Spritz and an alcoholic Peach Iced Tea were chosen. A little alternative, but beautifully presented – they did not disappoint.
Another choice lay ahead in the small plate menu. For the two of us, four plates were perfect. Prices are reasonable, peaking in price at £12 for oysters with mignonette and lemon. As two vegetarians, we were limited in our selection from the menu, but still managed to indulge in the tahini labneh, hummus and spinach and feta spanakopita.
The dishes were accompanied by a side of rosemary fries which were the highlight of the night. The whole menu felt as if it had been carefully curated, and the quality of the food was consistently high. The dishes were relatively simple – hummus and flatbread is hardly a new combination, but the pickled chilli and za’atar dressing made it unique.
Whilst the atmosphere was undeniably lacking, this should fade as the year progresses. Broadway Market thrives in the summer, and One Saturday’s light, airy feel means it is guaranteed to be a popular warm-weather destination. It might not have come to life yet, but this new eatery is brimming with potential.
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