With a fantastic location just off Seven Dials, this Antipodean-run restaurant takes fusion cuisine to the next level. Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian and Oriental flavours abound in a wonderful assortment of innovative dishes: tempura inari pockets, stuffed with spicy dhal and served with caramelised coconut and pickled papaya; spring rolls of slow-roasted pork, with coriander, wombok*, and lime mayonnaise; rib of beef with a smoked aubergine tamarind salad and hot pepper jus... The list goes on.
The exotic flavours are expressed in an imaginative menu of sharing platters, small and large plates, and desserts; and with plenty of unusual ingredients and unexpected flavour combinations, Kopapa is definitely inspirational for any aspiring chef.
I came here for a light dinner with my mum - we shared a carafe of good rose wine, a mixed sharer platter, and a mouth-wateringly good* small plate of lamb breast in pomegranate glaze with yoghurt.
The variety of dishes on offer makes Kopapa suitable for any occasion, whether you're looking for a large, multi-course feast or a light pre-theatre snack. The abundance of sharing platters and small plates on the menu encourages a relaxed, sociable dining experience, and there's a great selection of wine and cocktails too.
After our meal we wandered over to Soho to get ice-cream at Amorino. This has to be one of the best gelateria's in London, serving a fantastic array of authentic Italian ice-cream alongside other treats (specialty hot chocolate, waffles, milkshakes...). On this occasion I went for a combination of Amorino's gorgeous speculoos ice-cream (with the distinctive spicy caramel flavour of Belgian Speculos biscuits) alongside "l'inimitabile" (chocolate-hazelnut flavour with sumptuous strata of frozen nutella - the friendly girl behind the counter put an extra chunk in my cup on my request!). My mum, who ordered the nocciola and coffee - her favourite flavours - was also very impressed.
With its central location, Amorino is a great spot to grab dessert after a meal at one of the many restaurants in the area, or just for a scoop of something cold and delicious on a hot day! I'll definitely be back in winter to try out the decadent hot chocolate...
http://www.kopapa.co.uk/
http://www.amorino.com/en/
*Also known as Chinese cabbage
**I would like to note: no more so than my mum's slow-cooked pomegranate molasses-marinated lamb, which is also pretty incredible
