Mezzet Dar - The new DAR-ling of Bridge Road
Nothing is as good for the soul as a cheeky mid-week lunch with friends. and believe me there are few restaurants as good for the digestion and wallet as the newly opened Dar.
Dar is the little sister to Mezzet just two doors up on Bridge Road, East Molesey. The owners are a Lebanese & Spanish couple who got Mezzet spot on so we had high expectations.
"Dar" means 'lounge' in Lebanese and 'to give' in Spanish which perfectly sums up what you get - excellent fresh food served in a fabulous lounge style restaurant.
In a road renowned for good food Dar stands out for all the right reasons. The interior has been lovingly styled with great attention to detail such as the beautiful tiles and iodised table tops. It's comfortable and relaxed but you feel indulged and special too.
The food is a fusion of Spanish and Lebanese tapas presented beautifully by passionate chef Luis Lopez along with sous chef Yago Crego who obviously care greatly about the dishes they prepare.
My friends and I ordered:
Moutabel and Shanklish Toasts - smoked aubergine puree with beetroot, walnuts & crumbed goats cheeses with caramelised onion.
Vieiras con Migas - panfried scallops with chef's breadcrumbs and parmentier sauce. With two fat, juicy scallops perched on top this was one of my favourite dishes.
Beetroot Falafel - fava beans, raw beets & chick pea mini patties with a tahini sauce. Loved these.
Cheese Rakakat with Chorizo - The rakakat was good but the mint sauce served as a dip was absolute perfection.
Arroz Negro - blackened fish rice with prawns and paprika but not just any paprika this is Pimenton de la vera, a smoked paprika crucial to authentic Spanish cuisine.
Moutabel & Shanklish Toasts.
Beetroot Falafel.
Cheese Rakakat with Chorizo & Mint Dip.
The food looks and tastes fresh, light and healthy with vibrant colours and range of textures. It was all delicious.
Feeling the right side of full we were then handed the desert menu and couldn't resist ordering a selection of puddings to share.
Tart de Santiago - an utterly devine traditional Spanish almond cake served with quite possibly the best vanilla & blossomwater ice cream I have ever tasted.
Torrija - infused brioche bread with fruit coulis. I can't comment on this at length as one of my friends loved it so much she ate it all!
Blossom Filloas - an orange flavoured crepe filled with egg cream. Now the idea of an egg cream was slightly off-putting as I imagined an overwhelming egg taste but no, this was gorgeous.
Tarta de Santiago
Blossom Filloas.
Just when we thought we could eat no more, the wonderful waitress brought us double chocolate & orange bonbons along with tumblers of creamy peach liqueur poured over ice - utter heaven.
Prices range from £1.50 for pincho del dia to £12 for jamon serano but most are around the £7 mark - fabulous value for such great food.
There is also a children's menu priced at £5.
Dar has a closed off area, the library room, perfect for private dinning so if you;re planning a Christmas treat with friends or family this would be really special.
I urge you to go now - for a girly lunch, mother/daughter lunch, evening with friends, evening with your partner - frankly anything at all because word will spread fast and tables will be hard to come by!
The Library Room, ideal for private dinning.
Dar, 39 Bridge Road, East Molesey, KT8 9ER www.mezzetdar.co.uk