Jago - Tower Hamlets

Second Home is a fantastic restaurant in Shoreditch that has a lot to offer. With a quirky atmosphere and a great location, it is the perfect spot for a delicious meal. The former chef of Ottolenghi has truly impressed with well-cooked dishes that provide a tasty taste of the Near East. With a 50% discount, it is a great value for money, but even at full price, it is definitely worth it.

The interior is very unique, and the food is excellent at a price that is not typical in London. While the menu mainly features small plates, it is not incredibly original. The only downside is the unpleasant smell of the paper used for the menu.

When I first heard that jago opened a restaurant with a focus on Ashkenazi dishes, I was intrigued. my inheritance is Ashkenazi Jewish, which means that my roots can be traced back to Central and Eastern Europe in opposition to Sephardi Jewish women and girls, mostly from Spain and Portugal. the ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews subscribe above all the same religious ideas, but some different interpretations lead to a slight difference in culture and practice. an example is passover, as my onkel is a sephardi, he has some different traditions, for example, he eats rice while ashkenzi juden avoid it. what exactly did this restaurant specifically make ashkenazi in contrast to Jewish? to be honest...read more

The dining room is certainly unusual; I’ve not seen anything like it before – it felt like a cross between a tube carriage and a bike shed. A bright orange one at that. The long wooden, park bench style seat that runs along the whole length of the restaurant isn’t the comfiest of seats and there was obviously a problem with the air flow as it was a tad breezy. But saying all that, I found it all rather charming. The menu had a whole Jewish Middle Eastern thing going on. To start, the salami and cornichons 6 and the nduja with pickled chillies 6 were easily some of the best I’ve tasted. I’m talking incredibly good. Next was grilled manouri, cherry tomatoes and sweet herbs...read more

The restaurant offers a diverse menu with influences from Ashkenazi, Southern European, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Diners can choose from bar food, an a la carte menu, or a 'workers lunch.' The head chef, Louis Solley, has previously worked at Ottolenghi in Notting Hill and is known as one of the most famous Israeli chefs in the UK. He combines traditional Israeli food with flavors from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia. The menu is not your typical one, with unique and creative dishes. I started my meal with sardines on toast, a simple yet delicious dish. While Israel may not be known as a culinary hotspot, the chef's innovative approach to cooking makes this restaurant a must-try.