C
We ended up at The Carob Tree after a rather hungry stroll in Hampstead Heath. Overly grateful for the table and ungraciously eager to order, "no no, we'll order drinks and food together."<br/><br/>Now that we should stumble across a restaurant so well reviewed by my boss is simply delirious luck, but to be greeted by just the right character of host was wonderful.<br/><br/>A quick scan of the menu we had been recommended to choose around five dishes, including a dip or two, a couple of meat dishes and a salad. Naturally we went for a bit more than suggested, because by this stage no food seemed like it could be enough - but we restrained from ordering everything, which I felt was good of us.<br/><br/>The houmous and melin tzanosalata to you and I that's: roasted aubergine, tomato , garlic olive oil and lemon dip came with fresh toasted pita - apparently delicious, but I requested something non-glutenous and some refreshing cucumber fit the bill. Oh and wine - let's not forget the wine.<br/><br/>The restaurant itself it simple, but extremely welcoming and was buzzing with chatter and evidently very happy guests.<br/><br/>The wine was going down a treat, but we were clearly looking starved and assured our food would be coming out as soon as each dish was cooked - that's how small plates work and we were happy to wait.<br/><br/>But shortly they arrived in their individual glory - coal grilled asparagus with kefalotiri - that's a delicate cheese, and who doesn't like cheese, on everything?<br/><br/>Keftedes next, these are a generously sized mixture of minced pork, spices and potato fried in little balls.<br/><br/>But it's not over yet, here goes the charcoal grilled lamb... I know, I know.. <br/><br/>I'm hungry all over again. Fresh lemon squeezed on everything; mouthfuls of smokey meat, perked up with fresh flavours red onion and sweet grilled peppers<br/><br/>And it wouldn't be a proper meze if we didn't have some squid.. again, the charcoal grill just gives it that flavour that I can't quite get over on every mouthful.<br/><br/>The tentacles were particularly crispy, which sounds barbaric but really we all know they're the best bit. <br/><br/>Filled to the brim, there's no intention of looking at the dessert menu (though we all know there's a second stomach for that!)<br/><br/>But it seems sweet is not an option here – before we could ask for the bill our host has popped these down and almost before we can say thank you.. Greek baklava - layers of filo pastry, syrup honey and chopped nuts<br/><br/>We mentioned thrice how sweet it is and by the fourth consideration of its intensity we'd demolished the lot . Concluding, that it was just sweet enough.<br/><br/>Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I'd thoroughly recommend a visit here, via the woods or just getting in the car works too!<br/><br/>A full review available with photos on my blog www[dot] survivalsurvival[dot]com