Om Ali

Om Ali rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The earthy and warming complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using molokhia leaves correctly takes real skill. Egyptian cuisine is one of the oldest recorded food cultures, with accounts dating to pharaonic tim…

Om Ali here was solidly made — hearty and filling without anything to complain about. molokhia leaves was present and handled reasonably. But something was missing from the depth that this dish should have. koshari is considered the national dish representing the multicultural influence on Egyptian…

I'm sceptical of any restaurant claiming to do Om Ali well, having been disappointed often enough. This one delivered. The hearty and filling base was authentic and the use of lentils showed real knowledge. Egyptian cuisine is one of the oldest recorded food cultures, with accounts dating to pharao…

I made Om Ali for eight guests who had varying familiarity with the cuisine. Every single person asked for the recipe. The subtly herbal profile was the main talking point — no one had quite experienced molokhia leaves used that way before. koshari is considered the national dish representing the m…

What sets Om Ali apart is the handling of coriander seed. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the deeply savoury and spiced result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience. Egyptian cuisine is one of the oldest recorded f…

I was looking forward to Om Ali here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The earthy and warming character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with cumin or from scaling up production at the expense of quality. Egyptian cuisine is one of the oldest reco…

I took a cooking class specifically to learn how to make Om Ali correctly. The instructor explained why coriander seed is used the way it is — something I'd never understood from just eating it. The subtly herbal result when you make it yourself is different. koshari is considered the national dish…

I ate Om Ali at three different restaurants in the same week to compare. The results were illuminating. The use of molokhia leaves varied significantly — only one got it right. The subtly herbal profile should be consistent but interpretation differs widely. koshari is considered the national dish …

I went in with low expectations — I'd had mediocre versions before. What I found was Om Ali made with real commitment to lentils and technique. The hearty and filling result was more complex and satisfying than anything I'd had before. koshari is considered the national dish representing the multic…

I had never tried Om Ali before this visit and I wasn't sure what to expect. The deeply savoury and spiced taste hit immediately and made sense of the dish in a way descriptions never quite do. coriander seed is an ingredient I'd not encountered used quite like this before. The a family home dinner…