If you were incredibly moved by Imad Alarnab’s appearance on Saturday Kitchen last November, let’s just say you weren’t alone. Having to flee his home in Damascus because of the civil war, where he owned three restaurants, the top chef settled in London during late 2015 and went on to rebuild his life.
It’s a story of unrelenting hope and positivity, and I’ve been eager to try his food ever since.
In 2020, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen opened in Soho’s Kingly Court but due to strong demand, not only was more space needed, but also the next evolution in his culinary journey. This led to the launch of a brand new, second restaurant - Aram By Imad At Somerset House, which opened in September 2025.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Aram At Somerset House
The interiors at Aram Somerset House were picture-perfect; cosy yet refined.
Need To Know:
- Address: Somerset House, WC2R 1LA
- Area: Strand
- Cuisine: Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Jordan
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: Aram’s rectangular-shaped space took over part of Somerset House’s South Wing, and I really felt a sense of community and warmth straight away. Expect olive trees, bold globe lighting, grand semi-circular windows and high ceilings - bringing together tones of gold, cream and sage.
- Perfect For: after a respite from seeing London’s sights? Or maybe a post-work catch-up? Aram is ideal for this. Also, there’s a nice, summery private hire area towards the far end (which was occupied during our visit) – so I'd recommend for birthdays or group gatherings as well.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £57.90
Shaped by generations of expertise, with a lot of care and attention, the cuisine here is a little slice of sunshine.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Aram London menu is separated into mezze, salads and larger plates and we picked a selection of each.
- Curry Cauliflower Salad (£10) - you have to admire the skill on show here, as this veggie stunner was extremely well-balanced. Served cold and bursting with moisture, expect flavour-packed florets presented with slices of red chilli cooled down with pomegranate gems. We particularly liked the rocket and black onion seeds for contrast too.
- Aram Falafel Plate (£19) - if you’re seeking a signature taste of Aram, beautifully showing what they’re all about, make a beeline for this dish. We’re talking earthy hummus dotted in paprika-spiced chickpeas, aubergine that basically melts in the mouth (it’s that good, plus it’s also available as an option on its own) and golden, herby falafel shaped into matching spheres. To finish it off? Fluffy yet charred pita, alongside yoghurt, tahini and pink pickled onions.
- Za'atar Pita (£3.50) - this humble dish, perhaps unexpectedly, vied for my favourite of the evening. The bread was as light as a cloud, puffed to perfection, and smothered in a divine, nutty spice that acted like a crust. I could speak about the aforementioned paste for hours, as it was rich in olive oil and had a wonderful slightly sweet aftertaste.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Damascus Iced Tea (£8.50) - wow – this alcohol-free cocktail brought a smile to my face with its bright fuchsia colour, plus it also tasted lovely. Think hibiscus tea, pomegranate molasses (syrup), lemon juice and agave.
- Spiced Pomegranate Fizz (£7) - an energising mocktail blending orange juice, cardamom and soda; Aram proved that refreshing, bubbly cocktails don’t have to be overly sweet to hit the mark.
Our Overall Experience At Aram By Imad At Somerset House
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hidden in plain sight at one of the capital’s most famous landmarks, Aram London restaurant was impressive in more ways than one. Not only is the food exceptional - light but actually really filling (we couldn’t even fit in dessert) - but protagonist Imad is also a chef to be seriously admired. Using Aram as a platform for good, namely supporting refugee charities and throwing a spotlight on Syrian culture, our experience here gave us all the fuzzies and we left feeling uplifted and grateful. Can’t ask for more than that.
