Imad Alarnab’s Somerset House site to open in September

The founder of Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Imad Alarnab, is opening a second site at Somerset House in London this September.

Alarnab is partnering with hospitality consultant Michalis Ntais and Christos Georgogiannopoulos, food director of Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, to open the site.

Aram will serve baked goods, salads, breakfasts and lunches by day and open in the evenings as a space for charity events and supper clubs.

The space will overlook Somerset House’s River Terrace and will open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch. Guests will enter via the deli, which will offer coffee, pastries, dips, salads, wraps and breads.

Signature plates will include za’atar croissants and halva brownies, cardamom spiced coffee, Syrian mint tea and spiced pomegranate fizz.

The space will also feature a store with products from across the Mediterranean, including Medjool dates, Jalapeño shatta (a hot sauce), Aram ground coffee, chilli jam and roasted hazelnuts.

Guests dining at Aram can expect dishes inspired by Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan and beyond. These will include the likes of roasted aubergine salad with chickpeas, confit red pepper, tahini dressing, pomegranate, parsley and dill; labneh with poached eggs, grilled sourdough, Aleppo chilli oil and crispy onions; and potato rosti with house-cured sumac salmon, poached eggs and coriander oil. Lighter options will include French brioche toast with tahini clotted cream and carob molasses syrup.

A dedicated dining room known as Salamlik will offer an elevated space to celebrate emerging talent and support charities close to Alarnab’s heart. The room will have its own entrance and private bar and host events such as supper clubs and cooking classes.

Alarnab said: “With my friends Michalis and Christos, I am so excited to open the doors to Aram. We are collectively inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean and how it reminds us of home and we want to celebrate this in the best way possible, from our new shop to the ingredients across our menu.

“Opening in Somerset House is a milestone for us and feels like the perfect location to bring Aram to life, especially with the addition of Salamlik, a very special dining room that we plan to host memorable events within. Salamlik refers to a prestigious room within a house that is reserved for your most important guests – if I ever tried to run into the Salamlik at my grandparents I would get into big trouble! This room will be for everyone, but a distinguished space from the rest of Aram for events.”

Aram will join Somerset House’s other hospitality offerings, which include WatchHouse coffee, Rishim Sachdeva’s vegan Café Petiole and Skye Gyngell’s Spring restaurant.