Saf - London (pic heavy)

[Jax]

Saf Restaurant link (http://www.safrestaurant.co.uk/)and their executive chef is Chad Sarno (http://www.rawchef.com/)

Has anybody eaten at this restaurant? If so we'd love a review of the following;

What was the range of food on offer?
Food quality?
All raw, or easy to identify the raw dishes?
Price range?
Accessibility/parking?
What you thought of the food and ambiance?

Much thanks :)

[Emma]

Saf is great to go to with non raw people who would enjoy equally the raw and cooked dishes. it's about 50/50 but the food is beautifully presented and tastes wonderful. definitely have the ravioli!

great selection and beautiful deserts. bit pricey compared to other raw places.

wonderful cocktails made with real fruit juices - mine had rose petals in it last time.

highly recommended

[Jax]

OMG Emma what was the name of that cocktail? I really want one but can't find it on their cocktail menu :confused: :o

[Emma]

oh my I've forgotten, it was a few weeks ago now. I'm sure it had berries in it? That's no help at all really is it? :)

If you ask I'm sure they'd tell you :)

[Jax]

Corrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! :870: :D:D:D:D

We went there on Friday night....................it's FAB!!! :638:

LOL I'll do a MUCH better review tomorrow (with pics) cos we've literally just got back and I'm VERY tired right now :o

[Godders]

I also vote that it was excellent :) I'm also extremely tired and will try to write more tomorrow :)

[Jax]

Well what can I say Saf was more than what I was expecting, the staff were lovely, the restaurant was inviting and the food was awesome...........and so were the cocktails!!

Looking from the front down the restaurant to their secret garden, and the second pic is their kitchen;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0260.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0261.jpg

This is the menu for when we went;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0255.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0256.jpg




We went for the tasting plate for the starter with the cashew cheese and flax crackers, then the mushroom risotto which was a replacement for the Saf bowl that night, and the Pad Thai.

[Jax]

The tasting plate was gorgeous and everything had to be completely split 50:50 LOL except the little wasabi cube that I had ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0272.jpg You can also see our cocktails which I'll come to later and ionised water with refreshing cucumber slices.

This was the beetroot and cashew cheese ravioli, with a gorgeous balsamic marinated fig...........which had to be split equally LOL!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0273.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0274.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0275.jpg

The middle pic is the vegetable maki which was parsnip rice wrapped in nori with a dipping sauce and some side veggies which I can't remember what they were but there was seaweed, and you can just see the wasabi cube to the left. Godders isn't a fan of sushi stuff but loved this lot.........well apart from the wasabi!!!

Then along from that we had balsamic olives, and a bowl of spiced cashews which were fab and mixed in with marinated (but dried) sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Next to that was the delicately thin flax crackers which were really tasty and 2 cashew cheeses, unfortunately I can't quite remember the flavours but were both gorgeous, I think the purpley one was with olive tapenade and the orangey one was with peppers.

[Jax]

This is a pic of the risotto and smoky pepper coulis, which was very tasty, and then the pad thai that was also tasty but there was a LOT of it!!:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0276.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0277.jpg

Then for dessert I couldn't choose between the fruits on maple and walnut cream with a biscuit base with agave swirl or the orange and chocolate pie (it doesn't usually come with a birthday candle in it LOL)...............so we had one of each and even though godders was full he managed to eat half of both too LOL:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0285.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0283.jpg

All the cocktails we had were absolutely divine, unfortunately the light was getting darker so the pics weren't that good, but the first two came out well. We had Lady Isabel (the pink one in the background), the green one in the foreground was a special that I can't remember but both had crushed fruits and edible flowers in and all organic.........they are the most flavoursome cocktails I've ever had!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/Photo0268.jpg We also had That Hippie Town in India, Trilby and a Morroccan Mojito which was gorgeous..........uh oh my mouth's watering just thinking about it!!!

[Jax]

Ha ha I've just found the receipt so can fill in the blanks now if anyone is interested...........the green cocktail you can see was a Cucumber Caipirinha, the fruits dessert was a Berry Tartlet and the chocolate dessert was a Chocolate Marble Torte :D

[Jax]

And guess who forgot they'd taken more pics on their own phone :o

So here are a couple more to feast your eyes on;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/cucumber.jpg This is the Morroccan Mojito



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/trilby.jpg and the Trilby

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/ShaunRydersBrainCell/Raw%20in%20UK/edibleflowers.jpg and these are some of the edible flowers that are served on top of your cocktails

[haverawcake]

Wow - thanks for the pics - it looks amazing. I need to go there!

[Jax]

Oh my word!!! I've just had an email about Saf's Christmas menu............my mouth won't stop watering :542: And OMG after sampling their cocktails before, that Speakeasy cocktail hour looks gorgeous!


OPTION 1
3 Courses - £25


TO START
Cream of Celeriac
with parsnip crisp
or
Signature Beetroot Ravioli
cashew herb ricotta, organic carrot

MAIN
Chesnut Roast
savoury sage and onion gravy, organic roast potatoes, maple roast parsnips, braised red cabbage, and cranberry sauce
or
Winter Platter
braised seitan, celeriac mash, jus and baby leeks
or
Raw Apple Wood Smoked Canneloni
marinated sprouted lentils, winter fresh vegetables, chesnut cream

DESSERT
Christmas Pudding
served with cinnamon ice cream
or
Cranberry Cheese Cake
accompanied by passion fruit tulip

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

OPTION 2
5 Courses - £35


TO START
Cream of Celeriac
with parsnip crisp
or
Signature Beetroot Ravioli
cashew herb ricotta, organic carrot

GREENS
Detox Salad
spinach, rocket, radish, seaweed, cucumber, mungbean sprouts, lentil sprouts and omega oil dressing
or
Kale & Avocado
fresh peppers, candied pecans, nori croutons
MAINS
Chesnut Roast
savoury sage and onion gravy, organic roast potatoes, maple roast parsnips, braised red cabbage, and cranberry sauce
or
Winter Platter
braised seitan, celeriac mash, jus and baby leeks
or
Raw Apple Wood Smoked Canneloni
marinated sprouted lentils, winter fresh vegetables, chesnut cream

DESSERT
Christmas Pudding
served with cinnamon ice cream
or
Cranberry Cheese Cake
accompanied by passion fruit tulip

FINALE
Signature Pumpkin Pie
lacuma crust, espresso syrup, and nutmeg cream


Shhhh don't tell! -- £5 Speakeasy Cocktail Hour
Prohibition Era cocktails hit Saf Botanical Bar as we salute the pioneers of the golden cocktail era. Cocktails that were only accessible by password inside the dim speakeasys and back alleys of the early 20th century. Naturally organic, classically delicious.

The Saf Speakeasy brings a botanical twist to the the classic cocktail everyday from 16:00 to 19:00, for only £5.

Don't forget the password.

[Jax]

Just spotted that Saf Kensington are doing an offer on their cocktails - buy one cocktail get the 2nd half price offer extended through to June.

Having had some of their cocktails I can thoroughly recommend them http://www.rawinuk.com/images/icons/icon12.gif