Sune Restaurant Review London | Exploring the Food Scene

Sune: a Mediterranean cuisine served in East London

East London seems the place to go when looking for good restaurants. This time, I will review Sune, a Mediterranean restaurant nestled in Hackney. Not far from where Darling’s Eatery is located – in case you are craving a delicious pasta, check my restaurant review here.

We, as The London Hungries Community, were looking for a restaurant in London that would emphasise seasonal ingredients while serving them in a clean, elegant way. Also, we wanted a friendly, relaxed dining experience, and it wasn’t long before Sune Restaurant came to mind.
For our large group, they cater a fixed set menu paired with wines and non-alcoholic drinks. I was impressed by the service; the staff added a personal touch to the experience, and their wine and food knowledge was striking.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sune Restaurant is the perfect destination for wine lovers and foodies!

If you’re a wine enthusiast seeking something unique, Sune is your place.
Their selection features wines from ‘small’ winemakers, offering a taste of the unconventional. During our visit, the standout wines came from unexpected places, such as Georgia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, showcasing Sune’s commitment to offering a diverse and intriguing wine list.

Sune Restaurant also curated a great variety of non-alcoholic drinks, such as Sherbet Daydream, produced by Muri Copenhagen; I will call Muri a visionary, as they use multiple fermentations to create their unique flavours. This thoughtful inclusion of unique non-alcoholic options shows Sune’s dedication to catering to all guests, regardless of their beverage preferences, making everyone feel welcome and included in the dining experience.

Seasonal ingredients are at the core of the concept. I admire chefs who take the time to research the best ingredients for their dishes and keep their cuisine simple without overpowering the flavours. Without further ado, here is my full Sune Restaurant Review.

Good To Know

Before You Go

A reduced menu is always a good sign because the restaurant focuses on quality over quantity (if you know me, you heard this before)

Inside Sune Restaurant, wooden floor, guests sat at the tables, food, drinks and a bar

Sune Restaurant Review: What to Expect

First Act – Starters that you cannot miss

Our tasting menu was a spectacular culinary journey.
Some dishes that made us rave were the fried chicken thighs, the flatbread served with taramasalata, and the lamb sweetbreads, which were complemented by the cosy yet elegant ambience and the attentive service.
Our dinner kicked off with:

Carlingford oysters, beetroot & pickled rhubarb
Fried chicken thighs, mayonnaise & dill pickle
Charred Flatbreads & Tarama
Carosello Cucumber Salad, Piattoni Beans, Sheep’s Ricotta & Salsa Verde

As an Italian, the flatbread was more than just a dish. It connected to my roots, reminding me of the warm, family-filled evenings in Italy. Served warm, its crust was charred to perfection, offering a delightful crunch while maintaining a soft centre. Accompanied by Tarama, a traditional Turkish/Greek mousse made of cured fish roe and a sprinkle of paprika for a hint of spiciness, it was a taste of Mediterranean home. (My husband is Albanian, and Greek/Albanian cuisines are very similar).

The fried chicken thighs were a true testament to the chef’s mastery. I must confess, anything fried can be a delight, but this was a true culinary triumph. The chicken was perfectly crispy, yet surprisingly light on the palate. The mayonnaise and pickles added a refreshing tang, beautifully offsetting the spices.

While impeccably presented, the Irish oysters from Carlingford were probably my least favourite starter. I love to taste the raw oyster in its pure flavour, and perhaps I thought the beetroot and pickled rhubarb were overpowering.

Paired with 2021 Mousses Sauvage Aligoté, La Maison Romane, Bourgogne

Starter selection at Sune Restaurant Review London

Fried chicken thighs, mayonnaise & dill pickle served in a restaurant

Second Act – My favourite course

As the dinner unfolded, and so Sune Restaurant Review, for the middle course we had:

Cuttlefish Stew, Fregola Sarda & ‘Nduja
Lamb Sweetbreads, Green Asparagus, Hazelnut & Barley Vinaigrette

Where to start – both dishes were mouthwatering, and I could have easily eaten more if I could only.

The cuttlefish stew, with the delightful blend of two distinct Italian ingredients: the Fregola Sarda, a traditional Sardinian pasta akin to couscous, and ‘Nduja, a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from Calabria, was a true standout. This dish was a harmonious symphony of flavours, with each element perfectly balanced and thoughtfully combined.

The lamb sweetbreads served with grilled green asparagus and toasted hazelnuts, finished with barley vinaigrette. The description itself sounds like a masterpiece to me! Where do I start? The tenderness of the lamb sweetbreads, contrasted with the tingly barley vinaigrette and the crunchiness of the hazelnuts, made it divine! The green asparagus also remained crispy, adding an explosion of pleasant textures.

Paired with 2022 Gewürztraminer/Riesling ‘Le Schlouk’, Geschickt, Alsace.

Lamb Sweetbreads, Green Asparagus, Hazelnut & Barley Vinaigrette Sune Restaurant Review London

Third Act – Locally sourced fish

Finally, it’s time to speak about the main course at Sune Restaurant. The chef organised for us:

Whole Grilled Red Mullet, Camone Tomatoes, Lemongrass & Chilli
Grilled Potatoes, Brown Butter & Crème Fraîche
Radicchio Salad, Lemon Verbena & Cashew

Describing a fish is a profoundly personal experience, much like a wine tasting. Each bite was a journey of subtle flavours, with scattered pops of lemongrass and hints of chilli sauce. Here, I learned about Camone tomatoes, a heritage variety from Sardinia, which are among the finest.
Both side dishes were delightful and complemented the red mullet very well.

Paired with 2022 Cinsault ‘Red Velvet’, Mersel Wines, Dimane / Qannoubine Valley

Whole Grilled Red Mullet, Camone Tomatoes, Lemongrass & Chilli Sune Restaurant Review London

Grilled Potatoes with creme fraiche Sune Restaurant London food blog

Fourth Act – No meal can end without a dessert, or two.

We slipped through the time, and they needed the table back for the following reservation, so we moved outside for the desserts (as you can probably notice, the photos’ quality – sorry, it was very dark), we had:

Whipped Cheesecake, Pomelo & Brown Butter
Chocolate Crémeux, Almond & Sea Salt

I usually wait for the dessert as kids wait for Christmas, but when they both arrived, I felt slightly disappointed by the chocolate cremeux, which was overly rich for me. I didn’t appreciate the dish as much, and neither did the other diners.
On the contrary, we all loved the whipped cheesecake served with pomelo and brown sugar, finished with white chocolate shaved on the top.

Paired with Eagle Rare 10-year-old Old Fashioned

Whipped Cheesecake, Pomelo and Brown Butter

Chocolate Cremeux Almond and Salt Sune Restaurant Review London

Good To Know