25 years ago, Somerset House was an elaborate staff car park for the Inland Revenue offices, and Imad Alarnab had just opened his first restaurant in an old Syrian textile warehouse.
Between then and now, Imad became one of the most famous chefs in his home country, had his restaurants bombed in the civil war, was forced to flee, made it to the UK with literally just the clothes on his back, became a taxi driver & car salesman, started supper clubs, donated the proceeds to charity, started a pop-up restaurant, donated the proceeds to charity, and finally started his own permanent place, which still donates to charity from every bill.
And Somerset House? Became the kind of iconic cultural destination that’s perfect for a big-hearted man like Imad to open a restaurant in. So it’s a happy coincidence that the two of them are coming together.
Aram will be a cafe, deli, and restaurant, and it’s set to open this autumn in the building’s Thames-facing river terrace at the back of the space, which literally does look out over the water itself rather than the fancy courtyard. The idea will be for it to serve up goods made from Syrian produce—the first of its kind to be imported since the civil war broke out more than a decade ago—including all manner of pastries, breads, dips, and salads. We’re talking za’atar croissants, we’re talking hummus & zahrra salatas, we’re even talking maarouk doughnuts with pistachios & dates.
It’s not going to be open in the evenings as a dinner place, but there are plans for regular supper clubs, exhibitions, and live music nights, giving a platform to emerging artists & chefs.
Let’s hope it’s still going strong 25 years from now.
NOTE: Aram is set to open this Autumn. We’ll be back then with the full scoop. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on the Aram website.
Aram | Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
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