WHY THREE BY EVA IS STILL OUT GO-TO FOR LEVANTINE CUISINE

Three By Eva feels more like stepping into a home and a restaurant.

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been back to Three By Eva. Run by a mother and her daughters (who are always around making sure everyone is well looked after), it’s our go-to whenever we’re craving comforting Levantine food, especially their perfectly tangy Vine Leaves.

Regardless of the time or day, the place is always buzzing, but still manages to feel wonderfully homely. The cosy interiors only add to it, and we could happily stay for hours. In fact, we only just discovered there’s an entire top floor with more seating, direct views of the Burj Khalifa and a gorgeous terrace with a handful of tables, ideal for those cooler winter days.

The vibrant menu has been updated since we were last there, with a few new additions that only add to the experience. Rooted in Jordanian family recipes passed down through generations, the Levantine cuisine comes with a modern twist, making it a truly delicious feast for the palate and soul.

Prepare to indulge in a parade of spectacular dishes-each offering a unique and modern take on quintessential Middle Eastern sharing plates. It is a joyful explosion of flavours and textures, rich with traditional spices and the zing of fresh local herbs-each refined plate as tasty as it is beautiful.

The colourful plates of mezze here are absolutely stellar, best mopped up with the piping hot pita bread-think velvety hummus topped with a pile of vivid green herbaceous zhoug sauce, bite-size green crispy Jordanian falafel (by far the best outside of Jordan) with a side of tahini, and irresistibly moreish za’atar filled fatayer-a must-have!

One of our all-time favourites has to be the Feta Brûlée, with caramelised feta, dates and thyme, served with walnut and date sourdough. A delicious mix of sweet, savoury and earthy flavours, with a lovely crackly top.

We always order the green lentil salad because it is gloriously refreshing and bursting with a mix of fresh herbs and summer fruits-it is the perfect nourishing dish for these hot summer days.

Few places do aubergine quite as well, so it’s not surprising we always end up with at least two versions on the table. The brilliant smoked eggplant dish topped with cranberries and served with the ka’ak sourdough crackers is inventive and flavourful.

One of our recent discoveries is their interpretation of D’mseh Rommaniyeh is a velvety blend of lentils, smoked aubergine and tahini, with pomegranate molasses adding a sweet-tart finish. We kept going back for more.

For something a little different we tried Fattet Shishbarak as it came highly recommended. This dish was all about texture, with crispy dumplings, tender lamb and toasted pine nuts served with a creamy, tangy yoghurt base. Turmeric garlic and homemade chilli oil gave it an added little kick.

Each dish is a winner but the chicken mansouf is an absolute crowd-pleaser. The traditional dish of chicken and rice is topped with crispy golden onions and delicate slivers of roasted eggplant skin, accompanied with a simple yogurt sauce, this aromatic, comforting dish is excellent, especially when you are in a big group.

We can never resist the Msakhan Rolls, crisp saj bread wrapped around sumac-spiced chicken and onions. Oh, and we always add a plate of Batata Harra, tossed with chilli, garlic and coriander. In fact, this is our go-to quick lunch here.

For our dinner we left just enough room for the Knafeh, with its crispy golden top and warm, stretchy cheese beneath. Impossible to stop at just one bite.

And never say no to the ma’amoul they bring out at the end of the meal. This bewitching little shortbread-like cookie is filled with dates, with a subtle sweet-spiced flavour that’s perfect with chamomile tea.

Three By Eva is a deliciously atmospheric delight for fans of Levantine cuisine. The space is convivial, the service attentive and the food, masterminded by Eva Halasa, consistently outstanding. It’s exactly the kind of charming neighbourhood spot we wish we had on our street. It isn’t, but that clearly hasn’t stopped us coming back.

Three By Eva

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