In the cacophony of the London restaurant scene it can be hard for newcomers to make themselves heard, but when Nutshell opened it needed hardly any introduction before it was booked out for weeks to come. The recipe for success, perhaps, was in it singing its own song. With few other high-profile Iranian restaurants in the capital, there aren’t many places serving up this colourful cuisine in such a contemporary, central setting.
The menu is a tumble of vibrant ingredients – aubergines, saffron, pistachio, rose, barberries, pomegranate – made up into small sharing plates served family-style as and when they’re ready. The brevity of the menu’s terse descriptions can make dishes hard to decipher, but enthusiastic staff are on hand to guide and recommend.