Fusion Filipino style
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| Pumpkin and squash lobster |
Fusion is a dirty word in the chef world and is something not easy to pull off, so I usually try to avoid any restaurant trying to do fusion. When I first heard about Donia, a pretty new restaurant in Soho that does Filipino cuisine with a Western touch, it sounded like a minefield. However, there are hardly any Filipino restaurants in London and it is a cuisine that I would like to explore more, and after some very positive reviews from the press, plus the menu from its website looked appealing, I decided to give it a go. The menu is spread between snacks, starters, mains and desserts, a very Western-style approach.
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| Carlingford Oysters, Guava Granita |
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| Salted Egg & Tomato Salad |
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| Adobo Mushroom Croquetas |
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| Prawn & Pork Dumplings, White Crab |
The special from the day was a whole lobster cooked in a coconut and pumpkin sauce, this was top-class. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the creamy sweetness of the sauce matched the lobster so well and was able to bring out the freshness of the lobster, it is one of the finest Asian-style lobster dishes I have encountered. The roasted pork belly was also excellent, it had a well-balanced ratio of fat, well well-seasoned and the skin was very crispy. The peppercorn and liver sauce added some sharp and earthy elements which worked very well with the pork.
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| Lechon, Liver Peppercorn Sauce |
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| Lamb Shoulder Caldereta Pie |
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| Chicken Inasal |
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| Ube Choux |
I get that Donia is not trying to be authentic and showcase traditional Filipino cuisine, and that is ok as I really enjoyed everything from my visit. I wasn't sure what to expect at first but I left with a big smile as all the dishes, while not authentic, it was powerful in flavour and cooked really well, using some fine ingredients. Donia is a rare beast that is able to turn out inviting and well-executed fusion flavours, for sure this place is going to be a success with such a unique offering.
Food 4/5
Average cost without drinks and services:
£65
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