Hammersmith Restaurant: Barcha Barcha - A Taste Of Tunisia

Sas

‘Fantastic food and lovely service. Hours later I still feel a warm glow inside me.’ – Robert Beckett

Eagle-eyed passers-by on King Street might have noticed the colourful blue signage and stylish interior of Barcha Barcha, a new restaurant close to Ravenscourt Park. Owned by charming husband and wife team, Rayan and Sas, it showcases the best Tunisian cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, evening meals – and mint tea, date cake, baklava and sweet treats at any time.

‘Cooking is my passion,’ smiles Sas, who is the Head Chef. ‘I grew up watching my mother – she is an excellent cook – preparing food. Our menu uses traditional and family recipes and the ingredients are fresh and authentic. Everything is made with love in our kitchen: we want Barcha Barcha (it means an abundance) to re-create the intimate feeling of dining in a Tunisian home and introduce our favourite dishes to people in the UK.’

The presence on the menu of Couscous, Shakshuka and Brika suggests similarities with other North African food. ‘To an extent that’s true, but the taste and our approach to spicing is completely different,’ explains Sas. ‘The essence of our cuisine is a blend of coriander and caraway seeds with added chilli; it’s in every recipe – we can’t cook without it! And, of course, harissa is special to Tunisia.’

Sas works with two other chefs and that allows her to “appear” front of house. ‘I enjoy meeting people and it means I can answer questions and recommend dishes. We have excellent vegan and vegetarian options and cater for personal preferences; we are unlicensed but customers are welcome to bring a bottle; and the restaurant can be booked for private parties – and we willbe open over the Christmas season.

‘We would love local people to come and try our food and we will soon be introducing Tunisian nights with live music and a buffet.’ And what about Sas’s mother, what does she think? ‘She lives in Paris and is visiting soon, that will be the ultimate test for us!’