Mortimer House Kitchen

"Meraki is a big, bright Greek restaurant run by the people behind Zuma and Coya, but you wouldn’t know it. Things here are pretty relaxed. It’s a spot where you could eat with either your somewhat stress-inducing mother in law, your cool east London mates, or messy baby brother, without fuss. The food is great overall: get the chops, any of the mezze options, and make sure you try at least one of their pasta dishes." - team infatuation

"Those that can, do; those who can’t, teach, and those who write about restaurants full-time must confess when they actually pick a restaurant for their own birthday. Yes, we’ve had a birthday party at Meraki. The excellent lamb kebab compensated for the fact that our one grey hair had opted to bring eighteen friends to the scalp party that very morning. The zesty courgette and feta pasta gave us confidence that we actually would spend this next decade eating more vegetables. And the great assortment of Greek cocktails gave us a hangover that truly was the best way to kiss ye olde 20s goodbye. Plus, it’s in Soho and has a great sophisticated party atmosphere. Full-time restaurant writer approved." - heidi lauth beasley

"If you’ve given this friendship the same level of love and care you offer that poor cactus in your bathroom, then Meraki is the perfect place to create an aura of ‘Hi, sorry, I miss you’. We’re talking smile-inducing tzatziki, the crispiest of great crispy squids, and some of London’s all-time must-order lamb chops. A relaxed, feelgood restaurant in Fitzrovia, it’s the kind of place where a spicy paloma and some tuna tartare can easily turn into a four-course meal and a bottle of white from Santorini. Basically, it’s the perfect place, and menu, for someone you want to spend a good few hours with." - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, jake missing, daisy meager

"You know that album on Facebook labelled ’MYKONOS ‘08’? The one you would rather not look through. Well, put those youthful regrets aside and just remember the fun-loving atmosphere, the cocktails, and the lovely Greek food. That’s much better, isn’t it? If that’s what you’re after, plus an extra bit of refinement, then Meraki is the place for you. This is basically a Greek getaway restaurant for grown-ups. Grab a negroni and get dipping into the hummus with smoked eel or the Greek style potato rostis. This is a swanky place to have a bit of fun in." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing

"Your heart is saying, I need my bed and eight hours of Netflix. Your friends are saying it’s time to party. Meraki is a great spot for building up the party spirit, but in a relaxed way. The menu is full of Greek inspired dishes, like kebab skewers, courgette and feta pasta, squid, and a humous you’ll happily eat by the gallon. All of which make you feel like you’re on holiday, enjoying a meal before heading to the local beach party. You don’t go to Meraki for blaring pop music, but for Greek wines, classic cocktails, and an atmosphere that makes you forget all about that House of Cards binge you were planning." - heidi lauth beasley, eileen twum