Ayanna's London

Delicious, traditional Caribbean dishes with a modern twist and a warm welcome can be enjoyed at Ayanna’s London. Ayanna’s is a hidden gem in the East End, offering a high-end dining experience with exciting, heartening flavours and a wonderful choice of drinks. The restaurant is very close to Canary Wharf and is only a short walk from the DLR station at Blackwall.

You may want to peruse the wine list or just dive straight into the Caribbean delights with a mouth-watering and eye-opening cocktail. I opted for the Rum Punch, a delicious fruity masterpiece and a Caribbean classic. The international choices on the wine list emphasise and complement the fine dining menu.

To start, Ayanna’s offers a range of signature dishes to tempt and thrill diners. My dining partner and I opted for the delicious soup of red kidney beans puréed with coconut cream, coconut milk and dumplings, and the phenomenally tasty cheesy lobster which combined succulent lobster with coconut milk, cheese, salad and onions, resulting in an outstanding dish. Mains were eagerly awaited, and did not disappoint. The brilliantly spicy and flavoursome signature jerk chicken featured perfectly grilled chicken breast seasoned with jerk spices, served with a delightful tomato and sweet pepper garnish. Complemented by rich rice and peas, and a side dish of sweet fried plantain, this felt like the eye-popping epitome of fine Caribbean cuisine. There are also plenty of tempting options for vegetarians and pescatarians: to start, the vegetable fritters made with sweet peppers, fried dough and mango purée will certainly appeal. Mains include a fabulous vegetable curry, ackee and salt fish, sea bass and much more. We rounded off our exotic feast with a sumptuous rum sponge cake with vanilla ice cream to share.

Ayanna’s London is perfect for a special occasion or just to treat yourself to brilliant Caribbean food made with expertise, pride and tradition. I’ll certainly be returning to sample the much-hyped callaloo pancakes.