Grain opens in Holborn with Mediterranean-inspired bowls

A new independent restaurant focused on Mediterranean-inspired grain bowls has recently opened at 272 High Holborn in London. Grain, which takes its culinary cues from the Mediterranean Blue Zone diet, aims to offer transparent nutritional information and clean ingredients at a time when consumers are increasingly scrutinising what goes into their food.

The restaurant, a health-conscious alternative to conventional fast food, centres its menu around three grain bases – saffron rice, tri-colour quinoa, and grain lentils – which form the foundation of seven signature bowls. Options include the Aegean Power Bowl – one of their best-sellers already, deliciously combining herb grilled chicken and kleftiko lamb -, Saffron Soul, and Lentil Legacy, each topped with proteins and dressings made without seed oils, an ingredient the restaurant has explicitly chosen to avoid. Customers can also build their own bowl through the Greens and Grain Bowl option, selecting from a range of greens and grain bases, or opt for a simpler Grains Bowl combining all three bases.

Beyond its core bowl offering, Grain serves filled sourdough pittas in six varieties, ranging from the Athenian Flame, which features meat, to the plant-based Apollo’s Garden. The kitchen opens at 8am for breakfast, with eight filled sourdough bagels on offer, including the Avocado Sunrise and Levantine Stack, both of which have reportedly proved popular with early customers.

The drinks menu places a notable emphasis on matcha, specifically Uji ceremonial grade, available in five preparations including a Matcha Mango Kefir and a Strawberry Matcha. Organic coffee and a selection of soft drinks are also on offer.

For those working nearby, Grain operates a corporate delivery and catering service, accessible via its website, with deliveries available within a three-mile radius of the Holborn site. 

With 16 covers inside, Grain is a compact operation. The restaurant has made sustainability a stated priority, using free-range meat, sustainably sourced fruit and vegetables, and recyclable bowls and cutlery, alongside a minimum waste policy. Full nutritional and allergen information is provided for every dish on the menu.

Food Desk

For further information and to place orders, visit Grain’s website here.