A popular, affordable fast-casual Mediterranean lunch spot praised for fresh customizable food and unusually warm service, with limited seating and occasional falafel, coffee, portion, and vegan-execution complaints.
Bonata delivers solid food quality and attentive service that keeps regulars coming back to this New Street Square lunch spot, with particularly strong execution on fresh chicken bowls and quick weekday service. Inconsistency in peripheral items like falafel and coffee, combined with a functional rather than distinctive setting, prevents a stronger grade. Unusual review patterns create some uncertainty in our assessment, though the core lunch experience remains reliable and well-valued.
Bonata is a bright, compact New Street Square lunch stop built for office workers who want something fresher than the usual sandwich chain. The queue can swell, but reviews repeatedly say it moves quickly, and the warm team is a major part of the appeal—one regular describes the service as personal even during the rush. Seating is limited, so takeaway is often the smoothest option. The cooking is healthy, colourful, and customizable rather than formal or highly experimental. Harissa chicken, crispy chicken with rice, salmon, kofta, fresh salads, grains, tahini, and punchy dressings are the recurring favourites, while the menu’s build-your-main format makes it easy to keep lunch light or make it more substantial. The current prices, from £6.95 for a regular-topping main to £12 for salmon, make the offer credible value for central London, though extra toppings can raise the bill. Families can find approachable choices such as porridge, granola, fruit pots, mozzarella or halloumi rolls, egg trays, chicken mains, vegetables, and rice-based combinations, so this is more child-friendly than its health-focused branding might suggest. However, there is no supplied children’s menu, seating is limited, and falafel and some vegan preparations have drawn criticism; picky eaters may prefer the simpler breakfast or chicken options.
Area vibe: Global financial and legal hub with a daytime office focus and pockets of heritage landmarks.
Safety: Very busy and well-lit on weekdays with good footfall; quieter evenings and weekends where some streets feel deserted.
What's nearby: Close to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Blackfriars, offices, courthouses, and multiple transport links including Blackfriars and City Thameslink.