REVIEW: Gilgamesh, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden

So it turns out the last time I went to Camden, was a very long time ago. It’s really changed a lot in the past few years. I came to Camden at the beginning of the year after I discovered a hidden little gem of a restaurant called Market Restaurant, but didn’t get any further than in and out my taxi. Since then nothing has really caught my eye – until now that is. Gilgamesh is a Pan-Asian restaurant within the Stables Market area and housed in a rather spectacular (if not slightly odd) building. Enter from the front and up the escalators and you’re faced with a huge restaurant boasting hand carved furniture and walls. As impressive as it all is here the place is in need of an update. The main restaurant has a huge retracting roof – worth bearing in mind for the summer months.

Stop for a drink first in the Gilgamesh bar and you’ll get a little insight into what this restaurant could really be if it ever has a revamp. Icy cool, white, modern and with a little glitzy glam. Cocktails were really good too. A  Perrier-Jouet champagne cocktail with passionfruit was refreshing and fruity. The favourite however was a cocktail named “Kutu”. A spicy blend of Beefeater gin, chili, peach syrup, fresh lemon & grapefruit juice – also now known as my new favourite cocktail. So you don’t get too hungry from the smell seeping out of the restaurant, order some warm and salty edamame beans to keep the hunger at bay.

When it comes to eating Japanese food, the one thing I really have no idea about is which way round I should be eating my food. Should the sushi be devoured before the soft shell crab or the sashimi after the maki rolls – I’m sure there’s a proper way but I’m turning a blind eye and going at it the good old british way – all at once. My favourite dish here at Gilgamesh was easily the sushi, it’s really very special. I went for the spicy tuna maki rolls – a classic choice maybe but it gets me excited every time. Here it offered good rice, fresh as could be tuna and a good helping of spice, leaving a nice heat in the mouth. Soft shell crab didn’t disappoint either with a good crunch and meaty filling. The side of jalapeno dressing was really lovely too.

If there was one thing that disappointed me here at Gilgamesh – it was these crispy chicken wings with sweet and sour kimchi glaze and crispy garlic. Not only for the fact that they weren’t very crispy but also because the menu didn’t let on to just how hot they really were. I like heat and my dining companion did too – but the heat on these wings was to the point of unbearable that we couldn’t eat them. I wanted to taste the flavours but the heat was masking them unfortunately. Chicken gyoza saved my burning mouth (as did a bottle of chilled white wine) and were very well executed. The pastry outer was a little thick but actually it’s just how I like my dumplings, with a nice herby and well seasoned chicken stuffing – drenched in a lovely salty oil.

By this point we were incredibly full and perhaps a little tipsy (I seem to have hit selfie mode by the point). Around 9pm and Gilgamesh was packed and the atmosphere buzzing. Telling our stomachs otherwise, we skipped desserts and finished up with a duck and watermelon salad – which was a nice and new experience of flavours mixed together, but not one I’ll be rushing back for. If you come to Gilgamesh – you must order the lamb cutlets. Grilled to perfection and smotheed in mango, green papaya salad, Thai basil and crispy shallots.

So what did I think of Gilgamesh, well for the most part I really loved it. Some pairing of flavours were a little unusual (like the duck and watermelon) but the sushi here is worth coming back for alone. I’ve been quietly told under the radar (so don’t take this as official) that Gilgamesh will be getting a slightly fresher new look in the coming future. Gilgamesh is a fine restaurant and with what this part of London has to offer right now, it’s easily the best restaurant Camden has to offer. If you’re thinking of booking a table, do it now. You may not have a meal that will change your life, but they’ll do a good job trying and you’ll have a great time.

7/10