Another day, another exciting restaurant opens up in Ely. Our city is truly becoming a foodie hotspot, with fresh and vibrant spots being added all the time. Today marked the grand opening of Limora, a Mediterranean restaurant on Chequer Lane, tucked away in the space formerly occupied by the old furniture shop behind the Hereward pub.

I was buzzing to try this one because it’s a proper local family affair. The Ata family have been part of the Ely community since 1994 – many of you will likely know them from the takeaways they’ve run over the years – so they really get what the city is looking for. It’s been a long road for them; after two years of planning and eight months of grafting through the renovations (including some nightmare plumbing and drainage issues), brothers Ozzy and Yalin, along with their dad Husnu, have finally made it happen.

Walking down Chequer Lane made me realise the untapped potential of the courtyard it is located in. Under the watchful eye of Ely Cathedral, I could really see this becoming a thriving alfresco destination. With a bit of investment and cooperation from the local council (perhaps some outdoor seating for the Hereward) it has the making of a fun, holiday-style outdoor area for the spring and summer months.

I apologise in advance for the photo quality. The restaurant is dimly lit with neon lights, which adds a lovely intimate atmosphere but is more than my camera can handle.

The restaurant itself is expansive, featuring a large upstairs area that can comfortably host 100 people. The interior is a stylish, modern blend of traditional ornaments and contemporary art. It is a refreshing change of pace for Ely; while I love our city’s historic tradition, Limora brings a fresh, different energy and a colour scheme that I suspect will be a huge hit with a younger crowd or for people after something a little different.

The Menu

The service was fantastic, supported by a high staff-to-customer ratio, and the bar is well-equipped with Efe beer on tap and a full cocktail menu. The food menu is massive, covering everything you’d want from a Mediterranean kitchen. You’ve got a huge range of hot and cold meze to start, followed by classic charcoal kebabs, seafood, burgers, and steaks. They even have a solid selection of vegetarian and vegan options, plus an £8 kids menu which is great for families. It’s the kind of menu where you could come in for a quick snack or go all-out on one of their big sharing platters.

We were welcomed with a complimentary starter of fresh bread and olives while we waited. The bread was plentiful, soft, and served warm, while the olives were bold in flavour. A word to the wise: the staff are so attentive that as soon as you finish a bowl, they will likely offer you more! They take good care of you here.

Pan-fried scallops

I started with the pan-cooked scallops in butter, served with mango purée and asparagus. Priced at £10.00, these were easily the highlight of the evening, melting into a buttery mess. The mango purée was out of this world – thick, vibrant, and tangy with a sweetness so addictive I found myself using it to dip the rest of my food in.

Octopus Leg

Next was the octopus leg, served on a bed of fresh salad with olive oil and pomegranate dressing. This was a simple yet effective dish; the octopus was grilled perfectly, leaving it crispy on the outside while remaining soft and tender within. The salad was a real standout too, avoiding the common bagged salad often used by other restaurants, crunchy mix that was worth appreciating in its own right.

Spicy Sausage

We also shared the mild spicy beef sausage. Tastefully presented in four slices (pictured 3 – sorry, I couldn’t help myself!) and served Turkish-style with lavas bread, the sausage had a succulent and delicate texture. While they perhaps lacked the punchy flavour I was expecting from a spicy sausage, they were still a very enjoyable sharing plate.

Lamb Stifado

For the main event, I stepped away from the usual charcoal staples and opted for the Lamb Stifado from the Chef’s Signatures menu. At £22.00, it justified the price with mind-bogglingly large chunks of slow-braised, tender lamb. Simmered in a rich tomato and red wine sauce with aromatic herbs and served over a bed of thick, buttery mashed potato, the dish was incredibly comforting. The addition of chickpeas provided a great bit of variety to the texture of the sauce.

The staff at Limora couldn’t do enough for us; they were chatty, excited, and clearly optimistic about the future – a rare thing to hear during this economic climate. But why not? It is a superb addition to the Ely foodie scene, full of energy and perfect for large parties or families.

Fresh energy in Ely

Ultimately, Limora feels like the right restaurant at the right time for Ely. It manages to bridge the gap between a casual family-run eatery and a stylish, high-end destination for a night out. Seeing the Ata family return to the city they’ve called home for decades to open such an ambitious project is exactly the kind of story we love to see in the local business community. If they can capture that outdoor courtyard potential in the summer, they won’t just have a great restaurant; they’ll have the heartbeat of Ely’s social scene too. Whether you are looking for a quick meze and a cocktail or a full-blown celebratory feast, this place is well worth a visit. It is yet another feather in the cap of our thriving local scene. I’ll definitely be back to explore their menu, as there is so much there!

Take that, Muscle Food Magazine!

Thanks for reading.