Angel Loves Indies… Brother Marcus

Brother Marcus, 37-39 Camden Passage, N1 8EA

Why go abroad when you can enjoy the authentic taste of the Mediterranean right here in Angel? This week we serve up restaurateur Tas Gaitanos who tells us more about his hidden gem.

Hi Tas, tell us what your business is all about.

Brother Marcus is a modern, all-day dining, Eastern Mediterranean restaurant. We offer an incredible selection of brunch dishes and meze and are focused on bringing the flavours of this region to London using the most seasonal produce. Our interiors are warm and welcoming with beautiful green foliage, rattan furniture and terracotta colours.

As well as Angel we have branches in Spitalfields Market, Borough Yards and South Kensington, and have around 130 staff. 

How did Brother Marcus come to be?

It’s a labour of love created by three friends – myself, Arthur and Alex. We all loved travelling in the Mediterranean region, and still do, and wanted to bring the best of its culture and cuisine to the capital. We launched in 2016 as a brunch pop-up in Balham. As our popularity grew we decided to branch out and open a second restaurant in Angel in June 2018, before the other branches followed over the next few years.

Your business is named after Alex’s brother Marcus. How come?

Marcus is one of the friendliest and outgoing people you can meet. He makes you feel welcome and comfortable as soon as you meet him. We wanted to replicate that vibe with all of our guests to make them feel comfortable and welcome as soon as they come into a Brother Marcus – the true Eastern Mediterranean way of hospitality.

What three words describe the life of a restaurateur?

Exciting, rewarding and chaotic.

What are your main challenges?

Keeping costs down while maintaining constant quality for our guests. 

Who is your typical customer?

We have very different types of guests all over our restaurants, which is exciting as we are constantly developing our knowledge on how best to accommodate them. In Angel, we get a lot of brunch lovers. 

Why is food and hospitality your passion?

It’s all I’ve ever known. From growing up working in my father’s restaurant in Crete, hospitality and food is in my blood. 

Tempt us with the restaurant’s signature dish.

Our sweet potato fritters with avocado and turmeric yoghurt (pictured below) with the perfect poached egg is an absolute Brother Marcus classic and favourite. It has been a constant on the menu since day one. 

What else is happening?

We have just released our first brunch cookbook, ‘Brunch With Brother Marcus’, where you can learn how to make dishes like menemen, which is spicy scrambled eggs with peppers and tomato, pulled lamb flatbreads, and portokalopita, a delicious orange filo pastry cake. There’s also a drinks section with smoothies and cocktails.

We have also recently launched our pre-show menu that we serve Tuesday to Friday, 5pm-7pm. Also, in our Spitalfields location we hold monthly Greek Wine Tasting Nights where you can try a selection of wines from the region paired with Greek food.

What’s it like working in Angel?

We are so lucky to work in an area like Angel, especially on Camden Passage. Our neighbours and locals are so friendly and have really helped Brother Marcus get to where it is today. Camden Passage is such a beautiful quaint street away from the hustle and bustle of London. It definitely gives you the vibe of being on holiday in the summer – it’s the perfect spot for a cocktail in the early evening. 

And finally, what is your…

Favourite tipple? Our famous Brother Mary (perfect when hungover!).
Go-to snack? Toasted fluffy za’atar pitas with our homemade beetroot houmous. 
Perfect Sunday? Brunching on Camden Passage with a Brother Mary and a rosti with fried chicken and yolky Clarence Court eggs.
Three foodstuffs you’d take to a desert island? We wouldn’t need to take anything with us, we would eat off the land and sea. Let’s hope we’ve got a fishing rod!

Thanks Tas! If you’d like to know more, pop in to the restaurant, follow them on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, or visit their website.

+++ Brother Marcus has a special 20% discount offer for readers. Simply quote ‘Angel Loves Indies’ when booking.

+++ Are you an independent business in Angel and would like to feature here? Drop Sarah an email at sarah@angel.london.