From: ocl@cc.imperial.ac.uk ("Olivier M.J. Crepin-Leblond")
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Include in FAQ: Lebanese Restaurants in London
Date: 24 Jul 92 00:58:06 GMT



>18. Where can I find a Lebanese restaurant
>
>   (With respect to your area, state the name, location(s) (if it is a
>    chain say so and mention your favorite location), and phone number.
>    If you tried the restaurant give a gross estimates of the cost per
>    person with and without drinks. Briefly state your evaluation of
>    the quality and quantity of food. Finally, state whether you would
>    go again or not.)

Gee, you really want this FAQ sheet to be big uh ? I mean, imagine having
a list of Arabic/Lebanese restaurants around the world. Talking megabytes
here ?

Here in London, we are well supplied with a number of Lebanese restaurants.
I'll describe only a small selection of them.

Name: Maroush I
Location: 21, Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: 071-723 0773
Cost per Person: No music, no arak : GBP.18 (US$ 36); 
		 Music and alcohol : GBP.37 (US$ 74);
Quality: The food is okay. This is the flagship of the Maroush/Ranoush chain
of three restaurants+ 1 takeway in London. On week-ends in the winter and
throughout the week in the summer, there is live music and dancing which
makes you think you are in Bairut itself ! Beware though, minimum charge
when there is music and dancing is GBP.37 (US$74) which is damn expensive,
but if you don't care, then go for it. Last time I went there with friends,
we spent 4 hours eating, singing, and generally having a good time.
Quantity of food: Well, since they will charge you a minimum price of
GBP.37, you really have to eat a lot to make up to this price ! Say 
3 starters per person, plus main course, plus baklawa, plus fruit, plus
mint tea etc. - open 'til 4:00am or so !

Name: Maroush II
Location: 38 Beauchamp Place, SW3
Telephone: 071-581 5434
Cost per Person: GBP.18 (US$ 36) + drinks (3 starters(shared) + main course)
Note: Second Maroush restaurant in London, near Knightsbridge
Quality: I'm not pleased with this one. Bad service. Crowded with the
wrong type of crowd. Although the food isn't cheap, the decor is el-cheapo.
Quantity of food: Okay.

Name: Maroush III
Location: 62 Seymour Street W1H - perpendicular to Edgware Road.
Telephone: 071-724 5024 
Cost per person: GBP.18 (US$ 36) + drinks
Note: 1 minutes away from Maroush I
Quality: This one's my favourite Maroush restaurant because I have been
there so many times I know everyone. The food is good while not too 
expensive. Summer is more crowded than winter because of the Gulf population
taking its quarters around the nearby Edgware Road.
Recommended starters: Arayes, Baba Ghanouj (Mouttabal), firri, Makanek
Un-recommended starters: Kibbeh (it's not the real thing), sojuk (it is
different every time I go there !)
Recommended main course: Lahem Meshwi. Farrouj Kebab.
Recommended drink: Laban Ayran (they know how to do it properly)
Beware of the meat Shawarma, it's very greasy, *very*.
Quantity of food: plenty. 3 starters to share plus main course is enough.
Baklawa and/or fruit is included in the cover price. If you can eat the 
whole tray of baklawa (about 40+) your meal is on the house (that's what
they told me)
Additional notice: Check-out the Maitre d'Hotel. He thinks he's Lebanese
but in fact he is Spanish, and it's funny to hear him speak Arabic ;-)

Name: Al Hamra
Location: 31/33 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, W1Y
Telephone: 071-493 1954
Cost per person: GBP.29 (US$58) + drinks
Quality: Situated in the heart of Mayfair, a very prestigious area of town,
Al Hamra is pretty expensive. But then again, it is the only place which
has someone at the entrance to park your car for you. Since it is so hard 
to park in central London, it's pretty good, especially in the evening when
you don't want to walk the streets. The food is of good quality. But then,
one would really expect it. Book in advance, because the restaurant is
pretty small and very popular.
Quantity of food: less than in Maroush III, but who says that quantity
counts ? 

Name: Fakhreldine
Location: 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1
Telephone: 071-493 3424
Cost per person: GBP.40+ (US$80+) + drinks
Quality: Very popular, very expensive, very good. The bill seems to be
exponential with what you eat. If you have a business meal with anybody
you want to impress, take them there. Most people whom I know and have
gone there have gone only once. They are still saving for the next time !
This is known to be the best in town. Go there, if you can afford it.
Quantity of food: at those prices, do you bother ? It's the people there
that matter. Who knows, you could be striking the deal of your career !

Name: Al Safeer
Location: St. John's Wood terrace
Telephone: sorry, can't remember
Cost per person: GBP.21 (US$42) + drinks
Quality: I went there once more than a year ago, but I recall that the food
was pretty good. The selection of sweets for dessert was very good. I
recall that there was live music with a musician playing the electric organ.
The decor is good quality and I was very impressed. Prices may have gone
up since, but I'll definitely go there again.
Quantity of food: Again, less than Maroush III, but there was plenty to eat.
For example, when ordering Kibbeh or Falafel, 5 kibbeh or falafel are served 
as one portion. 

Name: Beit Eddine
Location: 8 Harriet Street, SW1X
Telephone: 071-235 3969
Cost per person: GBP.25 (US$50) including drinks
Quality: This is a small restaurant where it is advisable to book during
week-ends. The food is good, but nothing special. But a friend of mine
really likes it. I guess the atmosphere, although being simple, is very
pleasant. Shawarma is pretty good. Lahem Meshwi is a bit dry, so be
sure to order Humus to dip the meat in...
Quantity of food: the portions are rather small. Be sure to order enough !

Take-away food:

There is a quantity of takeaway shops for Arabic food in London, especially
on the Edgware Road. After having tried nearly all of them, I can only
recommend one:

Name: Ranoush Juice
Location: 43 Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: 071-723 5929
Cost of sandwich: GBP.2.50 (US$5) average
Recommended sandwiches: Chicken Shawarma; Mouttabal Sandwich
Recommended drinks: freshly-made carrot juice, it's good for you !
Recommended process-to-get-served: go to the till, and order your food; pay
and use the ticket that you get to give to the cooks. If you are a pretty
girl you'll probably get served immediately ;-).


Well, that just about rounds-up a small selection of Lebanese restaurants 
in this part of the world. One last observation: you'll find that the
garlic sauce served with chicken (for example) is pretty weak compared to
what is served back in Lebanon.
Home cooking is still the best !

Editorial Note: I have used GBP for Great Britain Pound Sterling, and the
exchange rate is US$ 2 for GBP 1. -> I can't be bothered to use the exact
exchange rate.

Your restaurant reviewer in London,



-- 
Olivier M.J. Crepin-Leblond, Comms & Sig.Proc, Elec. Eng. Department
 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
   Internet/Bitnet: <ocl@cc.ic.ac.uk> - Janet: <ocl@uk.ac.ic.cc>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon