Lebanese in Wimbledon

The other day with a colleague that lives nearby we decided to have diner in the area. My colleague recommended to go to a Lebanese place near South Wimbledon station. The place Cedar, a family run business, opened in 2004, and offering over 30 mezza, charcoal grilled marinated meats, even Lebanese beer or wine. 

The Place

Table Light

Tropical Decor

We got to the place ordered a Almaza (Lebanese beer), and then decided to share a couple entrees and mains. The decisions were fast, Hummus Shawarma which was quite good, authentic hummus flavour, with a couple drizzles of olive oil and fried spiced lamb strips in the middle, first time I see it served that way. Then we got some Sambousek, Lebanese pastry stuffed with minced lamb, onions, and pine nuts spices which were ok, nothing special, more of the same. I’m usually disappointed with the pastry, only in a handful of times the pastry has been spot on and the filling superb. The falafel arrived later, nice, tasty, good flavour, and not oily at all. Then some fried calamari, more of squid rings which again was just ok, nothing new, surprising, or exiting about it. Finally we got a mixed grilled with chicken and lamb cubes, and shish kebab on skewers, well-seasoned, nice flavours. 

Beer

Sambousek

Hummus Shawarma

Falafel

Calamari

Mixed Grill

Not a bad option if you are around, a couple of swing and miss, nothing mayor, good prices, good service, good Lebanese beer. 

Chicken reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Chicken Roaster” 

Seth: Number sixty seven, family feast 

Newman: Number 67, right here, right here! 

Jerry: Hello Newman 

Newman: Hello Jerry 

Seth: And don't forget your steamed broccoli 

Jerry: Hold it, Newman, you wouldn't eat broccoli if it was deep fried in chocolate sauce 

Newman: I love broccoli, it’s good for you 

Jerry: Really? Then maybe you'd like to have a piece? 

Newman: Gladly... Vile weed! 

Jerry: It's Kramer isn't it? The greasy door knob the constant licking of the fingers, he's hooked to the chicken isn't he?

Cedar

T: 020 8543 4520

Lebanese cuisine

Aprox Damage: £15pp

Area: Wimbledon

Borough: Merton

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A Lebanese Family spreading in London

The Maroush group has several Lebanese restaurants in London, 14 restaurants divided into 5 brands all over the city. Offering authentic Lebanese cuisine, and promising if you close your eyes while eating you will be transported to Beirut. The secret he promise is good food, good service, and full attention to the costumers. So while visiting my entrepreneurial friends in Chelsea, before going for drinks in King’s street we stopped to eat in Ranoush Juice. 

The Place in Chelsea

The menu looks amazing and tasty, sadly we were for a quick bite so got to the bar and ordered falafel and a Shish Taouk roll. The food was excellent all the flavours were there, quick, simple, tasty, what else do you need. 

A bar seat 

Chicken Shish 

Falafel

Definitely coming back to another restaurant from the group to try more of their traditional Lebanese cuisine. 

This empire reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Non-Fat Yogurt” episode. 

Jerry: Hey, I had the show of my life last night. I ad-libbed like ten new minutes. 

Kramer: Yeah, but did you tape it? 

Jerry: Yup! Right there. I got it. I did this thing on the Ottoman Empire. Like, what was this? A whole empire based on putting your feet up?

Ranoush Juice

T: 020 7352 0044

Lebanese Cuisine

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington and Chelsea

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The Knightsbridge Lebanese

Since a couple years back I have been wanting to go to Ishbilia. I read a couple good reviews and a Lebanese friend highly recommended the place that adding the fact of my love for the Lebanese cuisine, as I went at least once every six months to the Lebanese centre back in Venezuela to have a nice meal.

Ishbilia

The place is in Knightsbridge, classic restaurant ambience, the service could appears to  be a little rude, probably the personality of Lebanese people, even though two very good friends are Lebanese and have to say they anything but rude, but the food is spectacular and I’m sure you can balance the quality with the service making an overall satisfactory experience.

The place

I went with Adrian and Angela, and we decided to try and share different dishes. To start the classic Hummus, Tabouleh,  Falafel, and Kibbah Maklieh. Everything was spotless, amazing traditional flavours with classic presentation. As main we share Shish Taouk (boneless chicken cubes marinated in garlic lemon juice and olive oil), and a lamb dish (one of the kafta), again the flavours were over the top, spot on, a very enjoyable diner in my opinion.

Tabouleh 

Starters 

Hummus 

Chicken

Lamb

A couple days back I was watching the Seinfeld episode “The Doorman” when Kramer and Frank decide to do business together.

Kramer: Here's our chance. What do you say? It'll be me, you and the bro, bro.

Frank: Let's do it! Except, we gotta do something about the name.

Kramer: Why, what's wrong with bro?

Frank: No, bro's no good. Too ethnic.

Kramer: Alright, you got something better?

Frank: How about uh... the mansiere?

Kramer: Mansiere?

Frank: That's right. A brassiere for a man. The mansiere, get it?

George: Well, you've scared her off. We may never see mom again.

Frank: Hey George, what do you like better? The bro, or the mansiere?

George: Dad. We need to talk.