Chenjeh
Anar Persian Kitchen

Anar Persian Kitchen

349 Portobello Road London, W10 5SA, United Kingdom

Kebab • Persian • Chicken • Barbecue


"We were a group of local diners in our thirties who decided to have dinner at this restaurant. Unfortunately, we were the only patrons there all evening. The lady in charge was extremely bossy, rude, and deceitful, which really marred our experience. She seemed intent on pinching every penny from us, trying to convince us to order more expensive items instead of what we wanted. When it came to ordering the cheapest grill on the menu, Koobideh, she made it difficult for us to do so, insisting on selecting our starters for us. The starters turned out to be disappointing, with bland dips and a meager serving of bread. The main dishes arrived quickly, but the quality was lacking. My Koobideh was fatty and flavorless, requiring extra seasoning to make it palatable. The salads were unimpressive, with wilted lettuce and sparse toppings. We were not offered any tap water, only overpriced bottled water placed on the table to entice us to spend more. When it came time to pay, the lady declared that we would split the bill evenly, despite the fact that some of us had drinks and others did not. She refused to provide a bill and insisted I calculate it myself, which was suspicious. After paying, we realized we were short £35 and were met with hostility and arguing from the lady. Overall, she ruined what was meant to be a pleasant evening. I have lived in the area for ten years and know of many other Middle Eastern restaurants, such as Turkish Fez, Iranian Patogh's, and Lebanese Al Arez, which offer better food at a fraction of the cost without the deceitful tactics. It's no surprise the restaurant was empty."

Amici Mediterranean Grill Kennington's Secret Garden

Amici Mediterranean Grill Kennington's Secret Garden

205-209 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QS, United Kingdom

Grill • Coffee • Persian • Ice Cream


"We went here for our anniversary meal, mainly because of the 'secret garden ' location the venue promised. Although the location was very nice, two other establishments occupied the same courtyard. This would not have been such a major factor except for the fact that at least one of the establishments (a cafe) was much, much cheaper and on first introduction their staff were a lot more welcoming: we had battled through traffic to get to Amicis and when we got there 15 minutes late, despite calling half an hour ahead of our booking to let them know we would be late, we received an extremely frosty reception. The reason given for this was that they were extremely busy and our lateness would inconvenience them. However, the place was practically empty for the whole time we were there. That being said, the Octopus starter and the burger which comprised our main meal was very nice. The other main meal and the waldorf salad really was nothing at all special and not particularly substantial. The wine was also very overpriced. I don 't think the food really justifies the price tag and fine dining might be a bit of a stretch. The atmosphere was pleasant but not exactly vibing. The restaurant had asked us to write a review and the manager was very nice in the end, but I can 't help feeling they may have been a little overconfident. The establishment seemed very clean and covid-secure though. In short, if it is the location you were going for and you are a keen home chef- try the cafe next door instead."

Arnika

Arnika

26 Craven Park Road, London, NW104AB, United Kingdom

Halal • Persian • Vegetarian • Middle Eastern


"Having recently been subjected to a number of over priced, snotty, lack lustre restaurants that had left me utterly depressed and frustrated, I was more than relieved to step into Arnika on a sunny week day evening, a modest little Persian restaurant in my local hood of Harlesden. Sitting outside Arnika doesn't afford Parisian style views but it matters not a jot when the manager is most welcoming, polite and entirely happy for you to BYO without a corkage charge. Excellent start. In the mood for a little mezze, four of us chose a range of meat and vegetarian starters that were ludicrously cheap and had me wondering how on earth people could survive in the face of gigantic London rents and rates. Anyway to the food. Prettily presented, I am delighted to say we were in total unison about the delicious, fresh, clean tasting dishes that were put before us. Saffron and garlic chicken wings served with a garlic aioli; crisp pastries encasing succulent chicken with a tangy, fiery tomato salsa; creamy hummus topped with tiny but juicy pieces of lamb; babaganoush which was eagerly scooped up with super thin flat bread; a couple of the house salads which were adorned with feta and walnuts. This sort of food is neither complicated nor requires years of training in a sweaty French kitchen. It is, however, honest, simple fare that involves thought, spankingly fresh ingredients and a cook who knows about flavour combinations. Get this will you? We had no room for mains and so we asked for the bill. It came to a whopping £30. For those of you who are **** at maths, that means you would be £7.50 lighter of pocket. Shut the front door! By the way, I shouted about Arnika on the local Harlesden FB page and since then, I have heard nothing but similar reports from very happy customers. I should cocoa. Well done Arnika; If they don't make it, it will be a sad day for us all."