Kafta Meshwi
Al Khayma

Al Khayma

251 Cranbrook Road, Ilford I-IG1 4TG, United Kingdom, ILFORD

Cafés • Pizza • European • Fast Food


"Al Khayma is the best hidden secret in Illford! I had been wanting to eat Lebanese food for a while and knew there were a few decent restaurants in the city but my partner convinced me that his colleagues swore by this ‘fantastic’ restaurant in Illford but I was not convinced! However since he insisted and I wanted to eat, I begrudgingly took his suggestion and he booked us in for dinner. The place was easy to find. Just 7 minutes walking from Illford train station on the newly Elizabeth Line or 2-3 bus stop if one does not fancy the walk. There we were greeted by Saad who was super friendly and accommodating. He was extremely helpful and helped us with some choices on the menu while offering excellent suggestions! The restaurant had an ambient atmosphere and the gentle traditional music playing in the background gave it a relaxing vide that travelled the mind to exotic destinations. It also had a well decorated flower wall that would look great for those #hashtags on Instagram (if anyone is up to that kind of stuff! So when the food arrived, the restaurant offered little appetising sides with Lebanese bread that was warm and homely. I ordered the Shish Tawook (charcoal grilled skewers of chicken which was juicy and cooked to perfection with a side of chips but it also came with a complimentary salad. My partner ordered a grilled boneless baby chicken that he said it was crispy on the outside with a soft interior that was super tender and flavoursome. But wait. There is more..! Since it was B.H Monday and were were out-out, we decided to do a little extra and ordered a Halloumi side and another one called Batara Harra. In one word I would describe it as mind blowing! The portion of the Halloumi was surprisingly generous and the Batara Harra was a dish of potato cubes marinated in all sorts of flavours and served on a bed of sweet peppers and chilly. It came with a quartered lemon (which I thought was odd but after a few bites I decided to drizzle some on top of the potatoes (assuming that it might serve a specific purpose and boy was I right about that! I genuinely don’t understand how a few drops of lemon can transform a dish so much but honestly if you order this food, just use the lemon! You won’t regret it. After completion of dinner we were offered free of charge a traditional Lebanese tea which unfortunately did not have the time to be taste but that was not a problem as we were already decided that we would be visiting this place again. Overall lovely staff, great food with generous portions and a relatively reasonable bill that would work out about £20-25 per person including drinks. Extra bonus is the Valentine’s Park across the street. A huge park with a central lake for an evening stroll, that also includes a large playground area if you are visiting the area with children. So yes, that was our culinary experience at the Al Khayma. Friendly service, great food, clean establishment and reasonable prices. Really nothing more to ask. Highly recommended!"

My Cottage Café

My Cottage Café

10a Clifton Terrace, London, N43SR, N4 3JU, United Kingdom

Cafés • Seafood • European • Fast Food


"My husband and I were disappointed to find out that our favorite Pasta Restaurant had closed, so we were in search of a new dining spot for our Theatre Visits to the Park Theatre. Since we enjoy Lebanese food, we decided to try out My Cottage Restaurant. We arrived a bit early due to lighter-than-expected traffic and were greeted somewhat indifferently. The restaurant was narrow and deep, with slightly worn furniture and fittings. The table was sticky and the cutlery and crockery had water stains. We ordered apple juice with mint and a bottle of sparkling water, which turned out to be a small 330ml bottle of Perrier Water. For starters, we had Potato Harra and Makdous, followed by Qormeh Sabzi and Lahm Mashwi. To our surprise, the main courses arrived before the starters. The Potato Harra was flavorful, but the Qormeh Sabzi was disappointing and lacked seasoning. The Aubergine and Lamb were also underwhelming. The baklawa for dessert was tasty and well-baked. When we asked for the bill, we were informed that their card machine was not working, so we had to pay with cash. Overall, the restaurant was quirky and tired, with mediocre food and service. We felt like we were an inconvenience to the staff. While the meal was not cheap at £85, it did not meet the standards of other Lebanese restaurants in London. It is unlikely that we will be returning to this restaurant."