Rock the Casbar
In London, 'multi-national' and 'cosmopolitan' are words as widely spoken as 'tube-works' or 'downpour' – fortunately.
This said, when a London eatery attempts foreign cuisine, it's got to get it right... there will undoubtedly be countless amounts of harsh judges who have grown up on la cuisine du Grand-Mère.
When it comes to Arabic food, this little Itchonian, fresh from spending the past year living in the Middle East believed she could be pretty harsh. And after visiting Kenza, was relieved she had absolutely no reason to be.
From the moment you head through the entranceway and down the burning hot stairwell, it's like you're descending into the depths of the desert. The look of the restaurant was everything Itchy wanted... lanterns straight from an Arabian Souk, deep reds, pillows a-plenty, cosy alcoves and a certain calming atmosphere that you only get when sipping on the most authentic of mint teas or the tastiest of Lebanese wines.
On Mondays, Kenza hosts 'Rock the Casbar', with live music and belly dancers. A nice touch, yet it's the food that really blows us away... or possibly the free passion-fruit caipirinha served with the £25 per head set menu.
In traditional style, as soon as you perch yourself down, a bowl of olives, and the usual array of pre-starter salad sticks (carrots, celery, cucumber) and dips are brought to the table. The only thing you need to do now is to choose your main... meat, fish or veg. If only life could be this simple all the time.
After this nail biting decision, ALL the starters on the actual menu are brought to your table... did Itchy weep?? Well, we can't reveal that.
If you're not already holding your belly in after the pre-starters and starters, then the mains will finish you off. Especially if you opt for the fish and the meat dishes which are not exactly lacking in size. After this my little habibi you'll go crying home to mummy when see the desert selection, laid out on a tiered rack tempting you again to burst your already stretched stomach walls.
Oh sod it, some more Turkish delight won't hurt... unless in the struggle you knock over your passion-fruit caipirinha ...queue the weeping.
Kenza
10 Devonshire Square
London
EC2M 4YP
www.kenza-restaurant.com
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