Al Waha

I agree with the previous review. I was in London last winter and my first visit prompted two return visits during my short stay. The food was delicious. The prices were, for London, very good. The portions were huge. The staff was friendly and I always got free baclava. Don't believe the bad reviews.
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Scott Bennett
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, September 22, 2007

Some of the reviews here are so much at odds with my own experience of dining at Al Waha - I've been a regular since it opened - that I can hardly believe they're genuine.

I have eaten here many, many times and have never been disappointed. I cannot understand the reviewer who said the portions were on the small side - if anything, they are overly generous. And we have always been given free baklawa.

Although the main courses we've tried have been very good, we usually go for mezes. My favourites are the bamia bil zait (okra in lightly-spiced tomato sauce), hummus kawarma (hummus with pine nuts and little pieces of lamb) and the lentils with caramelized onion. The pastries are delicious, too, especially the spinach and pomegranate ones.

Apart from the food, I also like the fact that the staff are extremely courteous and friendly, and make me feel like a valued customer.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 29, 2007

If you are looking for an excellent service and courtesy this isn't the right place. The staff is unpleasant and doesn't have any idea about how to deal with clients, exspecially with ladies.

The food is average.

The presntation is not really appealing. As soon as we sat down they served us some edible black and green olives and a dish with raw vegetables: a tomato, a bunch of salad and few carrots. Was it supposed to be a libanese canape'? maybe, even if I have never seen a canape' without olive oil and salt.

We are still wondering if it was decorative.

We had two main course, one with chicken and the other with lamb plus libanese bread, felafel and vegetables in a fied pasty.

The bill has been delivered directly to the lady.

We were expecting some libanese marshmallows with the bill but our expectation has been disilluded.

The food is ok, but the service is a too weak point to be neglected.

Exspecially in Notthing Hill.
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alecana - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 02, 2007

Loved the place. Food was very good, genuine middle east flavour. Big variety and great choice of dishes. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. The satff are courteous and professional. It's like home from home, what more can you ask for.

Worth a visit, if you go once you would want to make it your regular.
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Fayha
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

My friends and I are so glad to see Al waha open its doors again. We just love eat at al waha, it is so exclusive, the service is impeccable, friendly, attentative and joyful. The decor luxuriously subtle.

It is always a special treat for us to dine at Al waha, food, wine. We had some excellent recommendation for the wine, for me it was definitely a fine dinning experience which I wish to recommend. It is to be savoured, to be experienced and enjoyed; not to be treated as the "after the pubs shut" rest. Al waha proves that good Lebanese food is not all about mouth-numbingly meza, but about subtle spices and flavours freshly made meals. It is my number one Lebanese restaurant. A fantastic place!

Best wishes and good luck to Al Waha from your biggest FAN. Chaz C
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Chaz Chouit
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 01, 2006

Wonderful food and staff happy to explain and help, reasonably priced. However weekends busy so must book.

Tried other lebanese restautrants whilst AlWaha was recently closed and they didn't come close! Glad they are open again!
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Susannah
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 23, 2006

Just re-opened after a couple of months. Great original art on the walls. Food still excellent, best I have had in London so far (tried other Lebanese while Alwaha was closed to my great disappointment). Note they have new website:www.alwaharestaurant.com
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Superb lebanese food at a reasonable price, the staff are happy to help without being too obtrusive. Definitely worth booking at weekends as they get so busy!One of my favourite restaurants.
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Fabrizio
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Not impressed overall. The food was good, but not as good as many other Lebanese restaurants I have been to in London. In addition the portions were rather small. The biggest disappointment was the service, which was most definitely lacking, and not warm as one might expect from this type of establishment. Certainly not a major gripe, but as others have mentioned there was no complimentary baklava or coffee offered at the end either, even though we were a group of 9 people.

The most annoying aspect of our visit came after we had finished our meal and paid the bill. We were told that we had underpaid by 50 pence, and ought to leave some service charge on top, despite the fact that we had not only paid the full amount but also added on more than 10% service. Eventually the waiter admitted his mistake, however we felt that his attitude was quite unprofessional and impolite. There is definitely a much more tactful way of approaching such an issue, rather than simply blaming the customer from the outset.
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Neil Madhvani
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Sunday, July 30, 2006

We booked a table for 6 on a Monday evening. The restaurant was desertic at 7 pm and only another two tables filled in by the time we left. We had a different memory about Al-Waha; I even remember when the place was first openened and always associated it with excellent food. Not tonight. At most, average. Vegetarian mezze were particularly diappointing; with hard rock chick peas and insipid aubergine dishes. Lack of taste was ubiquitous except on the lamb-based dishes which were significantly better. Service was pretty neutral and, beware, baclava is NO LONGER ON THE HOUSE. No attempt to offer a sweet was done when we ordered coffee.

Overall, a very average experience in what used to be one of the best lebanese venues in town.

What has happened??? :-(
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Susana
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Monday, May 22, 2006