Kenza

What brought me to select this restaurant was mainly its location since we were heading elsewhere nearby afterwards, the type of cuisine, the pictures on its website and the ease at which I could book a table online. First impressions was simply how delightful. Flower petals sprinkled on the steps as you walked down to enter a splendid dining area. The decor added to a real atmosphere.

The service was quite remarkable with friendly staff. At first it seemed over the top as were were asked if we were ready to order and what drinks by three different staff members within a short period of time. Glasses of tap water were topped up at all times during the evening.

A bottle of wine at £20-00 and a selection of cold & hot Mezze dishes was chosen and didn't disappoint. £30-00 per head full mezze seemed too much food for this occasion. Later a band struck up and dancers floated around the tables. I actually do agree with one report here that you can get some great authentic cuisine up in Dalston, but I didn't wish to be in Dalston the the sumptuous decor of this place was lovely.

We both really enjoyed the dining experience here.
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- View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 26, 2012

The truly fabulous food is thoroughly let down by the service and the most vulgar and obnoxious manager I have ever come across and the poor wait staff. This is the second time I have had this problem.

In short, took an age to order, menu was unclear as you cannot mix and match set menus, told mains would be a further 15 mins having already waited 25 mins. When we said we’d leave the food as late to meet other chums the food arrived within 5 mins.

I had hoped that the service issues were a one off as the food is amazing. Sadly not – I wont be going back! I recommended this restaurant to a vegetarian friend for her birthday. How much of a fool did I feel. They did give two bottles of complementary wine, sadly too little too late!

And a point made below by another person about money coming off their card without authorization – I had the same thing. £75 taken two days later from my card claiming it was for wine that ”had been missed off the bill”. Don’t give them your credit card I was totally livid; the row that ensued to get the funds back was so lengthy.
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Miss Brown - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Had a meeting in Liverpool Street so thought I would give Kenza a try for lunch. Took a while to find the place and then descended down into a very deep basement. The place is huge with lots of tiled floors and wood carved walls and lots of booths.

We went for the express lunch menu priced at £11.95, which was great value for what we ate. We had a mixture of meze to start which included some great hoummus and pitta. Mains were also good with some tasty lamb with rice and salad.

We were not drinking so stuck to water and cokes but I thought £3.50 for a small glass of coke seemed steep.

Service was fine a little pushy to start but otherwise okay.

Would try again if I was in the area and would like to try the a la carte next time.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, March 06, 2011

I came here with three friends and had an enjoyable evening. I was first there and waited in the bar area with a lovely vodka cocktail. The bar was very comfortable and attractive and I would have been happy to go there for just drinks! Then later we were seated at a booth table in the restaurant, which was nice with more than enough space for us. Only problem with the booth was that it made it difficult to see the entertainment (belly dancers), but they did also come and dance in front of our table for a bit which, although slightly embarrassing, was a nice touch. The decor was pretty and the atmosphere was lively for a Wednesday night. The restaurant seemed to be at full capacity.

The food was fine, I had halloumi, pitta and hummus and spicy lebanese sausage, and it was all enjoyable but not mind blowing. Everyone else seemed to enjoy theirs too.

Service unfortunately was appalling, after we had been seated we were forgotten about and one of us actually had to get up and call a waitress over! They had handed us set menus which were all ridiculously overpriced and we didnt want to choose from, so we requested the standard menus. We were looked at with scorn and reluctantly handed standard menus about 20 minutes later. We were not even told when we were handed the set menus that there was another cheaper option available, we only knew because we'd checked online, so this was obviously their plan to get people to overspend o their average food, which I found misleading and dishonest. Anyway, then it took ages to get their attention to order the food and then again ages to get them to take away the plates and then ages again to get the bill. And not once did we get a smile.

So overall a fun and pretty restaurant with average food and disgusting service. I dont think I'd come again.
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Martha
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 20, 2011

The service was appalling and the food even worse. Despite using our taste card, the bill was ridiculously high for the amount and quality of food served.

All of the negative points above may have been forgotten if it wasn't for the rude manager who ensured we had the worst dinner experience possible.

Avoid at all costs!
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Alan
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 11, 2011

the service was absolutley appauling and the staff's are very rude and aggressive. we seeked the manager to sought the problem but the manager seemed even worse than the staff. i go out and eat every week and that was the worst place and value for money is shocking. i recommend no one to go there and please read the review before visiting there and regretting. i advice you all to try "tayyab" in whitechapel. i guarantee you won't be dissappointed
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JAHIR
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Monday, December 13, 2010

Me and some friends decided to go for a girlie gathering at this restaurant.

As soon as we entered it was very busy, we booked a table in advance so we was seated straight away by waiter number 1.

We ordered our starter which was served by waiter number 2 , but as soon as we took some starter onto our plates, waiter number 3 came and quickly took the plate away. There was some grilled tomatoes which we all wanted but she never gave us that chance to eat it. When we asked another waiter about it she apologised and went back and got just boring sliced tomatoes which was not wat we wanted. Anyway we decided not to say anything.

Our main course came. this time the grilled meat was ok. but the rice they served was very dry and we had to keep asking for chili sauce just to make it taste nice.

In the time of being at the restaurant the waiter number 1,2,3, kept pouring water in our glasses, not telling us that each bottle was costing £7!

We then ordered desert (a plate of baklava) instead they sent us 3 pieces of baklava and the rest was turkish delight. We asked then we dont eat turkish delight and waiter number 4 changed it.

The service was very appalling, we felt as if the waiters did not give personal attention to the tables they were serving.

Belly dancers was nice....but I think the restaurant manager needs to observe how his staff are actually treating the customers.

It felt as if we was part of the restaurant kitchen. staff dashing things around.
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R Begum
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Thursday, December 09, 2010

We have just read the last review (the one below) and was thankful that we didn't read it before our visit.

We went there on Saturday night with few 7 friends and none of us can fault this amazing restaurant, in fact it was just lovely in all aspects, the staff are very friendly, the food was fresh and plenty of it we could not have managed to finish it, and what can we say about the belly dancers! Fun, entertaining and awesome.

We will definitely recommend this unique place and we have already booked our Christmas party there.
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Jane
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 26, 2010

We went to Kenza last night for a 30th birthday and we were very disappointed with the amount of food for £40 per head. For the main course of the meze we were left wondering how 11 people would be able to share 2 king prawns, one piece of salmon and one piece of mackerel. In addition to this, the food was served cold when it should have been hot and you can get better tasting food at any backstreet kebab shop. Furthermore, dessert was also a let down with 6 tiny baklava and a bunch of grapes to share. Once we checked the menu it confirmed our suspicions that we were short two dishes.

We didnt realise how much we would have to pay for the ambience of Kenza as neither the food nor the entertainment were up to the standards expected - only one belly dancer for 5 minutes on a saturday night.

Overall, a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons. We will not be visiting this restaurant again
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Lisa
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 24, 2010

I can thoroughly recommend Kenza. I have been there for lunch and for dinner. The Decor is lovely (Moroccan), the food is great, and I found the service to be excellent with very professional & friendly staff. The belly dancing shows in the evenings add to the fun, and sometimes there is Tarot reading too, so all in all a very unique experience, great for intimate dining, or for groups.
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Miss R
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, March 30, 2010