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Assaha Restaurant

Lebanese, Mediterranean • Bayswater and Paddington
(020) 7723 7101 29 -31 Craven Road, Paddington , Bayswater and Paddington, London, W2 3BX (020)772…Show
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3 /5
3 /5
3 /5
3 /5
Steven
Assaha, which roughly translates from Arabic as 'village meeting place', is a high-concept venue with branches across the Arab world. This particular branch is a small restaurant in Paddington, most easily spotted by the Lebanese flag outside and the smell of customers' hookah pipes wafting from the verandah. Inside it's filled with enough bunches of garlic, stone carvings and other rustic nick-nacks to fill a souk.The menu covers the usual Lebanese signature dishes, plus some more unusual options. The star among these was frakeh - hand-rolled raw, finely ground meat mixed with bulghur wheat, formed in the shape left inside a closed hand ('frakeh' translates as 'to grasp' or 'to grip'). You eat these, seasoned with dried spices, fresh mint leaves and a dash of oil, folded inside some warm flatbread.Other dishes didn't live up to the promise of the first meze dish. A green leaf vegetable called 'hindbeh' in Arabic (translated as 'chicory' on this menu; 'dandelion' in many others) should be served room temperature, but ours was fridge-cold, which deadens the flavours. A small meat-filled pie (sambousek) had tough pastry that was slightly burned on the underside.No alcohol is served, but the soft drink called jellab is a refreshing mix of rosewater flavours, topped with shelled pistachio nuts floating on top.The service was well-meaning, but slightly patronising. When we asked for the bill, we were treated to (unwanted) complimentary desserts - taster-sized dishes of mougli (cinnamon- and caraway- flavoured rice pudding) and mouhallabia (milk and ground rice pudding). We had to nag them again for the bill so we could leave. Assaha Village needs to sharpen up its act if it hopes to compete with the likes of London's Noura or Maroush chains, to name just two of our home-grown talents.
Steven
Absolutely beautiful restaurant in all ways. Food was fabulous, beautifully presented, meticulous in the way the staff treated us and I was so impressed with the exhibits and the appearance of the place. The waiter showed us to the private areas downstairs and I was impressed with the lovely little private dining areas and the 300 year vintage door! What then was a wonderful night unfolded further into an even better one when the waiter shared that the restaurant is a break even charity organisation, so all profits go to charity (specifically, I was told, to an orphanage). This restaurant gets 5 stars from me, very graceful, warm and excellent food! I would say the best sit down Lebanese meal ever! Thank you very much.