LEBANON VALLEY ARABIC RESTAURANT, LUTON
With the shutters not quite down, the front of Lebanon Valley in Bury Park has been looking unnervingly like a half-closed eye when driving past recently. Still half expecting it to be closed I was heartened that it was open for business when we ventured in recently at lunch-time.
The setting of the restaurant is cushioned, cosy and red, familiar to those of us who venture down to Edgeware Road from time to time.
We were greeted by a lovely waitress who generously offered us a seat anywhere in the (very empty) restaurant and promptly served us with complimentary bowls of hummus, salad and pitta. I was impressed with the offering until on closer inspection I discovered that the pitta tasted shop-bought and the black olives were the vile stuff straight out of a jar.
The food we paid for was only somewhat better. My companion chose the Arabic salad as a starter and the Lebanon Valley mixed grill for mains. I took a few bites and they tasted fair, nothing special - and my friend agreed. I'm a big fan of falafels and was disappointed with the overcooked, tahini covered portion I was served. My main course of chicken shawerma was edible, if a little on the dry side. I'd like to point out that our mains were again served with pitta bread slightly warmed, possibly out of a packet.
My fresh juice tasted fine but my buddy grimaced when drinking the Fererro Rocher milkshake - it tasted like sweetened semi-skimmed milk.
I was tempted to try some baklava for dessert but decided against it - in fear of being disappointed on one of my favourite puds.
I know the place is newly opened but the staff seem a little too unsure with orders - coming back several times to ask what sauce we wanted on a starter or if we wanted onions in our salad?
There is a fair variety of food to try on the menu including - surprisingly - spaghetti bolognese and lasagne. Arabic food with a touch of Italian I believe. On further enquiry I found out takeaway is available and the restaurant is closed on a Monday. Prices are reasonable, leaving not much change from £30 for lunch for two without dessert.
Overall view? Our waitress was lovely - but the food not so much. I hope the food improves because we could do with a few more non-chicken-and-chips places to eat in Bury Park. But for the moment it's still worth making that 30 minute journey to our favourite eateries on Edgeware Road.
With the shutters not quite down, the front of Lebanon Valley in Bury Park has been looking unnervingly like a half-closed eye when driving past recently. Still half expecting it to be closed I was heartened that it was open for business when we ventured in recently at lunch-time.
The setting of the restaurant is cushioned, cosy and red, familiar to those of us who venture down to Edgeware Road from time to time.
We were greeted by a lovely waitress who generously offered us a seat anywhere in the (very empty) restaurant and promptly served us with complimentary bowls of hummus, salad and pitta. I was impressed with the offering until on closer inspection I discovered that the pitta tasted shop-bought and the black olives were the vile stuff straight out of a jar.
The food we paid for was only somewhat better. My companion chose the Arabic salad as a starter and the Lebanon Valley mixed grill for mains. I took a few bites and they tasted fair, nothing special - and my friend agreed. I'm a big fan of falafels and was disappointed with the overcooked, tahini covered portion I was served. My main course of chicken shawerma was edible, if a little on the dry side. I'd like to point out that our mains were again served with pitta bread slightly warmed, possibly out of a packet.
My fresh juice tasted fine but my buddy grimaced when drinking the Fererro Rocher milkshake - it tasted like sweetened semi-skimmed milk.
I know the place is newly opened but the staff seem a little too unsure with orders - coming back several times to ask what sauce we wanted on a starter or if we wanted onions in our salad?
There is a fair variety of food to try on the menu including - surprisingly - spaghetti bolognese and lasagne. Arabic food with a touch of Italian I believe. On further enquiry I found out takeaway is available and the restaurant is closed on a Monday. Prices are reasonable, leaving not much change from £30 for lunch for two without dessert.
Overall view? Our waitress was lovely - but the food not so much. I hope the food improves because we could do with a few more non-chicken-and-chips places to eat in Bury Park. But for the moment it's still worth making that 30 minute journey to our favourite eateries on Edgeware Road.
No comments:
Post a Comment