{"id":12829,"date":"2018-08-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mostlyfood.co.uk\/?p=12829"},"modified":"2019-07-24T12:45:36","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T11:45:36","slug":"kenza-perhaps-the-coolest-restaurant-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing22.mostlyfood.co.uk\/index.php\/kenza-perhaps-the-coolest-restaurant-in-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenza \u2013 perhaps the coolest restaurant in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kenza<\/h4>\n

Kenza is the Arabic word for treasure and this truly is a subterranean gem. It\u2019s a cool and calm oasis on these sizzling summer days in the city. One can feel the weight of hot and oppressive air lift as one descends the spiral stairs to the exotic idyll below.<\/p>\n

This Lebanese restaurant is actually better known by night-owls as a late venue for entertainment. There are belly dancers on lots of nights and a DJ on Friday and Saturday; live music, as well as henna parties, fire eaters, and even snake charmers for special occasions. That\u2019s attractive for groups who want food and drink in a vibrant atmosphere and with no concerns about the noise keeping the neighbours up. Kenza is a cocoon.<\/p>\n

But it has a totally different atmosphere during the day. It\u2019s calm, much less crowded, and cool.\u00a0 With 150 seats in the main restaurant, a private dining room seating up to 60 people and a cocktail lounge for 60, this is a large restaurant, but it is configured in such a way that one can find quiet corners or more private booths and cosy banquettes.<\/p>\n

Brass candlesticks and carved wooden screens<\/h4>\n

\"KenzaThere is plenty of soft furnishing here. Cushions are propped on colourful sofas. There are bead-fringed lamps and impressive chandeliers, along with brass candlesticks and carved wooden screens. In fact, one is wafted back to some unnamed country somewhere between Lebanon and Morocco \u2013 and there are evidently some rather good meals to be had there.<\/p>\n

Start with some alcohol-free cocktails. Aziza \u2013 mango, passion fruit, pineapple and orange juice with grenadine syrup and all topped off with crushed ice bejewelled with pomegranate.\u00a0 Salma \u2013 coconut cream, cherry pur\u00e9e, mango juice. These are perfect to quench the thirst after pavement-pounding in the summer.<\/p>\n

The menu is full of Lebanese favourites. The meze selection here is vibrant and delicious. One could make a main meal of just a few of these, along with some puffy bread made in-house. Muhammarah \u2013 spicy red pepper, onion, garlic and roasted mixed nut dip \u2013 is a must-try, so save some bread for that, too. Great flavour with just the right balance of spicy heat.<\/p>\n

Batata Harra are spicy saut\u00e9ed potatoes with red pepper, fresh coriander, garlic and chilli \u2013 a dish that I will certainly order again. The cubed potatoes are scattered with a flavourful topping which makes them rather addictive.<\/p>\n

A lot of gastronomic colour<\/h4>\n

\"KenzaMakale Calamar \u2013 cumin and sumac-crusted baby squid, served with a coconut and chilli sauce \u2013 should be another signature dish here. It\u2019s a sizable portion of perfect seafood with a dip which adds a lot of gastronomic colour. Great texture with these rings which were thankfully missing a slick of oil. This seems like such a simple dish, but it is so often ruined by a soggy batter. Kenza does squid very well.<\/p>\n

The main courses of Tajines and grilled meats are delightful. My guest enjoyed his tagine bil lahm\u00e9 of tender lamb with prunes, baby pumpkin, green peas and roasted almonds, and served with organic couscous. This was just like your favourite lamb stew back from its trip to the Levant.<\/p>\n

Shish Taouk with chicken cubes marinated in garlic, lemon juice and spices, grilled on a skewer, was first class and an attractive presentation with rice and salad as side dishes.<\/p>\n

A lovely meal should finish with something sweet. Order the special house mint and rosewater tea along with a selection of dessert nibbles. Halawiyat is a collection of Arabic sweets such as Baklawa and Turkish Delight, and these constitute a small but perfect finale.<\/p>\n

\"KenzaKenza ticks so many boxes. It is the haunt of those looking for fun after dark, but also for the rest of us who want a great lunch at a reasonable price and convenient London location. Yes, OK, the chairs might be getting a bit worn but that just indicates a restaurant well-loved and popular. It\u2019s friendly with a warm welcome and cool comfort.<\/p>\n

Kenza
\n10 Devonshire Square
\nLondon
\nEC2M 4YP<\/p>\n

Phone: 020 7929 5533<\/p>\n

Email: info@kenza-restaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit Kenza here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kenza is the Arabic word for treasure and this truly is a subterranean gem. It\u2019s a cool and calm oasis on these sizzling summer days in the city. One can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,7],"tags":[100,108,8,2423,2498,178],"class_list":["post-12829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-eastern","category-restaurants","tag-lebanese","tag-liverpool-street","tag-london","tag-meze","tag-mezze","tag-restaurant"],"yoast_head":"\nKenza \u2013 perhaps the coolest restaurant in London - Mostly Food and Cocktails<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kenza Lebanese restaurant is a cool and calm oasis on these sizzling summer days. One can feel the weight of hot and oppressive air lift as one descends the spiral stairs. 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