It’s no lie that my love for food supercedes my devotion to beauty – just browse my instagram feed and it’s back-to-back food pics. This may be a good time to break the news to you that I will be bringing more food content to Just Nice Things and to get the ball rolling, I would like to share my thoughts on a new eatery opening in London’s west end: the Lebanese Bakery.
Beirut-based brand The Lebanese Bakery recently opened its first international branch in Covent Garden from where it serves its signature ‘Manousheh’ – a variety of traditional Lebanese flatbread. The flagship eatery is the brainchild of brothers Samer and Bassam Chamoun who formed an alliance only two years ago. The Lebanese Bakery is next to the Fortune Theatre (where the Woman in Black is on stage…must see that) and opposite the stage door of the Theatre Royal. Less than 10 minutes’ walk from Holborn station and also easily accessible from Charing Cross and Covent Garden, it’s the perfect choice for a quick meal before curtain up.
The Manousheh – Beirut’s most popular snack and essentially a pizza from the Middle East – is freshly prepared and topped with a wide variety of authentically Lebanese ingredients catering for vegetarians and carnivores alike. All dishes are baked to order in the bakery’s traditional Arabic basalt rock oven and service is quick – order at the counter and your food will be brought to your table. Seating up to 28 guests at one time as well as offering take away and delivery options, every preference is catered for. The decor is also tastefully done – minimalistic, contemporary yet warm and inviting.
But let’s get onto the actual food. No, scrap that. We need to talk about the stringy cheese first. More specifically the stringy cheese on the Mshalaeh & Rocca (£6). Where does it come from? Where can we get more of it? This hard, white stringy cheese is salty and the winning ingredient on this vegetarian offering. The layers of rocket leaves beautifully compliment the taste of the cheese. It’s pretty special actually…possibly a little emotional too, tugging at the heart strings because Leanne and I couldn’t stop talking about it a week later. And we still do. We are thinking about asking for extra cheese next time.
We also tried the Zaatar for £4.50 (thyme, sumac and sesame with Lebanese olive oil) – the sumac is the domineering flavour here – as well as the next favourite, the Sujuk Bi Ajin at £6 (spicy beef sausage, onions, tomatoes, green bell peppers) and Kafta – also £6 – (spiced ground beef and lamb, cherry tomatoes, pickles and parsley), washing it down with freshly squeezed orange and lemon juices. This is carb heaven.
Unfortunately we did not have extra room for dessert (had my eye on the nutella monousheh with toasted hazelnuts). Despite us consuming a lot of bread, it wasn’t stodgy like a traditional pizza can be We left feeling suitably stuffed as we floated all the way home. As I write this, I can still taste what I had at the Lebanese Bakery and I can’t wait to go back for more.
Prices range from £4-6 per manousheh, which is reasonable considering the type of ingredients used and the location too. It is relatively small inside but the idea is it’s a quick place to pop into and it is situated in an idea place whether you’re off to the theatre or just fancy catching up with friends after work.
To find out more, visit http://thelebanesebakery.com/homepage-london/. The Lebanese Bakery is 100% halal.
*I was an invited guest to the Lebanese Bakery but my words and opinion are entirely my own.
Leave a Reply