Restaurants

A landmark on the Shepherd’s Bush strip known as ‘Little Syria’, Abu Zaad is one of London’s few Levantine restaurants not to pose as Lebanese. It is usually packed with locals who come to enjoy the reasonably priced Damascene food. Inside, harsh lighting and tiled floors don’t make for an intimate atmosphere, but a back room with painted panels on the walls and inlaid marble tables has more charm. Smiling waiters will guide you through the long menu and ensure food is brought out from the kitchen quickly. Most dishes are meat-heavy: lamb kebabs with mounds of spiced rice or various mince-stuffed vegetables baked in yoghurt. However, vegetarians needn’t despair. The meze outshone the mains on our visit, and it’s tempting to make a meal just of these alone. Highlights include little baby aubergines stuffed with chilli-flecked walnuts, and tamarind lentils with cubes of silky pasta and crisp shards of fried bread. We’ll certainly be back again for this slice of the Middle East in W12.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009