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Zengi

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44 Commercial Street, E1 6LT Full details & map

Restaurants & cafés: Syrian

 

Time Out says   3 Users say 3/5 Rate it

Posted: Oct 28 2011

There's something innately likeable about Zengi, a Middle Eastern fusion restaurant set on a strip otherwise dominated by faceless caffs and fried chicken parlours. Functionality reigns on the ground floor, where a gleaming open kitchen dominates a room otherwise decorated with Arabic prints, the occasional shisha pipe and a handful of engraved metal tables. But there's also a more intimate basement featuring cushioned couches and hanging lanterns in a number of cosy alcoves.

Staff were happy to explain dishes on a menu that mixes Turkish, Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi influences, but meze orders were hit and miss on our recent visit. Of the hits, böregi combined a rich cheese and spinach filling with crisp filo pastry, while velvety lamb's liver came in an indulgent tomato and parsley sauce; of the misses, we bemoaned the limpness of too-chewy köfte kibbeh and an overdressed fattoush salad. Turkish pizza was better, generously topped with lightly spiced mince, while the patented Zengi burger featured a juicy lamb patty adorned with grilled halloumi and onions. Finish with mint tea and - if you can stomach the roar of the traffic - an apple shisha at one of the pavement tables.

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Zengi details

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Address

Zengi

44 Commercial Street E1 6LT

Transport Aldgate East tube

Telephone

020 7426 0700

Zengi website

Meals served noon-11pm daily

Main courses £2.50-£14

Credit cards MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 4, pavement ), Babies and children admitted, Booking advisable, Available for hire, Takeaway service

Zengi map

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Comments & ratings 3/5 (Average of 3 ratings)

By jimmy - Jan 2 2012
4/5

good place with friendly service . I had lamb shish and lebanese beer wich both was fantastic the place itself not very busy but food is cooked right in front of you .. vey good overall.

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By Rob - Jan 1 2012
5/5

Had an office Christmas do there last week. Was very impressed with the thoughtful decor and the waitress who was very patient and attentive. Food was delicious, and a bargain compared to what I've paid before on Edgware Road. Will go again with the girlfriend.

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By Norman - Aug 8 2011
1/5

This place is below average and it is really overpriced. I had a mixed kebab (lamp, chicken, and adana) for the price of 12,50 which I find far too expensive. It was really mediocre. The Turkish restaurants in Dalston do far better ones for 3-4 pounds less.
I tried an Iraqui starter which came with chilli sauce from a super market bottle - No way that was prepared in that place. I was shocked to pay 23,50 at the end.
Service was slow by the way, a bit too laid back for my taste.

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By Emma - Jan 7 2011

I loved this place - the staff were lovely and friendly, and honest enough to suggest that the large mezze platter might defeat my friend and I. In the end we had the medium platter, with various delicious bites. Really good food, and the amazing coffee afterwards kept me awake for a good few hours. Altogether, worth a trip.

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By Nicola Hammond - Jan 6 2011

I absolutely love the food here and haven't had anything less than amazing since my first visit at the beginning of last year. The staff are lovely and welcoming and the food is some of the best I've tasted, despite having lived in the middle east for much of my life!

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By Hanah - Dec 21 2010

I had a lovely time at Zengi, they offered the best kebab and mezze, I dont really understand the negative comments made. I totally disagree, it is one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in town.

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By Madison - Oct 27 2010

Don't really understand the negative comments; this place is delicious! The kufta kabba and the chicken shish are succulent and the fresh baked breads are perfect for the many dips they offer. I go here at least once a week and always leave satisfied. This is real, good, clean home cooked food!

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By Suzy Carter - Sep 28 2010

I really wanted to like this restaurant, but couldn't actually figure out what was 'Lebanese' about it, it didn't really have that Middle Eastern wow factor either, with it's kebab etc. The food was OK nothing brilliant, the staff seemed a tad preoccupied. The restauarnt is cheap which is a bonus but the corkage is £5 per bottle of wine! that kinda counter balances the cheap part, but u'd prob pay that little bit more and enjoy the 'whole' dinning experience, I don't actually know how it 'stands out', it's been open a while now so should hopefully get better, lets see.

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By deldel lami - May 2 2010

im a regular custamer ive seen something very strange in this resturant every time it is a different taste of food for example the falafel and the taste of meatsuta two weeks ago ive ate it and yesterday ive ate it again and differen taste the falafel was dry and the suta was taste was two spicy it cannot be eaton and in 2 days im going to oder same food and want a good taste not spicy and not dry

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