Abu Zaad Uxbridge Road

Like a vision of old Damascus – perhaps seen through the eyes of Steven Spielberg – the OTT decor at this Syrian restaurant is part of its charm. Cheesy vistas compete with elaborate hanging lamps, carved wood & patterned mosaics, though the unfussy furniture tempers the look somewhat. It’s the low-priced food, however, that tempts the Shepherd’s Bush masses. The menu consists of a few standard dishes (grilled haloumi, falafel, moussaka) alongside a host of more intriguing options. Try, for instance, fatayer bi lahme (pastry filled with lamb), or the ful medames (broad beans with garlic & lemon). There’s also an extensive choice of kebabs from the barbecue grill, plus an array of stews. Customers too tired to cope with the frenetic decor might wish to make use of the takeaway service.

If you've got a hankering for delicious, authentic Damascene cuisine, head to Abu Zaad, on Uxbridge Road in Shepard's Bush. Damascus is known to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and its food culture is rich in history and legacy. Today, we'd associate this area with Syria, but there's thousands of years worth of recipes and cooking techniques which can be celebrated under this umbrella. In fact, historians believe that the city actually dates back to the seventh millennium B.C and since then, the team at Abu Zaad explain that the cuisine has been associated with Moroccon and Lebanese cuisine, too. 

Here, the menu is generous and offers a mix of dishes, from cold mezze, to BBQ, to salads and specifically Morroccan recipes, too. You might want to start with appetisers such as the Warak Inab which sees vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomato puree and chopped parsley and then simmered in lemon juice and olive oil. Similarly, falafel, BBQ lamb with nuts, spices and pomegrantes and houmous decorated with nuts and garlic, all make a delicious start to a meal. 

Moving into mains, it's hard not to try thr Kabseh which chicken with sultana, onion and pepper-topped rice, while the BBQ selection spans minced lamb skewers, aubergine cubes roasted over flame, shawerma dishes of shredded, juicy lamb and the mixed grill, which ticks lamb fillet, chicken cubes and lamb kofta off the list. 

Perfect for lunch time are Abu Zaad's wrap dishes which pack in ultimate flavour in an easy, casual bite. Vegetarian diners might appreciate the halloumi cheese or falafel fillings, but there's plenty of chicken and lamb, too. If you really can't decide, the set menu comes for either two or four people and offers a selection of the best-selling dishes. 

But, don't miss out on the desserts, either. The Om Ali offers layers of pastry and milk with nuts and is delicious with an after-dinner coffee.