La Costa Café…it’s got a ring to it, don’t you think?
Solo dining as my lunchtime collaboration in the office isn’t going so well, though I did have a near 90 minute water cooler conversation so at least Jeremy Hunt will be satisfied with my in office interaction.
Anyway. It’s a local caff which does various breakfast things like Eggs Benedict, omelettes, sandwiches, baguettes…and some hot food near the counter.
Of course I had the most expensive thing at £13.50, salmon and roasted vegetables… though I’m sure the menu said £9 something. Maybe a sitting down tax?
It was warmed up quickly, salmon was nice, roasted vegetables had clearly been roasted earlier but also there was a pleasant light spiciness to them.
Part of me begrudges paying £13.50 for what I could make at home for £3.50…but it was all totally fine food. Nothing to make me want to go back to La Costa Café, but nothing to hate either.
Bleary-eyed on a train to the office for weekly stint of collaborating and getting next to nothing done. It’s Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen.
But the one bright side of being closer to my colleagues is that I get to catch up over lunch with kind souls I’ve worked with for a few years.
Wandering the streets of Paddington in the cold (FYI spring, you may now attend the UK), we decided upon Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen, a popular Lebanese restaurant.
I tried not to be so predictable in ordering the chicken shawarma but after speaking to the waiter, I ordered the chicken shawarma. That and the apple, mint and ginger juice came to around £17…I forgot the exact price. Liz Truss is coming back anyway so we’ll have more inflation soon.
Anyway, fries were actually crispy. The shawarma was also really good, tomatoes and garlic sauce nicely balanced with tender chicken. Banging dips for the fries too.
So Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen is the paramount place on my lunchtime adventures so far. Will they be bettered before HR find out about my views on office working?
Lunchtastic score of 8.2.
2025 Update!
So, I went back…feels crazy living in London and going to the same restaurant twice in your life, but here we are.
This time I had the Batata Harra wrap.
Sure, it looks underwhelming – maybe they could have presented it with the cut side open. Maybe I could have rearranged it so, for my photograph.
And compared to Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen’s chicken shawarma, which I will eventually learn how to spell without looking it up, I guess is a tad underwhelming.
Yet there was lots to like, the wrap had a real firm crisp to it – it felt toasted, perfectly. Perhaps the potato was a little more firm than ideal, but mixed together with the yoghurt, tomatoes, peppers and spices was a spicy, creamy delight really.
I do prefer the chicken shawarma (spelled it right!) but this is a worthy wrap. There is no reason to change my original score of 8.2 out of 10.
For 8 months I walked past Torelli Pitta Souvlaki multiple times a day, never really wondering what it was like. Then the CIA unleashed coronavirus in Wuhan via Princess Diana’s ghost, and I hardly ever walked past it again.
Until I was made to get Closer To Colleagues. And here I was after a morning of sitting in the office with my earphones in, closer to nobody, eating lunch alone.
It’s mostly souvlaki on offer at Torelli Pitta Souvlaki and I had the halloumi – as squeaky as you’d expect, though I could have had chicken, pork, lamb or multiple meats.
The fries were a little soggy but plentiful, the tomato and salad fresh…but I craved more tomato and less fries. The tzatziki fresh, and the pitta toasted…all as you’d expect but nothing more.
A perfectly respectable lunch and a score of 6.9 out of 10. I’d love to know what Greek folk think of it!
Along with a trip to The Pine, it was time to go play desk lottery, to see if I was a lucky winner of a desk to work on, or whether I’d be expected to work on a stool all day
Though more importantly, it was time for Closer To Cuisine.
This time at The Pine, a halal Lebanese restaurant just off Edgware Road.
I was most curious about the pastries, so I ordered the lamb samboussek. A bit more crisp on the outside might have been delightful but these were nicely made, slightly spiced lamb, with onions and pine nuts. Happy with this decision.
Then I ordered the shish taouk wrap…which looked a bit sad and minimal when you opened it up, but was at least tasty to eat, tomato and chicken combining nicely, though with a rather runny sauce.
Chicken shawarma would have been the more impressive choice…but I wanted something new to me.
Sometimes you win… sometimes you lose. I did win the desk lottery by the way.
Service was good, the lady running it seemed really sweet. I’d argue that the menu had way too much choice and should be slimmed down… but that’s my preference.
Yet again, none of my colleagues that I’m now much closer to, photographed or rated their food. They’ll fall in line…or I’ll move team and get new ones.
Oh and the orange juice was as sweet as you’d expect…but too much.
They made me go back to the office. Aaaargh. But I made them go for lunch at Mihbaj a ha ha ha.
Starting my hopefully very occasional story of lunch spots around Paddington with a trip to @mihbaj which is a super cute Palestinian cafe on Pread Street.
No I didn’t choose to go to a Palestinian café because I’m woke and wanted to make a political point. I went because the food looked tasty. Don’t worry GB News fans, I might go to KFC next.
Confirm the chicken salad was as good as it looked, slightly spiced chicken, creamy avocado with lettuce, tomato and a dried pitta…. cannot say I’m fussed about dried pitta though.
Carrot, apple and orange juice was delightful too. No booze on offer…fine by me.
10 other colleagues were forced to join me but not one photographed their food. It’s 21st century…why you not photographing every meal? Most were happy though the food took a while to arrive…hence maybe not the spot for large groups on a tight 1 hour lunchtime turnaround.
Service helpful, plenty of options on the menu, some wraps to take away if you wish too.
Mihbaj was a good start to the adventure… maybe let’s give them an 8.0 out of 10.
Will there be a second post or will I decide to upset the CEO and refuse to come back to the office?
