Paddington Lunch Box

Tag: Lebanese

  • Paramount

    Paramount

    Bleary-eyed on a train to the office for weekly stint of collaborating and getting next to nothing done. It’s Paramount.

    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.

    Paramount menu - drinks
    Paramount menu - wraps
    Paramount menu - salads

    Wandering the streets of Paddington in the cold (FYI spring, you may now attend the UK), we decided upon Paramount, 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.

    Apple juice in a jar
    Chicken shawarma, sliced, with freies

    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 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.

    Chicken and rice dish - rather a lot of rice
  • The Pine

    The Pine

    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.

    Inside one of the little lamb sambousseks
    lamb samboussek as presented, 5 on a small dish with lemon

    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.

    shish taouk wrap inside - a bit limited contents

    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.

    A respectable 7 out of 10 for an overall score.

    And I think it cost £23, give or take.

    Menu at The Pine