After a week in the sun it feels like a lifetime ago but I did find a little gem before I went away – Bonata, on the little road that used to end in Pergola.
Apparently a Middle Eastern Mediterranean fusion grab and go concept, if the term fusion doesn’t scare you like it does me… almost as much as the phrase “we need to change our corporate culture”, you rock up and pick a grains or salad base, then add some meat (or not), followed by multiple sides and a sauce.
It’s a shame I couldn’t be arsed to post this the same day as my memory is now stretched, but I had a spinach base, with some harissa lemon chicken thighs – which were succulent and flavoursome.
Followed by butter beans, tomatoes, cucumber and a spicy harissa dressing.
Was a little spicy (more would have been fine), everything was fresh, good quality ingredients…yeah I enjoyed Bonata.
Rating of 8 out of 10.
I do wish I had smuggled a proper knife and fork from the kitchen at work though.
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?
2026 update:
I went back!
On my own this time, the way I like my office collaboration days, commute by myself (and 1,000 other people in the same tube carriage), meetings by myself, desks by myself and lunch by myself. All so I can collaborate and bring that magic buzz of my silence to the office to make the CEO happy.
How on earth did I cope pre-pandemic? How on earth are others coping with 5 days a week in the office?
I totally didn’t learn my lesson from last time I visited Mihbaj, as I forgot how huge their portions were.
I went for the musakhan – because I wanted to try something new.
There was way too much food. Sure I didn’t need to eat it, and it was £21.00 so maybe that could have been a hint for me.
However, the chicken was really juicy – two sizeable chicken legs.
The caramelised onions didn’t taste that sumac-y, the onions on top added crunch.
And the flatbreads to bottom were very crispy in places, but also there was so much cooking juice from the chicken that they were luxuriously swimming in it. A tad too crunchy for my preferences.
It was another very, very good lunch – though I really need to remember how huge their portions are. My score is still an 8.00.
