Forum Topic

L'Oriental

I know the CCA meet at the L'Oriental, so thought we would give it a go last night for the first time. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the food. The starters we had were lovely, but the main courses were a real let down - the Chicken Tagine was bland and lacking in the aromatic spices I expected, and the Shawarma, which had to be chicken, not lamb, was dried up, and not very nice at all. I also object to being charged for bread to go with the starters - we didn't ask for bread, it just appeared and we were charged extra for it.Sorry, but L'Oriental will not be on my list of great places to eat in Acton. Wish we had gone to Anokha instead. Better value for money and much nicer food.

Amanda Knights ● 5237d10 Comments

The CCA goes to lots of places: Station House; Rocket; L'Oriental; Kings Head and George.it's just for a drink generally so not an endorsement of food quality.But personally, I 've always enjoyed the meals there - especially the starters - but son rates the shawarma (he sees himslef as an international expert)and I like the falfael wrap.The quiz on June 16th will be there so I hope the food is yummy then.

Sara Nathan ● 5237d

The starters were very good. The falafels, lamb sambousek, and lamb kebbeh were tasty and worth eating. Maybe we were just very unlucky that the chicken in the shawarma looked and tasted as though it had been sitting cooking all day and had dried up. If it had been lamb, as on the menu, perhaps as it would have been nicer. Perhaps at the quiz you will only get the starter items, which are good.

Amanda Knights ● 5237d

We have eaten there several times, as well as having the chicken wraps and fatoush as take away, the food has always been lovely. We have been given complimentary starters and drinks as well. It is sad to hear of your poor experience, when we have recommended it to many friends.

Angela Peel ● 5236d

allways loved L'Oriental when i used to work next door meatbread was great ,,,though  6 years ago now . Does Jocelyne still own it?

Jerry Lynch ● 5235d

She's certainly not there. I think she went back to LebaNon

Sara Nathan ● 5235d

I never understand why people don't complain to the manager if there's something wrong with the food, and give them an opportunity to put it right before posting comments on the forum.  I've always had lovely food at L'Oriental, and I'm sure they would have dealt with it for you. If they hadn't or had been rude to you, then certainly post something on the forum, but give them a chance first!  And you can't really compare it with Anokha - they're different continents for a start!

Anne Brown ● 5234d

"different continents for a start"  actually Anne at the risk of being a nit picking pain in the bum they are not different continents if L'Oriental is Lebanese (which I think someone said they are) that is the western Asia continent......I think!I don't rate Anokha their takeaway service is so frustrating I simply gave up!

Jen Morty ● 5234d

Sorry, but I thought the forum was for us to share our views. Am I only allowed to post good reviews about places?I was interested in other peoples's experiences of L'Oriental, to see if we had just picked a bad night.The only reason I mentioned Anokha was because we made a choice between the two, and, in our opinion, we would have had a better meal at Anokha. As for complaining to the management - we didn't feel 'comfortable' doing so - we did not find the atmosphere very welcoming at all.Everyone has there own reasons for liking or disliking a restuarant, and we are entitled to that. Maybe we were just unlucky, but we did not enjoy the experience at L'Oriental. Is that ok?

Amanda Knights ● 5234d

I agree with you Amanda,  post away.  You should not have to complain to get a good meal,  it should have been provided in the first place.I have no idea if the restaurant is good or not as I have never been but judging from the other posters it looks like your poor experience was not the norm for the establishment.

Jen Morty ● 5234d

That's certainly what I would say, Amanda.Never had a bad meal or duff catering from them in years and years.But in any individually run restaurant, there is variety and the chance that you may choose badly or hit a poor night: (don't eat salt beef at Gaby's in Charing Cross Road on a bank holiday!) But that's an antidote to blandness and homogeniety and a risk worth taking: yer McDonalds will always be the same wherever and whenever - but is that a good thing?

Sara Nathan ● 5234d