Zufa Lebanese Restaurant, Northwood Hills - make it a date!

Picture of date drink from Wikipedia.

Problem
What does a Lebanese restaurant serve? I need time to learn my way around the menu.

Answer
Go on to Zufa's website and you can read all about it. If you are not nearby, or can't wait, you can download their app and order online.

Starters include
Hot and Cold mezze
(A huge choice; a mixture of dishes)
Soups

Main course
FISH
Sea bass
King Prawns

MEAT OR CHEESEInclude chicken, kebabs, lamb, salad, cheese, rice, wraps.

Drinks
Dates drink - Jallab
Yogurt Drink - Aryan
Juices
Colas

Desserts
We'll start with the familiar:
Baklava. It says nuts, without specifying which nuts. Before ordering, I shall ask.

Blinis
Well, I know these. Russian and East European restaurants from the Middle East and more.

Miracle Cake
Belgian chocolate cake.

Useful Websites
orderdirectly.biz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallab

Date drink
I already know what I want, the date drink. But I once went to a restaurant specially for a speciality and it was not in stock. So I shall check first and ask them to save one for me.
If they have a date drink, I'll definitely make it a date.

I think I'll make one at home first, then see how theirs compares, and what extra ingredients they have to enhance the flavour.

Zufa Lebanese Restaurant
1-3 Joel Street, Northwood Hills
HA6 INU
tel: 01923 840192
www.zufarestaurant.co.uk

Open Monday to Sunday from around noon until around 11 but check because I was confused between the restaurant opening times and the food ordering times and when I checked a second time they appear to have different opening times on different days of the week.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See previous post on Zufa restaurants in Northwood Hills and Hatch End. Please share links to your favourite posts.

New Take Away Gourmet Halal Burgers and Pizzas With Outdoor Seating in Hatch End, Pinner

Problem
Where to sit outside now summer has arrived?
What's the name and phone number of that new place?

Answers
It opened in July in time for American independence day on July 4th.  It is American theme name and menu.

Prices
Money no object? Want to treat the family or business friend? Support a new business?

Dearest
Starters cost from £1.50 to £3.
For your main course:
A large folded pizza is £8.
Los Angeles Combo (burger) 'Meal' costs £9.99.
Add dips at 20 p each and garlic bread from £2.50 to £3.50.

If you are eating in you might add the dessert such as chocolate pizza for £5. Adding both banana and strawberry at £1 each bringing it up to £7.
I see no coffee. So add a soft drink such as Pepsi, Tango Orange or Apple, at 80p each.  Add a Stuft crust to a ten inch pizza for  £1.50 or to the 12 inch pizza for £2.

Cheapest
If you just want to try them to give a new local business a starting welcome and to be able to tell your friends you've tried the food:
Desserts
Chocolate cakes for £3.00
Strawberry Cheese Cake £3.00
Chocolate pizza - that's a novelty to me £5.
Add banana or strawberry for £1 extra.

Pizzas
The ten inch medium pizza is £4.

(I'll add more by checking out their menu again later. I thought this post should go up on line before lunch time.)

PS Diets
The menu says Halal. That means no pork.
The menu mentions ham. I don't know whether that means the halal and ham come from different suppliers and are kept separately. More likely it is turkey made to look and tasted like ham, but it doesn't say so. If I can get a member of my family or friends to ask, or phone, I'll do so.

Vegetarian
If you want vegetarian, they have a Californian Veggie  (burger) at £4.50. Three types of vegetarian pizzas.

Kosher?
Many people wanting halal eat at kosher places and vice versa to avoid pork. In Indonesia I found that the kosher places had a lot of shrimp and kosher visitors don't eat shellfish. I am allergic to shellfish.

I did not see any shellfish on the menu, but a careful second reading revealed a section headed Seafood (lower right, centre pages) with prawns as well an tuna and anchovies.) If that is a concern for you, please ask them about ingredients before ordering.

Friend or Foe?
Is another burger and pizza place in Hatch End rival or a welcome addition, making Hatch End even more of a Mecca and a hub for foodies?

What else is in Hatch End?
Pizza:
Burger:

Secret Owners
Who owns this place? It is a secret. Could be an outsider, or one of the other restaurants trying out a new variation on their already successful formula. I'll find out for you. My magnifying glass and sleuthing is at the ready.

The only thing more exciting than discovering a secret is bring the first to reveal it. If you know something I don't know, please tell me.

Tips
Want to know more? Visit or phone them.

California Gourmet Foods
Pickwick Walk, Grimsdyke Road, Hatch End, HA5 4HS.
Tel: 0208 421 43 44.

Update, later post with pictures of owner and photos!

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. My next post is on the choice of restaurants and cafés and the pub in Hatch End. Please share links to your favourite post.