Penelope Alice dines at Abd el Wahab

Seeing as I have never tried Lebanese cuisine, I couldn’t wait to tuck into some authentic dishes at Abd el Wahab. A group of around 50 PAs and I were invited down to the exclusive restaurant last week in London’s Belgravia, which hadn’t even officially opened to the public.

The venue has since opened its doors to diners, where they can taste a wide selection of mezze, tabbouleh, stuffed vine leaves, fish and meat-based main courses, as well as classic grilled kebabs. There really is something for everyone.

The restaurant itself has been naturally divided into various dining areas, while on the lower ground floor is a private area that has been turned into a cigar shop, which can also be hired out for guests looking to impress.

There is plenty of natural light throughout thanks to its skylight towards the back of the ground floor, while the front boasts large windows overlooking Pont Street and the dining terrace – in the summer it would be great to come back here and enjoy a warm evening with some delicious food.

Before we delve into our first course – it’s a selection of cold mezze – I am impressed to find out that the restaurant also caters for office lunches. What a great way to introduce a new cuisine to my colleagues at work.

Sitting on a table with five other PAs, we receive the second course which is a variety of hot mezze. I’m careful not to fill myself up on all of these dishes as I still have the main course and dessert to go. Soon enough the main arrives – it’s a selection of grilled chicken and lamb accompanied with rice and salad. A perfect combination to keep the chill out on a cold February evening. The meal is rounded off with some authentic baklava for dessert, alongside some fresh fruit.

Despite having opened last week, the restaurant and its staff certainly pulled out all the stops to ensure we were all taken care of – and if you’re on the look out for a new venue with an authentic feel complete with delicious food, Abd el Wahab has it all.

Contact: Abd el Wahab, 1-3 Pont Street, Belgravia, SW1X 9EL