Always follow your gut instincts.
Why?
Because you know it's going to be bad when you walk into a restaurant and instead of being greeted by the staff, they stare at you.
Not only do they stare at you with blank gormless eyes, but they are sat gossiping away and lazily point in the general direction towards the tables.
The next part will make more sense if you understand the layout of the restaurant.
Allow me to break it down.
This is a 5second walk from the door to the right through a wide passage where you are greeted to sumptuous decor, with velvet cushions and the waft of sweet shisha.
Normally, it's common courtesy to wait to be seated, riiiight?
Not in this Del Aziz, waiters look bemused to see loitering, lost customers.
Fortunately one took pity on us, and pointed to some of the tables at the back.
It was 7.30pm on a Friday night, I should have took note that 4 tables of couples was deemed 'busy' and find my own table.
Lesson thoroughly learnt.
Hummus - Rich chickpea puree flavoured with cumin, garlic, and tahini £4.50
Grilled Halloumi £4.50
Persian 'Koobideh' Lamb with Basmati Rice with Saffron - Minced lamb spiced with saffron, garlic & onions served with grilled tomatoes and finished with sumac. £12.50
Morroccan Lamb Shish - Fillet of marsh lamb rubbed with cumin & pepper with Basmati rice with Saffron £14.50
Food?
This part needs a thorough dissection.
Starters:
Hummus £4.50 - This was the most driest hummus I have ever eaten. It was so dry that it caused the back of my throat to clag. This was no hummus, it was a paste. A paste so dry it felt like it had been left outside all day, sunning itself on the side as the hummus was actually stiff.
Halloumi £4.50 - grilled cheese, it wasn't too salty, but it was slightly on the rubbery side.
Mains:
Morroccan Lamb Shish with Basmati Rice with saffron £14.50- Fillet of marsh lamb rubbed with cumin & pepper with Basmati rice with Saffron -
The lamb was so unbearably tough, it's sheer grip on the metal skewer almost caused me to fling my plate across the restaurant. Needless to say, I had to resort to caveman style eating. I want to tell you it was glorious after the effort it was to remove the shish from the skewer, but unfortunately the lamb shish was dry due to the fact that it was overcooked, and bland. The basmati rice was also lacking in any appearance of saffon.
Persian 'Koobideh' Lamb with Basmati Rice with Saffron£12.50
- Minced lamb spiced with saffron, garlic & onions served with grilled tomatoes and finished with sumac. The lamb was tender, but the seasoning and flavor needed that extra something. You know when something just needs that little bit of something extra, to bring out all the flavour?
Again, the basmati rice lacked any saffron.
Yummei?
I've been spoilt with the Fulham branch of Del Aziz as that branch is so outrageously good.
In comparison the standard at the Bermondsey branch was simply shocking, from the service to the food.
A quiet restaurant + bad service + mediocre food is inexcusable.
You broke my heart Del Aziz - Bermondsey.
It was sad 2 hour wait until I was hungry again.
Yummeis?
3/10 Yummei's
