Al Qalaa - Camden

Al Qalaa is a Lebanese restaurant located on Camden High Street, starting from Mornington Crescent. Despite its unassuming exterior, the restaurant offers a fantastic indoor and outdoor dining space that cleverly navigates around the smoking ban regulations. The well-ventilated dining area allows for the Middle-Eastern tradition of shisha smoking. I arrived at the restaurant at 6 o'clock and found myself desperately searching for a table for a large group.

I visited the restaurant on a Saturday, in need of a venue for a large dinner event I was organizing. The manager took care of everything, offering a fixed price for set menus, drinks, and Shisha, making splitting the bill easy. For starters, we enjoyed falafel, hummus, pita, salads, and more, all of which impressed everyone at the table with both the portion sizes and the quality of the food. The main courses, primarily meat-based, continued the trend of delicious dishes. The Shisha, an essential part of any Lebanese dining experience, surpassed our expectations, with proper coals and a variety of flavors available. The service was exceptional, with friendly and helpful staff making our dining experience enjoyable. Overall, Al Qalaa provided a memorable meal that lasted for approximately two hours. I will definitely be returning to this hidden gem in the heart of Camden for more delicious Lebanese cuisine and quality Shisha.