Em Sherif at Harrods — Restaurant in London

A visit to Em Sherif constitutes an exercise in ambivalence. On the one hand, it delivers on its premise - tasty Lebanese food served beautifully. On the other, at the end of the meal, the check will regrettably leave you with a bitter aftertaste overshadowing that of the actual food.

Offering the same selection of appetizing meze that can be found in any number of Lebanese Knightsbridge establishments, Em Sherif stands out in one unfortunate aspect - the price. Knightsbridge is not the place to turn when looking for a moderately priced meal, yet even there you would be hard-pressed to find a restaurant that would dare charge more than £8.50 for a plate of hummus. Em Sherif doesn’t just push that limit, it annihilates it. At £16 you are likely to be eating the most expensive hummus plate in London. At this price point you might expect it to be infused with some rare and exotic ingredient to justify the astonishing price tag, but alas, it is just hummus. With some olive oil.

Combing through the menu, overpricing is fairly consistent. On the vegetarian side you will find scrambled eggs at £19, tabbouleh salad at £16 labneh at £18.50 (another record) and falafel at £21.50. On the meatier side you’ll find kebab skewers at £48, grilled baby chicken at £37.50 and a fish shawarma at £32.

Where Em Sherif fails is in properly rationalizing charging customers such exorbitant prices. There is room for improvement when it comes to service and while the food is good, it is not exceptional, or in any way unique. No better than any other neighboring establishment, where the same meal would cost less than half.

This leaves Em Sherif with only one possible explanation for such egregious overpricing - it is located in Harrods. Regrettably, that is not good enough. Being located in “The World’s Leading Luxury Department Store” does not legitimize price gouging. Perhaps the thinking was that if customers have already spent £4000 on a Dior coat and £8000 on a Chanel bag, a restaurant check in the mere hundreds will be taken in stride. There is however a simple, but important distinction - a Dior coat or a Chanel bag will cost the same whether purchased in Harrods, Sloane Street, or Bond Street. Harrods does not overcharge its customers for the same basic goods. If the same coat or bag cost more in Harrods than they would at a boutique, no one would shop there. Unlike harrods, Em Sherif does overcharge its customers, and that’s a shame, because the food really is good. If prices were reduced to what is more or less the standard for quality Lebanese food in Knightsbridge, Em Sherif could be a fantastic middle eastern...

Disappointing Experience at Em Sherif in Harrods – Not Recommended

My visit to Em Sherif at Harrods was disappointing on all levels. The most glaring issue was the poor service: there was a complete lack of courtesy and professionalism from the staff. It felt as though the waiters had no training or experience in hospitality – as if they had simply been picked off the street without any proper preparation. Even worse, it seemed like they were deliberately discouraging us from ordering the more expensive dishes – a behavior that is completely unacceptable in a high-end establishment.

One particular Iraqi waiter in our section was especially disruptive. He continuously spoke loudly and unnecessarily with his colleagues right next to our table, most of the conversation being trivial or outright inappropriate. This behavior was highly unprofessional and showed a clear lack of respect for the guests.

Moreover, the staff were excessively eager to remove empty plates from our table – often at a hurried pace, even before we were fully finished or had a moment to pause between courses. This constant attempt to clear the table gave us the impression that we were being rushed out of the restaurant, which created an unpleasant and pressured atmosphere throughout the meal.

As for the interior, it was equally disappointing. The decor resembled an overcrowded furniture showroom rather than a stylish restaurant. The tables were so close to each other that moving around without disturbing others was nearly impossible. To make matters worse, our table was placed directly in front of the cashier station, where the waiters frequently gathered, chatting loudly and creating constant noise and distraction. There was no sense of privacy or tranquility.

The food itself was tasty – traditional oriental dishes that were well prepared. However, the portions were very small, and the prices were outrageously high. Compared to similar restaurants in London, the pricing was at least three times higher, which was entirely unjustified based on the overall experience.

Conclusion: If you're looking for a refined dining experience with professional service and an elegant atmosphere, Em Sherif at Harrods will likely leave you disappointed. The experience was overwhelmingly negative, and I cannot recommend it. My rating is 1 out of 5 stars, solely for the flavor...

Dear Management,

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the service I received at your restaurant, particularly regarding the behavior of a staff member named L. I have been a loyal customer of Sharif Restaurant, but recent experiences have left me feeling frustrated and disappointed.

On multiple occasions, I have noticed that seating arrangements at your restaurant are managed in a highly unprofessional and unethical manner. It appears that unless customers provide a tip to her,they are not given priority for seating, regardless of when they arrive or if they have a reservation. This practice is not only unfair but also creates a negative experience for customers who expect to be treated with respect and fairness.

During my last visit, Lubna ignored my presence when I did not offer her a tip upfront. Despite having arrived before other customers, I was made to wait while others were seated immediately after giving her money. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in any establishment, let alone one that prides itself on

I urge the management to take immediate action to address these concerns. This kind of corrupt behavior not only tarnishes the reputation of Sharif Restaurant but also drives away loyal customers like myself. I believe that all customers should be treated equally, without being forced to offer additional tips just to receive the service they deserve.

I hope that you will take my complaint seriously and implement changes to ensure that such practices are not tolerated in the future. I would appreciate a response outlining the steps you intend to take to rectify this situation.

Thank you for your attention to...