Khamsa — Restaurant in London

Khamsa has beautiful decor and flavorful food, but I wouldn’t recommend it for large groups due to strict policies. We visited as a group of 16, and while the food was excellent, the booking rules made the experience stressful. It was quite difficult ensuring the exact number of guests. One person had to pay the entire bill, there was a full-price charge for any missing guests, and they couldn't accommodate extra people beyond the booking, as food had to be pre-prepared. When I asked about this, I was told it was due to previous no-show issues, which is understandable, but it felt like a rigid rule applied to everyone rather than a case-by-case approach.

The owner kindly opened on a Sunday for us, which we appreciated since it's usually closed that day. However, we had a strict time limit, making the experience feel rushed and less enjoyable. Perhaps Saturdays offer a better experience when they operate under normal conditions.

The restaurant itself has a warm ambiance and stylish decor, and it's clear a lot of effort has gone into making it visually appealing. However, I found it bizarre that we weren’t allowed to take pictures of the decor, especially since it would have showcased the restaurant in a positive light.

The buffet was delicious, with rich flavors and well-prepared dishes. At the time, it was £26 per person (excluding service charge). I also pre-ordered Tchakhchoukha, Algerian noodles, and rice pudding, but unfortunately, I never received the rice pudding. I chose to leave it, as addressing it with the owner seemed likely to cause unnecessary tension, and I didn’t want the hassle.

I’ve organized many food evenings out, and I’d have to say this was one of the more difficult ones due to the rigid policies and communication style. While the food was great, I probably wouldn’t return. There’s nothing wrong with setting boundaries, but how they are communicated matters. A more welcoming approach could improve the experience and make the restaurant as enjoyable...

You are missing a lot if you don't come here!what are you waiting?i grant no way you can be deceived here This is one of the rare restaurants that genuinely serve authentic home made food and it is succulent i'm sure you will not have anything close to it anywhere! The chef and owner Djamel is an Amazing Human being generous kind and caring, He knows well the stuff,i had a very interesting discussion with Him around Algerian authentic food and i was blown Away by his depth of knowledge about our Algerian and berber great food heritage i really regret that i did not take notice of some specific beautiful terms being myself deeply interested in authentic recipes and food History.The decor is wonderful and again all about Algerian authenticity and remembered me of home and my discussions with my Mum i was so happy just looking to it! An important thing to know is you need to book Fridays and weekends because the preparation is tailored to suit a limited number of people due to limited places but i'm sure this plays a role in the unrivaled good quality you get here.There is also a 10% charge...

Fantastic place, cozy and with a feeling of a family run business. We were a group of 8 people, and we got there with a reservation. We were seated in no time, but since the place is not huge, I recommend booking a table for sure.

We then went with the chef recommendations. We were served small platters with a variety of food to share, and everything was delicious. In particular, their focaccia bread is one of the best I've ever had. You get to have a small taste of every appetizer they have.

For the main course we still went with chef recommendations. We were served a mix of all the main courses in the menu, and everything was perfect. The salmon was delicious, but the mixed (lamb and chicken) cous cous was my favourite - perfectly cooked and full of flavour. The portions were not big, they were huge. We thought we would have ordered more, but all of us was full after the main course.

Finally, this is cash only, BYOB type of restaurant. It's worth saying that prices are way below average, considering how delicious the food was and the restaurant location.

I would definitely...