Shawa — Restaurant in London

Barbosa Ruiz’s annual birthday event is upon the horizon, Barbosa and his good friend Sho-kat Ali need attire's for the night. Barbosa suggests visiting Westfield Shopping Center will be a great idea, as the variety of genres there seems to be at an all-time high, not to mention the fabulous different ethnicities of women wondering around. Barbosa finished his work duties and collected his friend Sho-kat. They both made their way down towards the suburb of West London in their highly powerful motor vehicle with fine engineering by the Germans.

The journey was rather amusing by singing jibberish and remembrance of Sho-kat's ex-wife, Monica, including firm grips on each other's thighs.

Upon arriving in the Westfield Car Park, Barbosa and Sho-kat made their way to the elevator lifts, where they embraced a short roller coaster ride going up and down instead of the mall shop floor. Barbosa, desperate in need of a wee, headed straight towards the toilet facilities, engaging in a relief urination. Rejuvenated new man, he headed out greated sho-kat making their way towards the shops.

The first shop to welcome the two gentleman was Armani Exchange, where Sho-kat remembered a great time the pair had spent together almost 7-8 years prior on their last visit together, where Sho-kat purchased hideous clothes for his previous marriage in Bulgaria.

Embarking the shopping center, they visited several shops, including one standout shop, Zara, where the two chaps were so confused as the gents section of clothing looked very feminine and not very alpha at all, leaving them in disgust and confusion.

After losing the battle over finding great attire for the fantastic evening in a week, the two gentlemen ended up purchasing a gum shield with boxing gloves, resulting in a boxing fight out of boredom.

Calling a truce for a result, the two alpha’s were extremely hungry but had not much time as their pair needed to be back to their pet rabbit’s back home. Barbosa suggested a great location of food on the second floor, where a cafeteria is designated for eating of the food. Sho-kat was not very impressed but willing to listen to his great friend's suggestion to give it a chance. They both headed towards the food court, not knowing if the food was halal. The two men were curious to see and were careful of their choice. The lebanese grill caught the attention of the great barbosa. He said to look over there to Sho-kat.

Sho-kat seemed to know what he wanted to eat from this fast food takeaway from the minute he woke up as he spoke without glancing at the menu once. Cheesy chips + shawama wrap for me, please, he says, while Barbosa, being a bit more hesitant and trying to stay safe, was still glancing at the menu in confusion. Barbosa, feeling a bit pressured by Sho-kat's quick order, has opted for the half chicken and chips. Before he has even spoken, Sho-kats food appears on the counter within mili seconds, as if he were being severed by a clucking bell staff member from GTA San Andreas.

Seeing this gave Barbosa an instant bad gut, knowing this food was going to be an unpleasant meal. Sho-kat, scouting around the food court of a seating of his preferred choice, whipped out his binoculars and scouted an empty seat located next to a Jimi Hendrix reincarnation on his first date. Sho-kat was so upset while engaging in his food that he realized he had been ripped off for a mango juice, which was Rubicon mango poured into a bottle and sold to him for double the price. However, this was not as bad as him selling his friend a brand new Macbook Pro, which he allegedly got for free. Barbosa was so upset at his food that he described the chicken as wet and the chips as freshly overcooked bread sticks, both of which were unseasoned and had no taste at all. The pair both realizing they had made an atrocity decision and giving this takeaway a chance noticed that Jimi Hendrix on his date next to them was also having a hideous time with their food...

Shawa Lebanese Grill offers an authentic taste of Lebanon with a modern twist, right in the heart of the city. The atmosphere is welcoming, with a clean and vibrant setup that makes it perfect for casual dining or a quick bite. The menu features a wide range of traditional Lebanese dishes, from fresh falafel wraps to mouth-watering shawarmas, all made with high-quality ingredients.

The flavors are robust and authentic, particularly their marinated meats which are juicy and perfectly spiced. Their hummus and baba ghanoush are must-try starters, smooth and rich with fresh pitas on the side. Portions are generous, offering great value for money, especially for those with a big appetite.

One standout is the mixed grill platter, a fantastic way to sample a variety of the meats, including lamb, chicken, and kofta. The dishes are also well-suited for vegetarians, with options like grilled halloumi and fresh salads that don’t compromise on taste.

Service is quick and efficient, and the staff are friendly, always willing to recommend dishes or accommodate dietary preferences. The only minor drawback is that seating can be limited during peak hours, but the quick service ensures tables turn over rapidly.

Shawa Lebanese Grill offers a delicious array of authentic Middle Eastern dishes, focusing on fresh and flavorful options for everyone. Whether you’re after something light or indulgent, they cater to a range of dietary needs, with many vegan and vegetarian choices. Here’s a glimpse of their menu:

Wraps & Burgers:

• Grilled Halloumi Wrap (vegetarian) – £8.50 • Chicken Shawarma Burger – £11.95

Plates & Boxes:

• Chicken Shawarma Box – £12.95 • Chicken Shawarma Platter (with fries, hummus, flatbread) – £14.95 • Falafel Bites Platter (vegan) – £12.95

Rotisserie Chicken:

• Quarter Chicken with 2 sides – £10.95 • Half Chicken with 2 sides – £14.50

Sides:

• Fries – £4.75 • Lebanese Fries (spiced with paprika) – £5.25 • Cheesy Fries (vegetarian) – £5.95 • Mezze options like Hommos – £6.25, and Falafel (vegan) – £6.95

Extras:

• Grilled Halloumi – £4.65 • Harissa or Garlic Sauce – £0.50 each

Desserts: Baklawa (selection of 5 pieces) – £5.25

Drinks: A variety of soft drinks, including fresh Lebanese homemade lemonades like Mama Zohra’s Strawberry & Rose Lemonade (£3.95).

Shawa prides itself on offering a healthy, customizable menu perfect for a quick bite or a more filling meal. The vibrant flavors, particularly in their shawarma and mezze, make this a must-visit spot for Lebanese cuisine lovers

Overall, Shawa Lebanese Grill is a gem for anyone looking to enjoy flavorful, authentic Lebanese cuisine at a reasonable price. Definitely...

I have dined here in a couple of times now, but on this occasion, the wraps were of a poor standard. They were very empty given the price, soggy and lacked flavour, not at all authentic in taste/flavour.

However, the key issue is that there was a hair buried within the fries (see photo). This was clearly from a member of the cooking team.

When we told a member of staff, he directed us to the manager, who was awful. He shouted at us, was very defensive and spoke over us the entire time. When we explained that we found a hair in the food, he said it is an open area given that it is a food court, so hairs can fly in from anywhere, almost excusing the fact that the kitchen lacks health and safety, and appropriate hygiene standards. For one, the manager himself had uncovered shoulder length hair and was walking around the kitchen.

As a grown woman who paid for the meal, he said that he would not speak to me (as I was not meekly staying quiet whilst he shouted at me) and stated that he would only speak to my mother - let me remind you, I am a woman in her 30's, a doctor, someone very capable of speaking for herself and was the paying customer, why do you need to speak to my mother? When my mother did try to speak to calmly explain her perspective, he immediately spoke over her too, eventually storming off.

I asked the few staff at the tills, who were actually polite and apologised given that the manager did not do so, if the manager if always like that and they smirked. That says it all.

Poor food, unhygienic and appalling service. I would not recommend unless you want to be screamed at in the middle of the mall by a 'manager' who lacks basic communication skills when they make a mistake. He cannot regulate his emotions, and would benefit from further skills training and anger management support. I half expect him to respond with similar levels of aggression here. I do not want a response, but I want other customers to know what our experience was. I can put my hands up and say that in response to the manager, I spoke assertively, but there was no excuse for how he spoke to us. Awful. Do not recommend. There are much better options in the food court. Save your money...