Zeytoon Restaurant — Restaurant in London

Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!

I wouldn’t even give them 1 star if that was an option. I booked a table for my family of 9 for Eid, (siblings, in-laws, etc) and the booking was for 5pm. We arrived on time and ordered our drinks and main courses. We finished eating at 6:15pm and asked to order tea and desserts. The owners refused to serve us anything else because they said they had another booking and needed the table. The restaurant was empty except us and a table of 2 girls sitting by the window. I asked what time the other booking was for and they said 6:40 so after practically begging to be allowed to order a dessert, they said they could manage to serve a falooda, (as if they were doing us a favour for our business)!

I’ve never experienced such bad service from a restaurant, we had travelled a long way to visit and the owners and waitresses who were Muslim, (hijab wearing) women could see we were there as a family to celebrate Eid. They made us feel so unwelcome. We left feeling so disappointed because when we phoned to book the table the day before, they had not mentioned that we would only have such a short time allowed in the restaurant. What kind of restaurant only allows a group of 9 an hour for a meal. Had they of advised that we would only be allowed to stay an hour or an hour and a half then we wouldn’t have bothered travelling over an hour to dine here especially as we were celebrating Eid as a family! I found this rude. At a time when small businesses are struggling, one would think custom and spending would be appreciated. It was our first visit here and will certainly be our last. To top it off, they tried to charge £15 service charge when the service was so poor.

The food was nothing special and the service was despicable. When Muslims can’t welcome other Muslims on Eid in the food and hospitality industry what else can be said. Don’t bother going here, there’s plenty of alternatives in the area. Overpriced for what it is and customer service is shameful, spend your money elsewhere, we spent £150 but wish we’d gone somewhere where we could have enjoyed a 3 course meal and finished with dessert/tea/coffee as most people want to on an evening out to socialise with friends and family. Terribly rude inconsiderate people working here. Standard food, not worth it.

Avoid!...

A Hidden Gem for Persian Cuisine and Exceptional Hospitality

I cannot say enough good things about our experience at Zeytoon this afternoon!

One of the biggest concerns when dining out with a young child who has allergies is ensuring that the restaurant takes those needs seriously. From the start, the staff at Zaytoon were incredibly understanding and reassuring. They took the time to go over the menu with us, explaining which dishes contained allergens and offering alternative options. The chef was also consulted to confirm our child’s dietary restrictions and ensured a fresh meal that was both safe and absolutely delicious. It is rare to find a restaurant that not only accommodates allergies but does so with such care and attention to detail.

Now, let’s talk about the food—because it was nothing short of spectacular! The menu was extensive and truly authentic, featuring a wide variety of Persian dishes that showcased rich flavors and high-quality ingredients. From the perfectly seasoned koobideh kebabs to the fragrant saffron rice and the beautifully slow-cooked stews, everything we ordered was cooked to perfection. We appreciated the variety of vegetarian and meat-based options.

Beyond the food, the restaurant itself was spotless and well-maintained. The toilets were clean—a detail that often gets overlooked but makes a huge difference when dining out, especially with a child. You could tell that hygiene and customer comfort were a priority.

Another wonderful surprise was that the restaurant was able to provide a quiet space for prayer. This thoughtful accommodation made us feel even more welcome and valued as guests. It’s rare to find a place that not only offers great food but also respects and caters to cultural and religious needs.

Overall they have mastered the art of blending authentic Persian flavors with top-tier service, making every guest feel cared for. If you’re looking for a restaurant that goes above and beyond—whether for allergy-friendly dining, an extensive and traditional menu—this is the place to go. We...

Being new to London I decided to explore the area and came across Zeytoon by chance. I popped in with my friend and we ordered a large variety of items including:

Kobedah chicken joujeh Khashk bademjan

Whilst the majority of the food was OK (not good by any means) one particular dish stood out as really bad, this was the Kashk Badmenjan. I believe that the Kashk that was used had gone off as it tasted like very very badly gone off milk and had small specs of green (mould?) in it. Now I am of Persian descent so I know my Afghani cuisine very well, Kashk can taste slightly sour as it is fermented but this was completely different, it was actually gone off.

After speaking to the waitress (who was very polite I must admit) she agreed that something wasn't right and took it away which confirmed my initial thoughts.

The rest of the food was OK but felt it lacked a lot of the care an attention that Afghani people pride themselves on. The dishes were a mixture of lukewarm and cold and I felt that the rice had been reheated as it had a dry and stale taste. The Mantoo was quite bland and didn't really have any flavour that popped (it was also covered in the rotten Kashk unfortunately). The grills kobedah and chicken) were quite dry and did not really amaze either of us.

Overall I would say that this restaurant has a lot of potential but it feels like they are cutting corners at every chance they get. To the owners, please take some more care into your food. Perhaps try to visit Ariana across the road as their food is honestly of much higher standard and quality.

The restaurant is very clean and well presented, I cannot complain about any of the staff as they were all polite, well dressed and took care of us.

Shame because this place has...