Le Kesh — Restaurant in Oxford

Starters: Average Main: Great Customer Service: Bad

The reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because of the negative overall experience I had. To be honest I highly doubt you will face the same situation as me and my friends and there is a big chance you will enjoy a 4 star place. Continue reading if you want to learn what exactly happened.

Let me start from the beginning. We arrive at the place without a reservation and since there were no free table in the main area we decided to dine in the garden area which had couches along with coffee tables. All was going great, me and my friends were enjoying quiet atmosphere, the Moroccan decoration and the ample space of the couch in the garden. After ordering starters and main, the manager or owner came and asked us if it was okay for a family to sit for 5 MINUTES with us until they prepare a table for them. So we moved to a corner of the couch which wasn't very comfortable and we knew it would be a struggle to eat on the coffee table in that position with everyone so close to each other but hoped everything will be fine as the family was going to sit for 5 minutes and by the time the starters arrive we would have gotten our space back. We were VERY WRONG. The family next to us proceeded in ordering deserts and tea which was quite strange as member of the staff said they were going to prepare them a table and they would be leaving in 5 mins. At that point we realised that they were going to stay and we were going to have to spend our night next to a family of 5, out of the 3 children one was a toddler. The toddler was quite loud, screaming occasionally, needless to say this is not how you want to enjoy your meal especially when you are paying. In the end, the 5 MINUTES turned into an hour and a half, of being squeezed in the corner of the garden couch with an lively family sitting next to us, this was quite uncomfortable to say the least, not only because of the family noise but also the fact we had to struggle to eat in the small coffee table space we had remaining. This is basically how you can ruin someones dining experience.

Was really considering giving one star but going with 2 stars as the food was good. Concluding I'm quite disappointed with the decision of the manager/owner/member of the stuff (not sure which one) to have a family of 5 sit next to us and especially lying to us that they were staying for 5 minutes. Also I feel kind of offended on how they thought this was okay and not unfair for us who went there to enjoy...

One of the worst restaurant experiences I've had, but maybe my expectations were too high? To start with something good, they do take the Corona restrictions very seriously which is great. But the food... Their one person meze starter is a joke. Even for a starter the portions are microscopic and there is not enough hummus and Moutabel even to dip the Falafel and Sambosik! Never in my life have I had Lebanese meze with not enough hummus! Then to the main dish, Saffron chicken tagine. If there was saffron in it you couldn't taste it and the sauce had no real flavor, just kinda bland with the taste of olives. It takes skill to make tagine flavorless, and not in a good way. The service is fast and professionell, nothing to complain about there BUT the maître d' especially feels like he doesn't want to be there and doesn't really want you to be there either, he is correct and polite but cold and it's the same air I get from the other wait staff. Having been to both countries in a Moroccan and Lebanese restaurant you would expect warmt, laughter, engagement, but not here. Travelling on my own I don't always go out to eat because it's less fun by yourself, but when I do, I choose my restaurants carefully. Ambiance, friendlyness and flavor are at the top of my list and except for beautiful decor, and great mint tea this restaurant unfortunately didn't provide any of the rest. It's rare that I get disappointed with Lebanese meze and yes, some of the flavours in their MixMezze were really there like the Fatush and Sambosik but drowned out by all the other negatives and I felt like I mostly had a tiny salad with a cheese stick and some fava beans. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this restaurant...

I sadly didn’t get to eat here… I booked this place for my 21st birthday for a dinner. I booked online and received a confirmation email, so I was convinced the restaurant was open. The day before my reservation I received a reminder email reminding me of my booking with the times etc. which I thought was great and again a sign that the place was open. My partner and I walked 40 minutes in the rain to get to the restaurant to only find out it was undergoing renovations and was closed. Furniture had been moved, nobody was in eating, blinds were down and there were two builders working on the tiles upon our arrival. I’m really heartbroken I didn’t get to make the most of my 21st, I was really looking forward to a nice Moroccan meal. I’m sure the food is absolutely lovely, it’s a shame though that we were mislead and left disappointed without even have had the chance to eat here.

*edit in response to Le Kesh response: I can appreciate the situation, however I can also provide evidence that I didn’t get any phone calls. The restaurant should have cancelled the emails going out confirming bookings and emailed or even texted customers too, especially if you weren’t able to contact them via phone. I do however appreciate the apology...