Before the war began in Syria, Imad Alarnab was a successful chef who'd run restaurants, juice bars and cafes in Damascus. His businesses were destroyed in the conflict, and like thousands of others he was forced to flee in search of safety, travelling through Europe until he arrived in London in 2015. He continued cooking, first for fellow refugees and eventually by hosting pop-ups and supper clubs raising money for refugee charities; these turned out to be a hit with London foodies.
Imad's Syrian Kitchen is his first brick and mortar restaurant, and is a story of hope as well as good food. Fans of Lebanese and Persian cuisines will find plenty to like here, with lamb kofta with tahini, yoghurt-marinated chicken with pomegranate, and bamya - okra stew with spiced tomato. The refugee charity Choose Love, which helped him crowdfund the location for this restaurant, receives £1 from every bill.
