Picture of Orange Room, E3 4TN

Orange Room, E3 4TN

Lebanese cafe on the Mile End/Bow borders, fairly close to Mile End Station. It also does takeaway and delivery, with online ordering via Hungry House and via Just Eat.

It's a small space, leading back from a narrow frontage to the service counter at the back. Seating for no more than 40 is provided by a padded banquette along one wall in combination with sturdy unvarnished wooden chairs and tables. The walls are appropriately painted orange, and various artwork hangs here and there. The window at the front offers a view onto Mile End Park.

Although it bills itself as both restaurant and cafe, table service is limited to bringing your food to you — you're expected to place your order at the counter at the back, and also pay there afterwards.

Kake visited on a Wednesday lunchtime in November 2016. I was welcomed when I entered and invited to sit wherever I liked. There were four other customers when I arrived a little after 1pm. Peaceful instrumental music was playing, not too loud.

I went for the lunchtime selection platter (£5.50) photo, which consisted of three mezze (a set selection), one piece of flatbread, and a hot or cold drink of my choice. Fresh mint tea came with only a few mint leaves but a optional teabag on the saucer.

Hummus had a nicely smooth texture, but tasted fairly bland. Falafel were good, with a crisp, greaseless exterior and not at all dry inside. Broad beans were very well judged in terms of texture, but rather saltier than ideal, and benefited greatly from the lemon wedge provided alongside. A salad garnish consisted of shredded iceberg lettuce, a wedge of tomato, and a decent enough pickled chilli. Bread was the standard round thin type sold in packets of half a dozen (and indeed there were a couple of crates of these still in their bags by the counter) and went chewy fairly swiftly.

No service charge was added to the bill.

Kake's verdict: Nothing special, but fine if you're in the area.

Chuck's verdict: Good food, good service, genuine cuisine. You may also bring your own alcohol with you, which makes it a very attractive place to go on a Sunday lunch. Recommended.

Accessibility: A ridge at the threshold, about 1 or 2 inches. No steps to the toilet, but access is cramped.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, November 2016. Opening hours from takeaway menu, November 2016.
OS X co-ord: 536508 OS Y co-ord: 182224 (Latitude: 51.522444 Longitude: -0.033757)
Last edited 2023-09-05 13:30:40 (version 7; diff). List all versions.