Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 4 and Version 1 of Xhauri, E17 4QH

Version 4 Version 1
== Line 8 == == Line 8 ==
Turshi (vinegar-pickled cabbage, gherkins, and red onions; &pound;2) <small>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19830144745/ photo with speca me gjiz&euml; in the background]</small> was a generous portion, and certainly seemed to be home-made. The vegetables were nicely crisp and the vinegar flavour wasn't too harsh.
Turshi (vinegar-pickled cabbage, gherkins, and red onions; &pound;2) was a generous portion, and certainly seemed to be home-made. The vegetables were nicely crisp and the vinegar flavour wasn't too harsh.
== Line 10 == == Line 10 ==
Speca me gjiz&euml; ("Xhauri special"; &pound;2; see above for photo)was a dish of lightly-cooked green and red peppers in a rich, garlicky, yoghurty dressing; this was also rather tasty. The yoghurt was very rich, but worked well with our grilled meat dishes.
Speca me gjiz&euml; ("Xhauri special"; &pound;2) was a dish of lightly-cooked green and red peppers in a rich, garlicky, yoghurty dressing; this was also rather tasty. The yoghurt was very rich, but worked well with our grilled meat dishes.
== Line 12 == == Line 12 ==
Qofte (minced meat kebabs; &pound;1.50 per skewer) <small>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19207503774/ photo]</small> were OK but nothing special.
Qofte (minced meat kebabs; &pound;1.50 per skewer) were OK but nothing special.
== Line 14 == == Line 14 ==
Rice with grilled lamb chops (&pound;7) <small>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19834989831/ photo]</small> was a little disappointing. The rice had a rather "boil in the bag" consistency, and although it was advertised on the menu as being cooked with six different herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and laurel), none of these were in evidence. However, the lamb chops themselves were fine; not overcooked, and a reasonably-sized portion.
Rice with grilled lamb chops (&pound;7) was a little disappointing. The rice had a rather "boil in the bag" consistency, and although it was advertised on the menu as being cooked with six different herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and laurel), none of these were in evidence. However, the lamb chops themselves were fine; not overcooked, and a reasonably-sized portion.
== Line 22 ==
See also:
* Photos of menu as of July 2015: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19642114950/ 1], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19642110068/ 2], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19207505274/ 3], [https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19642113660/ 4]

== Line 27 == == Line 24 ==
category='Albanian Food,Mediterranean Food,Restaurants,Step-Free Access'
edit_type='Minor tidying'
category='Mediterranean Food,Restaurants,Step-Free Access'
edit_type='Normal edit'
== Line 36 == == Line 33 ==
major_change='0'
major_change='1'
== Line 38 ==
node_image='https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/19834993571_814575653d_m_d.jpg'
node_image_copyright='Kake'
node_image_licence='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/'
node_image_url='https://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/19834993571/'

Albanian restaurant in Walthamstow.

The decor is clean and restrained, with wood-effect laminate on both floor and tables. Walls are pale cream, punctuated with a rather dichotomised selection of art — traditional woodcuts of Albanian scenes sit alongside large modern prints of Tower Bridge and stock photos of wine glasses. Sprays of flower buds sit in glass vases in little alcoves along one wall.

There's seating for probably about 35-40 people at a combination of upright chairs and tables, and small pleather sofas facing each other across coffee tables. Out the back is a small courtyard garden with sofas and a couple more tables.

Kake and secretlondon visited on a Friday evening in July 2015. We hadn't booked, and indeed got the impression that advance booking might have seemed overly formal. There were about half a dozen other customers in when we arrived at 7pm, and the place was more than half-full by 9pm. Music (some of it quite folksy, some more poppy, presumably Albanian) was playing, not too loud, via a couple of flatscreens showing music videos.

Turshi (vinegar-pickled cabbage, gherkins, and red onions; £2) was a generous portion, and certainly seemed to be home-made. The vegetables were nicely crisp and the vinegar flavour wasn't too harsh.

Speca me gjizë ("Xhauri special"; £2) was a dish of lightly-cooked green and red peppers in a rich, garlicky, yoghurty dressing; this was also rather tasty. The yoghurt was very rich, but worked well with our grilled meat dishes.

Qofte (minced meat kebabs; £1.50 per skewer) were OK but nothing special.

Rice with grilled lamb chops (£7) was a little disappointing. The rice had a rather "boil in the bag" consistency, and although it was advertised on the menu as being cooked with six different herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and laurel), none of these were in evidence. However, the lamb chops themselves were fine; not overcooked, and a reasonably-sized portion.

House white wine was pretty decent tasting. It was more expensive on the bill than on the menu (£5 vs. £4 for what looked like about 175ml), but still good value. Tap water was provided swiftly on request, in decent-sized glasses with ice. No service charge was added to the bill.

Kake's verdict: It was OK. If I was in the area I might come back to try some of the soups, but I'd be unlikely to make a special journey.

Accessibility: Step-free to get in, and no internal steps to seating or toilet (a single, large, unisex cubicle). A small step to the garden out the back.

Last visited by Kake and secretlondon, July 2015. Opening hours obtained from a member of staff, May 2015.

List all versions