Khamsa, 140 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UT

[Al-khiyal]

Khamsa

140 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5UT
020 7733 3150‎

We’ve just opened our own first restaurant in Brixton specialising in Algerian food and bakery. All our food is made on our premises, we don’t pre-cook our meat or fish, we don’t use microwave and we buy our ingredients from our local market. Don’t forget our juices, they are made to order, we don’t add any sugar or water. From the fruit to the glass and for you to enjoy and judge yourself . We believe that Algeria has a tremendous and huge diversity in its cuisine; each area in Algeria has its specific type of cooking. You will find that the Kabyle couscous is totally different than the one in the capital and the same goes for the Tajines and salads. Our bakery “vinoiserie“ are artisanal and homemade, the menu includes: croissants, pains aux chocolate, pains aux raisins, classic brioches, dates and orange brioches ... The cakes menu includes: seasonal fresh fruit tarts, chocolate mousse cakes, millefeuille, éclairs, chocolate and orange cakes, lemon and vanilla cakes, religieuse, lemon meringues tarts... Are you tired of fried breakfast? If you are, then why don’t you come and visit one weekend and try our delicious pancakes with caramelised bananas and apple with cinnamon and honey .Fresh fruit salad with roasted almonds and honey. Toasted home-made bread served with our original home-made jams. At night the candles and the smell of burnt rosemary, thyme and jasmine incense turns the restaurant into a marvellous and warm place. Come and join us !

[Al-khiyal]

New restaurant review:
Khamsa

March 22, 2010 -- How hard would it be to convince you that Algerian food could be London’s next big thing? Probably not as hard as it would be to convince you that Brixton was the place to eat it. Well, allow us to introduce you to newbie Khamsa which will do the convincing for us. Run by a husband and wife team determined to show off their nation’s food and prove that not everything that comes in a tagine is Moroccan, Khamsa is out to become to Algerian what Brindisa is to Spanish.

The savoury menu revolves around mezze-style salads, tagines and couscous; which can be ordered as stand-alones or to share. A platter of eight between two is good value at £12 and offers the chance to try the Algerian take on Merguez sausage as well ajhroum di felfel - a sumptuous roasted red pepper salad. Tagines are £10-12 and generous. The freshness is the main excitement with punchy herbs and spices aplenty, but homemade semolina flatbread may just steal the show - especially if paired with one of their homemade jams in such intriguing flavours as carrot or grape and rose water.

As much a bakery as a restaurant, Khamsa’s indulgent line of pastries and cakes are necessary to be explored. Pastry-wrapped dried figs dipped in chocolate and filled with almond, honey and sesame cakes, pistachio macaroons, date and orange brioche ... It’s a good thing you can get five small ones for £4.50 and better still that you can buy them to take away. Oh, and do check out their downstairs “lounge” too. On our Monday visit it was rather empty but it’s a scene of regular live Algerian music at weekends, plus occasional Algerian fashion and art displays. Get on down to 140 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5UT and be aware that if you’re wanting something stronger than mint tea or their freshly pressed juices it’s BYO.