The Cedar Story

The Cedar began its journey in 1997, in a small corner of Maida Vale, West London. From the very beginning, our vision was simple: to share the warmth of Lebanese home cooking — recipes passed down from our family in Beirut — with our London community. Freshly baked flatbreads, sizzling grills, colourful mezze, and the aromas of home filled the air, creating a place where neighbours became family.

In the early 2010s, Sami Khoueiry took over the family restaurant. Having trained as a chef in some of London’s top hotels, Sami brought professional expertise while keeping the spirit of The Cedar intact: food made with love, just like at home.

A proud moment came in 2014, when The Cedar was voted Britain’s Favourite Takeaway out of more than 9,000 restaurants nationwide. The story was featured in the Evening Standard, and celebrated in The Independent. Even in Lebanon, L’Orient-Le Jour shared our success, making us proud to carry a piece of home across the world.

From there, The Cedar grew. We opened new branches to welcome more guests:

• West Hampstead (2015) – a lively neighbourhood spot full of warmth and community.

• The Deli & Meat (2017) – our unique Lebanese butcher, deli, and restaurant combined.

• Kensal Green (2022) – bringing the Cedar spirit to a new part of North-West London.

Though our original Maida Vale restaurant closed its doors in 2025 after 28 years, it will always remain the heart of our story — the place where everything began.

Today, The Cedar continues to grow while staying true to its roots: authentic Lebanese flavours, served with generosity and love. Whether you’re sitting at our table, taking food home, or shopping from our deli, you’re always part of the Cedar family.