From working together in a chain restaurant to opening their own business, the couple behind one of Watford’s latest eateries have shared their story.
The Asah Kurdish Restaurant in Queens Road is run by Sirwan Sabir and his wife Sandra, serving grilled meats and specialities from the region which spans Türkiye, Syria and Iraq.
The couple, aged 38 and 27, met six years ago while he was head chef at the former Ask Italian in Market Street where she worked as a waiter and then manager.
After the chain closed down in 2020, they decided to take the plunge and open up their own eatery to bring Sirwan’s home cuisine to the town.
Sandra explained: “He was a chef there for 16 years and it was always his dream to open something for himself.
“It was a really long journey and in the place we bought, we changed everything from the walls to the roof to the kitchen.”
Since the 40-seat restaurant launched in February, business has been steady although Sandra is keen to get the word out about the unique cuisine.
“Queens Road can be a bit quiet but we have lots of neighbours coming here, trying our food and becoming our regular customers,” the 27-year-old said. “So we hope they recommend us to their friends and other people can hear about us.
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“People have been amazed by the food so far. They cannot believe how cheap we are compared to other places.”
For those who have never tasted Kurdish cuisine, Sandra recommends they try the “quzi”, or slow-cooked lamb neck which is served with rice and stewed vegetables.
“I'm sure anybody who tries it will say, ‘wow, I need to come back for this and try it again!' she said. “It’s full of flavour and seasoning and most importantly, it’s made with love.”
The pair got married in February just weeks before they opened the Asah Restaurant and now live together in west Watford.
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