Kahwet Leila (CLOSED)

Striking a curious, kitsch, "twisted" (in their own words) balance between lounge and restaurant, Kahwet Leila is one of a kind on the Beirut restaurant scene. In the kitchen there's a simple ethos of fresh and healthy food, while in the spacious dining area a laid-back atmopshere of laissez-faire rules – this is the sort of place where as many punters are playing backgammon as eating. But the waiters, who are very much in the restaurant mindset, are speedy and attentive (the appearance of ash in the ashtrays is a particular source of distress). The menu of mezze and grills sticks to the favourites, with a couple of house originals thrown into the mix – we recommend the farrouj meshwe al fahme. There's another branch in Hamra, near the Piccadilly Theatre.