Comptoir Libanais

This wildly popular Lebanese canteen, takeaway and deli is an almost frenetically bustling and bright enterprise, filled with glitzy, colourful designs by Beirut designer Rana Salam. The combination of casual atmosphere, punchy looks and an above-average menu works well, and the place is usually full – although not unbearably so. Choose carefully from the menu; pre-mixed salads can seem as if they’ve sat on the counter too long. The best things we tried were the hot dishes: splendid warm, cinnamon-spiked pumpkin kibbeh with yoghurt to dip them in; and excellent chicken with pomegranate syrup, both tart and sweet. The lemonades are great too, in flavours such as pomegranate or ginger. Prices are very reasonable.