Comptoir Libanais

Comptoir Libanais serves up the bold flavours of Lebanon, its fresh and healthy plates providing much to tempt those following plant-based and gluten-free lifestyles. Non-vegetarians needn’t be shy, either, with grilled meats a well-spiced speciality in themselves.

Comptoir Libanais branched out from the original London canteen some time ago, towing behind it the mini-chain’s trademark busy patterns and primary colours covering floors, walls and even furniture and touting kitsch-packaged pickled products available to buy deli style alongside cookbooks a-go-go. Most recent, Feasts From The Middle East features some of CL founder Tony Kitous’ favourite recipes, as road-tested by his mum.

Classic Levantine flavours popping up in the dishes include warm sumac and harissa alongside sweet and sour preserved lemons and pomegranate molasses. Meat wise, from mixed grill to koftas to burgers to warm wraps, we’re talking lamb and chicken. Slow-cooked tagine stews come with couscous or vermicelli rice, while the fattoush salad isn’t half filling with its falafel and flatbread. Pick your own hot and cold mezze dishes or dip into the sharing platter the Comptoir Libanais team have put together to show off a good vegetarian spread. Leave room for syrupy desserts and don’t miss trying a glass (or bottle – we’re not judging) of Lebanese wine from the Bekaa Valley’s Château Ksara, the oldest established estate in the Lebanon.

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