Beit Eddine

You can’t help feeling you’re in owner Rashid Harb’s sitting room when you enter Beit Eddine: the mauve walls decorated with paintings of the Lebanon’s sun-drenched landscape, coupled with the familiarity of the staff, convey real homeliness – in spite of the room’s crypt-like vaulted ceiling. Perhaps this explains why this is such an enduring & well-regarded restaurant, frequented by local residents, American tourists & a strong contingent of Arabs on vacation. The kitchen offers them a well-rehearsed & extensive menu of authentic Lebanese dishes, from moutabal & falafel to fried makanek sausages, char-grilled lamb skewers & chicken shawarma; a £12 set menu also proves a big draw. Traditional desserts such as baklava are displayed on the bar – perfect for nibbling with Turkish coffee or sweet mint tea.