The third opening from the Le Bab team (following sites in Soho and Covent Garden) finds its home in London’s nightlife heartland of Old Street, so it makes sense that it’s a late-night kebab shop.
Co-founders Stephen Tozer, Manu Canales and Ed Brunet hope to feed late-night revellers and satisfy all their kebab cravings with the restaurant and takeaway, which stays open until 5am. Le Bab Old Street is an intimate space with room for only 20 diners. It is made to look like your typical kebab shop, complete with a playlist of UK hip-hop, but with a few more Instagram-ready touches; think a neon Le Bab sign hanging on one wall and bubblegum pink banquette seating for guests to perch on while they get munching.
As for Le Bab Old Street’s menu, it contains the usual mix of kebabs cooked on a wood and charcoal-filled robata, served with fresh flatbreads which are made in house. You can expect a few new creations to make their debut though, which are exclusive to this site. Billing itself as ‘the ultimate late-night kebab’, the Pepperoni Pork Shawarma consists of Le Bab’s signature pork shawarma (famous for tasting similar to a pepperoni pizza) topped with spicy soppressata, tomato pork jus, mozzarella fondue, basil and parsley. Plant-based party folk aren’t left out of the fun though, with Le Bab Old Street also serving up the Dirty Vegan Kebab. This meat-free treat is made with Beyond Meat and then crowned with house pickled cucumber, sweet chilli relish, crispy fries, vegan mayonnaise, sumac, vegan fondue sauce and cress.
There are side dishes to try too, such as the meat butter naan (reduced beef jus, British sea salt butter and garlic spread over a home-baked naan and topped with Syrian za’atar) and Turkish-Korean fried chicken slathered with with a date, chilli and soy glaze plus garlic mayonnaise. As for drinks, expect a short and concise list of craft beers and G&Ts.