Nestled in London's leafy Bloomsbury district, Mira is a Lebanese restaurant preparing fresh and authentic dishes out of its Whitfield Street location. It offers a delicious selection of regional wines, an eclectic menu, and well-trained staff.
The restaurant itself exudes a clean and rustic charm, featuring bright white walls, smooth wooden furniture, patterned rugs, and hanging lights. The decor is minimal and tasteful, with pops of colour coming from the place settings, which naturally draws the eye to the food.
Mira's menu offers up some classic Lebanese favourites, as well as some fun surprises. The menu is also clearly labeled for allergies, as well as showing off what options vegetarians can enjoy. It's broken down into cold or hot starters, salads, main courses, desserts, and drinks, or a set menu for two or four people. The takeaway menu is a separate beast with the same choices, yet conveniently provides pictures for curious diners.
While you could opt for fan-favourites like the houmous, tabbouleh, falafel, or shish tawouk skewers, there's a lot of interesting options that deserve a taste. For starters, check out the bamiyeh b’zeit, which is okra cooked in olive oil with tomato and onion; the Sujuk, which is traditional spicy Lebanese sausages pan-fried with tomatoes and lemon juice; or the kellaj, which is grilled bread filled with halloumi cheese. Fresh meat options fill the main course menu, while the salads offer a pleasing palate-cleanser.
Make sure to save room for dessert, because Mira's got the classic pistachio dishes of baklawa or knafeh, or the milk pudding mahalabia. And of course, you can wash down your meal with a selection of Lebanese or European wines, beers, arak, or Champagnes. If you're not sure what alcohol to order with your meal, just ask the staff- they're trained to give you pairing recommendations.