MAISON LIBANAISE

One of the city’s hipper Middle Eastern restaurants, Maison Libanaise occupies a three-storey— including a charming rooftop— space in bustling Soho. A colourful design of Moorish mosaic, wooden tables and vibrant tiles make for a laidback setting reminiscent of a Lebanese canteen, and is the perfect backdrop to the piquant cuisine. While the ground floor only offers quick take-outs, the menu upstairs is varied and designed for sharing, the focus being traditional Lebanese mezze dishes. Standards such as hummus and baba ganoush are well executed, but more creative dishes, such as the Maison’s fattoush—a delightfully messy plate of fried sweet potatoes, labneh, caramelised onions, yogurt and soft herbs—and the almond falafel sided by house pickles, a generous helping of tahini and cucumber labneh are the real showstoppers. Service is prompt but not intrusive, and the staff are knowledgeable with dishes and explanations. The wine list, too, is particularly noteworthy, presenting a good selection of bottles from Lebanon itself and a decent offer of 10 wines by the glass between whites, reds and rose. Middle Eastern cuisine relies on simple ingredients blended together skilfully, and Maison Libainese does that beautifully.