Milly Hutchinson starts our new Restaurant Watch column with a trip to one of the restaurants in the small Lebanese chain

COMPTOIR LIBANAIS

A stone’s throw from Selfridges, Comptoir Libanais is a fresh and vibrant canteen and delicatessen. A welcome break from shopping, the friendly staff and informal feel of the place also makes it a hit with the kids. We tried it out on a Saturday lunch time with three little kids in tow. There are high tables and chairs at the front by the deli counter and there are comfy benches and tables in the back of the canteen where we chose to sit.

There is a large choice of healthy and delicious drinks on offer including apple, cucumber & mint juice, pomegranate & orange blossom lemonade as well as date & sesame smoothie. The starter mezze platter included hommous, baba, tabbouleh and falafel as well as ghanuj, spinach fatayer, pumpkin kibbeh and pickles and pitta. The main courses were divided into wraps or tagines or a combination of the two – the prawn falafel and the lamb tagine were the most popular.

With a delicious choice of baklawa, loaf cakes, fat free frozen yoghurts, rich puddings and rose macarons, it was worth going for the puddings alone! There is no kids menu but the prices are very reasonable so it is a great way to encourage your children to be more adventurous with their food. There are no high chairs and as it is busy there is not a lot of space for large buggies. However the friendly service, relaxed atmosphere and delicious food more than makes up for it and makes it a great place to eat out with your children in town.

NEED TO KNOW

Highchairs: no. Buggy parking: no.

Price: ££ (£60 for 2 adults & 3 children).

Screaming kidometer rating: 2/5

VERDICT

Molly: really fun. Clara: yummy baklawa Tom: tasty chicken. Milly: great atmosphere. George: friendly service

Comptoir Libanais, 65Wigmore St,W1 7935 1110

Other Comptoir Libanais restaurants atWestfield 8811 2222,

Paddington, 26 London St 7262 1111 and O2 Centre 7794 4411.