: Al Hamra is a long-established frontrunner among London's Lebanese restaurants. For years, it’s been entertaining patrons in rather cramped and old-fashioned surroundings that are looking a little tired. The secret of its success is the tried and tested menu and the undoubted flavors of the cooking. This is the place to pick and choose mezze from the menu, which offers first-rate vegetarian options like hummus and falafel and a wide range of vegetables: leeks, aubergine and beans --- both French and broad --- served cold with olive oil dressings. Hot mezze include most of the same ingredients as well as stuffed pastries and “pizzas.” Meat-eaters might relish raw lamb, and the liver and tongue in salads, and hot offal including variously prepared sweetbreads, liver, kidney and sausages. Main dishes are the usual chicken and lamb kebabs, with vegetable garnishes. Lebanese pastries are not listed but always available and not to be missed. There are some classy, if expensive, wines, also some Lebanese selections, and for apéritifs there's a choice of several sorts of arak.

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Al Hamra

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