Comptoir Libanais Reading

You're after proper Lebanese food that doesn't feel like a compromise, and Comptoir Libanais gets it right. Walking in from The Oracle's polished corridors, you'll find yourself in a buzzy, warm space with the kind of energy that makes you want to linger over multiple mezze plates. The menu reads like a greatest hits of the Levantine kitchen: richly spiced kibbeh, hummus that tastes like it actually matters, chargrilled halloumi, and lamb dishes that justify the trip alone. It's the kind of place where you can spend a tenner on starters or £25 on a proper main—there's flexibility built in, which is refreshing.