Send your senses into overdrive at Exeter's Comptoir Libanais REVIEW

If like me you’ve ever wished you could teleport yourself to another country without the hassle of travelling, you’re in luck.

For that’s what happens when you step inside Comptoir Libanais, one of Exeter Queen Street Dining’s new restaurants.

From the vibrant décor, to the bags (yes bags) and other paraphernalia adorning the walls to the sight of the chefs dishing up their delights and the wonderful aromas their ingredients create, your senses are sent into overdrive.

And just like the restaurant itself, the menu is unlike any other you will find in this fair city of ours.

We began with a sharing platter from the mezze menu which included baba ghanuj (a sort of aubergine dip), humms, tabbouleh, falafel, lentil salad, cheese sambousek, pickles & pita bread (£9.50).

It was simple but sensational and the portions more than generous.

Despite not having a huge of amount room left in our satisfied tummies we soldiered on with the main course. I chose the mixed grill – lamb kofta, chicken kofta, chicken shish taouk served with Batata Harra … Lebanese spiced fries with red pepper, fresh coriander, garlic and chilli (£13.25), meanwhile my guest opted for the chicken kofta – griilled minced chicken, herbs, onions and spices (£10.45).

The food arrived promptly and, again, won our approval.

In a world where chefy drizzles and micro herb sprinkles have become the norm, there is something rather exciting about being presented with a simple plate of food that packs a punch.

Fit to burst, we agreed it would be rude to pass on the dessert and so took one for the team. I chose the rose and pistachio cake with raspberry and rosewater icing (£4.95) and my guest halva and roasted pistachio on vanilla ice cream (£4.25).

Both were, to coin a phrase, to die for and we washed them down with a pot of fresh rose mint tea served in a silver teapot (£2.45). 

As we forced the last few mouthfuls down we struck up conversation with a couple on the table next to us and it turned out the husband had spent some time working in Lebanon.

Unlike us, they had a modicum of self control and decided that the large platter for two was quite enough to eat in one sitting.
By the time they had finished, not a trace of food was left as they had skilfully used their pitta bread to mop up every last bit.

And his verdict…?

“It was as good as anything I ate out there,” he told me.

“Authentic, delicious… and a lot closer to home.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself!