LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant in Knightsbridge, London

Fluid Eating's Review of LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant

One of my favourite memories is of my first holiday abroad, sitting facing the marina, watching the sun sink into the skyline and eating chunks of pitta bread smeared with lemony hommus. The waiters were smiley happy people, who juggled plates and sang loudly, and our table was covered with colourful food and sparkling wine.

Plates were piled high with meat hot from the smouldering barbeque, and the charcoal smell from the grill made everyone’s mouths water. We’d lunge at bowls overfilled with pitta bread, too hot to touch, so we’d pass them from hand to hand, blowing them until they were cool enough to hold, before digging them deep into the various dips. Salads of cucumber, salty feta cheese, and chunky tomato were the perfect accompaniment to our meal, and we’d finish eating and drinking with full bellies and juicy smiles.

I thought it would be highly unlikely to recreate that feeling of heady summer happiness in a swanky Knightsbridge restaurant, but as soon as I sat down at Laya’Lina I was taken back to my childhood.

Serving modern Lebanese cuisine, the people behind the Laya’Lina restaurant have managed to fuse together innovative food in an informal but grown up setting. The service and atmosphere were reminiscent of my childhood holidays – everyone that tended to our table (from the waiters to the head chef that came out to shake our hands) was cheerful and relaxed, and the sound of Lebanese music wafting through was not invasive, but just enough to make me feel as if I was a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of a busy London high street.

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are understandably more crowded, with live music played downstairs to create a real party atmosphere. When we arrived at 7pm the restaurant was comfortably full, not bursting at the seams, and we were served immediately. We were brought out a selection of cold and hot Mezze, each morsel tantalizing and succulent: thick and creamy hommus; baba ghannuge, a rich and smoky aubergine dip; muhamara, crunchy and textured spicy pureed nuts; puff pastry cheese and lamb sambusak; and falafel, which melted in the mouth. It would be perfectly viable to visit Laya’Lina just for the Mezze, and at an average of £6.95 per dish, the prices don’t devastate the wallet.

The table buckled under the weight of the dishes, and we lunged for the delicacies just as I did fifteen years ago. Each dish tasted like a refined version of what I had found so lip-smacking all those years ago. It was adult food that reminded me of being young.

We were glad, however, that we saved some space for the impressive main course. The mixed grill was the highlight of our night – a selection of skewers and great cuts of meat cooked superbly, on a bed of roasted vegetables served with salsa and yoghurt. The chicken taouk was moist and juicy, full of the cinnamon and garlic flavours of the barbeque, and the medium-rare lamb was succulent and spiced with hints of rosemary, garlic and allspice. Although we couldn’t see them, we imagined there to be jolly chefs above a sizzling grill, turning dripping skewers and roasting vegetables in a huge oven.

The food was complimented with a light, fruity Lebanese wine suggested to us by the waiter. The selection of Lebanese wines was extensive, with a few Spanish, French and New Worlds thrown in to add depth. The range in price was very reasonable to very steep. The waiter had obviously considered the food we had selected and recommended a wine that truly flattered it.

The combination of the laid back atmosphere, the smell of the hot grill and the sounds of the Lebanese music all fuse together to bring the memories of childhood into the present, but with a much needed modern kick. Laya’Lina is a restaurant that caters to everyone – with excellent contemporary cooking and a holiday atmosphere, it’s a great place to take a breather from manic London.

Reviewed by Claire Williams.

Description: Nestling in Beauchamp Place, just a stone's throw from Harrods, lies LayaLina; modern Lebanese cuisine's finest newcomer. Here, you will find an exquisitely stylish atmosphere, where lovers of fine dining can enjoy an unparalleled experience.

Bold and brilliant, and brimming with fresh ideas, LayaLina's carefully crafted menu will satisfy vegetarians and omnivores alike. With an extensive wine cellar, elegant cocktail bar and lounge, superb service, and evening entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday; LayaLina seamlessly blends sight, sound and taste, making an altogether unforgettable experience. (Updated 10/12/2009)

LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant Food & Drink Menus

Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's offerings and assciated prices.

LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant Food menu

Specialising in Lebanese dining with a modern twist, the restaurant offers a selection of hot and cold mezzes, including favourites such as fatoush (a salad of mixed leaves, tomato, sumac and roasted Lebanese bread croutons), hummus, baba ghanoush and also chargrilled specialities and unusual main courses, such as Siyyadiyeh, a fish and rice dish that originated in the costal city of Tripoli, and Aubergine and Cauliflower Kabsa, a popular rice dish.

Item	Price

LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant Drink menu

Item	Description	Price

LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant Opening Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
11:00am - 1:00am	11:00am - 1:00am	11:00am - 1:00am	11:00am - 1:00am	11:00am - 1:00am	11:00am - 2:00am	11:00am - 2:00am

LayaLina Lebanese Restaurant Map

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“Really enjoyable night, really worth going to. Food was really nice, my mixed grill was the best I've ever tasted. Definitely visiting again. Definitely worth visiting.” Rating: — Richard, London (17 Jan 2010)

“The whole experience at Laya'Lina was great. The atmosphere and friendly staff made up for the only slightly above average mousakka. The starters were really nice - very varied flavours - and the whole night was really enjoyable. We passed on the belly dancers because we were just so full!” Rating: — Megan, London (11 Dec 2009)

“The Lebanese food is delicious, some of the best in London but the atmosphere wasn't amazing... Maybe caught it on a wrong night?” Rating: — Sam, London (02 Dec 2009)

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