Standing in front of a Lebanese menu for the first time can feel like arriving at a party where everyone already knows each other. So many dishes, so many unfamiliar names, and no obvious place to start. This Lebanese restaurant ordering guide is here to change that.
Lebanese menus are joyful
Here’s the truth about a Lebanese menu: it isn’t a test. It’s an invitation.
Unlike a Western meal built around one plate per person, Lebanese dining is designed for the table, not the individual. Everything arrives to be shared, passed, and picked at together. There’s no wrong order, no dish you’re required to like, and no such thing as ordering “too much” bread.
Think of your first visit less like solving a puzzle and more like being handed the keys to a feast. That’s genuinely how we see it.
Start with cold mezze
Cold mezze is where every Lebanese meal begins, and it’s the friendliest place for first-timers to land.
Expect small plates of dips, salads and pickles, made to be scooped, torn into, and passed around the table. A few beginners’ favourites:
- Hummus: silky chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic
- Moutabal: smoky chargrilled aubergine blended with tahini
- Tabbouleh: bright, herby, mostly parsley rather than bulgur
- Fattoush: crisp salad with toasted flatbread and sumac
A gentle rule of thumb: order roughly one mezze dish per person, then add two or three extra to share. For a fuller breakdown, our Lebanese mezze guide walks through the full spread dish by dish.
Add hot mezze
Once the cold plates have settled in, hot mezze follows smaller, warmer dishes that bridge the gap before your main course arrives.
Look out for:
- Falafel, crisp outside and soft within
- Kibbeh, spiced minced lamb and bulgur, shaped and fried
- Cheese or spinach fatayer, baked pastries perfect for sharing
- Sojok, spiced Lebanese sausage, pan-fried and fragrant
Not sure what to choose? Ask your server which hot mezze they’d pick that evening. Our team genuinely enjoys steering first-timers toward the dishes they love best.
Choosing your main
By the time mains arrive, you’ll likely already feel comfortably full, and that’s exactly as it should be. Lebanese dining builds gradually, course by course, rather than rushing to the centrepiece.
Charcoal-grilled meats are the natural next step: shish taouk (marinated chicken), lahem meshwi (grilled lamb), or a mixed grill to sample several at once. Vegetarian guests are equally well looked after, with mezze alone often making a satisfying meal in itself. A useful check: how much has the table already eaten? Portions are generous, and mains should complement what came before, not compete with it.
Bread, always order extra
If there’s one rule every regular knows, it’s this: you can never have too much bread.
Warm khobez isn’t a side dish here; it’s a tool. Tear it, scoop your hummus, wrap it around grilled meat, use it to chase the last of the moutabal around the plate. Baked fresh, it’s meant to run out before the meal does, so don’t be shy about asking for more.
Desserts to finish
Just as the savoury courses ease you in, dessert offers a soft landing. Baklava, layered with pistachios and honey, is the natural choice, alongside knafeh for a warm, cheesy sweetness. Finish with a small cup of Lebanese coffee, fragrant with cardamom, and you’ll understand why guests linger long after the plates are cleared.
The drink question
Wondering what to drink alongside all this? Many guests start with fresh lemon and mint juice, a Lebanese classic that cuts beautifully through rich mezze. Arak, the aniseed spirit served with water and ice, is a lovely way to drink the way Beirut does, if you’re curious. Your server is always happy to talk you through what pairs well.
Book your first visit
However you choose to order, the most important ingredient is simply showing up hungry and curious. That’s the spirit that’s welcomed guests since 1981, whether at our iconic Edgware Road flagship, with its live music and belly dancing, or across our other London locations.
Take a look at our full menus to see what awaits, browse real guest reviews on our Google Business Profile, and when you’re ready, book your table. We’ll take care of the rest.