It’s a tough job to get Lebanese food right, especially if the bulk of your clientele are indeed Lebanese. Get a tabbouleh wrong and you’ll hear about it, get a hummus wrong and you’re history. But Al Birkeh doesn’t need to worry about any of that; the food is absolutely top notch. Mezze is fresh and flavoursome, and the hot mezze some of the best we’ve tried. The place itself has seen better days, and the same ageing you’ll observe in Le Meridien as a whole has certainly made its way into Al Birkeh. But the regulars don’t notice, and if you want in on the atmosphere head here late at night (especially at the weekend) and you’ll find everything from bellydancers to solo artists, along with a loud bunch of Arabs clapping away. If you don’t fancy a crowd, then pop in during the day, when the place is almost deserted. Loud or quiet though, Al Birkeh’s service is polite, personal and minimalistic, and the restaurant is one of the best places to grab some Lebanese.