Sampling A Christmas Menu At Comptoir Libanais

If you are a regular visitor to Birmingham’s Grand Central, then you can’t have failed to notice Comptoir Libanais. The brightly coloured and eclectically decorated Lebanese restaurant is one of the most popular in the shopping centre, known for its gorgeous food and fast and friendly service. For Christmas 2019 the restaurant has launched a festive fixed menu, with a choice of starters, mains and really interesting seasonal desserts. We went along to check it out.

The Christmas menu has a traditional Middle Eastern feel and makes a wonderful alternative to turkey and tinsel. There are both vegetarian and meat choices, with the idea being that you order something different from your company so you can share.

We opted for the meat starters, the Harissa spiced chicken hommos, and the Lamb Saboussek. Both were lovely, so lovely that my greedy companions had already started eating them before I got chance to take the photograph. The Saboussek is like a Lebenese Cornish pasty, filled with a gorgeous, lightly spiced lamb filling and served with a garlic sauce. The chicken hommos was also lovely, with a real kick of chilli in the chicken that was offset by the hommos. We totally cleared the plate of these dishes, and would definitely recommend both.

For the mains we once again opted for the chicken and the lamb. The lamb was a tradtional Kofta, served with a really decent portion of vermicelli rice. The lamb was again perfectly spiced and very tender, and with the addition of a tahini dressing, you had a perfectly blend of flavour and heat.

I chose the Harissa and Honey baby chicken, which is a really lucious, hearty dish just perfect for Winter. The chicken was so tender, it literally just fell from the bone, and it tasted absolutely divine with the marinade of honey and harissa. The addition of the Lebanese potato’s was just right, and the portion size was very impressive.

A special mention too must be given to the children’s menu. At just £5.95 it includes a main, a drink and a dessert. I took my 10 year old Joe who had never tried the menu, and he chose a version of chicken shish on a wrap, as well as a Lemonade and lime (fresh and pungent) and a chocolate brownie dessert. I honestly don’t believe there is a better value children’s menu available in Birmingham.

The mains were very filling and delicious, but there is always room for dessert, and the desserts at Comptoir Libanais are a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. I don’t think I have seen prettier desserts in a long time. Pete opted for the Christmas date pudding which was just beautiful, not overly sweet and very light, with the most delicious vanilla pod ice cream as an accompaniment.

I chose the chocolate cheesecake, which had a rich dark chocolate taste and was teamed with an bitter orange compote which also contained sultanas. This made for a very different, unusual flavour that I personally loved. 

The new menu is a lovely treat at £24.95 per person, and is available 7 days a week.

Comptoir Libanais

0121 667 3160

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