Amongst the glitz and glamour of Kensington lies an understated and great value for money find. Part of the Maroush chain of restaurants and cafes, Beirut Express offers informal dining at the right price.

The Venue
Situated between South Kensington and Gloucester Road tubes, it’s surrounded by the high end glitz and glamour of West London. With the Science Museum and Natural History Museum nearby, you’ll find it to be an unexpectedly good value stop off.

Dinnertime diners perched on stools in the window catch your eye in the street. As you approach you’re greeted by chefs lovingly preparing fresh ingredients. Post-pub kebab shop this is not.

The Atmosphere
The front of the restaurant is modern and sits amongst deli counters filled with tempting nibbles. People sit up high on bar stools, enjoying wraps and mezze, relaxing with glasses of wine. Expect an eclectic mix of people, in a relaxed anything goes environment. The express eating area appears to be a victim of its own success, but staff are happy to seat you in the restaurant area if needed.

The Food
The sambousek feta cheese rolls (£5) are divine. Perfectly crisp pastry surrounds salty, flavoursome feta cheese, they make a great starter to share with friends. The express menu is a steal (£4 - £5), and consists of a wide range of grilled and doner meats, wrapped in Lebanese bread. The mixed sharwarma (£5) is a mix of marinated lamb and chicken grilled meat from the spit roast, with tomatoes, mayonnaise and gherkins wrapped with Lebanese bread. These are no run of the mill kebabs. The meats are tender, subtly marinated and not overly greasy. The Lebanese pickles cut through the meaty flavours, and unlike your usual kebab shops, the salad tastes fresh and lifts the whole wrap. Portion sizes are filling, but won’t leave you bloated.

By this point in the meal you should be feeling pleasantly full, but typical of Lebanese hospitality, you’ll be treated to a selection of sweet cakes. These sticky bombs of sugary and nutty goodness finish off a quick meal perfectly.

The Drink
The drinks range fails to offer anything out of the ordinary for a Lebanese restaurant. Expect mint tea (£2), one Lebanese bottled beer called Almaza (£4) and an average range of wines (£17 - £40).

The Last Word
Beirut Express offers a surprisingly good value, and good quality light meal in the heart of Kensington. It’s no place for late night celeb spotting, but in an area saturated with gastro pubs and expensive eateries, it offers a refreshing alternative.

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