Canary Wharf isn’t known for its independent restaurants but Byblos Harbour is a breath of fresh air.

The Venue
Byblos Harbour can be a bit difficult to find and you’ll wind up following the tantalising smells drifting from their kitchen right to Millwall Dock. It’s situated directly on the water, opposite Lotus Floating Chinese Restaurant and beneath a large apartment complex. There are a few tables outside and floor-to-ceiling windows to help you take in the view, which is surprisingly pretty as the water dances and sparkles in the light. Inside, the restaurant’s decor is tasteful and modern, with colourful stripes on the fabric-backed chairs injecting a hint of personality. Across one side of the room is an open kitchen so you can see the chefs at work.

The Atmosphere
Despite being completely out of the way from passing traffic, Byblos Harbour’s location also works in its favour as there are loads of residential buildings nearby filled with the Londoners who spend more than just their working hours in E14. It’s a bit quieter than it should be in the evenings, though, but you get the impression that it would make a good spot for a business lunch. Staff are pleasant and helpful and service is swift.

The Food
Named after the ancient Mediterranean city now located in present day Lebanon, Byblos Harbour is a Lebanese restaurant with a large menu featuring a wide selection of mezzes and grills with lots of vegetarian options, all well priced for the area. From the list of cold mezze, moussaka (£5) is delicious, with nicely textured aubergines mixed with tomatoes and chickpeas in a thick, tangy sauce. Wark inab b’zeit (stuffed vine leaves, £4.75) is nice and piquant thanks to lashings of lemon juice and the rice inside is a good consistency, not too mushy but cooked well.

Hot mezze dishes include falafel (£4.50) which arrive in a pyramid, accompanied by a bowl of nutty sesame sauce. The falafel are large and round, almost like meatballs, and are moist but not too oily. Fatayer b’sabanekh (spinach-stuffed pastries, £4.50) are surprisingly sharp in flavour thanks to the interesting addiction of tart sumac berries, whilst the pastry is flaky without being dry. From the selection of mixed grills, shish taouk (£11.95) is a generous portion of moist, tender diced chicken pieces that have been barbecued and de-skewered, served alongside a garlic mayonnaise. For dessert, a plate of baklava (£4) is light, sugary and a great way to end the meal if you’ve overdone it a bit with too many mezze dishes.

The Drink
A decently lengthy wine list is on offer, representing many of the classic wine producing countries as well as bottles from Lebanon – the Ksara White Blanc De Blancs from Bekaa Valley, Lebanon has a deep, intense flavour with a touch of honey and is good value at £20 for a bottle. The rest of the list starts at £16 and goes up to £180 for a Chateau Talbot Saint Julien Cru Classe from Bordeux – something for the bankers. Champagnes and sparkling wines start at £9 a glass and £25 a bottle. Their coffee is good quality and goes well with a piece or two of baklava.

The Last Word
Judging from the frequency of their takeaways and deliveries, Byblos Harbour is already popular with locals, but even if you don’t live nearby, it’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

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