Comptoir Libanais
227 The Westgate, Queen Street, Oxford, OX1 1PE, GB
Rating: 4.1 ★ (2330 ratings)
Details
Brightly coloured bags, fragrant spices, and the buzz of a Middle Eastern souk greet you at Comptoir Libanais, located at 227 The Westgate. This is a place where the vibrant, patterned tablecloths and walls adorned with colourful tiles and intriguing knick-knacks create an atmosphere that’s both bustling and warmly welcoming. The menu is a journey through Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, offering a tempting array of mezze perfect for sharing – imagine dipping warm pita bread into creamy hommos or smoky baba ghanuj, or savouring crispy falafel and delicate cheese pastries. Whether you're after a light, healthy salad, a flavourful tagine, or succulent grilled meats, the dishes here are bursting with fresh ingredients like pomegranate, lemon, and herbs.
Conveniently situated for shoppers exploring Queen Street or visitors taking a break from sightseeing, Comptoir Libanais provides an accessible taste of authentic Lebanese hospitality. It’s a spacious restaurant that prides itself on serving fresh and unique dishes all day, whether you’re looking for a leisurely feast or a quick meal to go. Many of the decorative items you see, from tagines to teapots, are also available for purchase, allowing you to take a piece of the vibrant culture home with you. With a wide selection of dishes, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, and refreshing homemade lemonades like the apple, mint, and ginger, it's an inviting spot for everyone. For a true taste of Lebanon in the heart of Oxford, you can find more details and book a table via their website: comptoirlibanais.com/restaurants/oxford.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 980222
Comments
Great choice of food and drinks and reasonably priced.
Food presented nicely and really tasty, portion size is just right.
We went mid week at 6pm and didn't need to book, were seated straight away but it did start to fill up a lot around 7pm.
We were promptly greeted and seated, we had questions about the menu which were helpfully answered.
The arrived very quickly, it actually arrived before our drinks!
The decor here is beautiful, lots of interesting things to look at.
The menu is extensive and delicious.
I would recommend coming here,
However, they add on a tip to the total of 12.5%, which I do think is very cheeky and more than the standard 10% OPTIONAL tip that people choose to give, and for that I deduct 1 star for service.
Highly recommended!
As for the food, it was a mixed experience:
Open Wrap Platter (Falafel/Halloumi): This was just okay. The falafels were unfortunately quite hard and lacked flavor. The bread also seemed store-bought, which took away from the overall freshness of the dish.
Rice Bowl with Lamb Kofta: Decent taste, but the portion of meat felt small compared to the rice. The bowl felt heavy and a bit oily — more salad would have helped balance it out.
Lamb Kofta with Butter Beans: Tasty, but again, the portion of meat was underwhelming for the price.
Chicken Samboussek: Disappointing. The filling didn’t taste fresh and reminded me of something that had been frozen and reheated. The tahini served with it was extremely bitter and didn’t pair well with the dish.
Overall, the food was okay, but felt overpriced for what you get - particularly with the small meat portions and a few quality issues. Service was great, and the space is lovely, but for the same price, I believe you can find better food elsewhere.