Almond Bar

Once you're inside this quaint little Darlo darling, the inner city's hustle and bustle melt away, sent packing by the sultry aromas of Middle Eastern spices. Dark woods, long slender tables, banquettes and ottomans deck out this Syrian and Lebanese mezze hideaway, where siblings Carol (front of house) and Sharon (kitchen) Salloum present traditional dishes with an impressively light touch. Servings are small to allow you to sample a few diverse tastes and textures, so make sure you start with staples such as earthy, creamy hummus and crisp golden falafel before moving on to fried cauliflower with lemon juice and tahini, crisp, flaky lamb mince pastries, king prawns dusted in za'atar, and zingy pickled turnips. Beef and lamb sausage with Syrian fig jam and goat's cheese is at once sweet, savoury and spicy, while booza (traditional ice-cream) rolled in pistachio praline will restore you sufficiently to face the inner-urban hustle once again.