Zaataria

• Saldanha (Linha Vermelha/Amarela)
• €
• Av. Casal Ribeiro 6 a 10, 1000-092

Summer time for Brits in Lisbon with a spare room can only mean one thing. Visitors. This being our second full summer here, we are now well prepared for the excesses of playing tour guide to a near endless stream of people escaping the grey skies of home. One by-product of this is, by the end of hosting, the larder is empty. So having seen off a recent set of visitors, we sought refuge in a local Lebanese cafe, Zaataria.

Middle Eastern food is very well represented in Lisbon, whether its Syrian, Persian, Turkish, or even Georgian, there is just something forever enjoyable about the kebab/shawarma and nothing quite as comforting as falafel.

We have had our eye on Zaataria for some time, so we absolutely welcomed settling into one of its street-side tables to be presented with its incredible menu. Delivering all the best flavours of Lebanon, we debated over the excellent list of hot and cold mezze, salads, bowls and manooshe (Lebanese pizza) but decided to keep it simple with a wrap each and some falafel to share. However we'll be back very soon to plough our way through the ample dips and salads, such was the salivating appeal.

After much debating, and to avoid ordering the halloumi wrap twice (rendering a review moot), a compromise was reached to get a grilled and breaded chicken wrap with a grilled halloumi side to satisfy the need for cheese.

Both wraps came stuffed as if they were the Warek Enab (stuffed vine leaves, which we'll be back for). Loaded with fillings and wrapped into a lightly toasted flat bread, this is joyous comfort food. The halloumi is grilled to perfection, with a soft, yielding centre, enveloped in a delightful chargrilled crust. Likewise the chicken in the other wrap was juicy and tender, but not greasy.

Meanwhile the stars of the show were the perfectly fried falafel. The chickpea layered with the perfect amount of herbs and spice, to allow the nuttiness to shine through. Deep fried to perfection, the coating cracked like a golden, breaded egg shell, to reveal the luxurious creamy centre. These are some of the best falafel in Lisbon.

We ended with a nefarious but irresistible crunchy and sweet pistachio baklava, to share. To have had one each would have immediately called for a month with a personal trainer. But after a week of tour-guiding we left satisfied, and shattered. If you find yourself staying in the Saldanha area, you will not be let down if you and bae put down roots.

Drinks: One glass of Lebanese white wine and an orange blossom tea.

Don’t forget to order: Don't faff around, get some of Lisbon's best falafel.