Anonymous A.: "Layla is a special, intimate venue for cocktails and meze and I have been there several times, to the front 'bar' area of the restaurant and enjoyed it very much.

My last visit, having received the Gourmet Society card, I took a colleague for a business lunch. I wondered why we were shown to a table at the front of the restaurant but realised why when a group of young people took over an alcove at the back for a birthday party! With only us and them in the entire restaurant, the noise level echoed around the empty restaurant but we had concluded business by then and had moved on to small talk and enjoying the rather good Lebanese wine so we could be relaxed about the juvenile intrusion!

The food was exceptional - we shared mezzes of an aubergine dip and spicy sausage with pitta bread and then we both had lamb for main course. My colleague striking lucky with a slow-cooked lamb dish with rice - the lamb pink in the middle and very tender whereas I had also opted for slow -cooked lamb served on bread which I had imagined to be a little like a kebab but the meat was in very small strips - like a chunky mince - and was rather tough. But it was a cheaper dish and the chillies and pickles it was served with were beautifully presented and very tasty.

We shared a dessert - 3 different filled pancakes which were unusual but fairly tasteless and finished with delicious, smokey Arabic coffee - which unfortunately the waitress jolted as she removed the empty dessert dish and despite losing quite a lot of coffee, when she mopped up, she didn't offer me a replacement!

The food is exquisite. I can imagine the ambience in the evening, when the place is more full, to be lovely. I felt the service was a little abrupt and un-smiling. Despite paying over £60 (with 25% off the bill courtesy of the Gourmet Society Card), being the only poeople in the place, there was a slight lack of respect or attention which I couldn't quite put my finger on. Perhaps they shouldn't open for lunch if they have to be prepared to cater for only 2 people ?

The food being so good, however, I will be taking my husband to try it at the earliest opportunity - although foregoing the Gourmet Society discount to eat in the evening when, hopefully, it will be busier and buzzier!

All in all - definitely a recommendation from this foodie!"