Kebab Queen

Kebab Queen is a restaurant from the team behind upscale kebab group Le Bab creating an even more refined take on this classic drunk food by using a gourmet approach and Michelin-honed techniques. The restaurant redefines Middle Eastern cuisine, and the eponymous street food staple. Forget what you think you know – this is an intimate chef's table experience with unique dishes.

The restaurant is based in a compact room in the basement beneath the Covent Garden branch of Le Bab. There's a warm atmosphere and a cosy setting, with just ten seats around the counter that runs around the narrow kitchen. Diners will be getting pretty familiar with the counter – one thing that stands out about Kebab Queen is that there are no plates or cutlery. Food is served directly on the counter in front of you and you dig in with your hands. It's heated to keep your food warm and carefully cleaned between each course.

The restaurant focuses on exploring and reinventing kebab culture, and has been passed on from the original chef patron to his Turkish-born assistant to ensure it remains in good hands. The tasting menu includes multiple courses, including inventive takes on the classic kebab such as Dover sole kebab on an ironed hispi cabbage taco with roasted red pepper purée, with optional drinks pairings available as well. If you're seeking one of the capital's most distinctive dining experiences, Kebab Queen definitely needs to be on your hit list.