Taline

Named after Chef-Owner Seb Yacoubian’s late mother, Taline is a true family affair as he runs it with his two brothers. You can sense the pride they feel in bringing the Armenian cuisine of their childhood to a wider audience. That’s not to say everything’s wholly traditional, as Seb makes clever use of his classical culinary background to ensure each dish – whether that’s octopus with green harissa, or Ontario lamb with eetch – has an elegant edge to go with the perky freshness. There’s something joyful and wholesome about the food here that makes you instinctively want to share it. The restaurant is warmly decorated in calm olive hues and, unusually, both the main room and the upstairs overflow are equally appealing; but it’s the first floor that boasts a large window through which you can spy Seb calmly working his magic.