Mes Amis is a tiny Lebanese restaurant in Hammersmith. The entire restaurant, including the kitchen sink, fits into one small room. The chef and proprietor, James, runs the whole operation from the corner of the room, where his cooker is situated, whilst two waiters look after you.
Generally, most people go for the set mixed meze of tabouleh, houmous and roasted aubergine dips with warm pitta, followed by one of the mains. Apparently these are all outstanding and absolutely huge!
When it comes to Mes Amis’ decoration it would be hard to say they’ve gone for the ‘less is more’ route. It’s a mish mash of bright colours, patterns, paintings, ornaments and paper umbrellas. It’s mad but it’s hard not to love, with Time Out describing it as a “fabulously kitsch cultural clash.” People seem to find it bizarre and delightful.
Because the restaurant is very small it is difficult to fit in large numbers of wheelchair users but having spoken to someone on the phone – presumably James, who was as everybody seems to say, a very nice man – they told us they have had wheelchairs in the restaurant before and it hasn’t been a problem. Despite being in a small room, they have a disabled toilet with 2 grab rails.
There is one step to get into the building but it is quite small. Once inside, they said they can move some chairs around and make extra space if necessary. We were promised that everyone will be looked after 100% and we don’t doubt that for a second.
Mes Amis is, by all accounts, a really unique experience. Since it’s a little bit cramped we’re going to give it a provisional 2.5 BBS Ticks.
