I remember hearing rave reviews of Café Beirut when it opened, but it took me a year to duck through its doors. We were drawn through the stark white, Lebanese interior to the vividly-coloured dishes pictured above the prep counter.

After a helpful chat with owner Sam Tabet, we settled on kibbi ($9.95) and shish kabob ($14.95). I chugged down some Freez ($3.50), blackberry-flavoured pop from Lebanon, and watched  our entrées be crafted.

Pita enclosed my tender beef skewer, but there was no holding back the massive pile of crisp vegetables or salty potato chunks beside the kabob. I dipped everything in hummus as I ate, eyeing the baklava triangle ($2.50) that sat temptingly beside my platter. Moist with honey on the bottom, with bone dry pastry above, the baklava was simply succulent.

I know why Café Beirut has lasted a year, and why it will last several more. Drop on in while you’re Fringe-ing.