Described as elegant meets home cooking, this family run organic delicatessen in Knightsbridge does not disappoint. Tourists stop outside to take photographs of the gleaming interior; the fresh, delicate colours, the piles of pears, oranges, melons and pineapples, the pink cup cakes in the window… Inside, everything is beautifully laid out across a white tiled floor. The attention to detail is faultless from the illuminated mural on the ceiling to the earthenware bowls the food is served in. With friendly staff and relaxing low-key music in the background, L’opera is a pleasant place to sit, either alone or in company.

Recently opened, the manager brings twenty years of restaurant experience. The menu has been carefully choreographed to offer something unique. The spread of food spans cultures from Levantine to Persian to Italian to Greek, and this is more than evident across the rich still life of fresh fruit, salads, main courses, cakes, coffees, oils, Turkish delight, pastas, sweets and tea.

The experience is designed to take you through a choice of drinks, main courses and salads, topped off with coffee and desert. The choice is limitless as you are encouraged to pick and choose as much or as little as you fancy. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and although primarily styled as a delicatessen, the elegance of the place recommends it as a prime destination for any time of day.

The freshly made juices are impressive, foaming over the top of tall glasses. Blends such as blood orange, pineapple and carrot leave one feeling overwhelmingly healthy, and the tastes are stunning.

The mains include options such as sea bass, fresh salmon, pastas, lasagnas, basmati rice, chicken scolpe, asparagus, Indian Beliani, Persian chicken and aubergine, stuffed vine leaves made on site and a beef, carrots and mushroom stew. They also serve rarer delicacies such as Syrian mohamare – a special mix of nuts and chili that is apparently hard to come by in London.

The salad range is equally expansive with choices ranging from falafel, humus and foccaceria bread to Greek salad, Persian summer salad and tabolle – a Lebanese parsley and artichoke salad. All of it is invigoratingly fresh, there’s no grease, oil or wilting leaves here. From the round balls of mozzarella to the baskets of fresh, warm bread, the experience is perfect.

The desert options are very pleasing also. Starting with a commandingly moist wheat free chocolate cake and spreading across a span of strawberry cheesecake, caramel cheesecake, carrot cake, tiramisu and homemade baklava, not to mention the cupcakes, there is no shortage of choice. To accompany this, there is Turkish coffee on offer, or traditional Persian tea and cardamon coffee, as well as fresh leaf teas.

You expect something extra from the white pavements of Knightsbridge, and L’opera offers this and more. It’s got sparkle and class as well as offering an experience that’s unique. The place leaves you feeling refreshed and relaxed – and what more could one want from lunch than that?

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