The best restaurants serving Lebanese food in Clerkenwell Islington London

Disappointing first & last visit here. Came with a friend for her birthday and had arrived early to an empty restaurant & we looked to sit at the first table we saw. Staff looked at us with disdain (we were nicely dressed) and came over to see if we'd reserved- we hadn't, so they said we couldn't sit as they needed that table (it was 515pm) in an hour for a booking. We asked if they could accommodate us and reluctantly they then suggested a table in a dark separate room at the back of the restaurant.. we said no and asked if we could sit outside (there were some unused tables) but that was also a no from Shawarma team. So we pointed at a barside table and asked about that and they eventually acceded. We ordered our food and cocktails and cannot fault the food - it is delicious. However the service was poor & unwelcoming from start to finish. Eg, the table we originally went to, was not inhabited till 630pm so much more than an hour after our arrival, we could have sat there. Midway through our meal we noted the staff organise the unused tables to accommodate another few pairs of friends - yet it was a problem when we asked for us? We were made to feel rushed before and during our food by the staff so when it came for the bill, I requested the discretionary service charge be removed from the bill as we felt there hadn't been a good customer service at all. The male waiter then argued with me and asked why & that it wasnt possible, so I tried to explain our reasons - especially since service charge is not obliged in the UK. He did not like this at all and spoke loudly over me and went to get his supervisor. She then refused to let us speak and proceeded to say loudly that her colleague was correct and we tried to explain our reasons and how we felt we'd been treated but she flat out refused to listen, constantly talking over us saying "sorry you feel like that" in a totally condescending manner and completely vindicating our rationale for removing the tip. I have not experienced such awful and unprofessional restaurant interaction before. I would recommend the food but because the service and treatment from the staff is so awful that I'd prefer to go to one of the many other places on that street. So disappointing especially as it could have spoiled my friend's birthday and this is an independent venue, and we prefer to support those instead of chains but I would not recommend this place at all.