Address: 551 Green Lanes, London N8 0RL

Telephone number: 020 8340 9691

Website: www.flamebistrorestaurant.com

Date of visit: 23 November 2010

Approximate cost per head: Around £15

Comments on wine list/beer: Very cheap and wine list with little choice – £15 a bottle. Efes beer is £2.80 a bottle

Summary:

I was on Green Lanes exploring the local gastronomic scene. The place seemed to be full of Greek Cypriots, Turks and Kurds. By the way, they seemed to have very similar food.

I was first enticed to the Cypress Kitchen in St Anne’s Lane. However from the outside, I can’t see any alcohol for sale. I next went to the Kurdish Restaurant on Green Lanes and again, it looked dry to me. I then cross the road and discovered Flame – a Turkish restaurant.

As you walked in, there is a mini kitchen and counter to serve takeaways. There were two donor kebabs rotating and a huge grilling area for skewers of kebabs. The furniture was Formica but the place looked very clean. The floor was snow white.

I settled for the Falafel (£4), Calamari (£4) and the Imam Bayildi (£3). I also asked for a bottle of Turkish red (2009 Yakut Kavaklidee, £15).

The waitress first brought me a glass of red and I had great difficulty in explaining that I wanted a full bottle (yes, there is only one of me and it is lunch time). When she eventually worked it out and bought me a bottle, the bottle was slightly (ever so slightly corked). I decided that it would take me the rest of my lunch to explain that the wine is not all right but it is drinkable. To be honest, it was not a bad wine if it was not corked.

Then the food came and it was very, very good. The falafel was made with crushed beans and chick peas, the outside fried to a crisp. The taste and texture were both excellent. The calamari was battered and was ok. Now both dishes came with a salad of lettuce leaves and tomatoes and a dip. For the falafel, they served hummus, for the calamari, I was served taramasalata. Now these weren’t little pots but huge servings like a starter portion. I was also offered warm Turkish bread – whole loaf – about a double sized bap. The iman bayildi were five little aubergines that were slit down the middle with both ends intact and stuffed with tomatoes and onions.

I was in foodie heaven. For £11, I had three enormous portions (for starters) and two dips. They were all cooked properly and very tasty. Pity about the wine but the whole bill was £26 excluding service. By the way, they had paper napkins but it is ok for places like this. I asked for a cork and took the bottle away (two third full). Later, I emptied the wine down a drain and recycled the bottle.

E

Address: Orta Pinar Caddesi 23, Icmeler, Turkey

Telephone number: +905322435946

Website: No Website. Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8664066798

Date of visit: 13/08/10

Approximate cost per head: 60 Turkish Lira (£30) for 3 courses

Comments on wine list/beer: House wine (50 Turkish Lira) is ok but then this is Turkey, not a place for wine

Summary:

The most unique and individual restaurant I have ever visited.

The experience started when we were picked up from our hotel in a minibus and taken to Mona Titti at no extra cost, simply because “a taxi would have been too expensive”.

The setting is beautiful. There were tables both outside and in, but as it was the height of summer all the guests were seated outside next to the pool. The many paintings around of ‘Mona Titti’ along with a small boat hidden amongst the plants gives a stunning view. We were told that there had been (if I remember correctly) 92 proposals there last year and each had been a yes. Not only this, but the children at the restaurant seemed very happy exploring; there was even a very content baby making waves in the pool.

I could not fault the service in any way. We did not get the feeling that we were being watched over yet could get the waitress’ attention at anytime. Not only this, but the owner was extremely friendly if not slightly eccentric, and chatted with each table multiple times throughout the night. Upon arrival we were given a tour of the outside, inside, comfortable area for a drink after our meal if we so wished, and the shop which sold all original artwork and jewellery. The whole evening was given a very personal feel.

What made the restaurant so special for me, was the fact that it was not only a peaceful yet extremely entertaining night with a wonderful ambience and service, but also served the best food we had in Turkey.

The menu (which was fully explained to us) has a good variation of traditionally Turkish food alongside pastas, grills, fish, salads and curries. To start the group had a mixture of ‘Tarhana’ (Turkish Nomad’s soup topped with a huge variety of herbs) and the Turkish ‘Borek Mona Titti’ (thin fried pastry filled with meat, vegetables and cheese). Both of which were extremely tasty however my only criticism of the night would be that the borek was slightly dry.

Our mains were delicious: Turkish lamb which came with vegetables and rice (all Turkish rice really is extremely tasty and I believe cooked in chicken stock); chicken wings with two different sauces as she could not decide so was brought both; and “chicken tits” in honey and bbq sauce. Everyone was extremely happy with their dishes and could not fault them.

Dessert also did not disappoint. We had a rich chocolate tart and a very artistically displayed fruit pancake.

Without a doubt, this was our best meal in Turkey, both in terms of food and enjoyment. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend it.

Alex Cheng

Address: 5 Langham Place, London W1B 3DG

Telephone number: 0207 323 0505

Website: www.sofra.co.uk

Date of visit: 19 December 2009

Approximate cost per head: From £10

Comments on wine list/beer: Reasonable list at reasonable prices for central London

Summary:
We were booked in at the Palladium to see “Sister Act” and Ozer is just round the corner. You can also park in Portland Place for up to 4 hours on the meter. Sister Act was absolutely fantastic!

Ozer is the flagship restaurant of the Ozer/Sofra chain of Turkish Restaurants. The restaurant was big and fairly smart. The lights were quite dim which was all right for eating but not for reading – so Sunday lunch with the papers is going to be difficult. I struggled with the menu.

The first thing we noticed when we sat down was a sign: drinks in 2 minutes and your starters in 5 minutes.

We went for the cheapest meze at £14.95 a head - 15 dishes! Well, they were relatively small portions. There are pricier versions which gives you a better selection of grills. There is also a theatre menu at under £7 provided you ordered before 6pm. The dishes came more or less within 5 minutes. We were offered a basket of warm Turkish bread which was excellent. Cold starters included, Tabullah which has both coriander and parsley in it, an aubergine stew, hummus, peeled broad beans in yogurt and more vegetable dishes. The deep fried dishes included falafel, spinach and feta cheese bourek, and something that taste like an onion bajee. Then the kebabs arrived – chicken, lamb and minced lamb (burgers?). The kebabs were highly marinated and extremely tender.

For desert (included in the price), we had a plate with 4 different deserts on it – ice cream, some form of date, chocolate and tiramisu.

We washed the whole lot down with EFES beers (£3.75), a bottle of chianti (£25.25), bottles of water and cokes. The bill for 7 came to £170 including service.

This is definitely a great place for a pre-theatre dinner as the service is highly efficient but then only the Palladium is within 10 minutes walk.

Eddie