🔗 Share this article All Culinary Artist Ought to Train At This Spot’: Unassuming Turkish Eatery Earns 4th on List of London’s Top Dining Destinations. When compiling a list of London’s top eateries, one might expect familiar high-end venues. Yet, nestled near the top among these culinary heavyweights is a simple salonu found in a far-flung corner of north London. An Surprise Recognition The little Turkish eatery, focusing in the specialties of Mersin, a port city on Turkey’s southern coast, has been crowned the 4th best restaurant in the capital by a respected culinary publication. The accolade has left the owners completely astonished. “I’m completely shocked,” remarks the owner’s son, referring to his parents’ hard graft that resulted in their modest restaurant securing such a high spot on a prestigious 99-strong list. A Character of Simplicity This compact space, which was a basic cafe before its transformation into a buzzing destination, has retained much of its original feel. It fits just over 20 people and, aside from the dazzling live cooking performance, the interior remains largely unchanged. “It is a compact and cozy spot,” notes the owner. The Namesake Dish: Tantuni In the end, it is focused on the fare, and this restaurant more than delivers. The restaurant’s signature dish, tantuni, is a straightforward joy. The meat—whether lamb or chicken—is steamed to keep a succulent consistency. It is then tossed into a massive pan with seasonings and oil, which are added in gradually. When the flavourful mixture heats through, homemade lavaş—a thin, flexible bread—is placed on top to take in all the aromas. Finely sliced onions and a sprinkling of parsley are placed before the flavourful meat is wrapped securely inside. It is often eaten with a drop of lemon or some pickles. The end result is a mighty burst of taste, with subtle hints of sumac, sharp onions and rich, paprika-red oil pulling it all in harmony. Beyond the Classic Tantuni Another option is yoğurtlu tantuni, where the savoury lavaş is chopped and finished with yogurt, tomato sauce and cooked, nutty browned butter. A leading food critic called this dish “among London’s few perfect, no-notes dishes”. For dessert, the restaurant’s künefe goes down a treat. It is doused in lighter syrup than is typical, resulting in it a richer, nuttier and less sickly taste. Outranking the Stars Interestingly, this unassuming restaurant has been placed higher than several illustrious three-Michelin-starred restaurants. It finds itself close to the peak of the list, just after other esteemed dining destinations. While two people could easily leave this place satisfied for less than £25, comparable experiences at top-tier establishments can cost significantly more than that amount. The Creed of Warmth The restaurant is also one of several Turkish restaurants included and is found well beyond the city’s prime zones. “It is not focused on luxury. London is an pricey city. It is belief that in an expensive place you’re going to have the best service and best food but I don’t subscribe to that,” explains the owner. “I feel what is paramount is friendliness, friendliness and a place you can be yourself and feel calm.” The philosophy is echoed by the list’s compiler, who suggested that if he was in a position of power, he would “require to have every chef in London visit this restaurant as a masterclass, to teach them the traps of overthinking, and to show what is attainable if you do just one – or three – things to their utmost best”. The Path of Hard Work Unlike most chefs running kitchens in the list’s top ten, the driving force behind the food did not work at Michelin-starred restaurants. “I am truly happy of our restaurant and our mum,” concludes her son. Many restaurants take years to establish themselves, but this eatery first opened its doors seven years ago. Its success is thanks to relentless, seven-day weeks of dedication. “My mum used to be extremely tired. She would go shopping in the morning and make the food in the afternoon. Everything is prepared manually; she would do all of this. She is a single mum and she balanced a life outside work but her friends would visit to support her. She was raising children and a house to look after as well. Each of these responsibilities forged her into what she is now: a remarkable person,” he says. A Accomplishment for the Culture This restaurant’s accolade is likely to have meaning beyond its own premises. “I think many people would be happy, as I am, because the Turkish community is a major part of London,” concludes the owner, highlighting the broader meaning of this gastronomic achievement.