It is a very welcoming restaurant. Food is really delicious and even vegetarians can find nice dishes (especially the vegetarian moussaka). Portions are filling, yet the hygiene is not as expected.
I went with my family last Saturday. The manager/owner was warm and friendly and offered good advice regarding portions i.e order starters for two rather than starters for four if we were having a main course (we were four). Food was uniformly delicious (I really liked the aubergines in tomato sauce and the broad bean salad amongst the cold starters), service was attentive, atmosphere was friendly and lively, prices were more than reasonable. All in all as close to perfection as you are likely to find.
One of the best kebab I had in London! Just randomly saw timeout article on lewisham and they recommended this restaurant so I gave it a try. Arrived around 10ish at night and it was busy which is definitely a good sign. I had lahmacun which is a thin pizza with minced lamb and cubed kebab. The kebab was very tender and juicy and the lahmacun was warm and tasty. Will definitely go back soon!
Why Waste Annual Leave?
+4.5
As much as it's nice to celebrate an occasion with a fancy meal in plush surroundings, really, when it comes to food, for me, it's all about the taste. I've never EVER left a restaurant satisfied where the food has been satisfied but the surroundings glamorous so for me, it's really about taste first and foremost and the rest is a lovely little cherry on top.
And for hubby, this is even more the case so when his birthday approached and he decided he fancied a kebab, well who was I to argue. (Believe me, I tried but it's his day after all.)
The goal then was to find one of the best in London and he proclaimed with conviction that this South London secret was one of the best. Even on a weeknight, it was heaving and there were queues from those who had unwisely not booked ahead. On a street that you would never think to find great food, this establishment, which has a very loyal following serves excellent value, huge portioned meals with authentic Turkish flavours fit for a king. The interior is certainly not offensive in any way - you can see the chefs hard at work, it is clean, tables are reasonably close together and it is very much a family orientated place, noisy and a little crowded but like I said, you come for the food. The meals are brought out quite quickly so turnaround time is quick though they certainly didn't try to rush us after we had finished.
Ordering both starters and mains was a mistake. The flavours were fantastic but the portions just huge so half my main course became my lunch for the next day. They have no issue with you asking for a doggy bag. Always a fan of the saltiness of Halloumi cheese, I went for the very sinful fried Hellim for starters before trying one of their pizza style dishes for main course. I had not heard of Turkish style pizza - a thin layer of bread covered with minced lamb, green pepper, onions and tomatoes and served with a little bit of salad. It was hugely filling and absolutely moreish. I'm fussy when it comes to Middle Eastern and Turkish food as I used to live in that part of the world and this is one of the best places in London for it. The pizza style dishes in particular, were a novelty for me, as I've not come across these before.
I was a little bit disappointed that they had run out of Baklava and had no real dessert options that they were able to offer us that day, as I am partial to a small piece of this sweet treat with a Turkish coffee but considering I was taking half my main course home with me, this was probably a wise choice.
The bill was delightfully reasonable and the service was friendly, quick and efficient. We'll be returning here again when we're in the mood for a hearty, cost-effective and well-flavoured meal.
The food is delicious. The staff is welcoming and nice. And the environment is beautiful. Highly recommend this restaurant, even if you aren’t Turkish.
Been going here for years and it’s 100% the best Turkish food in London (I’ve tried the ones on Green Lanes and Kingsland Road). Love the open BBQ cooking and the wood fired oven for bread and pizzas. Our favourite dish is the mixed mezze but the kebabs and Pides are also exceptional. Such lovely fresh food, generous portions and attentive service. Never lets us down.
Outstanding as always. Fantastic, family run restaurant serving south east London for decades.
You know exactly what you are getting and quality of food remains the same. Don’t over order generous portions!
We had a few starters and then lamb chops served with all sorts of salads.
Lovely vibe and most importantly - the team behind it. Check up you are ok with everything without being over bearing. They give you honest reflections on your food and don’t try to get you to over order.
Fab fresh tasting food. I’ve been going here nearly twenty years and will go again! And again!
The staff was extremely helpful and attentive price of food was good value the salads and portions sizes was big enough
Just for me I felt it lacked spice some of my food tasted smoked but lacked spices besides that I really enjoyed myself
Would I go back?
Yes
Came here years ago when it first opened and I wasn't disappointed then, nor am I now. Food was spot on and service impeccable. The owner and waiters are all very friendly and sociable. The grilled meats and pizzas were delicious. Definitely recommend! It's also a family friendly restaurant as we had a baby with us and so did many other customers.
The atmosphere inside is really relaxed and the waiting staff are quite friendly.
Food is excellent and authentic Turkish as you would expect.
Before you do order starters, make sure you'll have enough room for mains :D
Great local restaurant, friendly and consistent. I mainly use it for takeaway so can't comment too much on atmosphere. Staff are helpful and friendly.
We live locally and love coming to Mez Mangal, the food is fantastic, portion sizes are very generous, so you won't be leaving hungry! The service is also great, and the wine equally good. We will certainly be back again soon :)
When I found this little gem of a food spot 4 years ago I haven’t stopped returning at least twice a week!! Perfect for families with young kids but also great for a relaxed eat out date! Good CONSISTENT quality for an unbelievably low priced meal. Starter, mains and drinks average £15-20 pp. They have parking for a few cars out the front but the local streets are also free to park. Staff are warm and friendly! Turkish meze food at its finest!
I have visited many Turkish restaurants, there is always food added to the ordered food - bread, soup or delicious salads. This restaurant only serves bread. I tried Turkish soup "Pacha" - it was incredibly tasty. All hot meals are available from 16 pounds and up prices, portions are not large. The prices are a bit high for the area where the restaurant is located and the interior. The waiters are extremely polite and fast.
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