🔗 Share this article Each Cook Ought to Study Here’: Unassuming Turkish Dining Spot Secures Fourth on List of London’s Best Food Spots. Whenever compiling a ranking of London’s best restaurants, one might anticipate renowned high-end names. However, tucked prominently among these gastronomic titans is a simple salonu found in a far-flung corner of northern London. An Shocking Honour The little Turkish eatery, concentrating in the culinary delights of Mersin, a port city on Turkey’s southern coast, has been named the 4th top restaurant in the city by a prominent food magazine. The accolade has made the owners completely shocked. “I am totally shocked,” remarks a proprietor, alluding to his parents’ dedication that led to their small restaurant securing such a high spot on a notable 99-strong list. A Appeal of Modesty This compact space, which started as a basic cafe before its conversion into a sought-after food hotspot, has maintained much of its original character. It seats just over 20 people and, aside from the vibrant live cooking show, the setup remains mostly unchanged. “It is a small and stocky place,” comments the owner. A Star Offering: Tantuni However, it is all about the fare, and this establishment more than delivers. The eatery’s signature dish, tantuni, is a uncomplicated delight. The meat—either lamb or chicken—is prepared via steaming to keep a tender consistency. The meat is then added into a large pan with spices and oil, which are incorporated in bit by bit. Once the flavourful mixture bubbles up, homemade lavaş—a pliable bread—is placed on top to soak in all the juices. Thinly sliced onions and a dash of parsley go inside before the tasty meat is folded neatly inside. The wrap is often consumed with a drizzle of lemon or some pickles. The outcome is a mighty punch of flavour, with soft hints of sumac, sharp onions and spicy, paprika-laced oil pulling it all together. Other Than the Classic Tantuni There is also yoğurtlu tantuni, where the meat-filled lavaş is chopped and finished with yogurt, tomato sauce and aromatic brown butter. A respected food critic called this dish “one of London’s few flawless, impeccable dishes”. For dessert, the eatery’s künefe goes down a delight. It is soaked in a more modest amount of syrup than is typical, imparting it a deeper, more aromatic and more balanced taste. Surpassing the Giants Remarkably, this modest spot has been placed higher than several celebrated three-Michelin-starred restaurants. It finds itself close to the top of the list, just after other high-profile dining destinations. Whereas two people could easily leave the restaurant full for under £25, equivalent meals at top-tier establishments can start at significantly more than that amount. The Creed of Hospitality It is also one of several Turkish restaurants included and is found well outside the city’s prime zones. “It’s not about luxury. London is an pricey city. There is an expectation that in an expensive place you’re going to have the top service and best food but I don’t subscribe to that,” explains the owner. “I feel what is most important is hospitality, friendliness and somewhere you can be yourself and feel calm.” The philosophy is supported by the list’s compiler, who remarked that if he were in a role of power, he would “make it mandatory to make every chef in London come to this restaurant as a finishing school, to show them the traps of excess, and to show what is possible if you do just one – or three – things to their utmost best”. The Path of Hard Work In contrast to many chefs running kitchens in the list’s highest ranks, the driving force behind the food did not apprentice at elite restaurants. “I am really pleased of our shop and our mum,” concludes her son. Many restaurants take years to become successful, but this one first opened its doors seven years ago. Its popularity is owing to tireless, seven-day weeks of dedication. “Our mum was extremely tired. She would buy ingredients in the morning and make the food in the afternoon. All of it is handmade; she would manage all of this. She is a solo parent and she managed a social life but her friends would support her to help her. She had children and a house to manage as well. Each of these duties forged her into what she is now: a remarkable person,” he shares. A Achievement for the Community This restaurant’s success is likely to echo outside its own doors. “I think a lot of people would be happy, as I am, because the Turkish community is a significant part of London,” says the owner, highlighting the greater meaning of this culinary achievement.