Iznik

Iznik may take its name & inspiration from the old Turkish city known for its ceramics but its meats come from no further afield than Frank Godfrey, the much respected local butcher. It’s a winning combination for this intimate eatery when it comes to tasty grills & inspired dishes such as manti (dumplings stuffed with chicken in sour cream sauce) & kavniyarik (aubergine stuffed with delicious minced lamb in tomato sauce). Mezze favourites are present & correct – hoummos, kofta & borek – though they occasionally lack seasoning & come, disappointingly, with fairly average pitta bread. Wash it all down with Efes beer or a bottle from the reasonably priced wine list. The kaleidoscopic interiors of vibrant pink & orange walls, mirrors & coloured-glass hanging lanterns may sound garish, but in fact are utterly romantic.