Sonya Restaurant draws inspiration from the fishermen, farmers, and family tavernas dotting the Aegean, spanning from Bodrum to Naxos and Izmir to Santorini. Originally from Turkey, owner and chef Sercan graduated at the top of his class from Le Cordon Blu in 2009.
With over a decade of experience in London's Fine Dining circuit, including renowned establishments like The Ledbury and Le Gavroche, Sercan set out to bring a wealth of expertise to Sonya, an all day Aegean bistro. At any time of day, you can feel transported to the picturesque coastlines of Greece and Turkey at this restaurant. Sonya Restaurant’s Iskren is from the city of Sofia in Bulgaria, and brings a rich culinary heritage shaped by his family's roots in Varna on the Black Sea coast.
With London's food scene as his backdrop since the age of 19, Iskren has always aimed to showcase the warm hospitality that Bulgaria is known for. Begin your day with a Turkish breakfast spread (known as kahvalti) and organic coffee. Enjoy dishes of tahini porridge and folded eggs with toast. Or, perhaps you'll order the shakshuka with hummus, green harissa and tulum cheese - a dish you'll find is a favourite for many at brunch. The treacle glazed bacon with fried eggs, latke and grilled tomatoes is a real treat.
At lunchtime, you're really spoilt for choice. There are plenty of the breakfast dishes still running through the daytime menu, with the addition of Sonya lunch from 11.30am. The lunch additions include chicken pita with cucumber, pickles, pickled chilli, home cut fries and za’atar, along with a dish of oyster mushroom, chilli garlic herbs, ezme, garlic yoghurt and flatbread. When it’s dinnertime, be sure to try the fired cabbage, garlic breadcrumbs, kebab shop chilli sauce and garlic yoghurt.