Yamabahçe comes from legendary restaurateur Alan Yau, bringing Turkish delicacies of wood-fired pide and lahmacun to Marylebone. Yau is the name behind international successes Hakkasan and Wagamama, alongside cult London restaurants Duck and Rice and Park Chinois.
The restaurant has a no-frills, no-fuss approach, sitting on James Street. Previously the site of a 38-year-old creperie, Yamabahçe has a small interior space, open frontage and lots of outdoor seating, with the feel of a grab-and-go kiosk. Inspired by Istanbul street food, Yau calls this a 'mono product', serving one thing, and one thing well: a Turkish take on pizza called pide.
The menu is deliberately kept simple, with a mix of savoury and sweet options, a general main menu and some signatures. To start with, try ordering some of the smaller dishes, like warming chicken soup, thick, creamy hummus and cucumber yoghurt with traditional bread. The golden-finish, pan-seared chunks of halloumi are hard to turn down, especially when served with grilled tomatoes and pepper. Meanwhile, the ultra-fresh çoban salad sees slices of cucumber, tomato and red onion finished with chopped herbs.
As for mains and hearty signatures, the herb chicken is a must-try. Served on terracotta, it's fire-marinated and oven-roasted for a succulent texture and crispy edges, all packed with flavour. As for the pide itself, expect layers of dough topped with indulgent lamb, onion, sivri pepper and tomato, with options across beef, too. The za'atar keeps things plant-based, with butter, parsley and garlic. Other vegetarian options include the four-cheese slices, loaded with fior di latte, gorgonzola, grana padano and fontina, as well as the smoked aubergine version with oozy, grilled aubergine and blackened peppers.
It's not all about savoury, though. Those who love baklava will be delighted to try this extra-sticky, pistachio version. And, for drinks, try the Turkish coffee, fresh mint tea or selection of cocktails, like the peaches and cream margarita.