Restaurants

The three Gallipoli restaurants on Upper Street – Gallipoli at No.102, Gallipoli Bazaar at No.107 and this one – remain enormously popular with young Islingtonians. The food in the first two is identical, though Gallipoli Bazaar has a North African decor. Gallipoli Again, meanwhile, has red and green striped walls and a great chandelier. The place is always lively, but we find it more pleasant sitting near the front rather than at the back. Mixed meze provided an enjoyable selection of starters, including potato salad, a fine börek and falafel. A nominal 60p-per-head charge is made for rather chewy pide bread (this hardly seems worth levying, in defiance of the convention of serving complimentary bread with Turkish food). After this, imam bayıldı tasted wonderful, but was presented in an unusual fashion, with the ‘stuffing’ displayed on top of a slice of aubergine, rather than inside the cooked vegetable. Also, a daily special of moussaka was leaden, with heavy layers of cheese, potato and döner. The Gallipoli restaurants will undoubtedly maintain their popularity as punters like the atmosphere, but it’s a pity the food can’t be a little more consistent.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008