Restaurants

Three Gallipoli restaurants are scattered along a hundred yards of Upper Street, and are undoubtedly the most popular Turkish restaurants in Islington. The bill of fare in the first two is identical, but Gallipoli Bazaar also serves Moroccan food. The long, narrow Gallipoli Again is always lively. Aim to sit near the front or out on the pavement rather than towards the back, where it is darker and everyone seems to be crushed together. The very efficient staff wear black; some have the restaurant’s name in silver lettering on their T-shirts. For starters, a plate of two meat börek was merely acceptable; the parcels were of good filo pastry, but the filling was unimaginative and bland. To follow, a shish kebab was fine: six large cubes of lamb served with basmati rice, fresh chilli sauce and a dressed green salad. The Gallipoli restaurants retain their popularity with a young crowd; perhaps that’s why they haven’t felt the need to make their food as consistently first-rate as some other Turkish establishments in the area.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009