Restaurants

With a modern, light interior and an owner who flits about asking how diners’ meals are going, Bavo aims to be stylish. Wine comes in very tall, long-stemmed glasses; staff place napkins on your lap. Furnishings include polished wooden floorboards and big windows; massive flowers provide the decoration. However, olive-green tables and chairs jar somewhat with the ambience, looking more like café furniture. Complimentary green olives and plenty of warm pide bread were brought to our table, and the bread was replenished during the meal. A fresh, hearty mixed meze consisted of cacik, kısır, dolma, a lovely own-made houmous and íçli köfte. The patlıcan kebab was admirable, with plenty of grilled aubergine. Pirzola (lamb chops) were done to perfection too. Service was polite and efficient. Bavo sells itself as Mediterranean, yet serves excellent Turkish food and is part of a general drift upmarket for the cuisine across London. An undoubted success.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008