Beyoglu

This neighbourhood grill and meze bar in Belsize Village is a friendly spot where locals casually stop by each other's tables to chat, and large groups book birthday lunches. The long, thin ground floor has high-backed leather chairs; a line of glass lanterns is almost the only thing that distinguishes the place as Turkish. Downstairs, though, where a screen barely hides the kitchen from the cosy dining area, colourful woven fabrics, tassels and cushions add a luxurious harem element to meals. Among the more unusual dishes is arnavut cigeri (lamb's liver dusted with flour and spices then sautéed), and, from the appealing vegetarian selection, kabak (a cheese-topped dish of courgettes, mushrooms, peppers and tomato, served with rice). We loved the kizartma yoghurtlu (fried Mediterranean veg with tomato sauce and yoghurt), and greedily scooped up all the creamy juices. Equally pleasurable was havuç tarator, a thick yoghurt and carrot dip, served with hot puffy bread. Adana kebab was especially juicy, a large salad, red cabbage, grilled pepper and tomato completing a virtuous main course. Çankaya dry white from Turkey kicks off the short wine list at £14.90. Complimentary cubes of toothsome rahat locum finish meals on a sweet note.