Troia

Troia's small, dimly lit interior is made intimate with a profusion of coloured-glass chandeliers. The place appears far more roomy than it is, thanks to two massive mirrors. It's close to the London Eye and while there are several other restaurants nearby, Troia holds its own nicely. Despite the name (Ancient Troy is in the west of modern Turkey), the owners are Kurdish but the dishes are mostly similar to those of other London Turkish restaurants, including a wide selection of meze. Of these, kalamar tava (fried squid with walnut sauce, served on rocket leaves with lemon wedges) was hot and fresh from the fryer, the squid complemented by the crunchy walnut sauce. Broad beans served with yoghurt were boosted by bright-red kırmızı biber (chilli flakes). A main course of çoban kavurma (lamb stew with tomatoes and peppers) was served with a spicy red-pepper sauce, but let down by too much salt and rather dull pitta. In contrast, classic adana kebab was well-executed, with juicy minced lamb. A cheery, chatty waiter kept our bread basket topped up unbidden. We were also impressed by the olives and cacik served when we first sat down.