🔗 Share this article ‘Every Chef Should Study Here’: Unassuming Turkish Eatery Secures 4th on Ranking of London’s Best Dining Destinations. Whenever assembling a ranking of London’s best restaurants, one might foresee well-known Michelin-starred venues. However, nestled high among these food heavyweights is a simple salonu found in a outlying area of northern London. A Shocking Accolade The compact Turkish eatery, focusing in the street food of Mersin, a city on Turkey’s south coast, has been crowned the fourth finest restaurant in the city by a prominent gastronomic guide. This accolade has left the proprietors utterly surprised. “I’m utterly surprised,” states the proprietor, alluding to his family’s relentless work that resulted in their small restaurant securing such a lofty ranking on a respected 99-strong list. The Appeal of Modesty This compact space, which was a simple cafe before its conversion into a popular spot, has retained much of its earlier character. It seats just over 20 people and, beyond the impressive live cooking performance, the interior remains essentially unchanged. “It’s a tiny and intimate space,” says the owner. The Signature Offering: Tantuni In the end, it is focused on the fare, and this establishment definitely succeeds. The eatery’s eponymous dish, tantuni, is a straightforward pleasure. Choice of meat—lamb or lamb or chicken—is cooked with steam to preserve a tender quality. The meat is then added into a massive pan with seasonings and oil, which are incorporated in slowly. Once the meaty mixture heats through, homemade lavaş—a soft bread—is placed on top to absorb all the aromas. Thinly sliced onions and a sprinkling of parsley are added before the tasty meat is folded securely inside. The wrap is usually consumed with a drop of lemon or some tangy accompaniments. The outcome is a powerful burst of taste, with gentle hints of sumac, sharp onions and rich, paprika-red oil pulling it all together. Other Than the Basic Tantuni Another option is yoğurtlu tantuni, where the savoury lavaş is sliced and topped with yogurt, tomato sauce and aromatic brown butter. The respected food critic labelled this dish “a part of London’s few flawless, impeccable dishes”. When it comes to sweets, the eatery’s künefe proves a delight. It is coated in lighter syrup than found elsewhere, resulting in it a deeper, nuttier and not overly sweet flavour. Surpassing the Stars Remarkably, this modest restaurant has outplaced several celebrated three-Michelin-starred venues. It finds itself just behind the peak of the list, just after other notable dining destinations. Whereas two people could easily leave this place satisfied for less than £25, comparable experiences at high-end establishments can run into significantly more than that amount. The Ethos of Hospitality It is also among several Turkish restaurants featured and is located well outside the city’s most expensive zones. “It is not concerning luxury. London is an costly city. It is expectation that in an high-cost place you’re going to have the top service and finest food but I don’t agree with that,” explains the owner. “In my view what is paramount is hospitality, a welcoming atmosphere and a place you can be yourself and be calm.” The view is echoed by the list’s editor, who remarked that if he were in a position of authority, he would “require to make every chef in London come to this restaurant as a final lesson, to teach them the traps of overcomplication, and to reveal what is possible if you do only a handful of – or three – things to their very best”. A Path of Perseverance Unlike many chefs running kitchens in the list’s highest ranks, the head chef behind the food didn’t train at Michelin-starred establishments. “I feel really proud of our restaurant and our mum,” concludes her son. Many restaurants take years to become successful, but this one first launched seven years ago. Its acclaim is owing to relentless, seven-day weeks of work. “My mum would be really tired. She would buy ingredients in the morning and create the food in the afternoon. Everything is made by hand; she would handle all of this. She is a single mum and she balanced a personal life but her friends would come here to support her. She had children and a house to manage as well. Each of these roles forged her into what she is now: a brilliant person,” he shares. An Recognition for the Community The restaurant’s recognition is bound to resonate beyond its own doors. “In my opinion numerous people would be proud, as I am, because the Turkish community is a significant part of London,” concludes the owner, pointing out the greater meaning of this culinary triumph.