Latest reviews in Stoke Newington, London, United Kingdom

Sariyer Balik - by gecko

gecko — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:27:05 +0000

Review by gecko

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7275 7681

Tags: turkish, takeaway, family & home feel

VERY BADDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!VERY BADDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach & Horses - by AntonSh

AntonSh — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:21:11 +0000

Review by AntonSh

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7254 6697

Tags: friendly, young and fun, mature

Friendly boozer with limited but good real ale on tap (Bombardier and Black Sheep), and solid inexpensive Thai Food. The spicy beef salad is especially good. The Sunday roasts are satisfying and tasty, with the service quick, accurate and unassuming. The place is nothing spectacular but pleasant and comfortable.Friendly boozer with limited but good real ale on tap (Bombardier and Black Sheep), and solid inexpensive Thai Food. The spicy beef salad is especially good. The Sunday roasts are satisfying and tasty, with the service quick, accurate and unassuming. The place is nothing spectacular but pleasant and comfortable.

The Birdcage - nice little local by Kimmi

Kimmi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:05:08 +0000

Review by Kimmi

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8806 6740

Website: http://thebirdcagen16.co.uk/

Tags: cool, relaxed, friendly

This is my local in Stoke Newington, and it's a good little place. Not hectic, or pretentious, just a nice pub with some decent drinks. Great for a quiet mid-week drink.This is my local in Stoke Newington, and it's a good little place. Not hectic, or pretentious, just a nice pub with some decent drinks. Great for a quiet mid-week drink.

The Prince - I DISAGREE by PET72

PET72 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:38:54 +0000

Review by PET72

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7923 4766

Tags: gastro pub, beer garden, standard pub food

I have been coming in the Prince a couple of times a week for over a year. For quite drinks during the week and with a couple of other families at the weekend for the great Sunday roast. We have always had great service and have never had any reason to complain about the food. From talking to other friends and parents in the area i think that most regular Prince customers feel the same. Keep up the good work!I have been coming in the Prince a couple of times a week for over a year. For quite drinks during the week and with a couple of other families at the weekend for the great Sunday roast. We have always had great service and have never had any reason to complain about the food. From talking to other friends and parents in the area i think that most regular Prince customers feel the same. Keep up the good work!

The Fishery Fish Bar - Great Plaice... by rickyroo

rickyroo — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:38:58 +0000

Review by rickyroo

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7249 6444

Website: http://www.the-fishery.net

Tags: good value, seafood, cheap eat

...and the cod and haddock and chips are pretty spot on too.
...and the cod and haddock and chips are pretty spot on too.

Beauty at Anthony Kane - Brand new beauty room in Anthony Kane !!! by Suzi

Suzi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:02:02 +0000

Review by Suzi

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 07704564506

Tags: massage, waxing, spray tan

Brand new beauty room open now in established hairdressing salon - Anthony Kane, offers exceptional beauty treatments such as Dermalogica facials, waxing, massages, manicures, pedicures, spray tan ( Classic TAN brand),eyelash extensions/perms.. and more
10 % discount on your first appointment
Loyality scheme available
Gift Vouchers available

5 stars ratingBrand new beauty room open now in established hairdressing salon - Anthony Kane, offers exceptional beauty treatments such as Dermalogica facials, waxing, massages, manicures, pedicures, spray tan ( Classic TAN brand),eyelash extensions/perms.. and more
10 % discount on your first appointment
Loyality scheme available
Gift Vouchers available

5 stars rating

The Three Crowns - Roast dinners and comfy sofas by brenna

brenna — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:46:01 +0000

Review by brenna

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7241 5511

Tags: gastro pub, relaxed, food

Huge gastro pub with lots of old leather comfy sofas and a cosy interior on the corner of Church Street. Serves yummy roast dinners too!Huge gastro pub with lots of old leather comfy sofas and a cosy interior on the corner of Church Street. Serves yummy roast dinners too!

Fifty Six - by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:39:24 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7359 6377

Website: http://www.fifty-six.co.uk/

Tags: lively, romantic, european

I am surprised at how enthusiastic people are about this place, and it's true it does always seem to be full.

I found it lacking - European dishes cooked by people who had never tasted an authentic version. Like something out of 1980's London.

The food is serviceable and the staff pleasant, but with London so full of great ethnic restaurants and authentic regional European cooking, I don't think Fifty-Six measures up.

Definitely not a place for serious foodies.I am surprised at how enthusiastic people are about this place, and it's true it does always seem to be full.

I found it lacking - European dishes cooked by people who had never tasted an authentic version. Like something out of 1980's London.

The food is serviceable and the staff pleasant, but with London so full of great ethnic restaurants and authentic regional European cooking, I don't think Fifty-Six measures up.

Definitely not a place for serious foodies.

Lemon Monkey - by savagepink

savagepink — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:42:56 +0000

Review by savagepink

Rating: 4.00

Tags: romantic, french, brasserie

Great little coffee and cake shop which also does cheese and charcuterie platters, with wine. They sell some deli-type groceries too. Lovely friendly staff.

Note: not an indian restaurant or a French brasserie!Great little coffee and cake shop which also does cheese and charcuterie platters, with wine. They sell some deli-type groceries too. Lovely friendly staff.

Note: not an indian restaurant or a French brasserie!

Clicia - by beccywiseman

beccywiseman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:22:19 +0000

Review by beccywiseman

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7254 1025

Website: http://www.pidderia.com/clicia/index.php

Tags: turkish, romantic, good value

Clicia is great for a lazy weekend munch. Not too cramped but not as great an atmosphere as other Church Street cafÃ©s. The food is great.Clicia is great for a lazy weekend munch. Not too cramped but not as great an atmosphere as other Church Street cafÃ©s. The food is great.

The Blue Legune - by beccywiseman

beccywiseman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:30:08 +0000

Review by beccywiseman

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7923 1303

Tags: cosy, good brew, quiet & relaxed

This is one of my favourite places in Stokey, although it is pretty cut throat at the weekends when it comes to getting a seat and wedging your buggy in. The food is great and I love the atmosphere... everyone busy "relaxing".This is one of my favourite places in Stokey, although it is pretty cut throat at the weekends when it comes to getting a seat and wedging your buggy in. The food is great and I love the atmosphere... everyone busy "relaxing".

The Gate - Lovely........... by lily15

lily15 — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:32:40 +0000

Review by lily15

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7923 9227

Tags: garden, mediterranean, cheap eat

Ive been dining here for a long time, i always go back for more delicious food and polite service. I enjoy most of their dishes and like the atmosphere, there is a 3 page menu and also you have most wines, spirits, beers and taps aswell. If im feeling hungry i will eat if im feeling to just have a drink thats what i will do. I enjoy the calm comfortable atmosphere, and i definatly will recomment it to anyone who is up to having a pleasent time..Ive been dining here for a long time, i always go back for more delicious food and polite service. I enjoy most of their dishes and like the atmosphere, there is a 3 page menu and also you have most wines, spirits, beers and taps aswell. If im feeling hungry i will eat if im feeling to just have a drink thats what i will do. I enjoy the calm comfortable atmosphere, and i definatly will recomment it to anyone who is up to having a pleasent time..

19 Numara Bos Cirrik II - fantastic food by umut

umut — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:05:52 +0000

Review by umut

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7249 9111

Tags: turkish, lively, romantic

i love the food, the shef cooked my shish just front of me on the barbecue with real charcoal.i love the food, the shef cooked my shish just front of me on the barbecue with real charcoal.

The Bagel House - by diabolo

diabolo — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:35:22 +0000

Review by diabolo

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7249 3908

Tags: quick bite, takeaway, patisserie

Unfortunately the shop is also infested with mice (I lived in a flat above for a short period..it was vile) so I would avoid at all costs.Unfortunately the shop is also infested with mice (I lived in a flat above for a short period..it was vile) so I would avoid at all costs.

Chickpizz - yum! by matt01

matt01 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:48:29 +0000

Review by matt01

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7254 4553

Tags: burgers, delicatessen, kebabs

i agree the chips were ok,...but have you tried the pizza? its soo good...and the chicken is always fresh. Every time i go there they are taking out fresh chicken, its always a strugle to decide between the pizza or chichen. lol i guess that why its called CHICKPIZZ.i agree the chips were ok,...but have you tried the pizza? its soo good...and the chicken is always fresh. Every time i go there they are taking out fresh chicken, its always a strugle to decide between the pizza or chichen. lol i guess that why its called CHICKPIZZ.

19 Numara Bos Cirrik - The best Turkish food in the area... by simonbk

simonbk — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:14:46 +0000

Review by simonbk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7249 0400

Tags: turkish, family & home feel, lively

I have to say I really do rate this place. I've eaten in a number of Turkish restaurants in the area and 19 Numara Bos Cirrik always comes out on top. Busy most evenings but its worth the short wait for a seat.

Food-wise I've had a number dishes from the menu but today I shared a mixed kebab and a mixed pide.

Starting with the mixed kebab (chicken ÅxiÅx, Ã§Ã¶p ÅxiÅx (small lamb chunks), Adana (minced lamb) and lamb chops) the Adana was juicy and deliciously flavoured but the best of the meats were the chops. Crispy and well seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside. Probably worth a full order. The mixed kebab is served with rice, onion salad, shepherds salad and the most delicious of all the salads, Izgara soÄxan. Izgara soÄxan is made up of slices of grilled onion, pomegranate syrup, turnip juice, and sumac (a sour, purple-coloured powdered spice common in Turkish cooking). It works a treat with both the meats and the pide and should not be missed. If they forget to serve this salad be sure to get their attention and demand it.

The mixed pide (sort of a Turkish pizza) was also delicious and cooked to order. The mixed pide was topped with minced lamb, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, cheddar cheese and herbs. Hot, fresh and full of flavour this was great to share with the kebabs.

Worth noting as well is a Turkish snack that Cirrik does very well called Lamacun. Again a Turkish pizza of sorts but with a thinner crust, fewer but equally delicious toppings and usually served as a wrap stuffed with salad. At £1.50 you can't go wrong.

All in all 19 Numara Bos Cirrik offers the best Turkish food in the area, if not London. Great food at great prices. Not much else I can say.I have to say I really do rate this place. I've eaten in a number of Turkish restaurants in the area and 19 Numara Bos Cirrik always comes out on top. Busy most evenings but its worth the short wait for a seat.

Food-wise I've had a number dishes from the menu but today I shared a mixed kebab and a mixed pide.

Starting with the mixed kebab (chicken ÅxiÅx, Ã§Ã¶p ÅxiÅx (small lamb chunks), Adana (minced lamb) and lamb chops) the Adana was juicy and deliciously flavoured but the best of the meats were the chops. Crispy and well seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside. Probably worth a full order. The mixed kebab is served with rice, onion salad, shepherds salad and the most delicious of all the salads, Izgara soÄxan. Izgara soÄxan is made up of slices of grilled onion, pomegranate syrup, turnip juice, and sumac (a sour, purple-coloured powdered spice common in Turkish cooking). It works a treat with both the meats and the pide and should not be missed. If they forget to serve this salad be sure to get their attention and demand it.

The mixed pide (sort of a Turkish pizza) was also delicious and cooked to order. The mixed pide was topped with minced lamb, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, cheddar cheese and herbs. Hot, fresh and full of flavour this was great to share with the kebabs.

Worth noting as well is a Turkish snack that Cirrik does very well called Lamacun. Again a Turkish pizza of sorts but with a thinner crust, fewer but equally delicious toppings and usually served as a wrap stuffed with salad. At £1.50 you can't go wrong.

All in all 19 Numara Bos Cirrik offers the best Turkish food in the area, if not London. Great food at great prices. Not much else I can say.

The Parlour - Fulfilled. Full. Filled. by andybrown

andybrown — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:15:22 +0000

Review by andybrown

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7923 0654

Tags: cultured, quick bite, quiet & relaxed

Silver linings and all that, there is a definite upside to waking upon Monday morning to a power cut, no food or coffee in the house and a stomach that's rumbling so hard there are reports of falling roof tiles.

However, the circumstances are limited as they have to fulfill the following criteria:

a) you live in or within easy travelling distance of Stoke Newington Church Street
b) it's an achingly glorious day in early spring
c) you have no pressing appointments for, let's say, the rest of the day.

Bearing all this in mind, I got down to Church Street to get some breakfast and do some work. Now Church Street is a busy place with all the mothers and babies and kids, so it's well stocked with cafes of all descriptions.

I've been in most of them, but my favourites were full when I got there, and I had this whimsical idea of sitting at a bare wood table, drinking tea and grapefruit juice, staring out a little garden in the sunshine, reading the Guardian, eating an artichoke and mozzarella sandwich, listening to jazz, in other words being monstrously middle class and lefty and generally making the rest of the world jealous.

I managed it as well. Lucky sod that I am.

Apparently the Parlour's been open about 9 months, but I didn't notice, because there all the other choices around and it was winter and whatever. Secretly I don't believe them. I think it dropped, fully formed and perfect, into a vacant plot five seconds before I turned up, sent by my own personal god to make me happy.

So really there's no point me writing this review at all, because I want to keep it to myself, because it's too good to imagine I'm not dreaming, and because I suspect that as soon as I leave it will disappear with a *pop*.

Just in case, eh?Silver linings and all that, there is a definite upside to waking upon Monday morning to a power cut, no food or coffee in the house and a stomach that's rumbling so hard there are reports of falling roof tiles.

However, the circumstances are limited as they have to fulfill the following criteria:

a) you live in or within easy travelling distance of Stoke Newington Church Street
b) it's an achingly glorious day in early spring
c) you have no pressing appointments for, let's say, the rest of the day.

Bearing all this in mind, I got down to Church Street to get some breakfast and do some work. Now Church Street is a busy place with all the mothers and babies and kids, so it's well stocked with cafes of all descriptions.

I've been in most of them, but my favourites were full when I got there, and I had this whimsical idea of sitting at a bare wood table, drinking tea and grapefruit juice, staring out a little garden in the sunshine, reading the Guardian, eating an artichoke and mozzarella sandwich, listening to jazz, in other words being monstrously middle class and lefty and generally making the rest of the world jealous.

I managed it as well. Lucky sod that I am.

Apparently the Parlour's been open about 9 months, but I didn't notice, because there all the other choices around and it was winter and whatever. Secretly I don't believe them. I think it dropped, fully formed and perfect, into a vacant plot five seconds before I turned up, sent by my own personal god to make me happy.

So really there's no point me writing this review at all, because I want to keep it to myself, because it's too good to imagine I'm not dreaming, and because I suspect that as soon as I leave it will disappear with a *pop*.

Just in case, eh?

The Tea Rooms - Better than Ronseal by andybrown

andybrown — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:41:05 +0000

Review by andybrown

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7923 1870

Tags: quick bite, quiet & relaxed, amazing brew

Not as widely travelled as I'd like, even within London, I am sure there are better places than Stoke Newington Church Street to take tea in the afternoon, I just don't know any of them, and they aren't on my doorstep.

So when I read from a helpful chap called Tim Eout (is that a French name?) that there's a new place opened and it demands my presence for a spot of chai and cakey, I can hardly get on my bike fast enough - besides, it was a quiet afternoon, I was sick of annotating chapter six hundred and god-only-knows-what of some interminable history book, and I wanted cake.
I expected a certain degree of competence because there are plenty of decent cafes on Church Street and none but a fool would open a new one without something going for it.
With a name like The Tea Rooms, it wasn't too much to hope for a decent brew, somewhere to sit, bla bla bla.
What I got, rather marvellously, was the full bloody monty. Loose-leaf, and extra water on the side, and tablecloths, and a slightly crazy staring woman in the corner, and students reading on couches, and a slice of surprisingly subtle chocolate and almond cake.

I suppose in a more innocent or perhaps more particular age you'd expect proper tea and cakes and a solicitous sales assistant and a generally benign air of quietude, but this is not that age, so to experience all of those things, in an almost archetypal, unpretentious, relaxed tea room was, while not a revelation, certainly a delight.
Not as widely travelled as I'd like, even within London, I am sure there are better places than Stoke Newington Church Street to take tea in the afternoon, I just don't know any of them, and they aren't on my doorstep.

So when I read from a helpful chap called Tim Eout (is that a French name?) that there's a new place opened and it demands my presence for a spot of chai and cakey, I can hardly get on my bike fast enough - besides, it was a quiet afternoon, I was sick of annotating chapter six hundred and god-only-knows-what of some interminable history book, and I wanted cake.
I expected a certain degree of competence because there are plenty of decent cafes on Church Street and none but a fool would open a new one without something going for it.
With a name like The Tea Rooms, it wasn't too much to hope for a decent brew, somewhere to sit, bla bla bla.
What I got, rather marvellously, was the full bloody monty. Loose-leaf, and extra water on the side, and tablecloths, and a slightly crazy staring woman in the corner, and students reading on couches, and a slice of surprisingly subtle chocolate and almond cake.

I suppose in a more innocent or perhaps more particular age you'd expect proper tea and cakes and a solicitous sales assistant and a generally benign air of quietude, but this is not that age, so to experience all of those things, in an almost archetypal, unpretentious, relaxed tea room was, while not a revelation, certainly a delight.

Clissold Park Cafe - you'll still come here. and you should. by andybrown

andybrown — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:20:56 +0000

Review by andybrown

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7923 9797

Tags: quick bite, takeaway, crowded

Is there a proverb relating to the idea that you can offer people rubbish as long as its surrounded with good things and they'll still buy it? Something like the converse of lipstick on a pig. Clissold Park Cafe is the epitome of okayishness in the epicentre of amazingitude.

Take the south-facing lawn and portico of a 200 year old Grade II listed mansion, facing a stretch of the (400 year old) New River, in the middle of a park frequented by the entire fecund, bicycling Guardian-reading cafe-frequenting population of Stoke Newington. In March, turn on the sun, and wait for the crowds. A child could run this place and turn a profit. It's a captive audience.

Look at it. Look at the photo. You already want to be there don't you? Of course you do, it's gorgeous.

So the food isn't great, so what? You're in a lovely park, get over it.

So you have to wait ages for it - sit in the lovely park, you ungrateful dolt.

This is the sort of establishment that really would need something specially bad, something unavoidably cack, to rob it of custom. And it doesn't have that, so it's always packed, because in this part of London, it's got the best surroundings imaginable - grass and trees and no cars and a lovely big grassy terrace and no competition.

Well, good luck to them. It's not often you can find somewhere that doesn't even need to try. I say that, there's a recession on, I half expect it to be closed by June.

But if it is, yours truly is going after that lease...Is there a proverb relating to the idea that you can offer people rubbish as long as its surrounded with good things and they'll still buy it? Something like the converse of lipstick on a pig. Clissold Park Cafe is the epitome of okayishness in the epicentre of amazingitude.

Take the south-facing lawn and portico of a 200 year old Grade II listed mansion, facing a stretch of the (400 year old) New River, in the middle of a park frequented by the entire fecund, bicycling Guardian-reading cafe-frequenting population of Stoke Newington. In March, turn on the sun, and wait for the crowds. A child could run this place and turn a profit. It's a captive audience.

Look at it. Look at the photo. You already want to be there don't you? Of course you do, it's gorgeous.

So the food isn't great, so what? You're in a lovely park, get over it.

So you have to wait ages for it - sit in the lovely park, you ungrateful dolt.

This is the sort of establishment that really would need something specially bad, something unavoidably cack, to rob it of custom. And it doesn't have that, so it's always packed, because in this part of London, it's got the best surroundings imaginable - grass and trees and no cars and a lovely big grassy terrace and no competition.

Well, good luck to them. It's not often you can find somewhere that doesn't even need to try. I say that, there's a recession on, I half expect it to be closed by June.

But if it is, yours truly is going after that lease...

Testi - The Lamb's Bollocks by chrisp

chrisp — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:27:55 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7249 7151

Tags: turkish, lively, good value

There's something commendably unapologetic about the way Testi, an Ocakbasi grill in Stoke Newington, displays it's most (in)famous ingredient in their front window. There, pride of place in one of those glass cabinets a high-street kebab shop may use to hold marinating chicken shish or lamb koftes, are a dozen alarmingly large raw lamb's testicles, looking like fleshy plums next to the more prosaic rib joints and kidneys. I had made a special journey to Testi to eat these things, and I wasn't about to change my mind, but I do have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation once I was staring at them in the flesh, so to speak. Not exactly the most appetising of items, are they? Pale and swollen, with strange dark slug-like tubes running down the side; it's largely a cultural thing I'm sure, but it's not hard to see why they are somewhat of a rarity at your local butchers or neighbourhood restaurant. It's also not too surprising you don't read much about them on food blogs or in the mainstream press, as attempting to write a review of a plate of testicles without slipping into Carry On territory is a bit of a minefield. Let's see how I do.

But before the main event, a couple of starters. The house hummus was a pretty standard affair - creamy and with good texture but missing anything to lift it out of the ordinary. And despite the house bread being fresh out of the oven it was strangely tasteless - this may be the style in these places, as all Turkish bread I've ever tried has been lacking in this department. However a plate of Albanian-style chopped liver was absolutely wonderful, the moist, char grilled meat balanced with the delicately pickled onions and the dish as a whole lifting these cheap ingredients into something really special. This plate was cleaned in record time.

So I imagine some of you are wondering what marinated, char grilled lamb's testicles taste like. The description 'offaly' is probably a little obvious, but it's true that the meat itself had that dense, smooth texture of, say, brain. Not unpleasant but rather unsatisfying, a little bit like Quorn. What made the dish was the spicy marinade, which created a lovely crust on the little nuggets of meat and added complexity to what I'm guessing raw is a rather uniform, uninteresting product. The main point is, I've tried it now, and didn't hate it, and so now I don't need to again. Job done.

Amongst the other mains brought to our table was a few grilled quail - perfectly seasoned, and benefitting very well from the char from the grill, and some genuinely superbly cooked lamb chops, again seasoned perfectly and boasting a generous blackened crust. Sides were also exceptional - roasted onions in a pomegranate pickle were a fresh and attractive balance of textures and flavours, and a salad was nicely dressed with fresh herbs and black olives.

Now, there were bits here and there that weren't perfect, obviously, but where it mattered Testi delivered in spades - fresh meat, fresh ingredients, well seasoned, well executed, cooked simply and presented honestly. It's everything you'd want in a local restaurant, and although it's not leagues ahead of others in the same style (Tas Firin, No19BC2, etc.) it just does everything across the board well enough to be that much ahead of the pack. I had a lovely evening, and I will certainly be back - only next time, perhaps I'll leave the testicles alone.... Damn, so close.There's something commendably unapologetic about the way Testi, an Ocakbasi grill in Stoke Newington, displays it's most (in)famous ingredient in their front window. There, pride of place in one of those glass cabinets a high-street kebab shop may use to hold marinating chicken shish or lamb koftes, are a dozen alarmingly large raw lamb's testicles, looking like fleshy plums next to the more prosaic rib joints and kidneys. I had made a special journey to Testi to eat these things, and I wasn't about to change my mind, but I do have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation once I was staring at them in the flesh, so to speak. Not exactly the most appetising of items, are they? Pale and swollen, with strange dark slug-like tubes running down the side; it's largely a cultural thing I'm sure, but it's not hard to see why they are somewhat of a rarity at your local butchers or neighbourhood restaurant. It's also not too surprising you don't read much about them on food blogs or in the mainstream press, as attempting to write a review of a plate of testicles without slipping into Carry On territory is a bit of a minefield. Let's see how I do.

But before the main event, a couple of starters. The house hummus was a pretty standard affair - creamy and with good texture but missing anything to lift it out of the ordinary. And despite the house bread being fresh out of the oven it was strangely tasteless - this may be the style in these places, as all Turkish bread I've ever tried has been lacking in this department. However a plate of Albanian-style chopped liver was absolutely wonderful, the moist, char grilled meat balanced with the delicately pickled onions and the dish as a whole lifting these cheap ingredients into something really special. This plate was cleaned in record time.

So I imagine some of you are wondering what marinated, char grilled lamb's testicles taste like. The description 'offaly' is probably a little obvious, but it's true that the meat itself had that dense, smooth texture of, say, brain. Not unpleasant but rather unsatisfying, a little bit like Quorn. What made the dish was the spicy marinade, which created a lovely crust on the little nuggets of meat and added complexity to what I'm guessing raw is a rather uniform, uninteresting product. The main point is, I've tried it now, and didn't hate it, and so now I don't need to again. Job done.

Amongst the other mains brought to our table was a few grilled quail - perfectly seasoned, and benefitting very well from the char from the grill, and some genuinely superbly cooked lamb chops, again seasoned perfectly and boasting a generous blackened crust. Sides were also exceptional - roasted onions in a pomegranate pickle were a fresh and attractive balance of textures and flavours, and a salad was nicely dressed with fresh herbs and black olives.

Now, there were bits here and there that weren't perfect, obviously, but where it mattered Testi delivered in spades - fresh meat, fresh ingredients, well seasoned, well executed, cooked simply and presented honestly. It's everything you'd want in a local restaurant, and although it's not leagues ahead of others in the same style (Tas Firin, No19BC2, etc.) it just does everything across the board well enough to be that much ahead of the pack. I had a lovely evening, and I will certainly be back - only next time, perhaps I'll leave the testicles alone.... Damn, so close.