http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi Testi - London, 38 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7PL, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/151571_166588ca.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/129vl7
Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00
Tags: lively, family & home feel, cheap eat, crowded, turkish
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.]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:27:55 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/129vl72002267737 chrisp lively family & home feel cheap eat crowded turkish 51.561786 -0.073719 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1w0ql7
Review by andybrown

Rating: 4.00
Tags: lively, good value, turkish
At some primordial level of snake/rat/worm brain, the idea of eating another animals genitalia causes me distress. The fact that I'd gladly pop chickens buttocks into my mouth (it's the best bit, but sooooo tiny) is beside the point. All of which auto-psychological meandering leads me neatly on to Testi, which I am assured means "water jug" in Turkish, and in all the years I have visited, I have yet to enquire as to, snigger snigger, whether they, like, um, realised. Because quite frankly, I don't care. And here's why.

Because it really doesn't matter. I'm sure at some point I'll get round to chewing on some lightly grilled sperm factories, but the overarching genius of Testi is that I don't feel I've missed out for not having done so. There's too much on the menu, the shish, the ribs (oh the ribs!), the whole baby chicken, the imam bayildi (how many other dishes do you know that get their name after causing someone to FAINT because they're so good? precisely) it's all really nice, it all comes with the obligatory fresh toasted bread and salads and the insurmountable pleasure of grilled onions in pomegranate sauce.
I can not, literally, I am unable to express adequately in words (and I know quite a few) just how far I am transported by grilled onions in pomegranate sauce. I'd eat chimpanzees bumhole, raw, if it only came with a side order of grilled onions in pomegranate sauce.
This is all set off wonderfully because the staff are friendly, the prices are absolute dirt cheap, the decor is like an Istanbul souvenir shop on acid, and I just want to mention the grilled onions in pomegranate sauce again because I love them so much I'd knaw on my own leg were it only accompanied by grilled onions in pomegranate sauce.
So yes, to surmise, very nice, cheap, lovely, open really late, psychological trauma, onions, pomegranate sauce, thank you.

]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:36:54 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1w0ql71492284056 andybrown lively good value turkish 51.561786 -0.073719 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1g0pl7
Review by kimberly

Rating: 5.00
Tags: turkish, family & home feel, cheap eat, good value
i love this restaurant! have been so many times ive lost count now, the food is so tasty and very reasonable. ive had a lot of the dishes on the menu but my absolute favorite is the lamb shish which is served with various salads including onions marinaded in a pomegranite type sauce, they are delicious. i also love the lahmucen a turkish pizza. the staff are very friendly and atmosphere very relaxed, have reccomended to many.]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:51 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1g0pl71127101019 kimberly turkish family & home feel cheap eat good value 51.561786 -0.073719 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1q3aq8
Review by girlswear

Rating: 4.00
Tags: lively, east european, family & home feel, good value, turkish
You might chuckle at their name for ages, and yes, it is called that, and what's their specialities? Yes, you guessed it ⬠lamb testicles!

Situated in Stoke Newington and a shy away from Dalston and the White Hart (popular Beer Garden, see review), this is one of the better Turkish restaurant in the area. Friendly staff, quiet environment and your mouth will water as you watch the chef grill at the front of the restaurant.

We had a calamari, grilled hallumi and ali nazik (grilled aubergine with garlic and yoghurt), served with freshly homemade flat breads. For mains, we had Iskender (minced lamb casserole, with aubergine, yoghurt and tomato - pretty much like a Turkish lasagne), lamb ribs grill and of course, i had to try the delicacy of testicles, which was surprisingly great (but i couldn't have a whole plate of that, it's better to order a smaller portion as a starter), it's texture of Chinese blood pudding, a little spongy (no pun intended), and a bit like liver. Lamb ribs were grilled to perfection and the iskender casserole was creamy and delicious. The meal also comes with charred onions dressed with pomegranate juice, salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion), and sumac onion salad. To finish off the meal, of course, is turkish tea on the house.

Prices are reasonable: starters were about £3-5, mains are about £8-12. Also lots of fish selection and vegetarian options, definitely good value for your money.]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:43:10 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1803y8b/testi/1q3aq81160900646 girlswear lively east european family & home feel good value turkish 51.561786 -0.073719