http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem Gem - London, 265 Upper Street, N1 2UQ, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/ldc_1r22y7s.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem/1f0qt8
Review by up_shiraz

Rating: 4.00
Tags: lively, family & home feel, cheap eat, turkish
There are more eateries on Upper Street than one road neccesarily deserves. So how to choose one? Well the brief was...a few quick tastes at the Sampler, then a 1 hour slot for dinner and then down to the cinema to see Bond smoulder on the big screen before despatching a few bad guys through walls and stuff.

We'd been to Gem before because the name appeals to the young lady (I wonder why...?). We went back this time because of the fine food and the reasons above. It is a very friendly place with a partially unhinged waitress who's a bit of a hoot.

Little pancakes to start and then cold and hot mezze all round. The dips were tasty and the hot bits delicious. It wasn't complicated but it was well executed and everyone left feeling full and feeling that they'd got good value for their tenner. A beautiful bottle of Rioja on top and a bit of service and it was all in for £15 a head. And done in under an hour.

Government Warning: Do not arrive at the cinema after the hordes, sit right at the front and try to follow extreme Bond action camera movements on a full stomach of Kurdish food!]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:19:19 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem/1f0qt8553595993 up_shiraz lively family & home feel cheap eat turkish 51.542209809149 -0.10368969722625 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem/1l8447
Review by AntonSh

Rating: 4.00
Tags: Good value
Kebabs, salads, pastries and stews - nice but not amazing Turkish and Kurdish food. It doesn't blow you away, but it IS tasty and the protions are a good size. Some excellent and inexpensive wines, and you get a free pastry to start with and a free bit of ice cream and baklava at the end. It shouldn't set you back more than about £30 for two with wine. The place is excellent value. The staff are friendly and unpretentious, although not always very attentive.]]> Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:57:49 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1r22y7s/gem/1l8447832412887 AntonSh Good value 51.542209809149 -0.10368969722625