Sofra (Covent Garden)

Went to Sofra on a Saturday night and what a disappointment. Service was terrible throughout the night. Staff seemed totally disinterested in their customers, more interested in chatting to each other. Big delay with the food coming out and when it did it was cold. If I hadn't been invited along I would have walked out halfway through the evening.
Comment on this reader review

Neil Gold
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Monday, February 06, 2012

Disorganised staff. Bland food. Overpriced. Not a good representation of turkish cuisine..... Not one we'l be going back to :0(
Comment on this reader review

David - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, January 28, 2012

A friend and I went to Sofra in Covent Garden a week or so back just before Christmas - we'd been once previously several months ago and found the service to be very slow on a night when we were in a rush and needed to get to a show, but decided to give the restaurant another chance. Very glad we did, as our second experience was great on every count. The restaurant was just as busy but the food and service were both excellent. Waiter was attentive but not overwhelmingly so, and the food (meze) was all delicious, without exception. The lamb and halloumi deserved special note - really well cooked and spiced. My friend is pregnant and the waiter took note and gave us advice on what to have accordingly. Will definitely be coming back.
Comment on this reader review

Liz
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, January 01, 2012

Sofras is a restaurant that I have always liked, but I usually go for the Meze which was great and the reason I returned to the restaurant time and time again.

However, Sofras have changed the menu and the original Meze is no longer there. They do a another Meze which has more meat dishes, which will appeal to many, but if you have vegetarians in your party, then the meat replacements seem pretty lousy.

Also, the restaurant has become more expensive. I took the vegetarian dish (some Spinach and rice dish) which the waitress told me was great, but I thought it was nothing special. But I was missing the original Meze!

I went with friends and the bill came to about £23 per head without starters or deserts.

Sofra needs to review their menu....Also, their toilets do with a refurbishment.....
Comment on this reader review

RK
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, May 21, 2011

I hadn't been to Sofra in Covent Garden in about 5 years. The food was still really great with good sized portions. I won't leave it so long til the next time. Highly recommended especially for lamb dishes.
Comment on this reader review

Cat OC - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Saturday, May 14, 2011

Me and my partner had a lunch at the Covent Garden Branch on Thursday around 2 pm as we really want to tried Turkish Pizza (Lahmacun) it was the worst lunch experience when we paid £30 for tiny , very small just one piece of Lahmacun (hardly to see in the plate) and one yoghurt drink. Waiter even laugh at the plate. Having our maincourse tiny mini pizza took 2 minute and we left starting to looking for another restaurant to feed our empty stomach.

never come back again. And dont vaste time and your money
Comment on this reader review

Gokhan
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 28, 2011

My mother, her partner, my girlfriend and I elected to go for Xmas dinner at Sofra last year on December 25 as a sort of alternative to the usual Xmas hype, which is essentially how Sofra positions itself at that time of year. So what would I say about the experience overall?

When we first arrived the place looked nice, although upon entering there was some confusion as to whether we were supposed to keep hold of our own jackets or submit them to be hung in the cloakroom. Incidentally I chose to keep hold of mine - something I would later regret.

The selection of cuisine was limited but appealing and when we ordered the food it was altogether pleasant, albeit unexceptional and not particularly memorable, but hey, for the price you pay that isn't a point of major criticism. What IS, however, is the way in which the staff reacted to an unfortunate incident that occurred involving my brand-new jacket and a negligent diner's unstable acquaintance and her glass of red wine...

I was sat tucking into my main course when I heard the shatter of glass at close range. I then turned around, followed people's line of sat and my eyes fell upon my own jacket, the bottom part of which had just been covered in red wine. The diner behind us offered no apology and acted altogether indifferently; however what really concerned me way the fact that no member of staff took it upon himself to help me to remove the stain - or at least offer a solution. Embarrassingly I had to carry my jacket off to the gents where I proceeded to dampen it with water from the tap, and then return for salt to apply to the stain, all the meanwhile rigorously endeavoring to recall red wine-removal methods. Nobody from the restaurant offered their help, or later their condolences. Fortunately for one compassionate gentleman a number of stain removal options were brought to my attention thanks to his initiative to consult his iPhone for a solution, which seemed to have worked (cold water, then warm water and salt in case you're wondering).

The management did later offer to reimburse the cost of the dry cleaning, although I had to negotiate the use of my local dry cleaner as they clearly have their preferred supply list when it comes to this, but I didn't want to leave my only real source of insulation behind on one of the coldest days of the year so far at that time. Sadly, however, in spite of having scanned and e-mailed the receipt for the dry-cleaning service twice together with deposit details, I haven't received so much as acknowledgment of receipt - and that is almost 4 months later.

I confess that it does feel like an insult to have offered, albeit begrudgingly, to pick up the cost of putting things right and then failing outrightly to deliver. Personally I won't be returning to Sofra at any point, either though the food was relatively decent, simply because I don't like to support dishonest businesses. For those seeking good Turkish food there are some great offerings within London and I would suggest looking elsewhere.
View/Add comments (1)

James
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Fabulous! Everything works to the highest level, wonderful staff, great friendly service and the food is delicious. I would thoroughly recommend this venue.
Comment on this reader review

Angela Chapman
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, April 09, 2011

Great food!! Lovely atmosphere!! Excellent service!! All round winner..

MasterChef Mr Huseyin Ozer is absolutely brilliant!

Well worth a visit! I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant..
Comment on this reader review

Nergis Karasoy
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, April 01, 2011

We went there on a Friday night (group of 3) and were seated immediately. After 30 minutes I asked the waiter if we could order some drinks please. No response. Anyway, the short story is that we had a great meal (the 12 dishes sampler, every single item was superb!) but in 2.5 hours at the restaurant we never got anything to drink, not even water! The lousiest service I can possibly imagine! Despite the food being terrific this was so bad that I don't think I can recommend Sofra to anyone. Yes, they had the nerve to add 12% mandatory tip. The waiter wasn't worth a penny!
Comment on this reader review

Werner Wingen
7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 03, 2011