Istanbul Meze Bar and Grill

We had a dismal experience at this place yesterday. I went there with my teenage son. It was Sunday, approximately 2pm.

The place was completely empty. As I was starving and risking a serious headache, I ordered a Turkish coffee (they do not have an espresso machine) whilst we looked at the menu. I was surprised to find that the menu was quite limited. My son, horrified at seeing the lamb testicles kebab on the menu, conveyed that he would not be ordering anything that was going to be cooked on the same grill as these organs were cooked. I love offal and had no problems with it at all. It was hard work trying to convince him to have a chicken kebab - he would not hear of it.

Whilst we were having our very heated discussion, three members of staff were chatting around the bar; not one of them was remotely interested in making the coffee I had ordered almost ten minutes earlier.

What with my son refusing to have any of the substantial meals (and so probably demanding more food in an hour or two), and the staff ignoring my order, I decided the place did not bode at all well and that it was best if we cut our losses and left.

I do appreciate that staff get de-motivated when the place is quiet, but why should clients be punished for the fact that they are bored?

(Incidentally, for hardcore offal lovers: there's a place in Green Lanes that offers an extensive menu of offal-based kebabs. It's two doors down from the excellent Antepliler, right on the corner. I had a really lovely sweetbreads kebab there.)
View/Add comments (1)

john - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, June 28, 2011