Sofra, Tavistock Street, London, 29th December 2005
With its roots in Turkey, Sofra describes its influences as stemming from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and even the orient. It's good, wherever it comes from, and fair value for money for London.
Larger than its Mayfair branch, the Tavistock St. restaurant still manages a friendly atmosphere and is comfortably furnished. Convenient for after-theatre eating. The menu could be a little more helpful by laying out a glossary in an annexe but as things stand you have to work out what some dishes are by scouring the other sections to see if they are described. You could always ask, of course, but what Englishman likes to do that? I chose the two-course menu deal.
Appetisers A basket of warm, crusty, Mediterranean herb bread, with humous and olive oil in which to dip it, while we perused the menu. Very good - even though we weren't famished.
Starters Eschewing the tempting Albanian Liver, I chose the selection of Mezes; half a dozen delicacies such as humous, lentil kofte (lentil balls with spring onion, herbs and olive oil according to the menu), börek (filo pastry filled with cheese, spinach, herbs), felafel and so on. A little dull, I thought, and slightly meagre.
Main Course I chose Izmir Kofte: minced beef and lamb patties cooked with potato and tomato sauce. Presumably the combination of mince and beef reflects its Lebonese influence. The dish came with steaming hot rice. It presented as a sort of Turkish Irish Stew really. Absolutely delicious and filling as is needed in December. I could easily have stopped half way through but greed got the better of me and I wolfed down the lot. I even helped out one of my daughters with her left-over Spinach and Feta Borek (one of the many veggie options available). Everybody very happy with their meals.
Wine At London prices you can't be too chosey but we went for the house red because it is Turkish (described as Yakut/Angora I can only assume it comes from these two areas). It was a great success; soft and long-lasting taste) and because we work on the principle that each restaruant choses its house red carefully to impress.
Value for money Four of us ate - though three of us with only two courses and one with only one course with wine and nothing else, including the appetisers - for £65.
Caesar Salad - was available. I'm sorry I didn't try it now.
Larger than its Mayfair branch, the Tavistock St. restaurant still manages a friendly atmosphere and is comfortably furnished. Convenient for after-theatre eating. The menu could be a little more helpful by laying out a glossary in an annexe but as things stand you have to work out what some dishes are by scouring the other sections to see if they are described. You could always ask, of course, but what Englishman likes to do that? I chose the two-course menu deal.
Appetisers A basket of warm, crusty, Mediterranean herb bread, with humous and olive oil in which to dip it, while we perused the menu. Very good - even though we weren't famished.
Starters Eschewing the tempting Albanian Liver, I chose the selection of Mezes; half a dozen delicacies such as humous, lentil kofte (lentil balls with spring onion, herbs and olive oil according to the menu), börek (filo pastry filled with cheese, spinach, herbs), felafel and so on. A little dull, I thought, and slightly meagre.
Main Course I chose Izmir Kofte: minced beef and lamb patties cooked with potato and tomato sauce. Presumably the combination of mince and beef reflects its Lebonese influence. The dish came with steaming hot rice. It presented as a sort of Turkish Irish Stew really. Absolutely delicious and filling as is needed in December. I could easily have stopped half way through but greed got the better of me and I wolfed down the lot. I even helped out one of my daughters with her left-over Spinach and Feta Borek (one of the many veggie options available). Everybody very happy with their meals.
Wine At London prices you can't be too chosey but we went for the house red because it is Turkish (described as Yakut/Angora I can only assume it comes from these two areas). It was a great success; soft and long-lasting taste) and because we work on the principle that each restaruant choses its house red carefully to impress.
Value for money Four of us ate - though three of us with only two courses and one with only one course with wine and nothing else, including the appetisers - for £65.
Caesar Salad - was available. I'm sorry I didn't try it now.
posted by Jean-Paul Sartre at
7:20 pm
