Amongst the bright lights of vibrant Liverpool Street is Fora – a real Turkish delight serving up a synthesis of new and traditional Mediterranean cuisine in fine-dining style.
The first thing you’ll notice on arrival is an air of elegance. Upon entering the Liverpool Street restaurant, we were immediately struck by the impressive transparent glass bar. Moving past to take up our seats, we entered a luxurious dining room; rich in colour and sleek in decor. We could already tell this was an establishment of class, but the hum of excited diners and welcoming team of attentive staff made it comfortably unpretentious.
Fora’s kitchen sees a variety of different cooking techniques, all long-established and skilfully executed. Ingredients are selected from the best of seasonal produce, and all breads, stocks and sauces are made from scratch on the premises daily. In true Turkish style – and solving our problem of having to choose from such a tempting list of starters – we began with the hot and cold mixed mezze. Among the selection was authentic Middle Eastern falafel, aubergine casserole and diced lamb fillet with pine kernels. The spinach and feta borek was a personal favourite – the flavoursome filling encased by pastry so delicate it melted pleasingly on the tongue.
Only when our plates were completely clear were we willing to put down our cutlery and prepare for the next course. I wholeheartedly recommend my choice of the ‘centik special’ – an Ottoman dish that combines succulent chicken, lamb and kofte. This was all served on a bed of potato matchsticks that provided the dish with satisfying bite. The accompanying yoghurt sauce with a hint of garlic was a fabulous supplement, drawing all the wonderful flavours together.
An Ottoman kadayif was for dessert, comprising shredded pastry with a rich cream filling, topped with pistachio and syrup. Light and sweet, it was exactly what I needed to conclude this faultless meal.
Those in search of Turkish cuisine are spoilt for choice in London, but with such style and innovation, Fora really stands out from the crowd.
