It is difficult to miss a Tas Restaurant. Hanging baskets and luscious greenery decorate the buildings, creating a mini oasis which twinkles with fairy lights during the evening. With restaurants spread all over central London, you are never too far from fresh Anatolian cuisine. Whether you are a long-time admirer of Turkish food or sampling it for the first time, Tas is the ideal place to visit.
The Tas clientele varies throughout the day. Whether groups celebrating, couples having an intimate meal, business associates relaxing over lunch, or, in Tas Café, families eating breakfast, there is always a lively atmosphere to be enjoyed.
A spacious dining room laid with fresh linen and bathed in candlelight greeted us. The exotic aroma of Turkish cuisine hinted at the authenticity of the fresh cooking we were about to enjoy. In the Turkish way, my companion and I began by ordering a number of plates and placing them in the centre of the table to share. We tucked into dishes of spiced lamb koftes smothered in homemade tomato sauce; salty feta and spinach borek; and grilled aubergine purée with nutty tahini and cooling yoghurt.
The main-course selection offers huge variety, with nearly 30 vegetarian choices. I sampled the vegetable moussaka, with layers of slow-cooked aubergine, thinly sliced potatoes and courgettes in tomato sauce, with mint-infused rice. My partner opted for wonderfully oily sardines wrapped in vine leaves and delicately fried, covered in a velvety walnut sauce. We finished our meal with sutlac: a homemade, Turkish rice pudding with hints of rose water and orange. After a well-prepared genuine Turkish coffee, we left Tas convinced that we’ll return.
