Harden's survey result
Summary
“Sensational kebabs of exceptional, freshly grilled breads and meat” inspire ongoing rave reviews for Kian Samyani’s high-flying group, which – inspired by holes in the wall in Tehran, and backed by JKS Restaurants – has now spread to three outlets in the Gulf and Soho House in Brooklyn, as well as its London operations in Soho, Borough and – open in 2025 – in a new development next to the Barley Mow on Duke Street in Mayfair. But while most reports say “everything is delicious”, some growing pains were in evidence this year, with a slight slip in ratings and a couple of mixed reports (“the menu looks balanced and execution was carefully thought of… some dishes were outstanding while some very disappointing”).
Summary
Kian Samyani delivers “a flavour tsunami” – “huge portions” of “delicious and unusual” dishes inspired by the hole-in-the-wall kebab shops of Tehran – at his six-year-old Soho flagship, now backed by JKS Restaurants and with branches in Borough Market, Oxfordshire’s Soho Farmhouse, Dubai and Sharjah. “They hardly miss a beat” on the food front – “perhaps the starters edge the mains” – while “attentive service” and “great atmosphere” also win praise.
Summary
“Sit at the counter and watch the magic”, say fans of Kian Samyani’s “rammed-to-the-rafters” charcoal grill in Soho, which aims (with the help of JKS Restaurants) to bring to London the childhood tastes of his Iranian upbringing. The result: “delicious food, super friendly front-of-house staff, and a great atmosphere, especially at the counter” (although there is also a more conventional seating area). It now has a similar Borough Market spin-off too, on the two-storey site of the short-lived Flor (RIP), which scores highly, but is slightly less venerated than its more established sibling: “there is no doubting that the food is excellent here too. But the price for a lamb or chicken kebab is more Salt Bae than Efes!”
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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"Just amazing juicy kebabs and great salads."
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