Harden's survey result
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
“I can’t stress how addictive it is!” – Kian Samyani (backed by JKS Restaurants) channels his Iranian heritage at this “friendly” Soho charcoal grill (one of Dua Lipa’s fave raves, apparently) to deliver “terrifically tasty kebabs grilled over the coals, with sourdough tandoori flat breads that are perfect for dunking in any of their truly moreish dips”. And it’s “fun to sit at the bar and watch the action”, too. As of summer 2022, it’s on the expansion trail, taking over the two-storey Borough Market site that was until recently Flor (RIP), to offer a wider menu incorporating larger dishes and an expanded wine list from the Eastern Med.
Summary
“What a find” – Kian Samyani mines his Iranian background at this Soho three-year-old, to create “exceptionally tasty kebabs and mezze, a cool vibe and bread baked fresh from the oven right before your eyes”. The food may not be “entirely authenticly Persian” (for a start, many prime ingredients are British), but it can be “exceptional” and the “menu is interesting”. Top Tip: “sit at the bar and watch the guys at work to heighten your appetite”.
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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Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £28.50 |  |
|
|
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £6.00 | £18.00 | £3.50 | £9.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Opening hours
| Monday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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