Harden's survey result
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!”
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”.
Summary
“Fun and trendy” Persian yearling in Soho – a busy, small (35-seater), no-bookings dive that’s part of JKS Restaurants’s portfolio, where the seats at the counter look onto a grill, rotisserie and clay oven. On the menu from Iranian chef Kian Samyani, “gentrified” kebabs (arguably “it’s really all about the meat”, this place), flatbreads and mezze that are “interesting and full of flavour”.
For 33 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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