Just around the corner from The Dancehouse Theatre (currently closed), at the top end of Oxford Road, this unprepossessing exterior does not bely the delight and theatricality which lie beyond. Etci Mehmet is a Turkish Steak restaurant, and the quality of the food they offer is superb.
The atmosphere is congenial and very up-beat, although the lighting could do to be a little brighter. The tables are not too close together and the restaurant is extremely clean (even the toilets!). The background music being played is Turkish pop; modern drum-beat heavy music which sadly is played much too loudly. This is the only fault with this restaurant - you cannot converse at normal voice levels, and even the waiters need to shout or come very close to be able to effectively communicate with them. It's not the place for a quiet night out or a Valentine date.
However, the service is first rate; we patronised the restaurant at a busy time, and our waiting time after ordering was not long at all. All the staff are attentive and polite, and there is also a huge element of theatricality and performance to their waitering too. Cooking some food directly at the table is a performance all of its own, whilst other dishes require a certain at-table performance from the waiter cutting them special ways and entertaining whilst doing so. It's all part of the restaurant's 'charm'. It's fun, it's different, and makes the whole dining-out experience both memorable and unique.
To try this restaurant, my companion and I both chose items which were the newest to be added to their menu. Breaded lamb chops for my companion and a teriyaki-glazed salmon steak for myself. Both were tender, perfectly cooked, and tasty. Both came with chips and salad, and I added a portion of asparagus too. Excellent. For our dessert, my companion chose a whole cooked pineapple (half of which went home to be enjoyed the day after in a "doggy bag"), whilst I couldn't eat at a Turkish restaurant without trying their baklava. Served with ice-cream, this was delightful, more nutty and less honey-sweet than my previous experiences with this sweetmeat have been, and I enjoyed it immensely.
Quality food, efficient and theatrical service, and reasonably priced, make this an ideal place to enjoy steaks and more à la Turque.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 13.2.22
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