Themed Turkish restaurant, Food 3/5, Price ~£40 for a meal, Waiting time 10 mins/course, Atmosphere 5*/5 , website
A secluded alcove table at the end of the basement dining room.
You pay a lot for bog standard, lukewarm Turkish food at Pasha. So, where does the difference between the money you pay and the money the food’s worth go? Firstly, they have to pay the people who scatter fresh rose petals all over the tables, the floor and staircase. Then there’s the people who put the fat velvet cushions where you have to move them out of the way when you sit down. The bellydancer that looks like she’s from Ealing dance centre possibly gets a decent cut. There’ll also be extra kitchen staff washing the towers for the stacked turkish delight/fruit/nuts arrangement, because they’re definitely not going to fit in the dishwasher. Perhaps there’s also a specialist taylor for the Ottoman servant-style uniforms worn by the staff. Oh and the web designer who made the website where you have to knock on their special door that takes a minute to load before you can get to the content.
Cold starters: Beetroot salad, roast aubergine puree and houmous (room temperature).
Mixed grill (room temperature)
The dessert tower and Ottoman servant waiter with glowy eyes
Give it a try if you want to be totally weirded out by the lavish, opulent atmosphere when you enter the restaurant after going to the pub, and be totally weirded out again when you go back to the pub afterwards. If you’re after great Turkish grub that’s less than half the price and more than double the quality, I strongly recommend Best Mangal.
HungryinLondon
October 3, 2010
I just went there today, your review is spot on and very funny! although you haven’t mentioned the hugely annoying music on the website…
Aki
October 3, 2010
Thanks that’s really sweet – so you’re a food blogger too. I’ve added it to my rss reader!
Keith
October 22, 2010
I was beginning to think I was being a bit unfair to this place in my opinions but its becoming more apparent I’m not alone. Yes you’re right, the food wasnt HOT – maybe more than luke warm though. I was hoping for a bit more zing in the flavour of my tagine – but alas it wasn’t there. My Mrs liked it though and said it would suit a larger group and we did like the decor and ambience. Shame really, it could be so much better…