Aspendos

Walk into Aspendos and you're getting the real deal—this isn't some diluted version of Turkish food thrown together for British palates. The kitchen knows its way around a charcoal grill, and the mezes are the kind of thing you'd actually eat in Istanbul, not some afterthought. You'll find yourself on Queensgate in the heart of town, surrounded by locals who've clocked that this place is doing something proper. The room's got warmth without trying too hard, and at these prices you're getting genuine value for actual quality. Whether you're after chicken shish, proper lamb, or just a selection of mezze to pick through with a group, there's a reason the reviews stack up.