insideKENT Magazine Issue 22 - January 2014 | Page 55
FOOD+DRINK
WELL AND TRULY ON THE WEST KENT EATERIES MAP:
Köz Restaurant
BY ADAM READY
FOLLOWING ON FROM ITS SUCCESSFUL EAST DULWICH VENTURE, KÖZ OPENED ITS SECOND
RESTAURANT ON THE SHIRLEY/WEST WICKHAM BORDER IN THE SUMMER OF 2013. IT HAS
QUICKLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A FIRM FAVOURITE WITH ITS LOYAL BUNCH OF REGULARS
KEEN TO DEVOUR THE TEMPTING MENU OF MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHTS. THE WELCOME IS
AS WARM AS THE TRADITIONAL GRILL AT KÖZ, WITH ALL STAFF KEEN TO MAKE YOU AND YOUR
GUESTS AS COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED AS POSSIBLE.
No expense has been spared on the décor, from
the tiled walls and Turkish lamps to the large wall
painting of Istanbul’s famous Bosporus Bridge,
taking me back to my own visit there last year.
Our round table by the windows (which fold back
in the summer to offer al fresco dining) were set
with armless plush velvet chairs, offering the
ultimate comfort to start our feast fit for a Sultan.
Köz’s menu offers a large choice of hot and cold
starters, but before ordering, some homemade
Turkish bread and large green olives were bought
over to the table. Overwhelmed by the offerings
we left it to our waiter to choose a selection of
dishes whilst we enjoyed a couple of mojitos –
just one of many cocktails available from the wellstocked bar.
From the cold starters menu, we enjoyed the
fresh and thick humus (mashed chickpeas with
tahini, lemon and garlic olive oil) – much tastier
than any supermarket tub; and the Tabouleh,
which was a refreshing parsley salad with mint,
lemon, bugler, tomato and onion. Grilled halloumi
cheese and Sigara Boregi (a light filo pastry filled
with feta cheese, spinach and fried in a cigar
shape) came from the hot starters.
Intrigued about the word Köz, I asked manager
Polat the meaning in Turkish. He explained: “It’s
the colour of the flame fr