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