Sofra - Marylebone
Middle Eastern and African
0.5 miles
1 St Christopher's Place, Marylebone, Central London, W1U 1LT
The creation of Hüseyin Özer, Sofra is inspired by the unique medley of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences that make up Turkish cuisine.
The interior is minimalistic in its design, with white furnishings and a scattering of paintings - the perfect mirror to the fresh, unfussy food that Sofra prides itself on serving. During a visit to the Covent Garden restaurant, on the recommendation of the charismatic owner, I delved into tender sautéed lamb fillet with beautifully creamy textured hummus and the nutty crunch of pine kernels to start. It was a truly mouth-watering dish and a stand-out first course. The calf's liver with chilli would also be an exceptional way to begin - it's rich in texture and extremely succulent. Although tempted by the hünkar befendi - tender stewed lamb on a bed of smoky mashed aubergine - I opted for the grilled fillet of sea bass as a main course. It was absolutely sensational. Fresh as can be and juicy, without being oily, the fish was clearly top quality and cooked by a skilled hand.
After two brilliant courses, I could hardly resist plumping for dessert. Giving into the gooey, nutty allure of classic baklava, my fantastic meal was complete, and I'll most definitely be back for another visit
The interior is minimalistic in its design, with white furnishings and a scattering of paintings - the perfect mirror to the fresh, unfussy food that Sofra prides itself on serving. During a visit to the Covent Garden restaurant, on the recommendation of the charismatic owner, I delved into tender sautéed lamb fillet with beautifully creamy textured hummus and the nutty crunch of pine kernels to start. It was a truly mouth-watering dish and a stand-out first course. The calf's liver with chilli would also be an exceptional way to begin - it's rich in texture and extremely succulent. Although tempted by the hünkar befendi - tender stewed lamb on a bed of smoky mashed aubergine - I opted for the grilled fillet of sea bass as a main course. It was absolutely sensational. Fresh as can be and juicy, without being oily, the fish was clearly top quality and cooked by a skilled hand.
After two brilliant courses, I could hardly resist plumping for dessert. Giving into the gooey, nutty allure of classic baklava, my fantastic meal was complete, and I'll most definitely be back for another visit
