Greek & Turkish

Bristol

BOSPHORUS
45-47 Baldwin St, BS1 1RA
Tel: 0117 922 1333
● Clay friezes based on ancient themes, art-deco wall lamps, authentically distressed plasterwork… this place oozes traditional Turkish charm. Good-value menu includes more than 20 choices of hot and cold ‘mezeler’ dishes (the majority of which are vegetarian) alongside grills, casseroles and seafood mains. Expect the likes of smokey aubergine puree, stuffed vine leaves, panfried monkfish with honey, butter & herbs, and chargrilled minced lamb, all served with rice. Price ALC: approx £3-6/approx £9-£15/approx £4-£5 Wine list HW approx £12 Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 6pm-late. Disabled access & disabled toilet. Parties welcome – call in adv.

NEW
EL BAHDJA
39 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PY
Tel: 07859 009128
● Keeping Stokes Croft alive, well and fed by offering delicious Mediterranean food with a strong Greek influence, in what used to be the Bristol Tavern. Bringing expertise gained at Hullabaloos, Le Monde and Entelia, chef Faycal Tazaoui brings a mixture of dishes, including favourites like moussaka, stifado, mozzarella & tomato salads, baklava and more. He’s passionate about offering honest food at honest prices – try the Mezze for Two (with no fewer than 14 different dips, salads, spreads) for £9.95. Price ALC: £2.50-£4/£5.50-£7.95/£2.50-£3. Mezze £9.95 (min 2) Wine list No licence as yet, but one is planned for near future - call for details. Soft drinks, juice & teas currently available. Open Daily: 11am-3pm & 6-10.30pm. Disabled access. Takeaway available.

ENTELIA
50 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NH
Tel: 0117 946 6793, web: www.entelia.co.uk
● Charming contemorary Greek taverna specialising, naturally, in the authentic flavours of the Mediterranean. A smart bar to the front of the deep, single dining room, simple wooden tables and Greek-themed photos and clay friezes set the scene, but it’s the menu that lets you know where you are. Their established recipes and methods of cooking have genuinely been passed down through generations and feature a selection of modern mezze starters and main courses, all made with the finest seasonal produce, followed by an indulgent choice of desserts. Very family-friendly - kids eat free, from their own menu, with each paying adult (Sun-Thur). Price Starter £3.95-£6.95, main £10.50-£16.95. Set mezze menus £11.95-£17.95pp (min 2 sharing). Early eve: 2 £10 Wine list Extensive, inc wide selection of Greek mainland and island wines. HW £12.95 btl, £2.75 gls Open Tue-Sun 12noon-2.30pm, Tue-Thur 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm, Sun 6-10.30pm. Disabled access possible – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

EZO
6 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AL
Tel: 0117 944 2005, web: www.ezo.org.uk
● Small, usually busy and unremittingly cheerful Turkish bistro, complete with colourful lanterns and a warm ethnic feel. Extensive menu has some nice vegetarian options alongside more obvious traditional dishes, many of which make great use of the charcoal grill. With coffee and light bites available all day, and a small alfresco area out front, it’s a great place to while away the hours. Price Lunch dishes approx £4.50-£6, ALC dinner: starter £3.95-£4.50, main £8.45-£11.95 Wine list HW approx £12 btl, £2.80gls Open Daily 12noon-11pm. Disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

OZ
4 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY
Tel: 0117 927 3097, web: www.ozrestaurant.co.uk
● Pronounced ‘urz’, so our man reliably informed us after his visit, and named after a south-east Turkish dish of gently stewed lamb with smoked aubergine puree, Oz is a smart, unpretentious Turkish restaurant with a range of set meals, interesting ALC selection and an emphasis on organic, creative ethnic cuisine, sourcing locally where possible. The owners are warm and friendly, and this place offers a classy alternative to some of the venues around the Triangle. Lots of set-menu options, starting at £9.95pp. Price ALC: £3.95-£4.55/£8.45-£15.95/£3.45-£4.55 Wine list HW approx £12.50 btl, £3.55 gls. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm-late, Sun 6-10pm. Good disabled access. Private parties welcome.

Bath

MARMARIS
4-5 Grand Parade, BA2 4AN
Tel: 01225 461946
● There’s nothing hip or cutting-edge about this charmingly old-school restaurant, but the 1970s murals on the walls, Demis Roussos soundtrack and low-key, deferential competence of the bow-tied waiters make this Turkish experience all the more authentic. ‘Steadfastly reliable,’ said Venue’s resident taverna trawler, who likens Marmaris to ‘an old friend’. Food is of the traditional Turkish delight variety, from mezze starters to kebabs, moussaka and specialities like slow-cooked oven-roasted lamb. Complimentary fruit salad accompanies the hot, thick Turkish coffee, and regulars get a freebie snifter of the house’s syrupy fruit liqueur before they depart. House wine comes in a carafe, and the bill never seems to go much above £30 for two, even if you’ve been sitting there stuffing your face for hours. Little wonder, then, that on Sat nights the queue stretches almost to the weir and back. The takeaway section is massive, too. Price Approx £16pp for 2 courses Wine list HW from approx £12 ltr Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, takeaway till 1am. Good disabled access, but call ahead for advice. Parties can be accommodated, but call ahead for advice.

OPA
14 North Parade, BA2 4AJ
Tel: 01225 317900, web: www.opabath.com
● Contempo-glam Greek cafe-bar and restaurant offering a vast range of authentic, sociable mezze (and heartier fare if you’re up to it) to accompany the vast bar selection and all-round good-cheer vibe - little wonder, then, that it gets very buzzy at the weekend when Bath’s young glam set hit the town. A fabulous alfresco area directly overlooks the river, there’s live music every Sun evening, and food – like the regulars – is loud, proud and sexy, from a massive mezze selection to moussaka, kebabs, kleftiko, sofrito, etc. Price Mezze £3.90-£6.95, main £10.35-£16.35 Wine list Extensive. HW from approx £13 btl. Champagnes, lagers & beers, spirits, cocktails Open Sun-Wed 12noon-12midnight (food till 10pm), Thur-Sat 12noon-2am (food till 10.30pm). Disabled access can be arranged - call in adv. Parties, functions, events welcome – call in adv.

Eating Out West - Bristol and Bath's best restaurant guide, including extra sections on Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Shops, Takeaways, Wine Merchants, Caterers, Dining Clubs and Cookery Schools. To order your copy ring 0117 942 8491. Only £4.95. Yum.