Esra Muslu’s Zahter to launch later this month
Revealed earlier this year, Zahter will use traditional methods to create home-style Turkish dishes that ‘encompass true Istanbulite cuisine’.
Split across four floors of a former clothing warehouse, the restaurant will feature an open kitchen, counter dining and al-fresco seating on the ground floor, a dining room on the first floor, and a private events space and cookery studio on the third floor.
Located just of Carnaby Street, the restaurant will initially open for lunch and dinner with an Istanbul-style breakfast menu to be introduced at a later date.
Alongside Turkish stalwarts such as lahmacun, manti and adana kabab, the menu will offer grilled dishes including kuzu kol (a lamb shoulder dish); Köz Patlıcan (smoked aubergine with fried chilli and fresh zahter); and dana kaburga (a beef rib dish).
There will also be a focus on hot and cold mezzes, with options including kuru cacik (labneh, cucumber, mint and garlic); and muhammara (smoked pepper, red chilli, garlic and walnuts).
Other dishes will include enginar dolması (whole artichoke, spiced rice, soured cherries and almond); zeytinyağlı (rezene, oil braised feta cream, charred fennel and dill); and baklava made with kaymac, green pistachios and rose petals.
