Maedah Grill

Throw back the little ones
And pan-fry the big ones

Ever since the loss of our (that’s how we like to think of it) beloved Angel Mangal Dos Hermanos have been scouring London for a decent Ocakbasi Restaurant. We’ve tried the rest and unfortunately they’ve not been the best. Compared to the magnificent Angel Mangal Special Mixed Grill (with quail) restaurants which have come highly recommended have failed to please. Oh yes, they’ve been pretty cheap but as we know cheap food is just that – cheap.

The latest in a long line of pretenders is the Maedah Grill which is located just before the justly famous Tayyabs. Could it be the real thing ? Not a chance. Just another in a long line of dispiriting meals I’ve had recently.

Nothing , apart from some very greasy Muska Boregi had been cooked to order. Lahmacun came from a job lot of the stuff that been sitting around too long it was tough and tasteless. No sooner had I finished the starters than my main course arrived suspiciously soon. I’m not sure what the chap at the grill was employed for as he hardly seemed to do any grilling in my short time there. The mixed grill was, unfortunately, not much better than the starters . Some lamb chops and chicken shish were ok but an Adana kebab was overcooked and the Shawarma was a pile of desiccated scraps. Not nice.

The salad component was risible. At AM one would get a large composed salad of fresh shredded vegetables, flat leaf parsley, radishes and grilled peppers all sprinkled with sumac. Simple, fresh and delicious. Here as at so many other Turkish joints it was a sad-looking melange of tomatoes, onions, cucumber and lettuce. They couldn’t even grill the tomatoes properly. A drink to console myself was out of the question as there’s a no alcohol policy.

In the past I may have stuck it out until the end and had a coffee and a dessert but these days I’m more inclined to cut my losses and ask for the bill. Which is exactly what I did. And only thirty-odd minutes after coming in. The night wasn’t a complete loss though. On my way back I ducked into StJB&W where a lovely Damson and Crème Fraiche ice cream put things in a much better light. Ice Cream. Is there nothing it can’t do ?