The latest addition to London’s modern Turkish restaurants, Yeni opened in Beak Street in January. Its co-owner and head chef Civan Er is not a stranger to London. A Leith’s graduate, Civan spent some time in London before opening his first Yeni in Istanbul and he quickly became one of Istanbul’s most celebrated young chefs. It’s no secret that we love mediterranean food, and we have been patiently waiting for Civan to return to London. Yeni is set to become what Moro is to North African cuisine, modernising Turkish cuisine, elegantly and skilfully.  Similar to his original Istanbul location, Yeni serves small plates that work best when sharing. There are a variety of options for vegetarians, from a salad of snow peas, green apple, mint and chilli yoghurt to a stunning dish of olive oil braised celeriac with quince, feta and lemon thyme. Our main was a massive vine leaf dolma stuffed with walnut, chickpea, Swiss chard and hot Turkish peppers--a perfect balance of flavours and very filling. Yeni also launched a 10-course vegan tasting menu which secures its place on our Top 10 vegan fine dining experiences of London list. It is great value for money and worth trying.

With striking, large windows and  gentle touches of Istanbul blue on its walls, Yeni has an upscale yet casual feel. And we’ll happily go back for the food.