Somine — Restaurant in London

I first checked this restaurant out because many Turkish people I know recommended it, so obviously I was going to take this on board. I’ve been going to Simone regularly now for about 10 years, and in the last year or so about fortnightly, so you can traduce I like this place a lot. Mostly, I visit there on my own and this feels OK because it had a very relaxed feel, and is not a formal dining kind of place. It’s a very relaxing place to sit and watch the world go by outside as it has large glass windows onto the street on two sides. When you sit down you get served immediately, and you don’t have to wait long for your food to arrive. I confess I’ve never eaten from the fixed menu but choose dishes that are on display under glass at the front of the restaurant. These include various meat and a vegetarian dishes. I often go for the lamb shank which is always beautifully cooked. Today I had aubergine stuffed with minced lamb, served with red bulgur wheat, salad and plenty of warmed bread. It was delicious. The meat is so flavoursome. The salad very fresh and crisp, and it comes with a complimentary Turkish tea if you request it. The restaurant is also extremely clean and the tables always clean. The above mentioned meal by the way came to £12. If you like good quality tasty authentic food, served in a diner like environment in the middle of hustle and bustle...

I really don't understand how anyone can review this restaurant favourably or who would even bother to leave a good review. It was utterly terrible! So bad I had to leave a review to discourage anyone else from making the mistake of eating here. I actually fell out with my girlfriend for making the mistake of eating here. It's actually worse than the sort of kebab takeaway you might walk into at 3am that has pre-cooked meat stewing in pots and hasn't been cut fresh and you wake up the next day with a hospitalisable case of botulism. The starters were lukewarm, stodgy, zero flavour, tasted as though they'd been frozen and reheated again and they were so so so greasy. They certainly weren't fresh tasting or well made. It's food at its most basic with zero care or imagination. The mains were lacking any flavour and the quality was poor. The only thing which was even consumable was the bottle of Efes Draft. It's places like this which take up valuable high street space and could be used by someone who actually wishes to serve good quality food with some passion and care. The sooner this place shuts down and changes ownership the better.

GO NEXT DOOR TO ISTANBUL RESTAURANT OR EVEN BETTER GO TO...

Atrocious place. Avoid at all costs. Got a takeaway Kebab, £6, not exactly cheap. Some friends arrived and ordered a sit down meal but the staff wouldn't let me eat with them. I offered to pay the £2 difference but they refused, saying "if we let you - we'd have to let everyone do that". So I kept my takeaway wrapped up and sat with my friends while they waited. After a long wait I sneaked a bite of my Kebab, but the staff sprung into action saying "we said you can't eat in". They actually got their security to come over and asked me to leave. We couldn't believe it! Just as their food arrived - my friends got up and left with me without paying any bill. Far from being bothered by it, you could tell the staff absolutely didn't give a damn.. As for the quality of the food and the venue - this should tell you all you need to know. They act as if it's the only place around.

Somine is the kind of nasty little place that brings a whole area down. They'd rather nickle & dime everyone to make their money rather than provide decent eats at honest prices. No wonder these areas...