Simon Wittenberg visits the premier Turkish dining destination in the heart of Central London for an evening of gastronomic flair and entertainment.
After taking over the former site of the Efes II eatery a few years ago, and successfully navigating its way through the pandemic, Kibele Restaurant on Great Portland Street has become renowned for its exceptional Turkish dishes and warm hospitality. It has equally made a name for itself as a “go-to” seven-day-a-week, all-day dining destination for those looking to enjoy this genre of cuisine with a high-end twist.
Proof of this is when you visit, especially on a Saturday evening like we did, because such is its popularity amongst locals and those who travel further from afield, that tables only go empty for a very brief period before the next set of guests take their place. It must be said that visitors were even queuing up at the door, waiting for a seat to become available.
Kibele takes its name from “Cybele”, the ancient Anatolian goddess of fertility, which is extremely apt, given that it’s located just a few doors down from the private Portland Hospital, and the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health (CRGH) – the UK’s leading IVF clinic. It also has the advantage of being a two-floor venue, with a circa-100-seater restaurant at street level, and “Kibele Lounge”, which hosts the entertainment and a four-course set menu for £69-a-head, accessible by descending a spiral staircase illuminated by decorative bulbs.
The restaurant, which sports an open kitchen and an inviting Turkish-inspired décor, with walls illuminated by a subtle red hue, is laid out with largely segregated, alcove and banquette-style seating, meaning diners can enjoy their meals with a certain degree of privacy, rather than being directly in view of fellow guests.
Tables are also lit with small lamps, with the main lights turned down as the evening goes on, creating a more intimate and romantic-type atmosphere.
The à la carte menu offers a decent amount of choice for veggie, fish, and meat eaters, and this is very much a restaurant where dishes are made to share and to be enjoyed with others. In keeping with this mantra, we opted for the cold meze platter (£24), made up of five different chilled bowls of delicious dips to accompany the generous helping of sliced Turkish flatbread (known as Bazlama).
These included “Cacik” (a delightful yoghurt with mint and cucumber), “Muhammara”- a sweet and savoury recipe concocted from red pepper paste, walnuts, and raisins—a firm favourite of ours, “Babaganush” made with aubergine, Shakshuka, and a helping of a Turkish staple—humous.
It’s all so tasty that it’s hard to have self-control and not fill yourself up too quickly. The individual meze portions are notably generous, and the fresh ingredients ooze real quality.
Other options to open your meal at Kibele, include Borek (filo pastry with feta), zucchini fritters, Turkish dumplings with minced lamb, and Halloumi fritters, so it’s a tough decision as to what to have from the very beginning. Our hosts, who provided a brilliant level of service from start to finish, also did their utmost to cater to any specific dietary requirements, and any allergens are clearly outlined from the off on the menu.
The drinks selection was also very good, and we were seated in direct view of the bar, where cocktails and mocktails were stirred and shaken before the guests’ eyes. Priced at £9, we sampled the non-alcoholic “Tropical Delight” (a take on a Piña Colada), the “Passion of Kibele” (made with passion fruit, mango and lemon), and the “Pink Lychee”, which were all excellent. For those after something with a bit more punch, Kibele has a comprehensive lineup of wines and spirits to pair with the gastronomic delights at this eatery.
When it comes to the mains, there’s everything from chicken and lamb shish, to a burger and varying types of steak, meaning there’s something to suit most tastes.
After a brief pause, we tucked into the generous salmon fillet (£27) which arrived on a bed of mixed vegetables, including pieces of baby sweetcorn and carrot dressed with an intense soya-sauce based jus, making it a tad salty.
For those who like to accompany their meal with sides, there are eight listed on the à la carte, with prices starting from £5 for chips and rice.
With the fish, I enjoyed the creamy puréed potato (£7), whilst my wife had a side of moreish stir-fried vegetables (also £7) to complement her very sizeable “Meyveli Kuzu” (£25), which certainly satisfies any kind of hunger.
This is an exquisite braised lamb dish prepared with plums, apricots, and dates, where the succulent meat, presented in an enticing circular form, merely falls off the bone and is served on a bed of bulgar wheat with finely chopped chives and almonds for a spot of garnish.
With portions being on the larger side, finding room for dessert is a challenge, especially when enticing sweets lure your tastebuds, such as a chocolate fondant and a blueberry crème brûlée.
I was drawn to the stacked crispy baklava topped with a scoop of pistachio ice cream (£9) and physalis fruit for an added element of zing. This didn’t disappoint and was a refreshing way to end the meal. On a lighter note, my wife opted for a flavoursome fresh mint tea—a Turkish favourite.
What is really evident is that Kibele truly comes alive on Friday and Saturday evenings as the clock hits 8 p.m. – heralding the start of five hours of live entertainment until 1 a.m. in the “Kibele Lounge” downstairs. During this time, many different acts take to the stage to keep guests entertained right into the early hours.
We were treated to a fantastic singer-drummer duet, who interchanged between some well-known Turkish and English classics to cater to those in the room, which was swiftly followed by an extremely talented fire eater, where you could feel the glowing heat of the torches as she passed the tables. There’s also a spot of belly dancing in keeping with the Turkish genre of this venue, so there is plenty of variety when it comes to the line-up of acts.
In summary…
Kibele Restaurant is not only a brilliant venue to enjoy exceptional Turkish cuisine, but is clearly a premier destination for celebrating special occasions, with our meal peppered by a number of birthday celebrations, firework candles, and even a marriage proposal on arrival.
Kibele truly has it all—delicious food, fantastic service, and a great atmosphere, so it is no wonder that people are queuing out the door to get a taste of the action.
In our opinion, Kibele is one of the best Turkish restaurants in London, and they should be proud of the excellent reputation they have built, both near and far.
Kibele Restaurant – Where and How?
Kibele Restaurant is located at 175-177 Great Portland St, London W1W 5PJ, United Kingdom. For more information or to make a reservation, visit https://kibelerestaurant.co.uk.
See highlights of our visit on the Luxurious Magazine Instagram page.