The à la carte
Mezze, the charcoal grill, mains from the earthenware pot, seafood and a full vegetarian list. Served every day from noon.
How a Turkish table works
You do not need to know any of this to eat well here — the team will steer you. But it helps to know the shape of the meal before you order.
1 · Mezze, in the middle
Small plates to share, not individual starters. Cold ones first — yoghurt, aubergine, vine leaves — then hot ones. The Cold Mezze Platter (£23) puts six of the best on one plate and saves you choosing.
2 · Then the charcoal
One grill dish each, or a karışık mixed grill for the table. Everything from the grill arrives with rice, so you need fewer sides than you think.
3 · How much is enough
Two or three mezze between two, then a main each. The karışık scales for you: £29 for one, £55 for two, £77 for three, £100 for four.
If you are unsure
Say so. Tell your server how hungry you are and whether you like chilli, and let them order for the table — it is the normal way to do it, and usually the best meal.
Saying it out loud
Turkish is spelled as it sounds once you know the letters — c is "j", ç is "ch", ş is "sh", and ı (a dotless i) is the "a" in "along". The stress usually lands on the last syllable. Rough English approximations below; nobody will mind if you point.
- Cacık
- jah-JUHK Minted yoghurt with cucumber and garlic
- Şiş
- shish On a skewer
- Köfte
- KURF-teh Grilled meatballs
- Karışık
- kah-ruh-SHUHK Mixed — the sharing grill
- İskender
- iss-KEN-der Grilled meat over bread, yoghurt and tomato butter
- Güveç
- goo-VECH Cooked and served in an earthenware pot
- Patlıcan
- paht-luh-JAHN Aubergine
- İmam Bayıldı
- ee-MAHM bah-YUHL-duh Stuffed aubergine — "the imam fainted"
- Sigara böreği
- si-GA-ra buh-reh-EE Cigar-shaped feta pastries
- Pirzola
- peer-ZO-lah Lamb chops
- Sütlaç
- SOOT-lahch Baked rice pudding
- Rakı
- rah-KUH The aniseed spirit — see the cellar
Book a table at Elif
Open every day from noon. Thursday to Saturday evenings fill up first.