LONDON’s restaurant scene has a taste of Istanbul and Northern Cyprus this summer, as restaurateur Dom Hamdy and chef Keiran Mustafa opened Kismet above The Globe Tavern in Borough.
Kismet. Photograph: Jasper Fry
The year-long residency marks a return to familiar territory for Hamdy, whose food career began at Borough Market more than a decade ago. He brings his experience from restaurants including Bistro Freddie, Crispin and Canal. At the same time, Mustafa – of Turkish-Cypriot heritage – draws on a career spanning Michelin-starred kitchens, BiBi and The Harwood Arms, as well as launches including Rambutan and OMA & AGORA.
Kismet Starters
Their inspiration is the traditional meyhane: a lively neighbourhood tavern where food, drink, music and conversation unfold together, with dishes arriving in waves rather than formal courses. At Kismet, that translates into a menu of meze and mangal-grilled kebabs, available à la carte or as a £48 set menu.
Small plates include braised green beans in olive oil, buffalo-milk yoghurt with chilli butter, stuffed bulgur dumplings and fried lamb’s liver, followed by charcoal-grilled Kuzu Şiş and the Cypriot speciality Şeftali Kebabı. Traditional sides, whilst pistachio ice cream and syrup-laden baklava complete the offering.
Kismet Mains
Set in a room inspired by Istanbul’s well-worn meyhanes, with dark wood, low lighting and white tablecloths, Kismet will also feature weekly live Turkish music. It promises to be less a conventional restaurant than a convivial new gathering place for Borough. Enough said, you don’t want to miss out on this!
by Imogen Clark
8 Bedale Street, London Bridge, SE1 9AL