A meal that took place towards the end of last year. Although it feels like yesterday, given the ways things are moving these days.

There’s not enough good things I can say about Turkish food. Some of my fondest memories are of eating through the various places on Green Lanes, and then time spent in Istanbul these past few years.

Barboun comes after the closure of Yosma not so long ago. A place which had resoundingly positive reviews from my entire family.

Arrived here courtesy of an invite from Hus Vedat. There isn’t a dish on the menu I wouldn’t consider not trying. But here’s the best of the bunch from the first visit.

Hellim saganaki

Anglum sheep cheese, walnut, dried apricot, London honey.

Sweet n salty. Locally sourced. Perfectly combination.

Hummus

Crispy onion, pita.

Not something that I ordered, especially given my affection for Lebanese hummus. Always find it (as in this case) to be more coarse. This was decent though.

Red mullet

Chunky muhammara, walnut.

Meaty fish. Given another chance I wouldn’t share.

Beef short rib

Iskender sauce, garlic yoghurt, pita.

The way this is now served has changed. But my recollection of this being amazing hasn’t.

Cooked and marinated to perfection. The assortment of dips and salad certainly helped break down the heaviness of the beef.

Slight downside was the bread (work in progress) it came with. A tad bit crispy for my liking.

Manti

Beef, oak smoked paprika sauce, garlic yoghurt.

Picture perfect. But for once the visuals match with the flavours. Right up top with my favourite dish of the meal.

Seriously moreish.

Burma baklava

Walnut, cinnamon syrup, clotted ice-cream.

By this stage of the meal I was just over eating.

Smoked eel

Carob molasses, split pea, caper leaf.

Another standout dish. Colours were so vivid.

Kunefe

Kaymak, pistachio.

Can’t go wrong with kunefe.

Definitely a preference for the savoury dishes.

Need to come back with the family again I reckon.

Amazing.

Barboun, 61-67 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3HU