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Yelp
The quality of Turkish eateries along Green Lanes in Harringay, has made this stretch not just a Turkish meeting and shopping precedent, but a go to destination for shish kebab, doner and mixed grills for Londoners wanting tasty pides, kebabs, stews and meze. Having moved to this area nine months ago I can claim to have eaten in all of the Turkish restaurants on this strip. I could see opportunity for one more profitable business provided it is a large (bigger than one shop unit in size), but excellent priced and tasting destination restaurant. I was excited in late November as two shop units begun to morph into a classy, clean, barren dining room and kitchen. It opened on 30th December (surely a ploy to in the future write 'since 2011') and I write after a lunchtime visit on 31st December 2011. Devran was a hugely disappointing dining experience. In fact it was so bad this review includes some hints to the management on how to improve because the two managers by the door on exit didn't hold it open to thank us for our custom or ask what we thought of our visit. The facts are this; in an area where the best thrive, others won't survive. I hope it was opening weekend issues and Devran improves by the time you read this because if not, it will be gone by September 2012. So the pluses that built to the excitement include big clean window frontage showing the bbq and five daily stews. The name of the eatery changes colour at night. The staffs have trendy little waistcoats. There are lots of staff (15+) and when paying they take credit cards (only Gokyuzu and Antepiller over the road do this too, most are cash only). The fact of the matter is that this place is style over content as we learnt and whilst it would do OK in South London, if the early mistakes we encountered are not ironed out, the business will not survive. We ordered a starter of mixed meze and two stews along with drinks. Sadly we didn't start with the starters as it was delivered after the lukewarm stews. For some reason salad and bread (usually delivered with drinks/starters in other Turkish restaurants on the Green Lanes strip) didn't turn up till after the main course. Rice also came on a separate plate. Not sure why, but this was not hot either and meant there was more plates on the table than the table for two had space for. Now for the clincher the food simply wasn't as tasty as others on this strip. Salad was soaked in Vingerette. One lamb stew barely featured lamb and the other had peppers and potatoes added to pad out the lamb and aubergine mix. On our visit, the waiting staff were not busy and desperate for something to do. In competitive dining rooms on Green Lanes waiters whizz around offering more bread/salad and always offer Turkish tea on the house after the meal delivering it with a smile and a wipe down of the table. Not here. Not today. They were more concerned about taking back the excess plates they had brought to the table and my wife had to ask for tea. Poor table didn't get cleaned until we had paid. I am sure this is just teething pains for the new restaurant. There has been no promotion to local residents and people are trying it instead of others to see what it is like. Therefore, judge on reviews after this one because either they will say the same thing and nothing improves or the owner will take my advice: Shut for a day. Take all 15+ staff to Gokyuzu across the road for lunch and then onto to Diyarbakir two hundred metres away to learn what your customers expect from you. Then invite local people (I might be persuaded to return) to see what you do and how you do it as good, if not better than the rest. Otherwise, I fear this place may have failed by the time you have read this review.