Valérie A.
Yelp
Due to its Ottoman heritage, a lot of Turkish restaurants pride themselves in their roots and take on the challenge of serving 'Ottoman cuisine', which is a step higher than your standard Turkish cuisine. Since the Ottoman empire consisted of such a vast territory, it is only logical that it's cuisine is a melting pot of different influences, coming from regions such as the Balkans, Persia, Armenia, the Kaukasus, and the Middle East. Ottoman cuisine, in one word, is indulgence, getting a taste of what Sultan Süleyman might have felt like. Something like feeling quite like royalty when high-tea-ing, right?
Kazan restaurant is highly accesible by public transport. It is located at the Victoria Tube station, so we easliy got there by public transport. It is the first restaurant that calls itself Ottoman,to actually being worthy of that description in terms of interior; the whole room feels so luxurious and exotic with its golden detailings typical Middle Eastern patterns. I had booked a table in the lounge, so we sat on a comfortable couch with embroidered cushions. The only minus here was that they had stuffed the tables so close to one another that you could practically look into one another's plate. Not that the food didn't look appretising enough foor that though...
On to the food! As for starters I took kadayif prawns, which are king prawns, wrapped in phyllo, fried and served in paprika mayonnaise. And boy were they good! I am a huge prawn fan, but the only person in the world who always makes them good enough for my liking is my grandma. But Kazan restaurant managed to exceed my expectations: the prawns were juicy but still had a nice crunch to them at the same time. My husband was absolutely delighted to see they had 'Arnavut Cigeri', (Albanian liver), which you cannot find anywhere in Belgium (and which is even hard to find in regular Turkish restaurants in Turkey as well). and he was absolutely amazed at the quality of the liver. Liver apprently is not easy to cook, and certainly not in that exact typical way, but the way I understood it from his gestures, Kazan nailed that one as well.
Main course then; my husband had Adana Köfte; which is strictly speaking not an Ottoman dish, but a typical Turkish one, to be found in many a Turkish snack bar. Yet, the preparation method was what set this Köfte apart from the rest, since according to my lyrical husband it was; 'Adana Köfte on a Gault Millault level'. I had a kuzu pirzola, which are lamb chops, and I have to say; I cannot remember the last time I have ever tasted a lamb meat so soft, and so full taste. The fries that were served with both dishes were excellent as well. (coming from two Belgian residents, that says a lot, no? ;))
As for desert, we both had a little assorted Ottoman dessert plate with a delicious piece of baklava, a chocolate piramid, and some rose ice cream. Of course, this is just a small look into what Kazan has to offer, since the menu is so extensive. I just have one suggesition for the Londoner, or those visiting London; come and have dinner here, you won't regret it!