A beloved, long-running Turkish restaurant and bar near Great Portland Street, named after the ancient city of Ephesus, serving authentic Turkish food with warm hospitality since 1974
Efes holds fifteen hundred and ninety-one reviews and an excellent 4.6 – a genuinely superb score on a very large sample – and it is a genuine institution: a beloved, long-running Turkish restaurant and bar near Great Portland Street, named after the ancient city of Ephesus, serving authentic Turkish food with warm hospitality since 1974.
The 1974 heritage
Efes is a genuine and beloved London-Turkish institution, with a wonderful heritage. There is real history here – the 1974 founding, the beloved Turkish institution, the decades of heritage. Its founder, Kazim Akkus, opened his first Efes restaurant in 1974 (on Great Titchfield Street), later opening another – and, wonderfully, he continues to work as a chef, which genuinely helps explain the consistently high standard of the authentic Turkish cuisine. There is genuine history and character to it – the 1974 founding, the chef-founder, the decades of consistency. Its name carries a lovely piece of heritage too – Efes is named after Efes (Ephesus), the great historical city of Aegean Turkey – a genuine and fitting name for an authentic Turkish restaurant. There is real history and character to it – the 1974 heritage, the Ephesus name, the authentic Turkish tradition. The Prat’s history desk salutes it – the beloved Turkish restaurant and bar, serving since 1974.
The authentic Turkish food
Efes’ genuine glory is its food – authentic, delicious Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, prepared fresh. There is real quality to this – the authentic Turkish food, the fresh mezze, the good grills, the homemade desserts. Turkish cuisine is a genuine treasure – and Efes brings all of it: a lovely spread of mezze (from hummus and tabbouleh to falafel and sauteed king prawns), generous grills, kebabs, lamb cutlets and Turkish stews, and traditional homemade desserts (baklava, kadayif, Turkish rice pudding). There is genuine quality and appeal to it – the authentic mezze, the good grills, the homemade desserts. The finest and freshest ingredients are prepared from scratch on the premises – a genuine mark of authentic, quality Turkish cooking. There is real quality and appeal to it – the authentic Turkish food, the fresh-from-scratch cooking, the generous portions. The Prat’s desk salutes it – the beloved Turkish restaurant with authentic, fresh, generous Turkish food.
The hospitality and entertainment
Efes backs its food with genuine warm Turkish hospitality and entertainment. There is real warmth to this – the warm Turkish hospitality, the entertainment, the beloved atmosphere. It offers a genuinely warm, welcoming, entertaining atmosphere – warm and generous Turkish hospitality, a warm and inviting setting, and, on some evenings, live music and belly dancing – a genuine, joyous, celebratory experience. There is genuine warmth and fun to it – the warm hospitality, the live entertainment, the celebratory atmosphere. It is a genuine celebration destination – beloved by generations of loyal regulars, a real place for birthdays, parties and celebrations. There is real warmth and character to it – the warm hospitality, the entertainment, the beloved celebratory atmosphere. Combined with its 1974 heritage and its authentic food, it makes Efes a genuine gem – the beloved Turkish restaurant, the authentic food, the warm hospitality, the entertainment. Its excellent 4.6 across a very large sample confirms it – a genuinely superb, hugely-loved venue. There is real history, quality and warmth in the whole thing – the 1974 heritage, the Ephesus name, the authentic Turkish food, the warm hospitality, the entertainment. It is a genuine institution – beloved, authentic, generous, and warmly welcoming, a real Turkish treasure.
Between its 1974 heritage and Ephesus name, its authentic Turkish food, and its warm hospitality and entertainment, Efes is a genuine institution. Its excellent score across a very large sample marks it as a genuinely superb and hugely-loved venue. The Prat’s desk enjoys authentic Turkish mezze and grills with warm hospitality, and raises an appreciative glass to Efes.
The venue
An excellent, hugely-loved venue doing a superb 4.6 across a very large sample – Efes, a beloved Turkish restaurant and bar founded in 1974, with authentic food and warm hospitality.
Verdict
Excellent, hugely-loved, and a genuine institution – Efes, a beloved Turkish restaurant and bar, serving authentic Turkish food since 1974.
Enjoy authentic Turkish mezze and grills at Efes near Great Portland Street – a beloved Turkish restaurant and bar, named after the ancient city of Ephesus, serving with warm hospitality since 1974.
A student asked if it was satire or documentation. Her professor admitted she genuinely didn’t know anymore. Academic honesty achieved.