Tas Pide, London

...walk from London Bridge station, Tas Pide is a real treat to find.

I first went there after visiting their sister restaurant, only a short walk away on Borough High Street. While at the other restaurant I picked up a card thinking that it was for them, but only realised when I next came to book that I had actually picked up the wrong one - undeterred I phoned and booked a table at this one, and discovered to my delight that it was ...
...THE MENU

Tas Pide had a wide collection of turkish food on it's menu, from homous, felafel and traditional salads (and so many others things that I just couldn't name them all) as starters, to huge platters of fish, meats and vegetarian options for the main course. As for the desserts - baked rice pudding made with rose water, apricots in yoghurt and pistachio, and carrot cake with grape molasses to name but a few - if you have any ... more

Situated on London's South Bank, opposite the main entrance to the Globe Theatre, and ten minutes walk from London Bridge station, Tas Pide is a real treat to find.

I first went there after visiting their sister restaurant, only a short walk away on Borough High Street. While at the other restaurant I picked up a card thinking that it was for them, but only realised when I next came to book that I had actually picked up the wrong one - undeterred I phoned and booked a table at this one, and discovered to my delight that it was just as good, if not better than it's sister. And if you want proof I have been back there many, many times, recommended it to others, and never heard a bad word said!!!

THE MENU

Tas Pide had a wide collection of turkish food on it's menu, from homous, felafel and traditional salads (and so many others things that I just couldn't name them all) as starters, to huge platters of fish, meats and vegetarian options for the main course. As for the desserts - baked rice pudding made with rose water, apricots in yoghurt and pistachio, and carrot cake with grape molasses to name but a few - if you have any room left you have to try at least one!!!

There are also great set menus ranging from about £10.00 for the set meal for one with a choice of about 5 starters and 5 Pide (see next paragraph). Then there are the meze selection - these start again at about £10.00 pp, must be ordered for at least 2 people at a time, and come with varying amounts of meze (minimum 8 dishes) with both meat eater and vegetarian options. This is more than enough for a main meal, with the convenient advantage that you may even have room for dessert at the end!

The main dish however, and the one that gives Tas Pide it's name, is the Pide. This is a Turkish Pizza, ffrom the Anatolia region of Turkey, an oval shaped flatbread (similar in look to naan). These come in a wide variety, but don't expect a traditional western pizza - these don't come with cheese and tomato sauce! Each Pide has it's own carefully chosen ingredients from lamb, to goats cheese to pine nuts. They are absolutely delicious - they are also huge! Be warned, if you plan to choose this as an option don't stock up on the free bread at the start!!!

And this leads me on to the FREEBIES! On most nights that I have visited, whilst making my choice I have been presented with a large steaming bowl of red lentil soup, the best I have ever tasted - GRATIS. This doesn't always happen - especially early in the evening or at very busy times so don't pin your hopes on it, but the majority of the time it does. This is then accompanied by at least one basket of bread, and at least one bowl of olives (depending on the number of people at the table, and how quickly you get through them!!!)

There is also a great range of wine and drinks, and a variety of teas and turkish coffees at the end - and usually with your billl some complementary turkish delight (yummy!)

MY FAVOURITES

Any Pide - they are all delicious

Swordfish - delivered to your table on a large plate, wrapped in foil, this is then cut open allowing the most delicious aroma to escape, and to reveal the fish, succelent and tender, and a range of vegetables all steamed to perfection inside the parcel!

Baklava - again, always great

Carrot cake with molasses - if you like carrot cake then you have to try this.

Sage tea - delicious and refreshing

ATMOSPHERE AND DECOR

The restaurant is decorated in (what I imagine to be) fairly tradional turkish style (I am happy to be corrected on this by those who know more than me!!!). The chairs are beautiful, ornate carved wood, and the tables lit by candles, and the light is kept fairly low. Almost every time I have been there has been a guitarist playing - althought the music is not always turkish and you occasionally find yourself swaying along to a fairly familiar cover version.

The staff are friendly and the service wonderful, and the restaurant is always clean and tidy, no matter how busy (and ladies, just check out the toilets, I have never seen anything so ornate!)

The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, even at the busiest times, and it is a great place for a romantic dinner, or cosy dinner with close friends and family.

The BEST thing about this restaurant however is the open kitchen! Almost every table has an amazing view of this, and you can actually follow your order from you, to the waiter, to the kitchen and back again. You can watch you Pide go in and out of the huge stone oven, and feel the heat of the flames!!! Amazing!!!!!!!

VALUE FOR MONEY

One of the many great things about Tas Pide is that it has items to suit everyone's pocket. The cheapest meal I have had there, albeit without alcohol, cost me a mere tenner - incredibly cheap for a night out in London!

If cash is no object then go for a starter, roughly £3-£5 each (or several to share), and one of the more expensive but huge main courses such as the swordfish (£7-£12 ), however if you are strapped for cash the set menus and meze selections (see MENU) provide a great meal at incredibly cheap prices.

And if you're not all that hungry one Pide will set you back between £7-£10 and more than fill you. (One of my friends once took 1/2 home in doggy bag, having eaten way too much free soup and starters - she still had room for dessert though, strange how that works isn't it?)

ADDRESS AND OPENING HOURS

20-22 NEW GLOBE WALK
SE1 9DR

020 7928 3300 / 020 7261 1166

Nearest rail
London Bridge

Nearest Bus
London Bridge
Borough High Street

Nearest Tube
Southwark Tube
Borough High Street
London Bridge

Open
MON-SAT 12 noon - 11.30pm
SUNDAY 12 noon - 10.30pm

I would definately recommend booking in advance as this is a very popular restuarant, although if you do just turn up the friendly staff will do their best to fit you in (and there are many pubs and attractions nearby to visit while you wait).

Tas also has sister restaurants around London. I believe that the Tas Pide in Farringdon mentioned in the previous review has closed as I went to look for it a few months ago, having first seen it last year, and couldn't find it anywhere; however there is Tas and Tas Cafe on Borough High Street, and Tas in The Cut, Waterloo.

I have been to Tas on Borough High Street, and the Tas Cafe next door, would highly recommend both. They are more modern in decor to Tas Pide, the main resturant being a stark bright white, with two floors. Smoking was allowed upstairs last time I went, although this may have changed, or be about to, but not downstairs. Downstairs is far coiser than upstairs, but upstairs again you get a view of the kitchens! The main difference however is that this is not a Pide restaurant, and whilst they have a far more extensive choice of main courses Pide do not feature on the menu.

Tas at the Cut I have not been to although I know people that have, and again they rate it very highly, although prefer the one on Borough and Tas Pide - as with many places though, the preference often seems to be based on which one you visit first - or what you're in the mood for at the time! I would say that for large groups, work night out, big family groups or the start of an evening of theatre or clubbing Tas on Borough High Street, with it's modern restaurant decor is the one - but for a more cosy, intimate night out, anniversary dinner, cosy chat with friends or even first date, then Tas Pide, New Globe Walk is the one to go for.

Probably not great for young children, but for older family groups, ideal! 

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