Zengi

Zengi restaurant on Commercial Road in Aldgate in the City of London is a Middle Eastern restaurant that is authentic and delightful. Zengi was named after a 12th century Turkish dynasty that ruled an area from northern Iraq to eastern Turkey, so the halal menu at the Zengi includes dishes from right across the region. The menu includes hot and cold mezze, pide, grills and stews, some of them regional variations on your Middle Eastern favourites, so a meal here can be a bit adventurous if you’re so inclined. The dining room is smart and comfortable, a modern translation of Turkish design, with exposed brick, creamy walls, wrought iron dividers and lambs, lovely upholstery and twinkling candles. The BYO policy at Zengi is a brilliant deal: corkage at £5 per bottle of wine and £2 per person for beer drinkers, meaning you can drink extremely well for ridiculously reasonable prices. The chefs are Turkish with decades of experience and the waitstaff are keen and helpful.