Turkish Fine Dining In The Heart Of London: Yosma

A trendy touch of Turkey throughout the restaurant

If you were to judge Yosma simply by its enormity, then you can clearly tell that its owner is confident that it will be a success and its owner has every reason to be. It’s big, spacious and has a warm ambiance to it, which when coupled with its low lighting, enhances the relaxing atmosphere. Within the restaurant, there are different types of seating arrangements to choose from and the tables are nicely spaced to give you some privacy.

You may fancy sitting by the windows so that you have a brilliant view of the entire restaurant and the open-kitchen or instead you may prefer to sit by the bar which surrounds the open-kitchen so you can get-up-close-and-personal with the wonderful aromas and action occurring in the kitchen. The interior design of the restaurant is that it has a very modern look with a trendy touch of Turkey throughout, including with its artistically painted ceramic tiled walls. A hint of Turkey even appears in the restrooms as the music from popular Turkish film soundtracks is played in the background.

From the moment that you enter Yosma, you will be welcomed delightfully by a host who is friendly and efficient and is supported by a team of servers who want to impress. At no point will you feel hurried or rushed to leave, which is a plus for the busy and fast paced London lifestyle. The entire experience is perfectly paced, with servers appearing at exactly the right time. Yosma clearly wants you to indulge in its stylish version of Turkey in the heart of London and I have a little feeling that you will take your time and enjoy the food and drinks if you visit this delectable dining establishment.

Impeccable presentation on all dishes

If you are looking for an authentic Turkish meal with absolutely no frills, then you should not consider Yosma. However, if you want an upmarket and plush Turkish experience with a table full of dishes with good flavour albeit a modern touch, then do give Yosma a try. It is not necessarily your typical Turkish restaurant and is more a modern take on traditional dishes, which it enhances and refines. Unlike in other Turkish restaurants, the portions are much smaller at Yosma, but that should not deceive you into believing that the dishes lack in flavour, quality and originality as they certainly tick all of these boxes.

If you’re visiting at breakfast or brunch, try the gorgeous avoganoush which is mashed avocado, toasted freekeh bread and eggs (8 GBP/11 USD), as it will make you will feel fabulous. If you’re popping in for a lunch or dinner, the borek, with its spinach, feta, pine nuts and mint is to die for (10 GBP/13 USD) and the tomato salad with walnut, pomegranate, parsley and mint is a refreshing addition to one’s palate (6 GBP/8 USD). The presentation of all dishes at Yosma is impeccable and the use of garnishing and herbs is thoughtfully selected. Ordering more plates is a definite temptation; however, I must ask that if you do so, you ensure you save some room for dessert, which will wow you beyond belief.

The soft and succulent Tahini cake with a surprise

Turkish cuisine serves up a wide range of gorgeous desserts that are both hot and cold and in my view, desserts are the showcase of this cuisine. From the many times that I have travelled to Turkey, I have found that a dessert, whether it be big or small, seems to accompany every snack or meal or even a cup of tea (which is heavenly if you have a sweet tooth). Now, when most people think of Turkish sweet treats, the Turkish delight immediately comes to mind. However, Yosma puts this to the side and offers much more classic and authentic desserts with a modern and divine appearance.

The options on the dessert menu at Yosma make it a difficult task in deciding which one to try. However, if you’re in a group, I would recommend ordering a few and embracing in the Turkish culture of sharing dishes (and importantly, you can try more of the full-of-flavour desserts). I would have to recommend that you try the warm tahini cake which is accompanied by hazelnut ice cream (7 GBP/ 9 USD), as you will be surprised not only by how soft and succulent the sponge is but also by a little surprise within the cake.

The luscious kunefe is also recommended (8 GBP/11 USD) and is a stretchy, unsalted melted cheese that is coated in sugar syrup-soaked phyllo layers with lemon syrup and pistachio. If these choices don’t tickle your fancy and you’re craving that typical Turkish delight, then don’t worry as Yosma has put its own spin on the Turkish delight and actually created a flavoursome Turkish delight cheesecake with rose, pistachio and sour cherry jam (6 GBP/8 USD) which is also recommended. Desserts that are on point like a decimal when it comes to creativity, appearance and taste are certainly awaiting you at Yosma.