July 30, 2019
Mantl is a gorgeous Turkish restaurant in Knightsbridge. However, you wouldn’t know you’d just stepped off busy Brompton Road as you head inside. Its relaxed atmosphere is radiated through its sophisticated minimalist interior with slate tiles, woods, blacks and greys complimented with metallics and low hanging filament bulbs. It’s a great spot.
Service was next level from the minute we stepped inside. Full of recommendations and always on hand, yet not overbearing. Every table was getting this VIP service from the whole team, including the manager Tayfun. Service really is everything and this was amazing to see all around us.
The Drinks
Mantl has a succinct drinks menu, yet there’s plenty to choose if you fancy an alcoholic tipple or soft drink. The wine list is clear to navigate, with a table showcasing region, grape variety, vintage and country which we really liked. There is only one beer, however there are also a handful of cocktails, mocktails and alternative soft drinks, including a couple of traditional options.
We opted for one cocktail and one mocktail. The Green Destiny Mocktail (£6.50) was lightly fizzing and really refreshing. Consisting of Agave Syrup, Lime Juice, Cucumber, Mint and Soda Water, it was delicious with just a touch of zing or sourness.
The Starters
The food menu is focused on traditional Turkish cuisine, showcasing the heritage and authentic flavours but often with a contemporary twist. There is a wide selection of starters, both hot and cold, with plenty of meat and veggie options.
We started with the Hummus (from the cold starters) (£7) topped with granola and served with fresh, warm bread. We also opted for the Chargrilled octopus (£12) with Mung beans, kapia peppers and dill golden apple.
The Chargrilled Octopus was a recommendation by one of the team, and we could tell why. It was beautifully cooked and meaty, not chewy. The bed of a la dente Mung beans, kapia peppers and dill golden apple, was fresh and went perfectly with the octopus. The hummus was creamy and flavoursome and the crunchy granola was delicious giving the dish extra texture.
The Mains
On to the mains there are plenty of meat options but they do only have one veggie option and two fish options. The fish option was fantastic – The Fillet of Seabass (£22) was cooked so well. It was light, elegant and delicious. Great with the fresh side salad.
The Hand Cut Chips (£5) were triple cooked with thyme and rock salt were amazing. Crisp yet fluffy and super tasty – we do love a herby chip! The mains are big, but those chips did make a great side.
We also tried the Gentle Ali (£22), another recommendation from the team. With the menu stating smoked eggplant, kapia peppers, lamb fillet and yoghurt, we weren’t sure how it woulld arrive or what it would taste like. However, we can tell you, it was dreamy! The lamb was tender, pink inside and so rich in flavour. The yoghurt base with the smoked eggplant and kapia peppers was a fantastic accompaniment. It was creamy and thick, and drizzled with the spiced oil – just heavenly.
Desserts
We were struggling for space after so much food but Tayfun was dying for us to try two traditional desserts to finish our feast. We can say now, you NEED to save space for these.
The Baklava Mantl Style (£9) was larger than we have ever had previously, and not quite as compact. It had the flakiest pastry, and a superb pistachio puree in the middle. The ice cream was dreamy – more like a melted marshmallow texture and super creamy. So much better than British ice cream.
Overall
We had such an amazing evening at Mantl turkish restaurant in Knightsbridge. The service was amazing all-round and the food was incredible – we loved every dish we tried. We really enjoyed both the alcoholic cocktail and the mocktail to accompany such a feast. This really is a gem worth a visit!