What's the draw
Oklava was one of the most hotly anticipated openings of 2015, and justly so: chef Selin Kiazim was snapped up by fusion maestro Peter Gordon immediately after graduating from college and spent her formative years with him at The Providores, though this is the first time she's in charge of her own restaurant. The food is inspired by Kiazim's Turkish-Cypriot heritage, and the Mediterranean-style venue itself is gorgeous.
What to drink
We'll admit we don't know much about Turkish wine – other than that it's good – so we were more than happy to listen to the well-versed staff when it came to the 13-wine-strong list. We ended up opting for the 2011 Arcadia cabernet franc and it was pretty much spot on: light, fruity and it went with everything. Elsewhere, the menu did also feature a couple of Turkish beers, although it's probably not the place to go if you're after a cocktail.
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What to eat
Kiazim applies Peter Gordon's fusion techniques with a delicate touch here, creating a menu inspired by ingredients from her childhood and cooked in a charcoal oven specially designed for the restaurant. The focus is on food made for sharing, although it's so good you may not want to – from the cubes of pomegranate-glazed lamb breast to the seafood börek and the sour cherry pearl barley with crispy kale (surprisingly our favourite dish of the evening), each dish bursts with flavour that'll leave you hankering for more. Then there's the very naughty cheese pide: a deeply satisfying pastry boat full to bursting with charred leeks, crispy potato and wild oregano. The real pleasure, though, lies in watching Selin as she cooks, so make sure you secure a seat at the counter.
Dinner and wine for two, about £80. 74 Luke Street, EC2A 4PY; oklava.co.uk.
