The Iskele is a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant at 179–181 Whitecross Street. Its spacious dining room uses coloured glass lamps and warm decorative details to evoke an Anatolian setting in the heart of London. Lunch, dinner and group bookings are all accommodated, with a menu built around sharing, fresh produce and the direct flavours of the charcoal grill.
Meze is an inviting way to begin and can be ordered as individual plates or as a broad sharing selection. Hummus, cacik, aubergine, olives and fresh salads provide cool flavours, while halloumi, falafel, calamari and other hot dishes add crisp or grilled textures. Bread and dips allow a group to explore the opening plates gradually before moving to larger dishes.
Lamb and chicken shish are marinated and grilled over high heat, then served with rice and salad. Adana style minced meat, mixed grills and chops provide further choices from the charcoal section. Seafood, steaks and slowly cooked casseroles extend the menu beyond kebabs, while substantial vegetable preparations give meat free diners several routes through the Mediterranean selection.
Baklava and other traditional sweets provide a natural finish, supported by Turkish coffee and tea. The drinks list includes Turkish wine, raki, familiar international bottles and cocktails that suit the lively social setting. Takeaway and group menus broaden the restaurant’s appeal, but sharing meze and grilled dishes around a table remains the clearest expression of The Iskele’s hospitable style.
Address: 179–181 Whitecross Street, London EC1Y 8QP, United Kingdom
The Iskele Menu
HOT & COLD STARTERS
MIX OLIVES (cold)
Marinated green, black olives with olive oil,chili and herbs
CACIK (Tzatziki) (cold)
Cucumber, mint and garlic in a creamy yoghurt sauce, served with pitta bread
HUMMUS (cold)
Pureed chick peas with tahini, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil, served with pitta bread
BABA GHANOUSH (cold)
Smoked aubergine blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic, served with pitta bread
TARAMA SALAD (cold)
Freshly prepared whipped cod roe (caviar paste) served with pitta bread
FETA CHEESE & OLIVES (cold)
Feta cheese,black and green olives and olive oil, served with pitta bread
EZME SALAD (cold)
Finely chopped tomatoes,onions,parsley,walnuts and chili
STUFFED VINE LEAVES (cold)
Stuffed vine leaves with rice, onions, pine kernels and olive oil
SUCUK (hot)
Charcoal grilled, spicy Turkish beef sausage
CALAMARI (hot)
Lightly fried, fresh seasoned squid, served with tartare sauce
HUMMUS WITH LAMB (hot)
Pan fried lamb with garlic and herbs on a bed of hummus
GRILLED HALLOUMI (hot)
Charcoal grilled Cypriot goat’s cheese
WHITEBAIT (hot)
Deep fried small fish, served with tartare sauce
MUSKA BOREK (hot)
Filo pastry filled with feta cheese and spinach,fried
FALAFEL (hot)
Deep fried balls of chick peas, broad beans and vegetables served with hummus
HALLUMI & SUCUK (hot)
Charcoal grilled halloumi and spicy Turkish sausage
HOT MIX MEZE (hot)
Halloumi, calamaris, falafel, muska borek and sucuk
COLD MIX MEZE (cold)
Hummus, cacik, ezme salad, tarama and stuffed vine leaves
SALADS AND SOUPS
GREEK SALAD
Tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, mixed peppers,feta cheese and olive oil
SHEPHERD’S SALAD
Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and parsley with olive oil and lemon juice dressing
CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD
Grilled chicken breast, cos lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing
LENTIL SOUP
Traditional Turkish lentil soup, served with bread
PIDE & PASTA
MARGHERITA PIZZA
Tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese
VEGETARIAN PIZZA
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese,mushroom, mixed peppers,onions, sweetcorn and black olives
PEPPERONI PIZZA
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni
TURKISH PIDE WITH SPINACH & FETA
Turkish style pizza topped with spinach, feta cheese and mozzarella
TURKISH PIDE WITH SUCUK
Turkish style pizza topped with sucuk, mixed peppers and mozzarella cheese
TURKISH PIDE WITH MINCED LAMB
Turkish style pizza topped with seasoned minced lamb, mixed peppers, onions and mozzarella cheese
CHICKEN PASTA
Penne pasta with chicken, mushroom, mixed peppers and cream sauce
VEGETARIAN PASTA
Penne pasta with mixed vegetables in tomato sauce
CHARCOAL GRILLS
CHICKEN SHISH
Marinated cubes of chicken breast grilled on skewers, served with rice and salad
LAMB SHISH
Marinated cubes of lamb grilled on skewers, served with rice and salad
ADANA KOFTE
Minced lamb with herbs and spices, grilled on skewers, served with rice and salad
MIXED GRILL
Lamb shish, chicken shish, adana kofte and lamb chop, served with rice and salad
LAMB CHOPS
Charcoal grilled lamb chops, served with rice and salad
CHICKEN WINGS
Marinated chicken wings grilled on charcoal, served with rice and salad
10oz SCOTTISH SIRLOIN STEAK
Charcoal grilled sirloin steak, served with chips and salad
CHEF’S SPECIALS
ISKELE SPECIAL CHICKEN
Chicken breast cooked with mushrooms, onions, mixed peppers, cream and white wine sauce, served with rice
ISKELE SPECIAL LAMB
Lamb pieces cooked with mushrooms, onions, mixed peppers, tomato and red wine sauce, served with rice
LAMB TAVA
Cubes of lamb baked with onions, tomatoes, mixed peppers and herbs, served with rice
CHICKEN TAVA
Cubes of chicken baked with onions, tomatoes, mixed peppers and herbs, served with rice
MUSAKKA
Layers of sliced aubergine, potatoes, courgettes and minced lamb topped with béchamel sauce and cheese, oven baked and served with rice
VEGETARIAN MUSAKKA
Layers of sliced aubergine, potatoes, courgettes and mixed vegetables topped with béchamel sauce and cheese, oven baked and served with rice
SEAFOOD DISHES
GRILLED SALMON
Charcoal grilled salmon fillet, served with salad and new potatoes
SEA BASS
Whole sea bass grilled on charcoal, served with salad and new potatoes
KING PRAWNS
Pan fried king prawns with garlic, butter and white wine sauce, served with rice
CHILI PRAWN TEMPURA
Deep fried shrimps in yoghurt and Sriracha sauce, served on a romain lettuce
VEGETARIAN DISHES
VEGETARIAN CASSEROLE
Mixed vegetables baked with tomato sauce, topped with cheese, served with rice
STUFFED AUBERGINE
Aubergine stuffed with onions, tomatoes, peppers and mixed vegetables, baked in tomato sauce and served with rice
SIDES
CHIPS
Portion of chips
RICE
Portion of rice
MASHED POTATO
Portion of mashed potato
MIXED VEGETABLES
Portion of mixed vegetables
MIXED SALAD
Portion of mixed salad
BREAD
Portion of bread