Zara Restaurant is a family run Anatolian restaurant at 11 South End Road in Hampstead, close to the southern edge of Hampstead Heath. Its dining room brings together the warmth of a neighbourhood restaurant and the generous sharing traditions of Turkish cooking. Lunch and dinner can begin with a few small plates or develop into a broad table of meze, grilled meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
Cold meze includes hummus, cacik, kisir, tabule, tarama, babaganoush and aubergine salad, with mixed platters offering an easy introduction to several recipes. Lentil soup and hot starters provide a warming alternative, while crisp pastries, grilled cheese, falafel and seafood bring different textures to the table. Freshly prepared salads use tomato, cucumber, herbs, olives and other bright ingredients to balance richer dishes.
Charcoal grilling is central to the main menu, with kebabs and mixed grills combining seasoned lamb, chicken and vegetables with rice, salad and bread. Traditional Anatolian casseroles offer slower cooked flavours, while fish and seafood broaden the selection beyond meat. Vegetarian and vegan recipes draw on pulses, aubergine, peppers, grains and herbs rather than treating meat free dining as an afterthought.
Desserts, Turkish tea and coffee give guests a relaxed way to complete the meal, and wine, beer and spirits accompany the savoury food. The menu works particularly well for sharing because diners can combine cool meze, hot starters and grilled dishes according to the size of the table. Zara's long standing Hampstead presence rests on this mix of regional flavour, generous choice and personal family hospitality.
Address: 11 South End Road, Hampstead, London NW3 2PT, United Kingdom
Zara Restaurant Menu
COLD STARTERS
Humus
Pureed chick peas, tahini, garlic and lemon juice garnished with olive oil and parsley.
Cacik
Strained yoghurt mixed with cucumber, mint and garlic.
Tarama
Freshly prepared cod roe paste mixed with bread crumbs, mashed potato, onion, lemon juice and olive oil.
Babaganoush
Charcoal grilled aubergine, tahini, garlic, lemon juice garnished with olive oil and parsley.
Saksuka
Fried cubes of aubergine, green peppers and potatoes topped with special tomato & garlic sauce.
Yaprak Sarma
Vine leaves stuffed with rice, pine kernels & herbs served with yoghurt.
Biber Dolma
Green peppers stuffed with rice, pine kernels & herbs served with yoghurt.
Patlican Ezme
Charcoal grilled aubergine, green pepper, onion, tomato, garlic, parsley and olive oil.
Rus Salatasi
Diced carrots, potatoes, pickled cucumbers and peas mixed with mayonnaise and yoghurt.
Artichoke
Artichoke hearts cooked with carrots, peas and potatoes in olive oil, served cold.
Mixed Cold Meze (for 2 people)
Humus, cacik, tarama, babaganoush, saksuka, yaprak sarma, biber dolma, patlican ezme & rus salatasi.
HOT STARTERS
Soup of the Day
Falafel
Deep fried balls of chick peas, broad beans, onions, garlic & herbs served with humus & salad.
Hellim
Charcoal grilled Cyprus cheese served with salad garnish.
Sucuk Izgara
Charcoal grilled Turkish garlic sausage served with salad garnish.
Kalamar
Deep fried fresh squid rings served with tartar sauce & salad garnish.
Sigara Boregi
Filo pastry rolls stuffed with feta cheese & parsley, deep fried and served with salad garnish.
Muska Boregi
Filo pastry parcels stuffed with feta cheese & parsley, deep fried and served with salad garnish.
Mucver
Courgette fritters with feta cheese, dill, mint & parsley, shallow fried and served with cacik.
Kibbeh
Cracked wheat balls stuffed with minced lamb, onions & pine kernels, deep fried and served with humus & salad garnish.
Grilled King Prawns
Charcoal grilled king prawns marinated in garlic, olive oil, lemon juice & herbs, served with salad garnish.
Mixed Hot Meze (for 2 people)
Falafel, hellim, sucuk izgara, kalamar, sigara boregi, mucver & kibbeh.
SALADS
Shepherd’s Salad
Diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions & parsley dressed with olive oil & lemon juice.
Greek Salad
Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, olives & feta cheese dressed with olive oil & oregano.
Zara Special Salad
Mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, sweetcorn, olives, walnuts & pomegranate dressing topped with goats cheese.
MAIN COURSES – CHARCOAL GRILLS
Chicken Shish
Marinated cubes of chicken breast grilled on skewers over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Lamb Shish
Marinated cubes of lamb grilled on skewers over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Adana Kebab
Minced lamb with herbs & spices grilled on skewers over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Iskender Kebab
Grilled minced lamb on a bed of diced bread topped with tomato sauce & yoghurt, drizzled with melted butter.
Lamb Chops
Lamb chops marinated and grilled over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Kofte Kebab
Minced lamb with herbs & spices shaped into patties, grilled over charcoal and served with rice & salad.
Mixed Grill
Lamb shish, chicken shish, adana kebab & lamb chop grilled over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Chicken Wings
Marinated chicken wings grilled over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Pirzola
Lamb cutlets marinated and grilled over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
Külbasti
Fillet of lamb marinated and grilled over charcoal, served with rice & salad.
MAIN COURSES – TRADITIONAL DISHES
Islim Kebabi
Diced lamb wrapped with fried aubergine, green peppers & tomatoes, oven baked and served with rice & salad.
Lamb Guvec
Slow cooked lamb casserole with aubergine, courgettes, potatoes, green peppers, onions, tomatoes & garlic, served with rice.
Chicken Guvec
Slow cooked chicken casserole with aubergine, courgettes, potatoes, green peppers, onions, tomatoes & garlic, served with rice.
Moussaka
Layers of minced lamb, aubergine, potatoes & courgettes topped with béchamel sauce, oven baked and served with rice & salad.
Kleftiko
Slow cooked lamb shank with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes & herbs, served with rice.
Ali Nazik
Charcoal grilled minced lamb served on a bed of smoked aubergine puree with yoghurt & garlic, served with rice & salad.
VEGETARIAN DISHES
Imam Bayildi
Whole aubergine stuffed with onions, tomatoes, green peppers & garlic cooked in olive oil, served with rice & salad.
Vegetarian Moussaka
Layers of aubergine, potatoes, courgettes, carrots & peas topped with béchamel sauce, oven baked and served with rice & salad.
Falafel Main
Falafel served with humus, salad & rice.
Stuffed Vegetables
Peppers and vine leaves stuffed with rice, pine kernels & herbs, served hot with tomato sauce & yoghurt.
FISH DISHES
Grilled Sea Bass
Whole sea bass marinated and grilled over charcoal, served with salad & new potatoes.
Grilled Salmon
Salmon fillet marinated and grilled over charcoal, served with salad & new potatoes.
King Prawns Guvec
King prawns casserole with aubergine, courgettes, potatoes, green peppers, onions, tomatoes & garlic, served with rice.
SIDE ORDERS
Chips
Rice
Yoghurt
Mixed Pickles
Grilled Vegetables
DESSERTS
Baklava
Layers of filo pastry with walnuts & pistachios soaked in syrup, served with vanilla ice cream.
Kazandibi
Caramelised milk pudding sprinkled with cinnamon, served with vanilla ice cream.
Kunefe
Shredded pastry with melted cheese soaked in syrup, served warm with pistachios.
Ice Cream
Selection of ice creams.