OTE

Price

££

Cuisine

Home Cooking (Lokanta)

Area

Soho & West End

OTE, short for Original Turkish Eatery, is a small Turkish canteen on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia. It is modelled on the esnaf lokantası, the no-frills eateries in Turkey that feed local workers at lunchtime with home-style cooking.

Food is served on four-compartment trays: a base such as bulgur or pilav rice, a main such as tas kebabı or musakka, a meze dip and a salad. Pide come with toppings like diced lamb, lamb mince, Turkish beef or roasted aubergine, and larger Esnaf boxes are there if you are hungry.

It suits a quick, filling weekday lunch or an early dinner near Goodge Street.

What to order at OTE

Build a tray with a base, a main, a dip and a salad, or go for a pide.

• Tas kebabı – slow-cooked lamb and vegetable stew
• Musakka – Turkish-style bake of aubergine and minced meat
• Bulgur pilavı – bulgur wheat cooked with tomato and spices
• Pilav – buttery Turkish rice
• Kuşbaşılı pide – pide topped with diced lamb leg
• Kıymalı pide – pide topped with spiced lamb mince
• Patlıcanlı pide – pide topped with roasted aubergine

Atmosphere and good to know

OTE is set up for grab-and-go, delivery and eating in, but indoor seating is limited, so expect to share space at the busiest lunch hour. The food is fully halal, and it appears to be an alcohol-free spot.

There are vegetarian choices among the dips, salads and aubergine pide. It is closed on Sundays and shuts at 9pm the rest of the week, so it’s better for lunch and early evenings than late dinners.

OTE opening hours

Monday to Friday: 11:30–21:00; Saturday: 12:00–21:00; Sunday: Closed. Hours can change on bank holidays, so check with the restaurant before you travel.

How to get to OTE

Goodge Street on the Northern line is around 3 minutes’ walk away, and Tottenham Court Road (Northern, Central and Elizabeth lines) is roughly 7 minutes. Buses 24, 29, 73 and 134 run along Tottenham Court Road, a couple of minutes to the east.

For live routes and disruptions, use the TfL Journey Planner.

Menu, ordering and contact

Instagram · Call 07572 921722

More Turkish food nearby

Nearby, try Levent Börek Fitzrovia, Efes Restaurant & Bar and Lokal, or browse all Turkish restaurants in Soho & West End. New to Turkish food? Start with our guide to popular Turkish dishes or see the best Turkish restaurants in London.

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