"This will be the nicest restaurant in Portsmouth": Authentic Turkish restaurant opens second site following booming trade
Six months of hard work has led to the launch of a new Turkish restaurant which is already a hot spot in Southampton.
Ottoman Kitchen, in London Road, North End, officially opened its doors on December 12 after months in the making.
Nevzat Yilmaz, the owner of the Turkish restaurant, said the idea to open a site in Portsmouth stems from his success at his existing Southampton restaurant, which sees customers travelling across Hampshire to visit.
He said: “I’m excited to be opening in Portsmouth.
“We’ve taken our time to get the charcoal grill and the interiors just right—this is going to be the nicest restaurant in Portsmouth, the kind of place where everyone will want to celebrate their birthdays, work parties, anniversaries, christenings, New Year’s Eve, and every special occasion.
“The interior has that wow factor. I couldn’t open until everything was perfect. The people of Portsmouth are going to be really impressed by what we’ve done.
The open charcoal BBQ kitchen is a focal point of the restaurant which dishes up a lively atmosphere and a menu consisting of grilled meats, handmade mezze plates, and freshly baked baklava.
Nevzat added: "There might be a big rivalry between the Southampton and Portsmouth football supporters but hopefully everyone will be united in like our cooking."
In 2023, the restaurant was crowned “Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in the UK” at the Asian Restaurant Awards in London, with Nevzat explaining lamb shish and kebabs are firm favourites amongst his customers.