This popular Turkish hangout is a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street station in the heart of the city.

The Venue
You can usually smell Haz before you see it, with the wafts of char-grilled meat and spices drawing hordes of hungry city slickers into its bustling dining room. Floor to ceiling windows on one side make the restaurant light and airy, while the decor of cream walls, sleek wooden panels and rows of tables and ceiling lights give provide simple yet stylish surroundings in which to sample the quality Turkish tucker.

The Atmosphere
A favourite hangout for city workers, Haz can get very busy and very noisy at lunch, and it can feel like everyone is talking over each other. The tables are also quite packed in, so despite the good food and service, it’s not the place for the romantic meal or private business meeting as you’ll be hollering just to get yourself heard. The service is generally pretty attentive, although the staff do appear a little stressed amid the lunchtime rush.

The Food
A huge menu of tasty, well-cooked Middle Eastern fare, served pretty quickly. Set menus are priced from £8.00 - £18.00 per person and include traditional meze favourites such hummus, falafel, kofte and grilled hellim.

A wide range of hot and cold starters are priced around the £4.00 mark. The karides tava (sauteed prawns with garlic and fresh tomatoes) are refreshingly light and tangy, although quite a small portion so you may want to order a few starters to share.

The main menu caters for pretty much all tastes, with smoky grilled meat shish and kofte around £8.00, grilled and steamed seafood from around £9.00 -£14.00, salads, pasta and couscous, and good vegetarian options – the chunky vegetable moussaka was deliciously fresh and gooey.

The Drink
An interesting wine list offers an international selection ranging from about £12.00 -£60.00, although there were considerably less white options than red.

The Last Word
Worth a visit for a bustling and tasty slice of Turkey. Haz is reasonably priced for a quality city restaurant, and its friendly and unpretentious atmosphere makes it a firm favourite among locals.

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