In the heart of theatre land, Sarastro restaurant is named after a character in Mozart's Magic Flute opera and is a perfect place to dine before or after the theatre, not least because the decor in itself is so theatrical.

The Venue
Just minutes walk from Covent Garden Opera House and the English National Opera at the Coliseum, it is therefore not surprising that the restaurant prides itself on being the show after the show. Sarastro is located within a grade II listed Victorian town house and is passionate about food, opera and art. Opening parties for shows are often held at the restaurant.

The Atmosphere
Opera music is played in the restaurant as background music, and the atmosphere is bustling both at lunch before matinees and in the evenings before curtain up. The entire theme of the restaurant is operatic. The dining room is decorated with red velvet drapes and on the upper level there are a number of gilded boxes adorning three sides of the restaurant which you can dine in just as if you were in an opera house. There are also suggestive images placed around the restaurant including frescoes of nudes in the bathroom.

The Food
The menu is Italian-Turkish, with fish offered as a speciality. The Tenor menu includes soup to start or pastries filled with cheese Turkish style (Borek), houmous or peeled prawns with avocado. Main courses include dishes such as Anatolian style lamb with carrots, courgettes and shallots, Chicken Princess or grilled fresh salmon with champagne sauce. Other meat dishes which are highly recommended include Kofte lamb Turkish meatballs and roast duck with orange sauce. Desserts include Turkish pastries, chocolate cake, creme caramel and a selection of cheeses.

The Drink
Sarastro offers a comprehensive list of white, red and rose wines as well as champagnes. The Italian pinot grigio is light and refreshing, also worth trying is the Chilian Echeverria Chardonnay. A good red wine is the South African Groot Constantia Merlot.

The Last Word
The atmosphere at Sarastro is unbeatable and is probably rated higher than the food. It is worth noting that Sarastro is the sister restaurant to Papageno in Wellington Street, which is also named after a character in Mozart's Magic Flute opera.

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