IF LEWISHAM were a cuisine, it would be Turkish.


For every Sainsbury's or Tesco, there's a Turkish supermarket.
 

And the town isn't short of the country's restaurants either, with two in the high street at either end sharing the same name - Levante.
 

We visited the one at the Lee High Road end and were spoilt for choice with the variety of dishes you would come to expect.
 

For me, the litmus test of Turkish food has to be the lamb doner.
 

But unfortunately they had run out when we turned up, but then it was 10.30pm on a Saturday.
 

Yet we weren't discouraged as there were plenty of alternatives.
 

For a starter, what better way to sample a broad range of dishes than the special mix meze for two (£8)?
 

Sadly this was a bit of a disappointment.
 

It tasted too oily while you would have found humus with more flavour at any supermarket.
 

But to give credit where it is due, the tzatziki was a definite highlight, and it came with decently doughy bread.
 

Both mains came with a generous portion of rice, despite it being slightly overcooked.


The chicken shish (£6.50) was very tender and well seasoned and the lamb beyti (£7) was satisfactory, but nothing to write home about.


I was also quite tempted by the wide choice of Turkish pide (I counted 14), unfortunately and inaccurately known to the uninitiated as "pizza".


Pide has a bread base but that's really where the similarity ends.


Levante is not going to win any awards but it offers food at good value and is a decent option if looking for a last minute takeaway.

Levante
11 Lewis Grove
Lewisham
SE13 6BG

Tel 020 8355 3522

levanterestaurant.co.uk

FOOD *** Good but not amazing
INTERIOR/DECOR **** Pleasant and comfortable - a restaurant as well as takeaway
SERVICE **** Quick and to the point