Iznik in Islington

During my trip to London and Florence, I've had my favourite meals at Iznik. The vegetarian mezze platter has a great variety and tue smoky babaganoush is out-of-this-world. Everything is fresh and tasty. The Malbek wine complimented my meal and the ambience is peaceful and atmospheric. Lovely to watch the happenings at Highbury Barn. I just love this family business and applauded them on the cleanliness (even the toilets smell divine). I'm trying to fit in 3rd night here on my short trip. Bravo!

Incredible decor Excellent staff Delicious food I’ve there twice and the host just started new, he is lovely and helpful, very polite. They gave us some items on the house, such a wonderful and relaxing atmosphere. Turkish food are always tasty and this was no exception. This restaurant has been around a long time, according to the staff and you will see the passion the owner placed in the decorations, cok guzel(?)!! This will be my to-go place in the future many times over.

Three of us had a wonderful evening at Iznik. The freshest, tastiest food, welcoming and attentive staff and lovely ambience. We could not fault the experience. The vegetarian and meat mezze platters were superb and the babaganoush was smoky and out of this world. We'll be back!

Really nice restaurant, the service is outstanding, great place to be on a rainy London day.

Monday evening this was a great choice when the pub across the street was not serving meals. Wait staff was kind and gracious. Authentic food. Bread was exceptional.

Thank you for looking after us today with lovely food and kind service. We really enjoyed our lunch. Delicious! Third time eating here and can recommend highly.

Great fresh food, welcoming and attentive staff

the lady there was completely rude and slow i remained patient , the food was mediocre and lukewarm don't recommend

Have been coming to this place for years . The food is absolutely delicious, the staff are friendly and warm, and the atmosphere is lovely. Would absolutely recommend coming here if you are ever around Highbury and Islington, you cannot go wrong. One of my favourite eating establishments

Great food very relaxing. Waiter was very nice.

I attended an office event, and we chose to have lunch at this restaurant after seeing the positive reviews. The food was excellent. The business owner, who welcomed us, was very polite, professional, and friendly, and she also served the food. The interior was amazing, resembling a retro Turkish place.

Questo posto è accogliente e famigliare Cucina la famiglia Cibo buono prezzi buoni Un ottimo caffe un ambiente molto amichevole

The food is delicious!!! Every Turkish delicacy is done expertly, and at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is very pleasant and soothing -- quiet mellow music plays, and the walls and ceiling are decorated strikingly with Turkish art, jewellery, pottery, lamps, and more. This is a true gem of a proudly family-run neighborhood establishment. We come often, have done for many years - and we are never disappointed!

I love Turkish cuisine. I had the Turkish tea, Turkish coffee and rice pudding which was delicious. However it was difficult to appreciate the cuisine considering the workers at the restaurant were very hostile towards me and my friends. The waitress who served us has a complete disregard for customer service and lacks social skills and etiquette. She hit my friend on the head with a plate and didn't apologise. This is not only really rude but highly concerning on a health and safety level. Furthermore, after my friends and I had paid the bill, and were exiting the restaurant, a worker came up to us, and told us to keep the noise down for 'next time' because we were disturbing other customers. The restaurant was empty throughout the night. There were only two groups of people. My friends and I on one table and a group of elderly people on another table on the other side of the restaurant. My friends and I were conversing the way we always do when having dinner. Understandably so, if we were loud, it would have been appreciated if we were told politely during the evening to perhaps converse a bit quietly as opposed to be told off, and made to feel embarrassed as if we are naughty school children at the end of the night. I would like to add, my friends and I are all BIPOC folks and the table on the other side were not. I believe there are microaggressions and racial prejudices and biases at interplay here which affected how we were made to feel and be treated indirectly by other customers and directly by staff members across the board. Experiences like this are horrible but especially when one experiences it from an establishment that is supposedly owned by an ethnic group. Please teach your staff members how to converse with people; enrol them in training to develop their social awareness skills, customer skills and educate yourself and them on diversity, inclusiveness and equity.

I have had some time to think about whether this deserves a review, but I decided people should be made aware. This is in relation to the experience we had last night. For context and storytelling purposes: A friend had organised a get together for the evening and another friend researched and booked Iznik as part of our evening events. Admittedly, I didn't eat at the restaurant, so I can't comment on the food although the group says it was flavourless and unseasoned (before the incident that happened later). Make of that what you will. The tea I had was OK. The decor here is beautiful, vibrant, and traditional which gives it a cosy feel. The main reason for this review is the appalling service. I was in a group of approx 10 people. It was mostly a normal meal with a little bit of *spice*, but not everything nice. The friend who was sitting next to me had a plate hit on her head by the server. Mistakes happen, but this mistake is one step away from having the contents of a plate tipped on your head or a headache trigger. There was no acknowledgement or real apology. For all she knew, my friend could have had a medical condition because if that was me, I wouldn't have taken it as gracefully. We were mostly left alone through the duration of the time I was there. Anyway, we did the usual bill paying and went to freshen up before we left for the next part of our fabulous night. They were closing at this time and we were the last ones left so they understandably probably wanted to clean and close up. As paying guests, however, we should not be made to feel so unwelcome to the point where the group was made to wait outside while some of us were still in the washroom. As the group was preparing to leave, we were also quite rudely told to keep the noise level down "next time" as some customers had complained. I would like to add here that we were not being unreasonably loud at all. I don't know about you, but it's odd to expect a large group of Middle Easten/South Mediterranean and South Asian people to be at a low low volume in a Middle Eastern restaurant. However, looking back at some reviews left by customers who have spoken to the owner, there seems to be a type of disdain for certain groups of people which might explain the service. There were also no other POC customers there while we were dining. Make of that what you will. Had they not have taken the payment before making us leave and rudely implying we were disruptive to other customers (we weren't), I would have refused to pay the service charge at the very least. At the very best the experience was disappointing as no one from the party expected to be treated with such little hospitality in a place like this. Anyway, We continued our night, and did not let this experience taint it. I can assure you there will NOT be a "next time." Not a single one of us want to return and nor will we recommend this establishment to our extensive network of people. Thank you for re-inforcing micro aggressions that POC face, and you are welcome for our one time custom.

I came to this restaurant last night with a large group of friends and initially felt the ambience was beautiful and vibrant. It was however, only downhill from there. The waitress seemed bizarrely irate with all of us from the moment we sat down. Perhaps that was why she knocked my friend in the head with a plate with barely an apology. The food seemed to be seasoned only with vibes, and not flavourful ones which was peculiar for Turkish cuisine. The absolute height of the hostility came at the end of the evening when a member of thr group was told by the owner that next time we should not be so loud as the other people in the restaurant had complained. It was half past 9 and there was one other table of people who were finishing their meal. I don't know in what world a group of 10 people who are happy to see each other eat at the volume of mice, maybe that's the vibe of this restaurant. Even if so, I find it bamboozling that you would tell off paying customers AFTERWARDS as if they are a rabble of unruly schoolchildren. I have never in my 30 years encountered such pandering and pathetic service from every member of staff. If you want a quiet restaurant with no customers, your particular brand of alienating your ethnic patrons is the way to go, or maybe that's how you scrimp on spending money for seasonings to appease your lovely, quiet, white audience x

This is a really lovely place - one of the best spots in north London. The food is delicious and the service outstanding - highly recommend!

The food was very tasty and the staff was very attentive and friendly! We always like to come back!

My husband and I have been visiting from the US and chanced on this little local restaurant. How lucky we were! We ordered 3 appetizers and drinks to have at the end of a long day at the V&A. Besides being able to relax in the vibrant atmosphere/decor, the food was delicious. Every plate was beautifully presented and carried the flavors of Turkey. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of their food- we could tell it was done with attention to detail and a sensitivity to balance. After, Pirl talked with us about food and the preparation of some of the dishes (I have cooked professionally for 15 years, but nothing Turkish). She was generous with her time and so helpful. What a lovely meal/experience!

Welcoming place. Calm atmosphere, excellent food and service.

I went to Iznik with a large school group. I was impressed that all of our orders came out correctly. The lamb dish I ordered was amazing. The atmosphere was also quite fun and colorful. I would definitely eat there again.

We were a large party, and they accommodated us well. The food looked pretty basic, but it was tasty and the meat was not dry.

A gem of a place. Beautiful food, beautiful inside, beautiful owner. The food was fresh and made with love. Definitely give Iznik a visit!!

Delicious Turkish cuisine served with Turkish hospitality! We were dining as a family with two kids and a vegetarian relative and all of us had a great experience.

Wonderful place. The service was fantastic and the food was delicious.

An amazing gems. Thank you so much to our lovely server on Monday evening who made us feel so welcome. We will be back for both the lovely vibe and the amazing food.

I haven't been here since Arsenal moved to new stadium in 2006 Nice to be back Food still proper authentic Turkish delicious and service so warm and friendly BUT Expensive for what it is. Yes of course I appreciate that prices have gone up since 2006 like everywhere else, but I don't think £5 for a coke is reasonable even in today's market Lunch came to £80 for two and we didn't have desserts Tissues as napkins and no table cloth; shared tables on match day of course; again that's all fine and to be expected but not for me at high-end restaurant prices for lunch Also they had no note of our Open Table online booking because, according to the boss, they don't like to use it. Well don't use it then. Fortunately she found us a space. But hey this is Islington, so pay the price and enjoy the sumptuous food. Or not

the food was great. The owner of the business was a very polite and hospitable lady, the waitress who took the orders was very friendly. everything was perfect.

A gorgeous little restaurant with beautiful deco. The food was equally impressive - a lovely range of flavours in a beautifully balanced menu. The starters were excellent and provided me with sufficient meat, leading me to have the vegetarian Kabak - with apples courgettes, aubergines, walnuts, and cheese - a hint of vinegar gave a delicious sour sweet twist. Fabulous!

Absolutely delightful restaurant, highly recommend! Reasonable pricing, the most delicious food, wonderful authentic and warm service We were in a group of 7 with 2 vegans / vegetarians and asked the lovely owner to choose our dishes for us - we must have had around 6 starters, mountains of bread and dips, and 5 mains, and we rolled out of the restaurant. Even after we'd paid, the complimentary favours kept coming (e.g. turkish delight, glasses of chilled amaretto, figs and apricots) For the vegans / vegetarians - there are plenty of suitable options on the menu and they are all well worth it Unfortunately didn't take any photos!

As per usual it was excellent and a big thank you to our waitress.

Loved the lamb shank, the hummus and lamb botek. Thanks for the hospitality while we came by for takeaway!

Cosy, Ottoman-style decor makes this restaurant very charming but the food is also well worth the visit. Friendly service and good value for money too, especially for its location in Islington

Cosy Turkish restaurant with charming Ottoman-style decor. Very friendly service and the food is excellent and great value for money too. Well worth a visit if you're in North London or after an Arsenal game

A rare family run restaurant with character, Turkish cooking which is imaginative, not just kebabs, still hear your partner across the table, and not expensive.

Nice decor, and the quality of the food is good but, my word, you pay for it. Eye wateringly expensive and service was perfunctory at best (maybe because it was match day). Hence the 3 star rating.

We walked past and saw a sign outside that said wrap and wedges £7 so thought we'd give it a go. Spoke to a nice young lady who said we could take a seat outside, so we sat down and she brought over a menu, we said we'd like to do the wrap on the board and she said she'd need to get someone else as she was only helping out that day and didn't know what the wrap was, no problem we said. When the other lady came out she clearly wasn't happy that we wanted to take them up on the deal on their board, and wanted us to order from the (much more expensive menu we were given). We explained that we'd like the wrap on the board please, she said she needed to check whether the chef would do it, we said ok no problem. She then said it would take a long time, we said ok no problem. She then said we would need to pay extra to eat there or we would have to take away, no problem we are happy to take away and eat in the park. We received our food 30 minutes later, we thanked her and paid and then asked if we could have some sauce, she told us there was sauce in the wrap. We explained we wanted sauce for the wedges, she said no. At this point we just left as clearly we were unwanted there and they really didn't care whether we were going to enjoy the food or not. Turns out not only were the wedges dry but the wrap was pretty dry as well, not a drop of sauce in site. I just don't understand why you'd advertise a deal that you didn't want to serve and then be rude to people wanting to order it? I know we weren't exactly big spenders but it seems pretty out of line to treat people like that, especially in the cost of living crisis, it's not like we were asking for free food, we were very polite and patient and got treated like dirt.

Enjoyed a range of small plates, all excellent. Detailed explanations of dishes and ingredients provided when asked for. Decor distinctive, making this overall a really excellent experience. Hoping to return next time I’m in London!

Great ambiance, delicious food - best dolma (vine leaves) ever. We were only dropping in for a snack on our way back to our hotel but would definitely return for a full meal next time. Lovely service and fascinating decor.

Iznik Turkish restaurant in Highbury Park, London, was the perfect stop after a busy day. Homely, friendly atmosphere and beautiful décor, with welcoming staff and delicious food. Only stopped by for a snack late on Sunday 2nd April 2023 but would definitely return for a main meal. Best veggie vine leaf dolma ever!

Tonight the owner got so drunk he became extremely violent and dangerous. To staff and customers. Never experienced anything like it before and would never set foot in this restaurant ever again.

Perfect service as always - incredibly kind and helpful. The food is amazing; authentic and so moreish you won’t want to stop eating! The restaurant itself is so beautiful too, such attention to detail and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

The Turkish lights and cosy, eclectic decor are always a welcome sight. Highbury is not the shores of the Sea of Marmara or ancient Nicaea, but İznik does a great job of getting you there! The food is fresh. imaginative, full of charm, surprises, and skill, and cooked to perfection. It is a real treat. The staff could not be kinder, friendlier, and more welcoming. A gem.

Enjoyed a great Friday evening here with my partner. Delicious food with friendly, attentive service. Will definitely be back!

Fantastic food, the dips are incredible and the service is absolutely amazing would very much recommend. Staff go above and beyond :)

The food was great and they really personalise their service. They helped us order (and were honest about how much we needed for 6 of us). They were so helpful and we had lovely shots (on the house!) afterwards. It made for a GREAT Tuesday night out with the ladies! x

Great food, great staff, overall great time. Manager even gave us a free drink at the end to celebrate.

Went with a large group, great service, great food and really friendly family restaurant. Would definitely recommend the lamb yogurtlu, and baklava at the end

The food here is amazing as is the hospitality! I’d definitely be coming back here highly recommend this place

This is our favourite of the Turkish restaurants in the area - most of which are pretty good. Two main differences stand out: 1) The food is a little more subtle 2) the people working there are particularly friendly

I enjoyed the food and the vibes but more importantly how nice and helpful the staff are, would easily recommend it.

My love affair with Turkey and it’s cuisine started over 30 years ago and Iznik has been part of that story. Understated from the outside, Iznik is beautifully furnished with authentic wall hangings, colourful lanterns and soft furnishings. The food is amazing. Prepared by a skilled chef with the authenticity of a Turkish mother’s kitchen (made with love and something undefinably special). The subtle tones, depth of flavour and textures excite the palate. There are vegan options and for those less adventurous, there is an English menu. One of my favourite restaurants which will perhaps become one of yours too!

Faultless. Everything was spot on. First time here will be returning everyone enjoyed themselves. Authentic food and not too pricey considering the location

We visited on a quiet, cold Sunday evening and welcomed by lovely staff lighting tea lights around the restaurant - instantly cosy. We ordered the house Turkish Red which we were very impressed with; shared 5 small dishes between the two of us, all vegetarian...

really great restaurant - delicious food, lovely staff, highly recommend!

Really enjoyable evening at this friendly local restaurant. Loads of tasty choices and food was excellent. Wine also good. Will definitely go back.

Clean, fast and healthy. Amazing service

We've moved from an annual meet up to a bi-annual one in Highbury, and always make a point of heading to Iznik on the Friday night. With a table for 7, pre-set and starters pre-ordered and waiting for us, it takes no time at all...

Outstanding restaurant , been coming to Iznik restaurant in Highbury for years. Delicious food!!beautiful atmosphere. Would recommend!

Some of the best cuisine I’ve had in London! Food great, staff fantastic, company stunning. Great evening! Teşekkürler!!

Really enjoyed the lunch deal today with friends and family, starters were amazing too and the service was faultless. Will definitely be back next time we’re in North London!

We booked a last minute table at this restaurant and so glad we did. The food and service was wonderful. Lovely traditional Turkish food and a nice surprise treat at the end of the meal. Thoroughly recommend Iznik.

Lamb chops were amazing, baklava was amazing, my date was amazing. 5 stars all round. The owner gave me some free dessert at the end aswell. Will be visiting again soon. Jabir

A beautiful restaurant with amazing food. It look like we are in Turkey and it’s absolutely delicious.

This is a special gem of a place. The food was incredibly delicious and the proprietors were extremely welcoming; abience was perfect. Highly recommend.

When one of our party had gone to the wrong restaurant the owner kindly organised a taxi so we could get him. The food and drinks were first class and service was outstanding. The night was capped by a Arsenal win afterwards. Thanks for a...

A large group of us met with our friend on her retirement. Iznik prepared a wonderful buffet dinner for us. The food was delicious and beautifully presented and there was plenty for everyone who wanted seconds. We chose Iznik because we’ve eaten there many times...

Great food and atmosphere nice place no music why do I need to write so many bloody words I'm never going on TripAdvisor again

A quiet, friendly little restaurant with delicious Turkish food, excellent value and prompt, efficient service. Memo to self: go back there soon!

Fair price, great food, service and atmosphere!

The food was phenomenal! Thoroughly enjoyed it. A must visit for everyone coming this side :). Excellent service, fabulous hospitality and will return every time!!

Olağanüstü bir zarafetle bir araya getirilmiş nadide parçalardan oluşan,seçkin bir zevkin eseri olduğu ilk anda anlaşılan muhteşem dekorasyonuyla büyüleyici bir ortamda,tadına doyamayacaginiz lezzette meze ve yemekler yiyerek kendinizi ve sevdiklerinizi odullendirebileceginiz yer olarak tarif edebilirim.Ortam,servis, yemekler harika.Kisacasi bayıldım kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.Fotograf çekmek yerine yemekleri bir an önce yemeyi tercih ettim.

A warm, welcoming little place ran by two lovely Turkish women - plenty of free food inbetween our orders of fresh fish, sucuk and fried vegetables. Decor of the place is homely and pleasant and I’ll be there again next time I’m in Highbury!

Great food, good prices and fantastic service. Highly recommend the mixed plate

Perfect restaurant! Delicious food, plenty of vegan options, wonderful staff- jazz relaxing and the decor so aesthetic! The best Turkish restaurant I have been in London the last 15 years ✨

My partner and I went to have a quick bite to eat to celebrate a momentous occasion and stumbled across this turkish gem. The staff were kind, friendly and attentive, the vibe of the restaurant was fun and the food was delicious. Would highly recommend!

We were a group of 5. The atmosphere was great. The service was friendly and courteous. If you had a wish, they were immediately available. Wow! The food was fantastic, honest and authentic. We will be happy to come back!! Thank you If you love...

Went to this lovely restaurant with my partner. We were looking for lamb chops and ended up in this quirky little gem. The service was friendly and efficient, the food was fresh and tasty, in particular the lamb chops were juicy and tender and the...

We used to come here regularly when we lived in the area but haven’t been for over 20 years and were pleased to see it was still under the same ownership. Love the decor and our friends, who hadn’t been before, particularly enjoyed the starters...

Lovely little place. We arrived early for our booking after attending a football game locally. Greeted with a smile, very pleasant, welcoming and warm staff. Most of the food was of a good quality, some exceptional things like the chicken medallions and the kofte, other a little average (only reason for not giving 5*). Lovely decor too. Would visit again.

Amazing experience, SO delicious, the setting is beautiful and the staff welcoming and helpful. Highly recommended!

The food was delicious and the service was impeccable! Very authentic atmosphere. Highly recommended!

A little trip to London brought us into the area of Highbury just past Highbury Park, where hidden away between some other shops is this quaint little restaurant, named Iznik. Run by a lovely lady, who couldn’t have been more welcoming. From the minute you...

Amazing authentic food, really nice atmosphere and nice, welcoming staff! Highly recommend it!

The service was great and the lamb so delicious. Don’t forget about the borek either.

Delicious scran for vegans veggies and the rest xoxo

Lovely family restaurant with really friendly staff. Loved the decor and food was delicious. We’ll definitely be visiting again!

Celebrating the 88th birthday of a very dear friend in such a warm atmosphere with super friendly super cooking by the lady herself can't be bettered.

Great place for small sharing plates, we had one veggie and one vegan eating with us and there was lots to pick from! Would definitely recommend, very good value. Ali was very welcoming and ensured we had a perfect evening. Will be back!

Beautiful filling, healthy, hearty and bright tasting food. Many vegan options. Great service and friendly, warm atmosphere. Gorgeous interior- feels like an evening holiday. Thanks Ali!

The food I ate here was all freshly made and authentic Turkish food. We were even offered homemade yoghurt which was complimentary and delicious! Definitely recommend eating here.

Friendly and efficient service. Pleasing decor. Everything we tried was freshly made. Quality ingredients. Tasty and perfectly spiced. I will return on my next visit to the UK. Top ambiance. We stayed for more than 2 hours and had a great time. Mark Lewis and...

Absolutely delicious food, beautifully presented. Ali, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations for wine and desert. We now want to go to Turkey!

The most beautiful restaurant in London! Decorated exquisitely, music wonderfully curated by Ali to set the perfect atmosphere. All topped off with delicious Turkish food finished with a Yeni raki and baklava. 10/10 would recommend!

Food, company, service, price, atmosphere!!! Go and be prepared to be wowed! Neighbourhood restaurants as best as they come!

Amazing experience lovely food and staff! Great decor and atmosphere. Definitely recommend! :)

Having been away for a few years, we were looking forward to re-acquainting ourselves with out favourite restaurants (hoping they had survived lockdown). We were delighted to re-discover Iznik which had been refurbished and is now delightfully colourful and tastefully decorated. The food is excellent...

For many many years Iznik has for my wife and I been somewhere special and amazingly it still is. It's like home, but super refined cooking as well. It's still the same family and still the same mother who cooks. The wide range of familiar...

This is our 4th visit to Iznik over the last 4 years as we make a pilgrimage every time we come to London from Vancouver. John and his team deliver the most welcoming dining experience with the most delicious food to suit the pickiest of...

Stepping into Iznik is like stumbling into a whole different world. The restaurant decor is as vibrant as the flavors of its food, robust. We had a selection of starters, a couple mains, and incredible baklava to end. The food was fresh, served promptly, piping...