Elif Turkish BBQ

Elif Turkish BBQ promotes itself as the home of contemporary Turkish cuisine in the city, and it is hard to argue. The smell of grilled meat, a nice range of sharing dishes and sides, friendly staff and a nice atmosphere brings a little bit of the Bosporus to Liverpool, and it’s a place that sees a large proportion of new customers quickly become regulars.

The Vibe

Bold Street has so many different types of cuisine, from all over the world, that it is hard to stand out and entice new customers inside. The exterior signage is yellow, so immediately stands out from the crowd, to us though this isn’t the best colour to associate with food. Don’t let that actually put you off though, it’s worth walking in and taking a look at the food on offer. The meat, fish, and vegetables being grilled is a sight (and smell) to behold, and makes for a salivating experience as you take your seat and peruse the menu. The tables are warm and inviting too, and a nice little touch is that all the crockery and glassware has the Elif name and logo branding on it.

The Food

There is a lot of choice on the menu at Elif, but you shouldn’t be daunted by it, instead looking at it as an opportunity to try a few different things that you otherwise might not look at. The range of cold mezes includes stuffed vine leaves, hummus, olives, feta cheese salad, and stuffed red peppers. The hot mezes include the soup of the day, borek (which is an incredibly delicious pastry filled with spices and mince meat, and is a staple dish throughout Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans), spicy Turkish sausage, and garlic mushrooms. You could have an amazing meal by just choosing a load of these and sharing with the table. The main courses are a great showcase of all that is best about a Turkish grill, with char-grilled chicken, lamb, prawns, and vegetables in different guises, as well as regional dishes such as Adana, Beyti, and Tavuk Kanadi.

The Price

Overall the price is really good for what you get at Elif, with most of the main dishes priced between £10 and £13, and the hot and cold mezes mostly £4-ish. They also have a great offer between 12pm and 5pm every day at the Bold Street restaurant, offering two courses for just £10.95.