PROMOTION
EFES is the perfect escape. Buses may come and go on the road outside, but once ensconced inside Efes' welcoming embrace, Manchester seems many miles away. With its twinkling lights, its arches and its light and airy interior, Efes is like a summer holiday come to life.
In need of a little Mediterranean sunshine, I packed my bags and jetted off to Princess Street for Efes' midweek buffet. It was bustling with families and groups of friends of all ages, no doubt drawn by the wide range of food and the excellent value on offer.
For £10.90 per person, you can enjoy as much as you can manage. With such temptations as spinach and feta borek, mussel fritters, chickpea stew and BBQ lamb ribs, it's easy to go overboard.
My favourite dish was the chicken kofte which were moist and delicately spiced with a zingy freshness coming from the spring onion. However, there was so much to choose from, I was like a child in a sweet shop, picking a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and, ultimately, hoping to try as many different things as possible.
One highlight was the lasagne. Its golden crust was scattered with parmesan and gave way to reveal real treasure beneath; authentic, meaty goodness that was absolutely bursting with flavour.
Other standouts were the meatballs in a moreish tomato sauce, the fluffy rice, the breaded king prawns and the juicy lamb kofte which were dressed with onions and green peppers, the cracked wheat salad providing a lovely, balanced accompaniment.
The dishes are fresh. Really fresh. A parade of platters, piled high with new goodies direct from the kitchen, is almost constantly winding its way through the room, replenishing favourites and adding new choices.
But what makes Efes such an appealing place, is the way that each dish positively sings with Mediterranean and Turkish colour. With owner, Mehmet and chef, Necati, both from Istanbul, this authentic flavour is no surprise. Mehmet's own favourite dishes are the chicken kofte (evidently a man of good taste) and the aubergine salad, stuffed vine leaves and bulgur (cracked wheat salad) all of which bring back wonderful memories of growing up in Istanbul.
A restaurant serving up dishes from my childhood would force feed customers Findus Crispy Pancakes so Mehmet is lucky. But at Efes, we can all share in this good fortune, tasting the authentic flavours and traditional dishes that informed his youth even if we had to make do with angel delight and chicksticks.
Efes Buffet costs £10.90 per person and is available from Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 10pm (last booking 9pm) and on Sundays from midday until 10pm.
Also available Monday to Thursday lunchtime (Midday to 5pm) for £7.50 per person.
On Friday and Saturday evening, you can enjoy Efes Ulitmate Evenings with live entertainment, belly dancing and dance displays with set menu prices starting from £14.50 per person.
Find out more here.
