In Britain - June/July 2006

Where most modern restaurants might specialise in cuisine from a particular country, from French to Modern British to Vietnamese, Shish has opted for a more unusual approach.  Taking the ancient medieval Spice Roads between Europe and the Far East as their inspiration, the chefs at Shish’s three London restaurants have concocted a broad array of delicious mezze and shish kebab dishes form countries as diverse as Italy, Afghanistan, China and Turkey.

Whereas kebabs more usually summon up images of soggy pitta bread stuffed with unidentifiable meat, guzzled down by students after a night out on the town, those at Shish show just why they remain such a favourite foodstuff throughout the eastern Mediterranean and Asia.  With regular seasonal menus concentrating on specific regions along the Silk Routes, offering a chance to explore more variations on the theme and crisp, modern interiors, this is an altogether different dining experience. 

Tender meat freshly cooked while you wait, complimented with a broad range of hot and cold mezze starters and an intriguing array of beverages makes for an intriguing and tasty meal out.  With the new Bayswater branch, a pleasant 15 minute stroll from Kensington Gardens, one of their takeaways could also be a welcoming option for the summer months. 

Shish restaurants at:

71-75 Bishops Bridge Road, London, W2;

313-319 Old Street, London, EC1;

2-6 Station Parade, Willesden Green, London, NW2.

JAMES CLIVE MATTHEWS