Food for the Bard (Tas Pide)

Member Name: grahamt

Product:	Tas Pide
Date:	21/07/08 (107 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Value for money, good food

Disadvantages: A bit out-of-the-way

You may remember from my recent review of our visit to see A Midsummer's Night Dream at The Globe on the Southbank in London, that before we saw the performance we had a meal at a nearby restaurant. The restaurant in question was Tas Pide, a Turkish restaurant literally just across the road from the entrance to The Globe on New Globe Walk.

Tas Pide is one of the Tas chain of restaurants, which consists of some that advertise themselves under the Tas name alone and others that are named Tas Pide. The difference in name appears to reflect the difference in emphasis in the menu. The Pide reference is to a particular Turkish dish which to all intents should be described as a Turkish Pizza.

Indeed, it may well be fair to say that the Pizza is the Italian version of the Pide. The names sound similar when you say them rather than when you spell them and it is true to say that much Western cuisine, especially that of the Greeks, has been heavily influenced by Turkish dishes. Perhaps that is in fact the origin of the name of the Italian dish?

The Pide differs from the Pizza in a couple of ways. Firstly, its shape is similar to that of the Zulu war shield. The restaurant describes it as boat shaped. The analogy to the boat comes from the second characteristic; the edges are turned up in order to turn the bread base into a container.

The Tas Pide at The Globe appears to have been converted from a small warehouse, as is common in what were once commercial trading areas of London, especially those close to the Thames. The restaurant is entered from the street up a short flight of stairs. Here, in front of you you see a floor where it appears to be wall-to-wall with tables. It is true that they are tightly packed in and you certainly become friendly with your neighbour!

However, although it would appear that there isn't much room, in fact the atmosphere that this creates is cosy and good-natured. You would do well though not to try to widen your space with your elbows; it probably wouldn't be appreciated. Instead, strike up a conversation. It seems to come naturally and everyone seems to go with the flow. It's that sort of place.

The owners recognise that many of their customers will be departing to attend a performance across the road. We were asked when we came in and in recognition that time may be at a premium they will do their best to make sure that you are served and on your way so as not to be late for the Bard. Not, that is, that the service seems rushed; you take as much time as you want but when you need them they will be there to serve you.

A full range of dishes is on offer; the list is not restricted to just pide. However, if pide is your choice, as it was on both occasions when we ate there, you have a choice of toppings/fillings as divers as apricots, cheese and peppers (Kayisili), diced lamb and peppers (Kusbasili) and sardines, red onion and olives (Sardalyarli). My personal favourite is Pastirmali: oak-smoked cured beef with charleston pepper, fresh tomatoes and topped off with an egg (optional).

But, you don't have to have pide. They also do a range of vegetarian dishes for those of the meat-free persuasion as well as several fish and seafood offerings. Their halibut with fresh tomatoes, garlic and orange zest, cooked in white wine, my wife tells me is "yummy".

As you will have gathered therefore, although Turkey is at least nominally a Muslim country, though today the secularists hold the sway, that doesn't mean that alcohol isn't on the menu. They have a good range of wines on offer and I can recommend the house rose. There is also beer for those who prefer.

Prices are quite reasonable; a typical pide will cost you around £7. There is much competition in the area and so prices have to be reasonable. This is possibly the reason for the apparent success of Tas Pide, that and the general quality of the food.

I can certainly recommend Tas Pide, whether or not you are on the Southbank for the Bard. The restaurant is just off of the Silver Jubilee Walk which runs along the south bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge to Victoria and then across the Thames. The whole walk is 14 miles so I don't expect you to do it all in a day but, if you are covering the southern stretch, what better place to take a break and some refreshment to recharge you for the rest of the journey?

Summary: A good Turkish restaurant convenient for The Globe