Last Updated on May 12, 2026
Contemporary Turkish Dining in Mayfair
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Chargal sits proudly at 11 Berkeley Street, right in the heart of Mayfair, just moments from Green Park station. Recently opened, this contemporary Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant offers a glamorous take on the flavours of Turkey and the wider Eastern Mediterranean.
Arriving midweek, on the day of a Tube strike, you might expect the area to be unusually quiet. That certainly wasn’t the case at Chargal. The restaurant, larger than it first appears, stretching back through a series of distinct spaces, was impressively buzzy, filled with a young Mayfair crowd undeterred by the travel chaos.
The scene is very Mayfair, multi-storied (although we didn’t venture beyond the ground floor), with a clubby soundtrack and a sleek interior. At the front is a long, glistening bar, walls are painted in warm coral and terracotta tones, along with plush velvet banquettes, dark wood furnishings, and bold gold pendant lighting. In one area, there’s a floor-to-ceiling wine display behind a glass window.
Towards the rear, an open kitchen where you can watch the open fire cooking and take in the striking display of fresh fish, always a tempting sight, and one that immediately sharpens my appetite.
We began the evening with a lychee martini, with Tanqueray gin, Monin lychee liqueur, and a touch of elderflower cordial. Served with a single, crystal-clear ice cube topped with a pretty flower. And an amuse-bouche of arancini-style balls made with rice and white beans, crisp, light and golden.
The menu blends traditional Turkish flavours with a distinctly London sensibility, while still delivering everything you’d hope for from a Turkish restaurant. The staff managed our dietary requirements with ease, helpfully adjusting a few dishes due to food intolerances.
I love a mixed mezze; it’s such a great start to a meal. Here at Chargal, we were brought a generous spread of flatbreads and crunchy crudités alongside a selection of dips. There was kuru cacık, a cool, refreshing mix of yoghurt, cucumber, olive oil, and herbs, similar to tzatziki, alongside muhammara, with roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, and pomegranate molasses – rich and intense with a gentle sweetness. And an excellent, silky humous completed the trio.
From the hot mezze – chunky slices of halloumi were chargrilled and drizzled with honey, sour cherry and a sprinkle of sesame, simple, but good alongside a plate of manti – small, soft minced lamb dumplings, remarkably tasty nuggets served in a smoky yoghurt with a hint of Aleppo chilli oil.
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten such a jumbo-sized prawn, this one was quite magnificent – super fresh and meaty, dripping with fenugreek garlic butter… delicious!
And for fungi lovers, the seasonal skewer of meaty mushrooms fulfilled the brief, served in a rich, earthy mushroom sauce.
On the side, properly hand-cut chips, tossed in garlic oil and a sprinkle of zatar. And for something fresh and crunchy, a tabla salata – a rather good combo of picked red onion, apple and sumac, and a shepherd’s salad with tomatoes, onions, cucumber, sumac and pomegranate molasses.
We honestly didn’t need dessert, but who can resist Turkish puddings? The Chargal baklava was a light and delicious version of the classic, filled with pistachios and served with a generous dollop of hibiscus-infused vanilla ice cream.
The irmik helvası arrived in a glass, a layered mix of semolina halva, clotted cream, and ice cream. It was new to me, but I absolutely loved it.
Chargal is sure to be a hit with the Mayfair crowd, whether for a romantic dinner, a gathering with friends, a work event, or a family celebration. It’s polished, and the food is excellent.
Chargal, 11 Berkeley St, Greater London, W1J 8DS
Phone: 020 3397 2277
Check out our New Restaurants in London – Tried and Tested
Leave a Reply