I love how theater-like this place was! The food was wonderful, and the waiter was polite as could be. We didn't get to experience the entertainment, but it was definitely a different experience regardless and we loved it. read more

Sarastro, is extremely lush with a stunning themed layout. Dine in the balcony booths amongst venetian, byzantine or ottoman design and if you're lucky enough to book a table on a Monday evening then you will dine amongst keen opera-setters, with live opera singers in the restaurant. The menu is modern Turkish and therefore great for all taste buds.. You must book in advance to request a booth, the blue room at the back of the restaurant is my usual spot.. ask for it!! Check out the toilets as they are the most interesting in the capital.. read more

I found this place when out for a walk with my mum (she was curious as to what the place was with all the flowers and plants on outside), and I'm very glad that I did. Sarastro's is not your usual restaurant, with everything from the fantasy-land decoration, silk napkins, and the friendly Turkish staff (especially the owner) giving it a really authentic feeling. Both times I've been (once with my mum and two friends, and another time on a date) I went on the night they had a live string quartet and an opera singer, accompanied by two dancers who do their best to invite people up to dance (I was too shy to join them though!). It really is about the experience as much as it is about the food, though the food is equally fantastic. I had their three-course set menu (£32.45) with the fabulously tender Lamb Anatolian (slow cooked lamb shank served with mixed vegetables and keskek, traditional Anatolian creamed wheat) as my main the first time I went, and it was an easy choice to have it again the next time I went (on my date). The restaurant really is perfect for anything from a date or an easy-going dinner with friends, as the mezze starters to share is perfect to try exotic foods together, and the vibe is very energetic in the restaurant. Expect to pay around £90 for two if you're having wine and their set menu, though for a special occasion it's most definitely worth it. Although I haven't been to the restaurant when they haven't had live opera and dancers, I see no reason why you wouldn't book a table on that night, it really adds an awesome dimension to the dinner. read more

Sarastros is an Opera inspired restaurant offering something different and quirky compared to your usual restaurants. The mass of foliage and shrubbery outside the restaurant gives a really exotic and extravagant first impression and when you get inside it's a feast for the eyes. There are drapes hanging everywhere, gold ceilings, trinkets, balconies that are beautifully decorated and carved to sit in. If you are going on a date or with your partner I would recommend requesting a private balcony as it creates such a magical and romantic eating experience. They have large balconies as well for bigger groups. I recently went to a friend's birthday meal and sitting up looking over this incredibly flamboyant restaurant is a really unique experience. The food however doesn't match up with the décor and atmosphere this restaurant offers. It certainly wasn't bad but when you compare the dishes to the surroundings there is little correlation-the food is quite basic, not full of flavours and scents as the restaurant is which is a bit of a shame because if this place had the whole package it would be a regular stop off of mine. Having said that I would definitely go back just to be able to see and experience the restaurant again. It is a definite must see! read more

Sarastro Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - London, XGL

Really great place. I took a girl there and she said it was the best restaurant she had been to in London. The entrance is decorated with flowers. The decor is the most elaborate you'll find. The food was yummy, and the singer was just about the coolest cat you'll ever meet. He went around table to table, shaking hands and singing. I want that man's job! Really great restaurant. read more

Don't get drawn in by the fancy lights and curtains. Their food doesn't even compare to airplane food.

How does this place keep getting good reviews? Admittedly, this restaurant is all about the overall experience. The decor is over-the-top. We thought it would justify our visit, but upon closer inspection, the decor was cheap and resembled an amateur stage set. The food was pretty bad. I had a simple pasta in red sauce, but it tasted like it could have been a frozen meal. There are sauces that come from jars in the supermarket that taste better than it did. It was very bland apart from the saltiness. My husband had lamb which was marginally better than the pasta, but still a far cry from good. Probably somewhere between bad and mediocre. Because my husband had ordered part of a prix fixe menu, he was stuck with having dessert after the dismal main course. The chocolate cake he got was dry and not very flavourful. In addition to the poor food, the service was extremely slow even though the restaurant only had about 6 tables occupied. There was constantly waitstaff floating around, but they never seemed to be doing anything. The last thing that really stood out during our dining experience at Sarastro was really gross. After our table had been cleared and we were waiting for the bill, we noticed a mouse scurrying across the floor and hiding under one of the draped curtains. Clearly, not a sign of a good restaurant. I know that restaurants are bound to attract mice to some extent, but when they show up in the dining area, one can't help but start to wonder how big of a problem they might be having in the kitchen and pantry areas... read more

Terrible quality food at high prices makes this otherwise fun looking place with live performances a no-go. We tried the humus, burek and pasta before leaving to have food elsewhere read more

I am just not even sure what to say about this place! The decor is pretty impressive (like a cross between some eccentric old lady's loft and an old opera theatre junk sale). The restaurant itself is quite dark and very warm in summer which gives it a claustrophobic feel. We were seated upstairs in the tiny little loft areas which was pretty cool but kind of made you feel like you were sitting in a boat! The menu was a bit random and the food only ok but they have Opera singers in and the atmosphere makes the place worth a visit at least once! read more

One of the best restaurants around Covent Garden, really liked the decor and friendly staff. Will definitely come back!!

I was brought here on my first night in London by a fellow opera singer who hangs out here regularly. It's a charming, fun place to hang out, bright and colorful, and although we seem to have missed the singing (we were there on a Thursday night), we much enjoyed the drinks and noshes provided. I can imagine after a performance at Royal Opera or ENO that this place would be a riot, much like O'Neals is in NYC (across from Lincoln Center - THE place everyone goes!). Oh, don't miss the bathroom, or the walls on the way..... read more

Very atmospheric venue, great decor as well. Not sure what makes the food turkish and to be honest, it's not that great either. Shame. Service was also a bit slow. Live entertainment and decor are the main attributes. read more

Go for the atmosphere, stay for the food and do not leave without trying the pumpkin creme brulee! I bring a lot of visiting friends and family here to give them a taste of some of the strange and interesting places London has to offer. The service is usually somewhat poor but if you can ignore that and just enjoy the food and the fun surroundings you'll have a great time. read more

Went with eleven others, friends & family and upon entering found the decor to be most unusual and pleasing. Like stepping back in time and very quaint. Some might find it a little claustrophobic, especially in the upper areas, but this added to the ambience. The food was extremely good and the dancing great. However, as the evening progressed members of the group used the toilets and came back disgusted. In both the ladies & gents the walls are totally covered with paintings depicting scenes of outrageous sexual activities; more suited to a brothel. The painting were extreme and simply pornographic. The age range of our party of twelve was between 33 & 68 years and only two thought that the paintings were in order; albeit everyone agreed that they were concerned should children/young persons view them. I later discovered that toilets are provided for under 16's; but none of our group spotted these on the night and had youngsters of been with us, they would have simply used the 'ordinary' toilets. What began as a pleasant experience ended on a very sad and disturbing note; with ten out of the twelve saying that the toilets would mean that they would not return to the premises again or recommend it to friends etc. I see from prior reviews that the owner states that the toilets were so decorated by the previous owners and so he left them alone! Why? read more

Went there for lunch a couple of saturdays ago. The mains were decent. I had seafood linguine, and it was a proper italian "primo" portion. So any gentlemen - or ladies, let's not discriminate - of generous appetites, beware, you shall need to order a second plate or a meat/fish "secondo". The pasta was nicely cooked, properly al dente if I remember correctly, and the seafood was fresh and delicious. My friend had an oven-cooked lamb dish which smelled divine, and she said it tasted lovely as well. Our disappointment came at dessert. And this is what has lost this place a few stars. Excited about the pasta, I ordered tiramisu! My favourite dessert. Now thing is, my boyfriend is italian, and I have often made this at home for us or for friends. And my tiramisu is good. And I know what the original ingredients, assembly, and so on are like. So when a slice of cheesecake-looking tarte with some cement-block-like base was offered, I shivered. It honestly looked like it came out of a box from tesco's (not even M&S). I tried it. I think I made it to 3 reluctant "how bad can it be" bites before I gave up entirely. There was no mascarpone (that I could taste), no savoiardi, barely any coffee.... It was a mildly caffeinated synthetic semi-stale cheesecake! Most emphatically NOT tiramisu. Fail... If this was a single occasion, that would be fine. But my friend got a chocolate cake, and that too seemed like something from a tesco's box. Honestly. I'm no pastry chef, yet I make better at home! Anyone can afford some real chocolate, surely! So Sarastro.... Go for the pasta, and most definitely AVOID DESSERT. With a cheaper main, a glass of wine and a dessert my bill came up to around £20. A bit much for a plate of pasta, home wine and i'd-rather-eat-my-slippers dessert! My friend's was about the same, as she chose the 2-courses for £15 (or was it £13?) lunchtime special and had wine as well. Oh, and if you go, insist to be seated in one of the high alcoves that resemble opera balconies. It's warmer there, and the door does seem to have a nasty habit of being left ajar and the cold wind finding its way to whatever part of your anatomy is most exposed to it! And, most importantly, bring a camera!! This is a lovely place for pictures, with rich red and gold decor, and random theatrical paraphernalia scattered all over the walls. read more

This restaurant has the most stunning layout. The theme is based on the theatre, so it has balcony booths and the walls are covered in paintings, lights and crazy decorations. The menu is varied and affordable and will suit most tastes. You must go, especially if you love the theatre! read more

The lamb is sooooo good with the source . And the decoration is really special and like a theatre.

Sarastro's has been a favourite haunt of mine since it opened in 1996, although I have to admit the variety and standard of food has been on the decline for the past 5 or so years. What you are paying for is the ambience, the experience of dining somewhere so different and quirky, and the entertainment (live opera on certain nights - it changes as to which night so check before you book). Service can be painfully slow. However, the starters and main courses are okay (as opposed to excellent as they used to be), desserts are not worth ordering - unless you go for the fresh fruit. Lamb is cooked well here, the pasta is okay. Worth a visit if just to get away from the 'same old' restaurant looking places. read more

Memorable evening, came here on a Monday night to celebrate a family 21st and the entertainment scored well, with rousing and lively string quartet who also danced a bit and 2 blond opera singers moving from table to table, singing sad or enticing arias and others. The decor inside and out is excellent, lavish, extreme, and definitely quirky, the layout amazing with a long room transformed into 2 layers of lavish and gilded theatrical boxes. The food was plenteous (or my fellow diners did not eat much?) and Turkish so it was tasty and enjoyable. All in all a great evening for enjoying wine, good conversation and plenty of music. Prices are not cheap, but I wasn't paying.. read more

A very nice place to take friends for a meal. It looks like a theatre and sometimes has singers. A fun place to go for a night out which is different. read more

We wanted to try something different and looked up for this Turkish place.. Deliciously Mediterranean decor with live music.. Good food... . Polite staff.. Service a tad slow may be due to it being a Saturday night.. Overall had an amazing night.. read more

Favourite pre theatre place in London- amazing booths up spiral staircases, bric a brac decorations, Moulin Rouge style decadence but also with a great, well priced menu. Must visit. read more

Our wonderful dinner was soured by a very discourteous hostess. Food and server were great during our meal, but as we finished dessert and waited for our coffee, the hostess approached and said they had a large party coming in, and could we "please pay and leave in the next 5 minutes." Never have I had such an uncomfortable and rude encounter with restaurant staff, particularly having spent over $100 and not finished my meal. Our polite server asked us to move to another table, and our coffee was complimentary, but the hostess' lack of courtesy towards a paying customer would make me reconsider a return visit. read more

Can't recommend this place enough!!! The atmosphere and decor is extremely unique and I was made to feel very welcome by all of the staff. We didn't get to eat much because our friend didn't feel very well (before we ate), but the waiter brought food and drink to make her feel better before we ordered (which he did not charge for). We had some starters which were all SO DELICIOUS. We couldn't stay for mains but judging by the starters I feel it would taste equally amazing. Would like to especially give a review to the waiter with the glasses who brought our sick friend some fresh lemon juice which ultimately made her feel better. The staff were all very accommodating and I had a very good time there. Would definitely go again! read more

We went to Sarastro last Friday: the local it's very impressive seen from the outside windows, or the entrance door: it is like a surrealistic mediterranean fantasy, an ideal place between Italy and Turkey with its lodges, carpets, golden decorations and lighs. Some opera's music enhance the atmosphere, and it looks very "luxurious". When you are inside and setted at your table, things change a bit, and you understand that the luxurious facade (there is a rolls royce always parked in front of the door) it's only a facade, like in a operetta theater. During our dinner a crappy orchestra (romanian i presume) started playing touristic songs begging for money from the customers...and you understand that Sarastro it is only a funny tourist trap. Dishes are on the average side: some sauces for starters, hummus, tzatziki, olive, and the main courses are not a big selection: chicken, lamb, roast duck, grilled salmon or vegetable pasta. Some customers on the lodges were drunk and so wine and tomatoes fell down to the downside tables (and people), and it was not so funny. But after all i think that Sarastro still is an experience you should do in London, better for a big happy crew of friends than for an elegant soirèe or a romantic dinner. When the opera airs play in the restaurant the atmosphere is much intriguing than the romanian orchestra. Go there, enjoy the local, take some photos, drink some wine and be happy, but be prepared to pay for the atmosphere, not for food. read more

Absolutely the worst service I have yet to experience in London (generally bad service) . Food and experience is great, but three hours for a mediocre meal? read more

Admittedly the layout is stunning, but the food is strictly for those sucked in by a novelty tourist trap. Unadventurous and overpriced mediterranean staples including hummous served with stale bread. Service was slow, and the tacky commerciality of it all left an even worse taste in my mouth than the below-average food. read more

A fun place that is great to bring friends and groups! I have been each and every time I am in London. The food is good...and is a place I often speak about... read more

This is theatre central and this restaurant fits perfectly.It is not for everyone but the food is good ,the service efficient and the price as reasonable as you expect in central London. read more

The ambience promises much and the show (the singing and music on Suns/Mons) delivers. So its such a shame that the food is so poor. Its a pale shadow of what delicious Middle Eastern food can be, as exemplified by countless Lebanese and Turkish places across the capital. If this restaurant could only sharpen up on that, it would be unbeatable. read more

If you only eat one place in London make sure it's here. The location, especially good for pre-theatre or post-shopping, and the opulent interiors are unmissable. See other reviews about the pornographic toilets which may need to avoid by children or the easily offended but all adds to the sheer wonder of the place. Food is of Turkish influence and really good, with good value set menus. For special occassions ask for a box when booking. read more

This place used to be amazing but now is bland as can be. Only the decor remains interesting, the food is second rate and tiny portions...we were still hungry after finishing our meal and the price has gone up considerably yet the food portions are smaller! Just peek into the windows if you need to experience the place, the waiting staff are so bad that there is no actual experience to be had there... read more

Please don't bother going here. Service is appalling, food is even worse. Bland and unimaginative. Indeed, most amateur cooks could do better. The waiting staff could not explain the dishes on the menu nor could they explain which two courses went together as a "specially priced 2-course dish". As a native Londoner and a seasoned restaurant goer, I will never return. The hummus was the worst I have ever tasted. Most of the food had no taste, we were not offered grated Parmesan or black pepper with the pasta. We were not offered milk or cream with either our tea or coffee, the portions were small. We felt even more "ripped off" after they explained that our mains weren't on the "special 2-course menu" and so each item was charged separately. We went for a friend's birthday and we left unsatisfied and unhappy at the overpriced bland food. Those who came for a large party seemed to enjoy the drinks and didn't care about the quality of food, but we had gone for the food. Service charge was £9 for four people, however they deducted this but nothing was taken off for the poor food. Decor did nothing to create a good ambiance. Toilets were up stairs past the kitchen serving area. read more