THE FOOD REVIEW: Turkish restaurant Bite Express at 63a Bartholomew Street in Newbury

On Bartholomew Street just by the railway bridge, there is a small and homely Turkish restaurant that opened just under a year ago.

Bite Express is owned and managed by Tolga Sahin and his wife Azize, who both come from Istanbul.

As well as cooking all the food by himself, Tolga serves his customers throughout the week, with Azize chipping in when service gets busier on the weekend.

Mr Sahin decided to launch his own business after working various stints in restaurants around Newbury.

Initially trained as a manager, Tolga ended up stepping into the kitchen to cook as well when needs arose.

After years working for others, he decided he would set up his own restaurant so he could cook and serve his own food that he was proud of.

Bite Express has a menu of Turkish and Mediterranean staples, all coming from recipes Tolga learnt from his country and his family, particularly his mother.

As well as the food, the beverages reflect his national pride as well.

I visited Bite Express on a weekday lunchtime, and to start I was treated to a glass of some Turkish wine (glass £6.50 and bottle £22). It was a full-bodied red with bold flavours and a hint of spice.

A reasonable price for a tasty wine. It was right up my alley!

To start I enjoyed a mezze platter, which contained flatbread, soslu patlican (aubergine in tomato and garlic sauce), sigara boregi (crispy cheese rolls), dry tzatziki and hummus.

All homemade, the different mezze plates were perfect for dipping and diving into, whether you’re sharing with a friend or you are just in a hungry mood.

The crispy cheese rolls, along with the flatbread, were perfect for dunking into the different dishes.

Instead of the more typical more sauce-like tzatziki you’d expect, dry tzatziki is a Turkish variant that is made with less water and more herbs. This results in a thicker, chunkier dip with stronger flavours. You’ll need a fork to get all the goodness on your flatbread!

The smooth and tasty hummus was what you’d expect from the classic dip, and the aubergine in tomato and garlic sauce was rich and flavourful.

For the main course I was lucky enough to try two dishes. I was served the mixed platter (£25) and iskender (meatball £18, lamb £24 or Chicken £19), a meat dish which is served on a bed of flatbread with yoghurt, tomato sauce and paprika butter.

Tolga treated me to all three meats on the iskender, and it was delightful.

The garlicky, tomato sauce paired with the creamy yoghurt were great accompaniments to the selection of scrumptious meats, and the soft, thick flatbread at the bottom tied it all together.

The mixed platter was a massive, mouth-watering plate of various meats, including lamb chops, chicken and meatballs.

It was an amazing selection, and a sure choice for any carnivore who likes Mediterranean spiced meats off the grill.

Despite the amazing starter and main course, I still managed to enjoy some lovely baklava (£6) and a cup of strong, earthy Turkish coffee (£3).

Bite Express is a hidden gem within Newbury’s culinary landscape. The small restaurant might be slightly tucked away from the centre of town, but it’s definitely worth a trip.

Tolga is a gracious and welcoming host, and is as skilful in the kitchen as he is serving customers.

Be sure to add Bite Express to the list if you’re a fan of Turkish and Mediterranean flavours.

It’s a real knockout!