Lokkum South Woodford

I came here for my 21st birthday and it was hands down the best birthday I’ve ever had. The service was so fast and perfect, all items came out on time, we never had a problem and if we asked for something they would bring it to us straight away. The fact that the whole restaurant was so busy, yet they still have perfect service and gave the best experience. It didn’t even feel busy to me until I walked around and saw. I was never sat there waiting. They really can handle so many customers at once. I’ve eaten out many times and seen busy restaurants struggle, but not this one! The atmosphere was so welcoming and wholesome, they put a big sparkling candle on my cake when they didn’t have to, they reserved a huge spot for my party and put so much effort into this. The area they gave my party was so peaceful and serene. I loved it. The effort was really noticeable, the waiters were so respectful. They followed all our instructions perfectly, the presentation of food was amazing! The way the restaurant looked was amazing. The food was cooked and seasoned so well! I don’t usually have lamb chops in Turkish restaurants but this lamb chop was so succulent, all the meat on the platter was soft and appetising. And the live show was spectacular. The lady who performed was very kind! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. It’s perfect for parties and big gatherings. I’m sure you will leave with a smile on your face, just like I did. They are all so hospitable and didn’t rush us at all. It felt very relaxing and peaceful here. Thank you to everyone who gave my family such a wonderful experience. I took mostly videos because I wanted to catch the full beautiful place, so I will screenshot some of those to share here.

We came here for my husband’s birthday and overall the food was really good. Fresh, tasty and nicely presented. However, we specifically chose Lokkum because their Instagram mentioned live performances on Friday and Saturday nights, which felt perfect for a special occasion. Unfortunately, when we arrived we were told that the performance had been cancelled last minute. It was quite disappointing as I had looked through many options and decided on Lokum because of the vibe and the promise of live entertainment. So while the food and atmosphere were nice, I left feeling a bit let down that what was advertised wasn’t delivered, especially on a night that was meant to feel extra special.

Felt mixed emotions coming here. Returned after a few years and it just didn’t feel the same. We went at 9:45 (the restaurant closes at 11, the kitchen, at 10:15) and felt extremely rushed. Waiters seemed annoyed when we wanted to order additional drinks, were reluctant to give us the dessert menu because ‘the kitchen was about to close.’ With such a high service fee, you’d want to experience better service! We paid the service fee, of course, but felt the luxury of dining was spoiled by the constant reminders of closing time - even though we’d had ordered as soon as sitting down and left by 10:30. I wouldn’t recommend, only because I have paid the same bill at much nicer restaurants, with much better service and this wouldn’t be one I’d return to again. On a positive note, the lamb Adana was wonderful, everything else, sub-par. Also, mocktails were not good!