F M Mangal, Camberwell
As I was planning the South London Food Trip with @siepert (do check it out, it’s going to be an amazing weekend), it occurred to me that some of the restaurants I visit the most are the ones I’ve never written about. Having worked in Camberwell on and off for the past 8 years I can confidently say that lunch options are, to put it mildly, limited. F M Mangal has therefore been the staff lunch outing destination of choice as long as I can remember. It will always be the case that some colleagues are more adventurous eaters than others, and while the idea of subjecting some of them to the chilli and/or offal content of the dishes at Silk Road makes me guffaw, F M Mangal Turkish charcoal grill has always been a safe option.
I know not of anyone who has ever less than loved the pomegranate dippy onion garlic appetiser, coming as it does with fluffy spice smeared flat bread and charred, sumac crusted veg (top photo).
The dippy bits and bobs, although nothing to write home about, are soothing in their familiarity; thick garlicky yoghurt and plastic pink Barbie taramasalata. The tobacco in the background doesn’t come with, I’m afraid. The lunch deal however, is my favourite thing about F M Mangal.
It includes a grilled meat skewer of your choice (well you know, one they have on the menu; no Ortolan), a little dome of buttery rice and a few salads (always very fresh; my favourite is the kohlrabi with again, lots of sumac) and, one of my favourite bits, a blistered mild chilli. A dollop of their lovely garlic and chilli sauces on the side plus a drink and you’ve spent £6, including the bread and pom dip. Such good value.
The disadvantage of lunchtime visiting is that one does smell of a charcoal grill for the rest of the day. That could be seen as a disadvantage I suppose but personally, I rather enjoy it…
F M Mangal
54 Camberwell Church Street
London
SE5 8QZ
Tel: 0207 701 6677
Category: Restaurant Reviews | Tags: F M Mangal Camberwell, F M Mangal review, Turkish food Camberwell, Turkish food South East London 16 comments »
October 16th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
My husband would jump all over me if I came home smelling like a charcoal grill. So I can’t see that as a disadvantage!
October 16th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Ha ha! Perhaps someone could bottle it…
October 16th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Thanks for the review. I’ve lived just round the corner from here since spring and have been looking to expand my Peckham/Camberwell eatery repertoire beyond Silk Road, Ganapati and No.67. Living in Dalston previously we had some good Turkish options, glad to hear there is somewhere decent round here!
October 16th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
It is great! Avoid the fish though…
October 17th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Silk Road on one side of the road, FM Mangal on the other. Camberwell rules! I prefer it there to the places in Dalston personally. I always go for the lamb saslik with salad
October 18th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Hey Helen, not sure if you’ve tried Meze Mangal, Lewisham Way. I always have a great bite when I go here, they have some great dips and of course it’s a complete grilled meat overload…..which I luv! Next time your over that way u should check it out. Xx
October 18th, 2012 at 11:34 am
I have! Loved it. I think it’s probably slightly better than F M Mangal on the grilled meats and salads actually. Shame they don’t have that pom dip eh!
October 18th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Excellent lunch deal at Mangal. Must try Silk Road too. One great thing about London. It’s ideal for a lazy traveller as you can eat round the world in one city
October 18th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
You will LOVE Silk Road!
October 19th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Jessica – the begging bowl (Thai) on Bellenden Road is pretty decent. The crooked well has very good reviews too.
October 19th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Begging Bowl is great. Crooked Well isn’t. 2 great reviews in one for you there!
October 29th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Oh god, that bread. I dream about that bread sometimes. As a veggie I always get the Imam Bayildi which comes with a portion of that bread about the size of a pillowcase. It’s probably the best bread I’ve ever eaten.
October 29th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
How is it? I love that dish but I always get suckered in by the meat. Obviously agreed on the bread…
October 31st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
This does look amazing, will have to give it a try! And I know you’re not sold on Crooked Well, but I had the best Scotch egg I’ve ever eaten there: soft boiled so the yolk oozes out, crispy pancetta on the side AND a tiny bowl of Heinz tomato soup for dipping. Not the haute-est of cuisines but I totally loved it.
October 31st, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Apparently the burger is now much improved too. I must go back!
November 6th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I have lived in Camberwell (definitely more on the camberwell/peckham border actually) for over a year now and STILL haven’t gone to FM Mangal despite so many recommendations. But super glad to find out the Lunch option is such a steal! thanks