New Turkish restaurant Nora brings modern Anatolian cuisine to Canary Wharf this October

A new Turkish restaurant called Nora is scheduled to open this October in Canary Wharf. Launched by brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz, the venture aims to bring a modern interpretation of their country’s culinary traditions to the capital. Dishes are inspired by Istanbul and the wider Anatolian region, as part of a menu that blends authentic recipes with contemporary techniques.

Nora’s opening marks the Akyuz brothers’ latest project following their previous success with Café Beam, which has locations across London. The new restaurant will offer a variety of dishes ranging from street food-style appetisers to large sharing plates, with many elements paying homage to Ottoman-era cooking methods and flavours. Daniele Beltramo, formerly of Manteca, The Fat Duck and Chiltern Firehouse, has been appointed as general manager. The consultancy chef is a high-profile Turkish culinary figure, though their name has not yet been disclosed, and the head chef is also yet to be confirmed.

Despite the current mystery about the venue’s culinary leads, the menu is already in development. Breads such as sesame and caraway pide and grilled bazlama will be baked in-house daily and served with dips like süzme yoğurt with cucumber and dill, and hummus with house-made sucuk and pine nuts. Offerings will include a mix of classic and modern dishes, such as spiced lamb börek (stuffed filo pastry) with sivri pepper yoghurt, and hellim cheese with smoked olive oil and Epping honey. These will be served alongside more contemporary options such as crab rice dolma with preserved tomato and white carrot foam, and leek manti dumplings with hen of the woods mushrooms and aged kaşar cheese. Open-flame cooking will be central to the kitchen’s approach, where a robata grill will be used for preparing meats and seafood. Signature mains will feature Adana Köfte kebabs, a 1kg ex-dairy beef rib and line-caught turbot, with further choices such as Cornish lamb loin and a rotating catch of the day. Among the desserts are a künefe with orange blossom and walnut baklava with pistachio and fig leaf cream.

The restaurant’s interior has been designed by Ola Jachymiak Studio and will accommodate 130 guests indoors with an additional 30 seats on an outdoor terrace. The space is designed with mid-century modern furnishings, Anatolian textiles and soft lighting to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. A central bar will serve cocktails and regional wines, with ingredients such as raki, sumac, saffron and orange blossom incorporated into the drinks menu.

Food Desk

Bookings will open this autumn at Nora, 7 West Lane, Canary Wharf, London E22 3AA. For further information, visit the restaurant’s website here.