Visit & Vibes

I was recently invited to Cyrus’s Kitchen in the Langside area, an authentic European and Turkish restaurant with a focus more on Italian style than Turkish cuisine. I always enjoy discovering new culinary experiences, so I eagerly set a date and made plans to visit.

Upon entering, I received a warm welcome and was promptly escorted to my table.

The interior appeared much more spacious than anticipated, and I was seated upstairs. Although there were other diners around, I managed to capture a photo when the area was empty; however, there are more seats available than what is shown in my photo.

Additionally, there is another seating area inside that can accommodate even more guests. As shown in the other picture above, the interior is beautifully designed, maintaining a cohesive and inviting theme.

Now, the challenging part was deciding what to order.

While we waited and perused the menu, we were served a delightful bread roll accompanied by some butter. It was exceptionally tasty and served as a lovely gesture.

Décor	★★★★★
Noise Level	★★★★★
Restaurant Temperature	★★★★★
Table Dressing	★★★★★
Restaurant Cleanliness	★★★★★
Background Music Level	★★★★★

The Food

Menu Choice

★★★★★

GOUJONS DI POLLO £n/a tonight (normally £9.00)
Chicken inner filets in crunchy golden breadcrumbs served with homemade sauce

I wanted to randomly pick something for my starter, and these chicken goujons caught my eye.

On arrival, the portion size was generous, and the presentation was appealing. The aroma from the chicken goujons was very nice, but it was time to dig in.

Taking a bite, the crispy breadcrumb outer was perfect, offering a light crunch, while the chicken was perfectly cooked and tender, creating a satisfying mouthful. The flavour was delicious, and paired with the homemade sauce, it added an extra layer of enjoyment.

Overall, this dish was perfectly cooked and flavorful. I really enjoyed it and am glad I chose it. It’s definitely something I would order again, as it was incredibly tasty.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Serving Size	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
Value for Money	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

CALAMARI FRITTI £n/a tonight (normally £10.00)
Tender calamari lightly seasoned and fried served with homemade sauce

I decided to try the calamari fritti as another starter, which is usually my go-to choice. I was hoping that the kitchen here would do it justice.

Upon arrival, the presentation immediately caught my attention. It was very pleasing, and once again, the portion size was generous. Sampling one of the calamari rings, I found the coating perfectly cooked, and the calamari itself extremely tender. This was particularly impressive because calamari can often be overcooked and rubbery, but here it was absolutely perfect.

From start to finish, this dish was thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re a fan of Calamari, I highly recommend trying it out as you won’t be disappointed.

It’s definitely something I would order again, as it was exceptionally tasty.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Serving Size	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
Value for Money	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

SPAGHETTI CARBONARA £n/a tonight (normally £18.00)
Savour the classic comfort of Carbonara Spaghetti with its rich, creamy sauce with Bacon

Whenever I visit an Italian restaurant for the first time, I make it a point to try their spaghetti carbonara. As you may have gathered, I’m a huge fan of the traditional Italian approach to spaghetti carbonara, without the use of cream.

However, I still decided to order it here to see if it was flavorful and if they opted for the cream version.

Upon arrival, I was struck first by the presentation, followed by the delightful aroma. It was truly impressive. I did notice that they used cream instead of the traditional method, but I was curious to taste it nonetheless.

I was pleasantly surprised by the flavour of this cream-based carbonara; it was incredibly tasty and one of the best versions I’ve had with cream.

The only minor suggestion I have is to perhaps make the bacon slightly crispier to add an extra texture to the dish.

However, overall, I was extremely impressed, and I found it to be exceptionally delicious. I could even see myself ordering it again, despite it being made with cream. That’s saying something, considering how particular I am about my carbonara.

Dish Flavour	★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Serving Size	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
Value for Money	★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★

TIRAMISU £n/a tonight (normally £8.00)

Another ritual of mine when visiting an Italian restaurant for the first time is to indulge in their tiramisu.

Tiramisu can be quite unpredictable in Italian eateries; it’s either mediocre, lacking in flavour, very good, or exceptional on rare occasions. I’ve only encountered one place that crafts an exceptional tiramisu, so I was eager to see how it compared here.

Upon arrival, once again, the presentation was lovely.

Personally, I didn’t think it needed the addition of melon slices as it already looked appealing, but that’s just my preference.

As I dug into the tiramisu, the first words out of my mouth after the initial bite were ‘wow,’ and I genuinely mean it. The texture was incredibly creamy, with a perfect balance of coffee flavour, and it remained delightfully moist throughout.

Each mouthful was consistently delicious, leading me to believe that it wasn’t just the first bite that impressed me.

From start to finish, the tiramisu was exceptional, and I can confidently say that I’ve now discovered my second Italian restaurant that serves outstanding tiramisu. Its creamy texture, perfect flavour balance, and overall delectable taste made me contemplate having another slice or even two.

That’s how irresistible it was. I highly, highly, highly recommend it.

Dish Flavour	★★★★★
Appearance	★★★★★
Serving Size	★★★★★
Aroma	★★★★★
Value for Money	★★★★★
MY RATING:	★★★★★

Final Thoughts…

Firstly, I want to extend a big thank you to the hosts for the invitation and for the delicious food. As you’ve just read, it was truly excellent.

From the moment I walked in until the end of the evening, the service was impeccable. The staff were all incredibly friendly, and their warmth extended not just to me because of the invitation but to all the customers tonight. The owner was particularly delightful, and there’s a photo of my visit with him on their Instagram, so feel free to take a look if you’re curious.

I honestly can’t find fault with anything tonight. If I were to nitpick, I might suggest offering a more traditional carbonara without cream and perhaps having crispier bacon or using pancetta. However, I understand that many people in the UK enjoy it with cream, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Due to the exceptional service and the delicious food, I’m adding this restaurant to my list of top places to visit. I believe it offers excellent value for money for paying customers, and everything surpassed my expectations. If you decide to check it out, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Service / Staff	★★★★★
Ambience	★★★★★
Time between Courses	★★★★★
Halal Friendly	★★★★★
Vegan Friendly	★★★★★
Overall Value for Money	★★★★★
MY OVERALL RATING	★★★★★

It’s important to note that all the views and opinions expressed in my blog posts and vlogs are entirely personal, have not been influenced in any way and reflect my individual perspective. I value authenticity and honesty above all, and my content is a genuine reflection of my thoughts and experiences.