Former Ottolenghi chef to open Istanbul-inspired restaurant in October

Chef Esra Muslu has found a site in London's Soho to open Zahter restaurant in October, inspired by her native Istanbul.

Muslu was previously head chef at Ottolenghi Spitalfields and Istanbul's Soho House. She also opened four restaurants in Istanbul: Backyard, Auf, Kauf, and Unter.

Zahter will be spread across four floors in an old clothing warehouse at 30 Foubert's Place. The space will feature an open kitchen, counter dining and substantial alfresco seating on the ground floor, a dining room on the first floor, and a private events space and cookery studio on the third.

The restaurant will spotlight the Istanbul culinary scene, the food cooked in people's homes and recipes handed down by Muslu's mother. Initially open for lunch and dinner, Istanbul-style breakfast service will eventually become a part of the Zahter offering.

Every piece of furniture, crockery, artwork and kitchen equipment (apart from an Italian wood oven) will be sourced from Turkey.