If alternative Pizza and traditional Turkish food are what you’re in the mood for then Pide Hammersmith should definitely be on your ‘ go to’ list!
Did you know that Feb 9th is National Pizza day? I’m fairly sure it’s more a US-based celebration but I mean – who doesn’t like pizza? So today I’m bringing you a review for Pide in Hammersmith and their Turkish twist on pizza, also named ‘Pide’ ( pronounced pee-deh).
What is Pide( the food item)? :
Pide is a Turkish flatbread type of ‘thin crust’ pizza made into a long boat shape and cooked in a clay oven. Along-side the obvious shape difference though there are some other Turkish twists. For example, the middle eastern flavour combinations and use of spices for many of the toppings. As well as that, Pide quite often has an egg topping too, so you can dip the bread into the yolk, whilst eating.
Now about Pide Hammersmith ( the restaurant):
Pide hammersmith is actually the second location of this brand serving up authentic turkish food in London, With the original being on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia. I’m going to say this up-front: I 100% believe that Pide Hammersmith is a hidden gem for Pide in London . Although it’s building is on a main street, it is ever so slightly tucked farther back than the rest of the building and so isn’t an ‘obvious’ restaurant that catches your eye.
Upon entering, you’re thrown into beautiful traditional Turkish design elements with a modern twist. Bright blue patterned tiles adorn the floors and Evil Eye decoration line some shelves near the front door. The mix of blue and gold are fresh and inviting. Also, there is quite a lot of seating, with a spiral staircase that – I assume- leads to even more upstairs.
There is also an open kitchen, allowing you to see the massive clay oven and chefs at work, making your food for you.
The food on offer at Pide:
The Pide Hammersmith menu offers up a mixture of turkish food. This includes pide (of course!) in two sizes ( 12” and 18”) as well as slow-cooked, clay pot dishes called Güveç ( guh-vech) and some traditional dishes such as köfte ( a traditional Turkish meatball) with falafel and halloumi options for non-meat eaters.
Pide also offer traditional Lahmacun ( pronounce La-ma-jun). Lahmacun is, once again, considered a type of flatbread pizza. Topped with minced vegetables including onions, tomato, red peppers, and various herbs/ spices, these are usually then completed with lamb mince. However, Pide Hammersmith also offers a vegetarian Aubergine & Feta option.
For any weekend visitors, Pide has a breakfast menu from 9am-1pm on weekends. You’re able to order a traditional Turkish breakfast along with optional choices of pide, Güveç or Gözleme ( a type of stuffed flatbread that looks vaguely similar to a quesadilla – ish).
Alongside the food options are traditional Turkish drinks including Ayran ( a salty yogurt drink ) and Turkish chai.
Note * If you’re put off by menu’s with lots of foreign sounding dish names. Don’t be! The menu explains each dish well and the staff are very helpful and happy to explain anything. Definitely a good location for Turkish food in London, especially as someone new to the cuisine. 
What we ordered at Pide:
This particular time that we visited, I didn’t actually get a pide… Instead, Rhys ordered a Trabzon lamb pide and I ordered the traditional Turkish breakfast and aubergine & feta lahmacun.
For £9.99 the traditional Turkish breakfast ( for 1-2 people) blew my mind. Not only does it include an assortment of traditional Turkish cheeses, olives, honey, tomato & cucumber, kaymak ( a type of Turkish clotted cream), a fruit preserve and a tahini mollases spread. It also comes with unlimited bread and Turkish Chai ( which Rhys took full advantage of and had four cups!).
The entire meal transported me back to the kitchen at my fathers’ house, where there was often a similar breakfast spread. At the time I didn’t always appreciate this style of mezze breakfast, but now I love them . kaymak and honey always had a place at the kitchen table and is amazing on bread. I even found myself sending my father pictures of the breakfast, to share the moment with him from thousands of miles away!
When the aubergine & feta lahmacun arrived, I was initially worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it because of the generous amount of food you get with the breakfast. The lahmacun is quite spicy and surprised me with its kick. But it was the perfect level! . Although there wasn’t much of a feta taste to the dish, the overall flavour is a mix of herbed vegetables and is delicious.
Rhys couldn’t stop complimenting his Trabzon lamb pide ( with toppings of traditional lamb mince, onion, herbs, and cheese). He says it was the perfect size, the topping to dough ratio was perfect and it was delicious.
On a previous visit, I’d ordered a Spinach and Feta vegetarian pide with spinach, onion, feta, and paprika. The spices create such a lovely middle eastern taste that is so familiar to me. If you’ve tried Lebanese pastries with this filling then it is exactly the same taste. Delicious! We’ve also previously had Za’atar spiced potato wedges that were absolutely delicious too, with the perfect amount of herbs/spices flavouring.
Rhys and I have found a favourite and will definitely be making Pide Hammersmith a regular of ours.
Final Thoughts:
- Pide in Hammersmith is 100% what I’d consider a hidden gem. Although on a main road, it is ever so slightly tucked further back than the rest of the building. Because of this, it doesn’t instantly catch your eye when passing by.
- The staff are friendly and the decor and ambiance are friendly and welcoming. Every time we’ve visited there have only ever been one or two other tables of people there and that just doesn’t make any sense to me!
- Everything about the dining experience here reminds me of my childhood memories from Turkey. Nostalgia aside though, the food at Pide Hammersmith is super fresh and delicious. Neither Rhys or I had a single complaint about taste. Amazing location for Turkish food in London!
- Although not Vegan-friendly, Pide offers a very vegetarian-friendly menu with plenty of vegetarian options.
- In fact, my only disappointment is that on both occasions when we’ve visited, our Pide have been ‘closed’ rather than open boats. That’s not something I’m used to with Pide . But that obviously doesn’t affect the taste at all.
Rhys’s Final thoughts: I wish that this was within walking distance! I’d come here ALL. THE. TIME! The pide are delicious and the Chai tea is one of the best I’ve tried. ( we tried to ask where we could buy it but it comes directly from Turkey!)
Cost: £30.04 for one drink ( I had tap water), the traditional breakfast with free tea and bread refills, 1 Lahmacun & 1 Large Pide
To visit Pide in Hammersmith:
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UNIT D, 77 Fulham Palace Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 8JA
Till next time,
