Adding to its portfolio of more than two dozen owned Caribbean themed bars and restaurants across the UK, Turtle Bay has opened its latest outlet in Dalston – the group’s fourth in London. Already a fan of the ever buzzing and often rollicking Walthamstow location, I was glad to accept an offer to drop by the newest Turtle Bay for a taste and a snoop.
Turtle Bay Dalston is a good restaurant to keep in mind for casual dining. The menu features a moreish range of what you might expect at such an establishment. I certainly found the dishes I sampled to be tasty.
Starter courses (all £5.10 each) like jerk chicken wings, sweet corn fritters, chilli fried squid, and whitebait (and lots more) hit the spot. One Pot dishes such as “Our” curry goat (marinated goat cooked in curry spice, scotch bonnet, sweet potatoes, citrus juice and ginger and served with sweet onion chutney and dumplings, £9.70) and the vegan-friendly Run Down (butter beans, corn cob, carrots, sweet potato, coconut milk, herbs and spices and dumplings, £9.10) are especially flavoursome. The BBQ pork belly (slow braised and then grilled 24-hour marinated jerk pork belly with crispy crackling, sweet onion chutney and fresh green seasoning, £12.50) is a winner too!
With its exceptionally generous happy hour, Turtle Bay’s bar is probably the best destination within stumbling distance of Dalston Junction for value conscious elbow bending. Cocktails and wine are priced two-for-one (same drink order served at same time) everyday until 7pm as well as from 10pm to 1.30am. Wise imbibes to consider include my preferred cool down quaff, the Koko Colada (Koko Kanu white rum, pineapple, coconut, cream and grated nutmeg), just one among a range of mostly rum-based and tropical style drinks should keep most rum aficionados in high spirits.
If reckon yourself to be a rum connoisseur (or would like to fast track your way to being one), enquire about a glass of Santa Teresa Rhum Orange liqueur for a real palate pleaser.
Turtle Bay Dalston is located at Dalston Square, E8 3GP. Find out more at turtlebay.co.uk.
