5 /5 Alan Pitchforth: After our flight was cancelled due to a cyberattack, we unexpectedly had a night to fill near Gatwick. A quick check on Google Maps led us to Shiraz Restaurant in Horley. It came highly recommended. The online booking was full for Saturday night, but when I rang, Mehmet, the manager, was really helpful and found us a table for 6.30 pm. He even said we could try earlier if needed. That really raised our spirits as we checked into the hotel.
We decided to walk from the Gatwick Hilton, which took just over half an hour and set us up perfectly for the evening. As soon as we arrived, Mehmet and his team gave us a warm welcome. The restaurant was already busy even for early diners, with a great mix of locals and travellers. The atmosphere was genuinely lovely.
The menu covers plenty of Turkish classics. When we asked Mehmet for his recommendations, he suggested starting with the cold meze platter, followed by the Iskender kebab and the Testi Special. The meze was fresh, colourful and generous. It was clear that the kitchen uses quality ingredients and takes real pride in the food.
Both mains were delicious and distinctly different, even though both were lamb. The Testi Special is cooked and then served at the table in a clay pot, which made for an impressive presentation as well as tender, deeply flavoured lamb. The Iskender was excellent too. Next time, I’d definitely go for a Chicken kebab or Seafood dish to mix it up a bit more.
The staff were attentive and friendly throughout, but never overbearing or insincere. As the meal went on, the restaurant filled up even more, and there was a great buzz in the room. You could see why Shiraz is so well-reviewed.
After dinner, we nipped across the road for a quick drink at the Foresters Horley pub. It was lively and friendly. We then grabbed a taxi back to our hotel. All in all, Shiraz made what could have been a forgettable airport stopover into a genuinely enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back next time I’m in the area. Highly recommended.