Restaurant owner set to open second eatery in same road

Turkish restaurant, Wood Oven BBQ, will be joined by Mediterranean-themed Wood Oven Kitchen tomorrow in George Lane, South Woodford.

The site was previously a Lebanese grill restaurant and shisha lounge called Nova.

The new restaurant will still serve a Turkish-inspired menu with kebabs and burgers but also with Mediterranean food options including seafood such as salmon, prawns and monkfish.

Wood Oven BBQ has been open for eight years and owner Ahmet Tofan said the time was right for the business to expand.

He said: “We wanted to try something different and it will be a completely different experience, a luxury sit-down restaurant rather than what is more of a takeaway restaurant.

“We have been successful for eight years and one month ago I decided we should go for a different type of food and business.

“There will still be Turkish food but I think Mediterranean food is popular too and I am looking forward to our customers trying it out.”

(L-R) Manager Metin Sezek, owner Ahmet Tofan, and worker Sadullah Zafer at Wood Oven Kitchen in George Lane, South Woodford

Mr Tofan said the reason the new restaurant was going to stay in the same road was because he believed there was a demand for Mediterranean food in George Lane.

“Why would we move from George Lane?" He added.

"Our takeaway has many loyal customers and I want to offer them something else, we know this part of South Woodford.

“There is a demand for Mediterranean food here and we spoke to our customers about it and they are excited that we are opening the new restaurant.

“George Lane is a great location, it is always busy and it’s near the tube station, business is looking positive at the moment.”

The restaurant will open at 3pm tomorrow (June 24).

Wood Oven BBQ has been in George Lane, South Woodford, for eight years.