Metin Civlak is one of three restaurateurs behind Sef's Steakhouse, which opened in 2023 in the final unit of The Quadrangle, Cheltenham's redeveloped 1970s landmark. Sef -- pronounced "chef" -- was the first UK venture for Metin and his partners Mert Aras and Kaan Kucukagalar, who between them brought around 30 years of experience opening and running restaurants in Turkey and Kuwait. Metin lives in Cheltenham.
The Sef kitchen builds grill-based dishes from authentic Turkish creations fused with contemporary cooking methods. As Metin put it when the lease was signed: "Heart and soul is poured into the grill and centuries of knowledge is invested into our dining experience to make our menu something to behold."
Banchina Italian, at Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet, is the team's second site: casual Italian dining built around fresh, premium ingredients and well-executed classics, with an open kitchen and a Neapolitan pizza oven at its heart. It is the venue for this dinner.