A polished Turkish grill with fresh, generous food, live-music energy and strong celebration credentials, but busy evenings can expose serious seating, pacing and service-control problems.
Shish Meze delivers strong food quality with fresh grilled meats and mezze that earn consistent praise, but inconsistent execution on desserts and uneven service during peak times prevent a higher grade. The upscale setting and live music create an appealing atmosphere, though modest destination appeal and occasional value concerns on premium menus keep it from approaching grade A territory.
Shish Meze is a polished Hornchurch Turkish grill built for lively evenings and celebrations rather than hushed suppers. The room is repeatedly described as elegant, warm and beautifully designed, with live music adding a festive pulse; one reviewer summed up the experience as a combination of food, music, drinks and hospitality. Front parking and a welcoming local following add practical appeal. The kitchen leans classic and generous: charcoal-grilled lamb, chicken, Adana and beyti sit alongside seafood, cold mezze and substantial sharing platters. Reviews most consistently celebrate freshness, seasoning, presentation and portion size, especially at lunch and for group feasts. The catch is operational rather than culinary: several detailed accounts describe delayed seating, drinks and courses when the restaurant is crowded, while a few older reviews report disappointing desserts. This is a strong occasion venue, but peak-night service can be the wild card. Families are well catered for by the current menu, which includes kids’ chicken shish, chicken nuggets, familiar ice cream and pancake desserts, alongside approachable grilled chicken and sliders mentioned by reviewers. Families and babies are reported to feel welcome, and one reviewer said staff entertained a child throughout dinner. Check the kids-menu pricing before ordering, however, because one OCR listing shows an implausible £27 nugget price that may be a data error.
Area vibe: Busy suburban high street and civic hub with local shops, pubs and eateries.
Safety: Generally safe during daytime; evenings are quiet with adequate street lighting but lower footfall in some spots.
What's nearby: Near Hornchurch town centre, Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch Station and local shopping streets.
The strongest choices range from charcoal-grilled lamb and Adana to seafood and shareable mezze, with a few set-menu options worth considering.
This is better suited to a booked, lively celebration than a quiet spontaneous dinner, with pricing and service varying by occasion and crowd levels.
Expect polished surroundings and a celebratory live-music atmosphere, although conversation and service can become difficult at peak times.