Mezesphere

Mezesphere — now operating as Gem of Essex from the same Connaught House premises on the upper High Road — is a Turkish and East Mediterranean restaurant with over two decades of family experience behind it, running sister restaurants elsewhere in the UK. The menu is built around homemade meze and slow-cooked dishes from Turkish and Kurdish traditions: stuffed vine leaves, smoky aubergine, grilled meats, and fresh flatbread. The dining room is described as clean and stylishly appointed, and the kitchen's approach is praised for using fresh, well-cooked ingredients rather than reheated short-cuts. Prices are considered reasonable given the quality. Open from midday, the restaurant suits a long lunch as well as an evening meal. The location on Loughton's high road near the Epping Forest belt draws both residents and visitors to the forest edge.