The Turkish restaurant at the Cambridge Leisure Centre (just off Cherry Hinton Road) has recently changed hands. What was previously known as Turkuaz is now Nazar, a brand with another location also in Bedford with a solid reputation for offering quality Turkish cuisine in a refined setting. Having been a fan of the previous establishment, I was keen to see what had changed.

Visually, the restaurant remains largely the same, maintaining its classy interior. It feels slightly out of place in a Leisure Centre, standing proud as a beacon of class in an otherwise corporate landscape. The space is well balanced with a mix of booths and tables, all beneath stunning chandeliers. The bar makes a real statement, and the open-plan kitchen at the back is a nice touch; being able to hear the chefs at work is always reassuring. While you cannot see it directly, the charcoal grill is easily the greatest addition to the atmosphere. You can hear the meat sizzling away in the background, which adds a wonderful smoky and exciting vibe to the entire room.

The menu is vast, with plenty of variety. While the grill is the star, they also offer pasta, salad, fish, steaks, and burgers, making it a versatile spot for most groups. However, it is worth noting that the vegetarian menu was a bit limited with only three options. Prices sit comfortably in the mid-range – not quite high-end but certainly a step up from your basic bargain deals.

We began with a mix of cold and hot meze platters. The cold selection featured a variety of vibrant sauces and dips that really brightened up the table and paired perfectly with the pitta bread. The hot platter offered a range of savoury snacks that served as a great precursor to the main meal. The borek was a particular highlight, made from hand-rolled filo pastry that is filled with feta and spinach that was great for dipping. I was also impressed by the falafel balls which had a distinct, noticeable flavour that stood out from versions I have tried elsewhere. I am not quite sure what their secret ingredient is, but it was fantastic.

A big shout out to the sucuk too – this spicy Turkish sausage really hit the spot.

Chops & Ribs

For our mains, I decided to trust the chef and let his team showcase the dish they were most proud of. What I got was lamb ribs and chops presented with grated carrots, cabbage, and beetroot. The lamb had been slow-grilled and charcoal-finished, giving it a tender texture with a smoky flavour that would make any barbeque fanatic proud.

Adana Kebab

Our last main course came with the same colourful side salad but featured the Adana kebab – a dish made with minced lamb served in a skewer shape. It was wonderfully soft and was well received by my guest. A mix of lamb and chicken chunks accompanied it on the plate, offering a selection of diverse meat options.

Turkish wine

Nazar celebrates Turkish wine, which is something that genuinely excited me as it is a rarity in most restaurants. I grew quite fond of a lovely red from the Anatolia region; it was fruity yet dry, offering notes of red cherry with a subtle hint of spice. If you are keen to explore Turkish wine then this is an excellent place to start.

Dessert

We finished the evening with two items from the dessert menu, both of which arrived beautifully presented. The baklava, in particular, had a more subdued sweetness than I have come to expect from baklava elsewhere in Cambridge. It felt more mature and balanced – almost leaning towards the savoury – rather than trying to overpower the palate with sugar.

We also tried a pistachio dessert served within a circular sponge. It actually reminded me of an Indian dessert but featured a sweet, outer layer with a lovely crispness that gave way to a smooth pistachio cream filling. I found the nuttiness to be subtle and delicate rather than intense. Even though the price tag was over £10, the portion was generous enough to comfortably share between two.

Final thoughts

Nazar has successfully taken the baton from Turkuaz, keeping the sophisticated atmosphere while delivering a menu that feels both authentic and high-quality. With that said, there hasn’t been a huge amount of change. If you are thinking of revisiting and expecting an entirely new experience, you might find yourself disappointed, but why change what isn’t broken?

​The standout for me was the rare opportunity to sample some excellent Anatolian wines. It isn’t the sort of thing you would expect to find at a leisure centre, and it makes Nazar a fantastic addition to the Cambridge Leisure Centre complex.

Thanks for reading!