The much-anticipated new Turkish restaurant, Renas on Brighton Road in Surbiton officially opened for soft launch on Saturday 30 November, so I just had to try it.

Heading to Renas for lunch today, Wednesday 18 December, I was immediately drawn in by the gorgeous Christmas décor on the restaurant's green exterior, and then again by the opulent interior with its regally selected poker felt green and maroon upholstery, opulent chandeliers, and pristine floors and tables.

As you enter the  venue, a swanky bar stretches across the left side of the room, filled with an assortment of beverages, and to your right is a larger dining area.

Renas has a awanky bar filled with drinks, including the ingredients for its 30 different cocktails (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Greeted by the lovely waiter Fartih, we were seated at a table in the corner, looking out onto Brighton Road.

With the large front window, the room has perfect natural lighting, and that, combined with background music humming softly, created an ideal lunchtime ambience.

Renas Surbiton has a large dining area (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

At 1.30pm on a Wednesday, the restaurant, as expected, wasn't too busy, but there were a few mothers with their babies catching up over lunch; the type of crowd you'd expect for the time of day.

The menu offered a range of food from the grill, Renas specials, offering traditional Turkish food with a modern twist, seafood, salads, and mezzes, as well as various starters and modern sides, such as halloumi fries with sweet chilli sauce.

And the prices are decent too, with main dishes ranging between around £20 - £30 and sides being less than a tenner.

This menu, says co-owner Gokhan, "will be tweaked" by the official opening on Friday.

For drinks, there's a vast array of drinks on the menu, including classic cocktails, various beers, wines, Proseccos, and spirits (even cognac), signature cocktails with a Turkish twist, such as Turkish Night and Lokum Turkish Delight, sparkling cocktails, soft drinks, and juices.

There's 30 different cocktails to choose from, but I went for a Limonata Spritz, a lemon flavoured cocktail mixed with prosecco and soda, and my friend got a pint of Camden Hells, which was perfect for a mid-week lunch out.

The Limonata Spritz had that sublime combination of sweet and sour that satisfied my sweet tooth without being too much.

The Limonata Spritz was divine (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

For mains, I got a Karides Guvec, which was like a tomatoey prawn stew with melted mozzarella on top and jasmine rice on the side.

It may sound like an odd combination, but I loved it; it was the perfect kind of warm comfort food that you need on a cold day in December.

My friend had the mixed grill, which as a chef themselves, was very impressed with.

They said: "It was just as good as Cappadocia [a Turkish restaurant opposite Kingston Station]"

The Mixed Grill came with a lamb chop, which was a "perfect medium", a whole kofta kebab, and bits of lamb and chicken shish as well as rice and side salad.

"The grilled peppers are cooked perfectly. Everything is cooked to perfection and it's nicely spiced, not too spicy," said my friend.

We got the Karides Guvec and the Mixed Grill (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

"At £26 for the meal, it's great value for money."

With full tummies, and ready (or not) to get back to work, we were very happy with our meals and cannot wait to see Renas grow into a successful business.

Farhti was great too, that ideal combination of attentive but not overbearing.

He told me that business has been good since Renas opened for soft launch.

Renas is co-owned by Surbiton resident Gokhan and his business partner Urgur.

Gokhan is not new to the food industry as he previously owned a restaurant in Weybridge.

Renas Surbiton is co-owned by Gokhan (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

He has been getting the restaurant ready for opening since August and wants it to be "100%" before he officially opens on Friday (20 December) morning at 10am.

He told me that upon the official opening, the website will be fully up and running with full menus uploaded and that at night he hopes for the restaurant to become a late-night venue with DJs playing after 10pm, a dancefloor, and the ceiling lighting being able to change colour to fit the vibe.

This, I believe, is what Surbiton needs, especially after the loss of Surbitonian Vine.

Of course there's Bosco Lounge, but with its pricey menu, Renas could become the place to go for some late-night fun as it's much better value for money.

"Surbiton needs a good restaurant," said Gokhan. "And we've got good vibes."

Gokhan also will start having bottomless brunch on the weekend, and maybe during the week, but is undecided on weekdays yet. The brunch menu will also include pasta dishes.

You can book a table at Renas now here.