Turkish millionaire who used to sleep in public toilet to open new restaurant

By Alicia Curry, Local Democracy Reporter

A Turkish millionaire who used to sleep in a public toilet has been granted permission to open a new restaurant in Central London.

Hüseyin Özer, 74, will welcome customers into Sofra Balik and Sofra Steak – a fish and steakhouse in 11-12 South Molton Street, Mayfair, in the coming weeks after Westminster council gave him the green light. 

The grand reveal of his third London joint is the latest part of Hüseyin’s success story which came from a tumultuous past.

The restaurateur said his long-standing career began in poverty and he claims it has led him to receive regular threats from mobsters. 

Born in Tokat, Turkey, Hüseyin feels he was destined to become a restaurateur after growing up with little food and says his drive for the new eatery is to “make people happy”. 

“I had a difficult childhood, between being almost poisoned by my stepmother, sent by my mother to buy a gun to kill my father and then being completely disowned by my family, I knew this isn’t the life I wanted for myself.

“I lived in a public toilet for years, it was the only place for me. I survived off one bowl of tripe soup and a small piece of bread every day.”

In 1975, at 21 years old Hüseyin travelled five days by bus to London in the hopes of learning English so he could one day open a restaurant in Turkey but still cater for the European market.

He began his culinary career working in a döner kebab shop in Mayfair, working nights in the store and taking English lessons during the day. Years later, in 1981, Hüseyin managed to secure a loan from NatWest to buy the shop from the previous owners for £7,500.

But despite his loyal customer base, Hüseyin noticed that kebabs had filtered out of fashion, so with some encouragement from two nutritionist friends, he did a complete overhaul of his menu.

His self-taught recipes now consist of traditional sharing mezzes, grilled meats, fish and desserts inspired by Turkish cuisine. 

Since then, Hüseyin opened a tally of bistros and cafes across the capital, but he cites troubles with the ‘Turkish mafia’ as his reason for closing up the majority of his Sofra eateries.

With just his flagship restaurant and the St Christopher’s Place branch standing, Hüseyin hopes the new store will reimagine the Sofra name.

He intends on filtering profits from the store into his various philanthropic projects, including a culinary school he is building in his home town.

He said: “I don’t need money, I just want to make people happy. Given my past maybe I should want more for myself but I would rather give to others.”

During the licensing meeting last week, an objection was raised by the office space above the restaurant over concerns of noise but Hüseyin assures them that there will be no issue.

“My customers are decent people, I view London and my restaurant like Heaven and now I get to spend my days amongst the angels,” he said.

Westminster City council granted the licence for the new restaurant on August 3.

Pictured top: Turkish millionaire Hüseyin Özer who once lived in a toilet gets permission to open another London restaurant (Picture: Alicia Curry)