The glitzy decor of an Essex cocktail bar next to hearty plates of Turkish cuisine isn’t something that I expected when I decided to visit Rochester’s newest meze bar.

Kaya Meze Bar opened on the High Street in September last year and offers traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes set against a very Instagrammable backdrop.

We’ve walked past several times and never noticed the front dining room looking particularly full so didn’t think to book. I’d had my eye on the garden and hoped we could be seated there.

However, upon being greeted by the timid but friendly waitress, we were told that the garden was full and the only tables they had for walk-ins were the ones in the front dining area.

That explains why it never looks too full in front - everyone is out back in the garden and those of us who take a chance are plonked in the front, the least bedazzled part of the restaurant.

While this area didn’t quite live up to what I’d seen on social media, it was still very blingy with mirrored walls, blue neon lights and a patterned floor.

Our server returned to take our drink order. Despite the appealing cocktail menu, it was a bank holiday and I was feeling a little delicate after a previous night out so opted for a mocktail instead.

I was denied a mojito due to a lack of mint behind the bar, so I chose a mango daiquiri which came with all the flourish of a proper cocktail - just without the booze.

Now, myself and my partner love this type of food so there was no way we’d be skipping starters.

We picked two of the cold meze options - hummus and baba ganoush - which were promptly served with a basket of freshly grilled flatbread.

After our first bites, we unanimously agreed that these were probably the best dips we’d ever had.

The hummus was fresh and flavourful, while the baba ganoush was unlike any I’ve tasted before, deliciously creamy and packed with a garlic punch.

It was so moreish we couldn’t help but take the waitress up on the offer of more bread to polish it off before our mains.

This, we soon realised, was a mistake.

When perusing the menu, we had both noted that the prices looked a little steep compared to other places in the area.

Upon receiving our main dishes, we soon realised why. The portions were absolutely enormous.

We quickly regretted getting more bread, and we definitely regretted our side order of chips.

We ordered a vegan shish and vegetarian moussaka, which came with rice, salad and two free dips - mint yoghurt and chilli tomato - to go along with it.

The vegan shish had large chunks of grilled mushroom, tomato, onion and aubergine straight off the grill with a charred barbecue taste and a rich tomato sauce.

The moussaka was thick with cheese and the vegetables inside were perfectly cooked. The zesty side salad that came with both was also a pleasant accompaniment.

We put in a valiant effort because the food was so delicious, but we couldn’t finish it all and eventually admitted defeat.

During a wander through the restaurant I peeked inside the upstairs dining room, which wasn’t in use this evening but looked like the photos I’d seen online, with bright signs saying things like ‘Vibin’ and Thrivin’’ and an artificial flower wall.

Back at our table, we saw several dressed-up groups make their way inside and it looked like this had become ‘the’ place to start a night out in Medway, no doubt thanks to the jazzy interior and decent cocktail menu.

After being taken from Essex to Turkey all in one night, we returned to Rochester High Street for a much-needed post-meal walk.

My advice for anyone planning on visiting is to book ahead (bookings cost £10 per person which will come off your final bill) if you want a seat in the restaurant’s most Instagrammable spots - and definitely don’t order a side portion of chips.

Food: Probably some of the best Turkish food I’ve eaten in Kent. We would’ve finished every bite had we not ordered far too much. ****

Drink: The mocktail was sweet and fruity and I couldn’t even really tell it was alcohol-free. My partner had the Efes beer and said it was decent, but a little heavy for the meal. ***

Decor: It’s unique, that’s for sure. There isn’t a part of the restaurant that has been ‘blinged up’. It might be too garish for some but the owners have obviously made lots of effort to make this one of the few glamorous places in Medway ****

Staff: The waitress who greeted us seemed a little quiet, but our second waitress was very friendly. Both were attentive and we never ran out of food or drink. ***

Price: It’s not cheap. The price for the mains - between £15 and £17 for veggie dishes - is more than other places in town, but when you see the size of the portions it makes sense. The cocktails also start from around £10. But we enjoyed it all so it felt like money well spent in the end. ***