Restaurants can sometimes feel a bit transactional and corporate and a feeling that your hosts are simply doing their job.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with that when service is efficient and the food tasty.

But the best places are ones that leave you with a feeling of being looked after and where the passion for what they do shines through.

Heading out on a wet and windy Saturday evening when it would have been all too tempting to stay indoors, cosy up on the sofa and delve for the delivery app proved to be everything I wanted and more.

The quaint town of Tenterden is home to a long-running, family-owned Turkish restaurant that is well and truly my new favourite.

Ozgur has been in the town for more than 30 years now.

I can’t profess to claim it’s like eating around Istanbul or Ankara as I’ve never visited Turkey but here the team are serving up the best I’ve experienced in Kent.

Located at the far end of the town’s long high street, stepping inside Ozgur feels welcoming from the very outset.

A chatter from couples, families and friends set against a soundtrack of traditional music makes you feel like you’re definitely stepping away from a traditional Kentish market town and into another world.

We take our seats in a booth and immediately notice the decor and painted ceiling lights while the walls are decorated with artwork and pictures of the Middle East.

Our server is swift to bring us our menus and take our drinks order – a crisp, cold and smooth bottle of Efes Turkish beer is an excellent choice.

We’ve got a big selection of cold and hot meze dishes to pick from as a starter or you could choose a smorgasbord to graze on throughout the meal if that’s your dining preference.

I decide to try the sucuk (Turkish sausage) and am sold on the sound of the elti borek – a thin, crispy pastry filled with minced lamb and spices.

They are an absolute triumph when they arrive steaming hot and disappear as quickly as they came to the table.

My partner is blown away by the cacik (cucumber, yoghurt, herbs and garlic dip served with flatbreads) which she says is the best she’s ever tasted.

Between our starters, the owner comes out from the kitchen to speak to diners and is a chatty, friendly and comfortable host clearly enjoying feeding people with the food from his native land.

The disappointment of finding out the Arsenal result from another diner doesn’t dampen his spirits too much and we’re glad it hasn’t impacted his skills in the kitchen either.

If the first bites are anything to go by, then the main course is going to be excellent.

And sure enough, it is.

I ordered the adana kebab which comes out almost bulging and overflowing from the dish.

It’s piled high with soft, perfectly seasoned lamb, covered in yoghurt giving an incredible tang and sauce packed full of flavour.

My partner has requested grilled halloumi with humus – swapping the falafel listed on the menu with absolutely no fuss.

Both our meals are served with the best rice we’ve ever had.

Rice may sound simple but it’s light, fluffy and not in the slightest bit stodgy and infused with so much flavour and an incredible accompaniment to our respective dishes.

It poses a genuine question – how do they do it?

I've left just enough room to have the homemade baklava for dessert and what a decision that was.

Buttery, sweet with honey dripping through and soaked into the layers of pastry and crunchy with nuts is a heavenly treat to end the meal.

And while the food is simply sublime and leaving me absolutely buzzing – albeit incredibly full – it’s the feeling and experience the team at Ozgur leave you with that is what I’m sure also keeps people coming back time and again.

There’s little touches such as pickled chillis and olives at the table while a plate of fruit to accompany pudding which are welcome additions and lovely, unexpected attentions to detail.

Nothing feels like too much effort, all the staff are cordial and warm and it’s totally genuine.

One elderly couple leaving the restaurant are offered to be walked back to their car while the conversations with the staff feels as though the really care about what they’re doing and making you enjoy your time there.

We decide to see what other people think in terms of reviews and take to TripAdvisor reading one which summed it up perfectly.

One customer reported how when their car had broken down, the owner even offered to drive them home. It really doesn’t surprise us.

Everything about the food here has well and truly delighted the taste buds and when it comes to looking after your guests, they are second to none.

I would happily travel here every time for a taste of Turkey and the amazing hospitality.

Out of five:

Food: Flavoursome, the best rice, amazingly cooked meat and left feeling absolutely well-fed *****

Drink: Good selection of beers, cocktails, soft drinks and wines from around the world. The cold, smooth Efes is a real winner *****

Decor: Comfy booth bench seats and generally, the venue feels clean and nice touches and authentic decoration. The only thing with the restaurant I could say is not perfect is the toilet facilities could do with a refresh and menu covers feel like they’ve not been replaced in a long time. ***

Staff: Faultless *****

Price: Selection of meze, two mains, dessert and beers for £70 for two people isn’t going to be within everyone’s budget but it feels very reasonable for brilliant food and excellent evening ****