A hot summer’s day in the UK leaves a lot to be desired – a pool, air-conditioning and, of course, the incredible food which comes with a trip abroad - that’s more like it.

For me, the best holiday meals are always a selection of delicious picky bits, whether that be tapas, small plates or mezze.

So, when I discovered there was a place offering just this, without the price tag of a Mediterranean getaway, I decided to give it a go.

Gem of Kent, in the High Street in Maidstone, proposes Turkish entrée and mezze platters in a spacious interior with tapestries and sea-blue accents.

From the outside, the restaurant looked presentable and appeared to be within a charming Tudor building.

But as I went in with my sister, we were in consensus, that it’s what’s in the inside which really counts.

Here, we were greeted by a spacious tardis filled with ornate light fixtures, a wall of blue decorations including the Turkish eye, and gold detailed mirrors creating a calm but luxurious feel.

As we walked through, some customers left, and we realised we now had the entire restaurant to ourselves, which is no surprise for a Tuesday evening at the beginning of the summer holidays.

We were seated two tables away from the kitchen window giving us the best seats in the house to observe the chef in action.

This transparency in allowing customers to peer into the kitchen is something I took as a sign of the restaurant’s confidence in its food hygiene and preparation, which is ranked as Good by the Food Standards Agency.

As I glanced over the menu, I was thrilled to see cold and hot mezze, salads and sides at reasonable prices, ranging from £4 to £11.

Meanwhile, the other side of the menu offered something for meat-lovers, pescatarians, and vegans alike, with specials such as lamb moussaka, kebab options from its charcoal grill, along with seafood and other platters.

Hungry and thirsty, my criteria for happiness was clear. Refreshing Turkish beer, crisp and crunchy falafel and a hummus so silky and flavourful, I would overeat before my main dish arrived.

Paralysed by a choice overload, we opted for Set Menu A, which offers two courses for £23 a person, which we thought was amazing value given the number of mixed mezzes included.

To wash it down, I ordered an Efes Pilsener which is a beer from Turkey’s largest city Istanbul, that uses a Mediterranean, slow brew technique.

As the label promised it would be, it was smooth, fresh and crisp, and was the perfect antidote to the rather hot and stuffy restaurant, which did not quite have the same feel as sitting on a beach in Turkey.

Anyway, we didn’t have to wait long for our mixed mezze to arrive comprising hummus, Cacik, Patlican soslu, Pembe sultan, Kisir, Borek and Falafel.

Now, it was time discover whether this food was really a Gem of Kent?

First, I dove into the hummus and it did not disappoint. It was packed full of flavour with added olive oil and paprika, served with an abundance of warm, crunchy and soft bread.

As a huge hummus enthusiast, the restaurant, having nailed this, was on a great path.

Next, I tried the Kisir, a cous cous made with tomato and pepper paste, spring onion and mint, which was a flavour explosion. Usually, cous cous would rank low on my list of foods to try but I found myself going back for more and more.

Third in the queue was the falafel which was crispy and crunchy, without the dryness and stodginess of many I’ve tried, followed by the Patlican Soslu – fried aubergine in a garlic tomato sauce – which was super soft and bursting with flavour.

Meanwhile my sister tried the Pembe sultan, which is a mezze with beetroot, yoghurt, garlic and walnuts which she said was super thick and mild, yet the Borek pastry filled with goats’ cheese was delightfully crispy and warm.

Somehow, we now needed to have room for our mains.

I opted for the Turlu, which is a vegetable casserole with potato, aubergine and peppers and comes with rice, while my sister went for the vegetable moussaka which included baked layered potatoes with cheese and vegetables in a bechamel sauce and a side salad.

The casserole, while beautifully presented and delivered as promised, was no competition for the incredible mezze I had eaten. The dish, while allowing the veg to speak for itself, seemed to have something missing in terms of flavour.

However, the accompanying rice was fluffy, firm and flavourful – I only want to eat rice from Gem of Kent from now on.

My sister, having eaten every morsel of her mousakka, gave it a perfect score of 10/10.

With a belly full of food accompanied by a delightful Turkish beer, I was assured this stunning restaurant really does have something for everyone.

But for those in search of meat, fish and a range of hot and cold mezze dishes, I have no doubt Gem of Kent could deliver.

Our food, which came quickly and piping hot, stole the show, but the service, whilst polite, lacked a little enthusiasm and the attentiveness declined after we had eaten.

While Maidstone’s concrete jungle isn’t quite like a Mediterranean holiday, the evening sunshine mixed with some delicious small plates and authentic beer, meant there really is something gem-like about this restaurant.

And on busier night of the week, I expect it has a real buzz about it, and if it doesn’t – it really should.

What’s more, the bill came to £58.30, including a £5.30 service charge, which I think is reasonable given the amount of food you receive.

The final verdict – I can’t dispute that this is certainly a Gem in Kent and I would definitely pay a visit again.

Having said that, anyone planning to give it a go be warned: it shuts from Sunday (August 4) for “the summer holidays”, so it’s probably best to check in advance.

Food: Incredible options for every type of eater, with delicious mezze, well-presented and full of flavour ****

Drink: Excellent selection of wines, beers, cocktails with Turkish options adding to its authenticity ****

Décor: A beautifully-presented space decorated thoughtfully in a way that almost makes you forget you’re in Maidstone *****

Staff: The chef prepared the food promptly and thoughtfully and our drinks arrived fast. Service wasn’t particularly warm but it was polite ***

Price: For the quality and freshness of the food, with as many options as we tried, the £23 set menu is unbeatable but independently the dishes are fairly priced ****