Thankfully the restaurant was a short walk from the train and I was the only customer when I arrived. Perfect! That meant I didn't have to wait while they slaved over other orders.
The server greeted me promptly and I liked his pleasant face and neat appearance. After being seated I was given the menu that read "Lunch Special". I love a sale of any kind so I was happy to see what I would be served for $8.95. As I browsed the menu I took in the clean, modern decor and I must say...I liked it a lot.
I asked my server for his recommendations, then I ordered Smoked Eggplant in White Sauce With Roasted Red Peppers as my appetizer and Kofte Kebab (Grilled Ground Lamb Patties served with rice, pickled cabbage and spiced onions) for the main.
He returned with a basket of bread, my appetizer and a cup of hot tea and my belly did a little dance. The flavors were magical. As an Eggplant lover it doesn't take much to make me happy with this vegetable but they took this dish to another level. The mild garlic flavor, sweet tomatoes and peppers were wonderfully combined to make a great sauce. Mmm...the contrast of warm bread and cold salad was heavenly.
Next up were the Grilled Lamb Patties (Kofte Kebab). They were visually appealing and flavors were also great in this dish. I especially liked the onions with the Turkish spices and tart cabbage. My only concern was that the lamb was a bit undercooked for my taste. However, the flavors were so good that I was willing to overlook this little snafu.
Overall this was a great meal at a great price and I was very pleased with the offerings of Turkey. I was thankful for perfect timing as the place began to fill up as I was leaving.
For big, bold flavors, clean and modern design and attentive wait staff this place gets an A. Will definitely be visiting again.
