Doting on dishy delights
US President Barack Obama did not visit Turkey for the food last week, but it would not be surprising if he went back just for the meals if what he had was anything like the dishes on offer at Anatoli Turkish Restaurant in Greenpoint, Cape Town.
Anatoli has been around since 1984 and over the years has built up a reputation for excellent fare. The night we went did not disappoint.
You know you've had a fine meal when you are still thinking about it late into the next day. The lamb shish kebab is the best dish I've paid for in a long time and the kayisi dolma, an apricot stuffed with an almond nut, is my new favourite dessert.
For a high-profile restaurant it has a simple menu with standard Mediterranean staples like kebabs and a few vegetarian and chicken dishes. It might specialise in only a handful of dishes but what it does with them is a delight.
Along with the fine food, diners can also enjoy a fine wine.
Being in the Cape, the restaurant has a more-than-adequate wine list and, unlike some establishments, Anatoli does not fleece patrons by inflating the wine prices, Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc sells for R95.
Though the restaurant does not stock local beers, Turkey's Efes Pilsener is not a bad thirst quencher.
Diners who nitpick over service will have little to complain about at Anatoli. The waiters are not only attentive but also know the menu well. This is not surprising considering the owner, Tayfun Aras, has them tasting all the dishes as part of their training.
Anatoli is regarded as one of the most romantic restaurants in SA. The warm wooden furniture, crescent shaped candle sticks, multicoloured lamps and woven wall hangings give it an intimate ambience, which is much enjoyed by canoodling couples.
But visitors do not have to be part of a doting lovesick pair to enjoy the experience.
You need only to be a lover of good food and Turkish delights, which you're offered as a parting gift on your way out.
Source: Financial Mail
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