Istanbul Mediterranean Restaurant

photo - Yelp, Todd B.

Istanbul Mediterranean Restaurant, Lunch, Little Rock
July 29, 2016

P:
Iskender Kebab
A savory, smooth Turkish tomato-based sauce made with plenty of sweet cream butter and special Turkish herbs ladled over delicious doner meat and served with pita squares, fresh creamy yogurt, sliced tomatoes, and pepperoncini.

J:
Mediterranean Salad (Akdeniz Salatasi)
A classic mix of fresh chopped lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, and feta cheese lightly dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and special Turkish spices.
Appetizer Trio (Meze Oclemesi), served with warm pita bread:
Babaganouj - Smoky roasted eggplant, fresh yogurt, and delicate Turkish spices are gently blended together to create this rich, creamy dip.
Cacik - A cool and refreshing blend of fresh yogurt, cucumbers, Turkish spices, and mint.
Roasted Pepper Hummus (Kavrulmus Kirmizi Biberli) - This tasty vegetarian dip is a healthy, creamy blend of garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and savory Turkish spices.


Notes:
Patrick is no stranger to Istanbul Mediterranean, and this was a first for me.  Here in Little Rock, we were visiting family with whom Patrick lived in Turkey some time ago, and this place did well to satisfy some of those food memories, if only a little.

Iskender (sometimes seen on menus as the translated "Alexander") is a dish Patrick always seems to look for on a Turkish or Mediterranean menu, despite one particular circumstance involving the dish that might ruin any normal person forever.  (For your sake, dear reader, I will not go into any more detail.)  Patrick recounts his memory of this dish as some might describe their favorite comfort food.  Doner, a blend of ground lamb and spices, is slow roasted and thinly sliced, covered in a rich, thick tomato sauce and again with clarified butter, served sizzling and bubbly with yogurt and pita on the side.  The Little Rock version was not nearly as appeasing, the meat was sliced in thicker hunks, the tomato sauce was spare and the butter absent.  But still, it provided a certain something.

I went for a light salad and some spreads with pita.  Here, the salad was simple and refreshing, lettuce, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, onions, and feta in lemon and olive oil dressing...what's not to love?  The spreads were equally delicious.  The babaganouj (roasted eggplant) was smoky and light, the red pepper hummus was finely textured and sweet with roasted red bell pepper, and the yogurt was thick, smooth, and tangy.  With warm, soft pita on the side, I was doing quite well for myself.

Next time we're in Little Rock, you just might find us here.