SUSAN BLOOM
| Correspondent
For a transformational Mediterranean experience right here in Morris County, venture out to Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine in the Flanders section of Mount Olive, a new dining destination where guests will find authentic Turkish fare and warm hospitality.
A popular eatery in North Brunswick since 2010, Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine opened its second location in Flanders this February after Village Mall owner Abdul Riad, a customer of the North Brunswick restaurant, suggested they consider expanding to the space in his Flanders strip mall that was formerly occupied by Hot Bagels & Diner.
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The cozy 85-seat restaurant is done in dark wood and stone, in shades of green and mustard yellow, and decorated with Ottoman-style chandeliers and other authentic artifacts imported directly from Turkey,
“Over a four-month period, we completely remodeled the space from floor to ceiling to reflect our vision and the dining experience we wanted to offer our guests,” said Serkan Izci, 29, a Turkish native who launched the new location with business partner Sam Khamis.
Since then, area residents have visited the Route 206 restaurant to take a tasty tour of Turkey, complete with authentic dishes, rich culture and heartfelt hospitality associated with this scenic Mediterranean country.
A rich kitchen
Featuring such ingredients as eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, meat, chicken and fish, as well as such spices as black and red pepper, parsley, and cumin, “Turkish food comes from a rich Mediterranean kitchen,” Izci said of a cuisine which he described as “not too spicy and which offers something for everyone.”
Begin your Mediterranean tour with one of the restaurant’s most popular starters — a platter of mixed cold appetizers (mezes) containing such specialties as hummus made with chick peas, tahini, and spices, eggplant with tomato sauce, ezme, a mixture of seasoned vegetables, labne, a thick yogurt mixed with garlic, walnuts, and spices, and babaghanoush, a dish featuring baked, roasted eggplant blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic sauce that’s mashed. All items are served as dips or spreads that can be eaten with pita chips or the restaurant’s homemade Turkish bread made fresh daily and are available in a small platter ideal for four people ($14) or a large version that serves eight ($20).
Izci said the restaurant’s appetizer of beef liver cubes dredged in flour, fried and seasoned ($8) are one of his personal favorites, while guests have raved over the falafel — balls of blended cracked brown wheat bulgur, celery, parsley and spices that are fried and served with tahini sauce – a menu item which is available in both appetizer and entrée portions.
For the main course, Izci recommends trying the doner entrée (known as a ‘gyro’ in America) — “a mix of lamb and beef with spices on a shish (stick) that’s prepared on a turning grill to ensure it gets grilled all around,” he said. Priced at $14, “this dish is served with a mixed green salad, grilled tomatoes and long hot peppers, Turkish white rice, and bulgur.”
Another house specialty is the Istanbul Mixed Grill Combination, an all-kebab platter which features lamb, doner, chicken and adana, a mix of ground beef with spices ($21 for one person or $29 for a serving for two).
“The beauty of these dishes is that they make it easy for guests to get to know our cuisine — they offer a lot of variety and allow people who may not be familiar with Turkish food to try a lot of different things,” Izci said. “We also have many seafood dishes, such as our salmon, tilapia and bronzini entrees, which are stuffed with lemon and grilled with olive oil, parsley, garlic and black pepper and served with a shepherd salad made with fresh tomatoes, Kirby cucumbers, onions, parsley, black olives and homemade dressing.”
For a sweet send-off, indulge in one of the restaurant’s authentic desserts including Turkish baklava, made with layers of flaky yufka pastry dough, honey and nuts and served with either Turkish pistachios or Turkish walnuts, kazan dibi, a traditional Turkish pudding coated with caramelized sugar, or the restaurant’s homemade oven-baked rice pudding.
Izci recommends finishing the meal with a cup of signature Turkish coffee, handmade on the stove using a specialized process. “It’s served in small cups and is strong like espresso, but has great flavor,” Izci said.
An authentic experience
“We want our customers to feel like they’re in Istanbul even if they’ve never been there,” said Izci, whose father was a chef. Izci said he has been in the kitchen and around food ever since he was a child.
“Almost all of our staff is Turkish and we’re excited to introduce our food and culture to the community,” Izci said of their restaurant, which prides itself on fresh and homemade fare that’s served in generous portions. “Ultimately, we hope the experience will make people want to visit Turkey.”
Got an eatery to recommend? Email eabreu@GannettNJ.com
If You Go:
Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine 286 Route 206 in Flanders; tel. 973-927-0635; Web: www.istanbulcuisinenj.com
Hours: Daily from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; catering available.