haven't heard much about Anatolia

[Zengarden]

I've been meaning to get out to Anatolia but haven't due to distance. Can anyone verify if it is still in business?

[francelonian]

Imam Bayildi is one of my favourite dishes there ...

[ekammin]

I dunno - Lahmacun and Yogurtlu Adana seem pretty Turkish to me.

[Fredster]

I was there for dinner 2 weekends ago. We had the Mixed Anatolian Plate, an assortment of dips and an order of Manti. Being a quarter Armenianand having lost family in the Genocide, I don't really cheer for anything Turkish but let me tell you, these people are awesome and their food is fabulous. The walnut spread is to die for! The keftes and kebabs too. Have not tried the Imam bayildi yet. That is the only Imam I will ever try.... lol

[FlavoursGal]

Fredster, are they any "stewy" items on the menu? i.e., any cooked mains other than the grilled meats and the imam bayildi?

I'd love to give Anatolia another try, but it's the imam bayildi and the stewed vegetables and meats that really attract me to Turkish cooking.

[francelonian]

We go to Istanbul every year on business. Anatolia is the closest we've seen in Toronto to generic Turkish. Not ideal by any means, but a nice meal. We live nearby and it's still open.

[cookbook]

I agree- service is at times quite slow- but if you're with people you enjoy and aren't in a rush, it can be most agreeable. I will definitely try the gozleme. The owner makes her own yufka which is very time consuming and laborious.

[FlavoursGal]

I haven't been there in a few years, cookbook. What is gozleme? Does she have imam bayildi and other non-grilled/stewy dishes on the menu now?

Her dips and sigara boregi were really good, as I recall, as was the manti.

[squeaks]

I went to Anatolia just before the holidays. The food was great (try the gozleme), but service was ridiculously slow and sometimes indifferent. It's a really fun spot to check out, but don't expect to eat quickly.

[FlavoursGal]

I haven't been to Anatolia in about 4 years, but it was good the one and only time we were there. What's wonderful about Turkish cuisine is the stews and simmered dishes, not readily available in the Toronto area. Most of the Turkish food served here amounts to variations of grilled meats.

The sigari, yogourt dips, and other appetizers are really good when prepared properly.

[cookbook]

I still think her food is lovley- I don't know if it's gone "substantially downhill" as wordsworth claims- I think it's fresh, well made and from what I've heard other Turkish pals tell me, quite authentic. Her Sigara Boregi is lovely as is her Kunefe dessert. And I will try her Gozleme next time I'm there. But no need to listen to us banter- try it yourself and be the judge!

[mbe]

the manti is worth the drive and the subsequent heart attack

[Doopsylalolic]

Where is Manti?

[cookbook]

Yes indeed- alive and kicking. The owner, Aishe (sp?) is a wonderful cook. Her Imam Bayildi, Patlichan and Sigara Boregi are YUMMY! I discovered her place while researching a food show and have become a regular along with my husband who is a BIG fan of her food. She also offers A Night in Istanbul (the first Friday of every month)- I'll be there tomorrow enjoying the meal, the dancing and the coffee ground reading (Turkish Coffee of course). Fresh, tasty and lovingly prepared food. It's worth checking out (especially if you are a fan Mediteranean flavours as I am).

[wordsworth]

The place has gone downhill substantially. Not the quality of the food, but the selection. It used to have real Turkish dishes. Now ithas become generic Middle Eastern, so it is no longer worth the trouble to drive out there.

[mbe]

where do you reckon is the best place to go for Turkish then?

[wordsworth]

I haven't found any particular place. I've tried a few hole-in-the wall places, but they were terrible.