By Carolyn Haswell
Northside News
Did you know a new Turkish restaurant opened up at 1738 Fordem Ave? Are you looking for a different cuisine for dinner? Let me tell you about this gem on our Northside.
The outside doesn’t look like your typical restaurant, but once you step inside you are greeted by fantastic smells, a crisp and clean interior, and unique hints of aesthetic flair (and more to come). Turkish music plays in the background.
It is a counter-service restaurant, with books and games available while you wait. My partner and I went on a Friday evening, and there were several families and couples there.
If you are like me and get stressed out by long menus, this is a minimalist menu with meat choices from chicken, beef and lamb to falafel. I’ve found that a shorter menu usually means better cuisine and more confidence in their flavors. Nar Turkish Halal did not disappoint. We ordered Turkish coffee, Turkish Sarma, Adana Kebab and Chicken over rice.
Do you get nervous about trying new foods or overwhelmed when looking at things you don’t know? Well, if you aren’t familiar, here is a quick rundown. Turkish coffee is a way of making coffee using finely ground beans in a unique long-handled pot called a cezve, in a traditional method that produces a thicker and delicious cup that ends with a nice slurry at the bottom. I implore one to dive deeper into the process, history and even coffee grind readings.
Where was I? Oh! Turkish Sarma (to wrap) is a filling enclosed in vine leaves cooked in an olive oil sauce. Adana Kebab is a minced meat mixture (charbroiled beef bars) blended with spices. Chicken over rice is exactly what it says. Our meals were served with a lightly tart, creamy white sauce.
Cagri Topcu, one of the owners, has worked in restaurants in Turkey, New York City and Los Angeles. Nar Turkish Halal is the culmination of his experience and a dream to open a restaurant. Cagri and his wife, Nar Behjat Topcu — the namesake of the restaurant — have brought this delight of a restaurant to the Northside.
Whether you are a seasoned enjoyer of Turkish food or curious about the tagline “plenty, tasty, cheap,” you ought to give this place a try.
