Any dedicated restaurateur will tell you the quality of a venue’s food is only part of a winning equation. You need an agreeable location suited to your patrons, perfect price points, an unbending concept of identity and, most importantly, an atmosphere people will return for time and time again. This checklist of vitals brings me to the perfect example of how to get it just right – Turkish Delight restaurant located in Belconnen’s town centre.
The attention to detail here is astounding and prevalent everywhere you look. From the intricate carvings and detailed wrought iron settings around the subtle exterior of their Weedon Close shopfront, to the Bazaar-esque traditionally patterned rugs hanging along the walls – it is hands down the most Turkish-feeling Turkish Restaurant I’ve visited to date.
The menu thankfully backs up the initial experience and pays just as much homage to Turkish traditionalism as the decor. To start we were presented a trio of dips encompassing Cevizli (crushed walnuts blended with grilled capsicum, herbs, garlic, olive oil, tahini and lemon juice), Cakic (finely chopped cucumber with yogurt, garlic and fresh herbs) and Pembe Sultan (beetroot blended with yogurt, garlic and fresh herbs). All were creamy and luscious with flavour. The super soft warm bread in accompanying woven basket made mopping up every last morsel far too easy.
Choosing just one or two items off the entree list definitely wasn’t going to happen, so we opted for the all-encompassing opportunity of a mixed entree. Kızartma (Seasonal mixed vegetables pan fried & topped with garlic yogurt) were delightfully seasoned, Patates Kőftesi (Potato, feta cheese & parsley patties) proved to be crisp morsels of soft and subtly cultured flavours, Nar Ekşili Barbunya (red kidney beans, pan-fried with onion, carrot and diced tomatoes, simmered in pomegranate and walnut sauce) was warm, richly fruited and perfect for vegan diets, Müçver (Zucchini fritters topped with garlic yogurt and dill) were super soft and pillowy – how I always imagined biting into a cloud would feel – and the Icli Mantar (oven Baked mushrooms with an herbed egg & cheese stuffing) were the perfect woodland infused mouthful.
The first mains of Open Pide were dangerously moorish. Our vegetarian option of Mantarlı (fresh mushrooms with egg, olives, garlic, parsley, herbs, feta and tasty cheese) was seasoned, earthy, super crisp and provided my inner child the satisfaction of pulling hot cheesy strands apart greedily with two fingers – everyone knows cheese tastes better after a good stretch, right? The carnivorous Lahmajun (minced lamb blended with onion, tomato, capsicum and parsley) was so tender it seemed to melt, with the thin folds of crisp pide proving a perfect vessel for such concentrated, well balanced flavours and textures.
The mixed grill came table-side soon after. A combination of Şiş Kebab (Marinated lamb pieces chargrilled on skewers), Şiş Tavuk (Marinated chicken pieces char grilled on skewers), Pirzola (Marinated lamb cutlets char grilled with thyme) and Kőfte with both rice and salad makes a fantastic dish to share around. The meats are tender, oozing unmistakeable caramelised char-grill flavours and are relievingly easy to slide off the skewers – allowing me to avoid the usual embarrassment of inadvertently flicking chunks of meat at unsuspecting fellow diners.
The final main of the day was another brilliant vegetarian option in the form of Imambayıldı Eggplant, topped with pan-fried capsicum, onion and tomato. Very well seasoned and quite impressive to behold, the portion size is indicative of sharing the plate around, but the sweet-savoury taste dynamic will convince you to keep it all for yourself.
Authentic cuisine, exciting decor, central location, lots of proximity parking, relaxing atmosphere and very reasonable prices indicates Turkish Delight in Belconnen know exactly who they are, and how to do it well. You could be dining with the most tiresome, dreary, eye-roll-inducing company and you’d still be happier than proverbial Larry. They even have a small, highly considered wine list available by the glass or bottle.
Perhaps a spot to take the in-laws over Christmas.
