We were looking for a place to celebrate LD’s & our Godson’s birthday. Surprisingly, our Godson choose Mediterranean cuisine and his mum made a booking at Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant.
Located in Bussorah Street, nearby the iconic Arab Street, Alaturka fits right at home. Helmed by the most experienced Turkish chefs, Alaturka served authentic and marvellous Mediterranean cuisine. They are also awarded the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in 2016.
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Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant |
We started the meal with Hummus ($12.50) and Havuc Salata ($12.50). Whenever LD see a Hummus on the menu, it is a must-order item for her. The version here is smooth, creamy and packs with chickpea flavour. It is served with Ekmek bread that is soft and fluffy.
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| Hummus |
Havuc Salata is a Turkish carrot salad. The peeled carrots are cooked with olive oil and then mixed with yoghurt and garlic. If you don’t like the raw carrot taste, don’t worry, the garlic and yoghurt remove most of the raw carrot taste.
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| Havuc Salata |
When we were ordering, we notice the next table ordered this balloon type of bread. After we find it on the menu, we decided to add Lavas ($6) to our order. Served piping hot and in a balloon shape, we were in awe and took lots of photos of it. It is aromatic and tasted light and clean, yet addictive. You can just eat that on its own and try to finish it while it’s hot.
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| Lavas |
Calamari ($18). Deep-fried breaded calamari, served with spiced mayonnaise. It was not a special dish, but everyone just enjoys it. Crispy exterior, followed by tender yet springy calamari rings.
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| Calamari |
Etli Pide ($24). Pide is like the Turkish version of boat shape pizza with a different selection of toppings. We choose the seasoned coarse-ground lamb and cheese. The base is crisp with a soft chewy texture, while the ground lamb is meaty, well-seasoned and absent of the gamy taste. The cheese binds all the ingredients together, giving it the deserving umami flavour and the delicate chewy texture.
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| Etli Pide |
Next up are the meat platter. Karisik Kebab ($59 for 2) and Alaturka Platter ($79 for 2). Both the platter has similar grilled meat such as Kuzu Pirzolla (Lamb Chop), Tavuk Sis (Boneless Grilled Chicken Thigh) and Kanat (Chicken Wings). The Karisik kebab has Köfte (3 lambs and beef meatballs), while the Alaturka Platter has Adana Chicken / Lamb (Marinated minced meat, hand-formed skewer) and Patlican Lamb Kebab (Ground lamb and eggplant skewers). We also ordered extra Kuzu Pirzolla.
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| Alaturka Platter |
Let me not bored you with the details, because at that time, I also did not know the specifics of it. Let’s make it simple, the chickens are juicy, succulent, super tender and well marinated. While most of the kebabs that I tried previously were dried, Alaturka version beat them hands down. They are moist, juicy and the seasoning is spot on. You can still taste the flavour of the meat, instead of being drowned by spices. The Lamb Chop is overcooked, but it was very forgiving as still remains juicy.
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| Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla |
Each platter is served with buttered rice, greens and house sauce. The rice is fragrant, aromatic and tasty. While the vegetables are tossed with a balsamic vinegar dressing. The house sauce is the must-try here. Instead of dunking your meat into it, I suggest you mixed it with the rice. It is just delicious!!
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| Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla |
For desserts, we settle on Kunefe ($15) A Turkish dessert made from shredded phyllo dough, butter, cheese, ground pistachios and milk. Absolutely love this dessert. The combination of the crispy texture, savoury and sweet as well. We described the taste like Chao Da Bee Hoon with Cream (in a delicious way). It is claimed to be Turkey’s finest dessert, I totally agree with them.
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| Kunefe |
Alaturka has two dining sections, indoor and outdoor. The indoor dining room is a bit small, but it is decorated in traditional Turkish lights, carpet and plates. The outdoor area feels like you are dining in a Mediterranean restaurant near the beach. Although the place is packed, the service remains friendly and attentive. We brought a cake to celebrate our Godson’s birthday and they even plated nicely for us. Plus they took our photos with those fun placards and print a hardcopy for our memento.
Overall, it was our first time dining at Alaturka and we can’t wait to make a return visit there. The food is authentic and delicious, accompanied by friendly service. For those who never tried the Mediterranean or Turkish food, this is a good place for your first experience. For those who like it, you must visit Alaturka. Cheers!!
Food & Drink: 8.5/10
Value: 8/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80.
Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant
15 Bussorah Street
Singapore 199436
T: +65 9434 6026 / 6294 0304
OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.30 (LO 22.00)
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