Turkuaz delight. A new Turkish restaurant has opened in Jakarta to the delight of foodies, epicureans and lovers of authentic Turkish culinary delights and a laid-back vibe. Welcome to Turkuaz.
This is what Jakarta needs more of to get on the culinary map; a genuine restaurant opened by people with a passion for a specific cuisine—not a hodgepodge of hotel lobby fare managed by a corporation.
Opened in July, Turkuaz (32 Jl. Gunawarman, South Jakarta, Indonesia; 62-21/7279-5846), is run by longtime Jakarta expat chef Sezai Zorlu from Turkey.
If you loved the food in Kemang’s Anatolia, where he used to lead the kitchen, then you can expect Turkuaz to be better.
It has an intimate home-style ambience and all the favorites you’d expect like hummus, kebab and baklava, but there are dozens of things that are a rarity outside Turkey, which the chef calls his comfort foods.
These include the Ispanakli Peynirli Borek, light and flaky pistachio and cheese pastry appetizers and an array of lamb dishes accompanied by lovely aubergine, Turkish-style pilaf and hearty sauces, all expertly prepared in Zorlu’s style.
It’s an ideal place to take a date or indulge in a mid-week lunch. They have beer, but if want wine there is a reasonable corkage fee.
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