Arsalan Akhter is the author of Raw Dreamers, a drop-out by choice, a cricketer by passion, an entrepreneur by need, and an expressionist is what he aspires to be

Doors wide open. Chandeliers, art and serenity makes for a groovy ambiance. Along with two of my friends, I entered Anatolia and sat next to the windows with a view of the street outside.

The serenity of the silence inside was complemented by the music from outside. At first glance around the place, I liked three things — green plants, the no smoking sign and the detailed menu.

Sometimes, when you want to try a different cuisine, the generic names do not help the customer know what food is that.

We went through the menu carefully and two of us ordered ‘Turkish Tea’. Sadly, it was not available. How can a Turkish restaurant not have ‘Turkish Tea’? It was such a let down.

Next we ordered Keema naan and our earlier disappointment seemed to fizzle out. The naan was fluffy and well baked.

Although at the time of our arrival the restaurant was empty, after a while a few people started to trickle in.

The atmosphere changed from sombre to lively and it was a welcome change. We ordered for some fish items on the menu but again they were unavailable.

We then ordered chicken and Rumali Roti. I had completely forgotten what this heavenly combination tasted like.

The service staff at Anatolia looked neat, decent and well dressed. Particularly, the cleanliness of the restaurant was worthy of praise. I liked the enabled low-seating and regular dining and the service was quick and attentive.

One disappointment — I believe drinking water in a good restaurant does not necessarily need to be paid for or bought. That too belongs to a part of service.

One food that topped our list was ‘Chicken Biryani’ even though I am not sure how Chicken Biryani is Turkish, but it was delicious. The chicken was cooked with different ingredients and was

light and steamed to perfection.

Although, the food scene in Nepal has been dynamic in the past few years, restaurants open with great fanfare but very soon get lost in the cacophony around.  With Anatolia, located in the busy streets of Thamel for the last 10 years, the food here has a distinct taste.

Food at Anatolia is halal. The freshness of the ingredients is the reason why Turkish food tastes so good.

To put it simply, Anatolia celebrates the essence of Turkish ambience more than their food.

Afiyet Olsun (that means Hearty Appetite)!

AnatoliaRatings

Ambience: 7

Food quality/

presentation: 6

Quality of service: 6

Hygiene: 7

Value for money: 5

Overall satisfaction

value: 7