Welcome to Pasha! This place is now a year old! I haven't been here since last January! It's the…read moresame server too! It is located at 397 Broad St. in Manchester, CT. I have not been to very many Turkish restaurants. I believe the last one was in Springfield. They play Turkish music and the employees are all Turkish (I think). The place is really big. There must be [at least] 40 tables in here. Do not be deceived by the small store front. It is very deep. It's incredibly clean. I could even smell the cleaning chemicals at first.
They start me off with a complementary carafe of water. It's nice. I don't believe it is tap water. It must be filtered. They also serve complementary bread with either oil or butter. That's a LOT of bread. A meal in itself!
For my first drink, I am having the J.W. Black Label Old Fashioned. This is made with Johnny Black Walker, Elderflower liqueur and Angostura bitters. I've never seen an Old Fashioned made this way. This is classy! They use a circular ice cube to minimize the dilution tine. It is perfectly balanced, nicely garnished (two lemon peels) and has a very unique taste (thanks to the elderflower liqueur). This is good!
The menus are very nice too and include pictures. The drink menu does not have prices. The decor is nice with a few ethnic paintings (and a few not filled yet). I like the [artificial] trees in the dining area. They hang cool lights on the walls. Nice, colorful, low hanging chandeliers too.
For my soup, I'm having the mercimek (lentil). Mercimek çorbası (lentil soup) is the most popular and widely consumed soup in Turkey. Ingredients are typically red lentils, onion, carrot, potato or tomato, vegetable or light meat stock, olive oil or butter, and spices such as cumin and paprika. This came out quick! This is piping hot! The soup is delicious! Good portion. I like the addition of the crushed red pepper for a little kick. Be sure to sprinkle that lemon on it. I love the elongated spoon.
They also bring out complementary bread and butter. No butter for me. The bread is good!
For my salad, I am getting the Tabbouleh (this is Arabic not Turkish) made with parsley, tomatoes, bulgur, scallions, lemon juice and olive oil. Look at this monster salad! It is huge! This came out real quick! This comes with a lemon to sprinkle upon them. They have great presentation and tastes fantastic! Be sure to sprinkle the lemon. It's like a chopped salad. The Tabbouleh had a LOT of parsley.
For my next drink, I'm having the Classic Martini made with gin, dry vermouth and olives (garnish). This is made with Greenall gin. I've never had this before. It's not bad! The taste is a bit off but is still fine. There are a lot of small, floating ice particles, but I don't care. It does , keep it cool, and melts quick. It has a nice olive garnish skewer too. Very good overall!
For my appetizer, we are having the Mized Meze. Meze is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Arabic and West Asian cuisines. You know me! I loved samplers! This includes humus, babagannush, eggplant salad, haydari, havuc tarator & antep ezme. Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip, spread, or savory dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Baba ghanoush, also known as baba ganouj or muttabal, is a creamy, smoky eggplant dip that originated in the Levant region of the Middle East. The dish is made by blending roasted or grilled eggplant with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings. Haydari is a type of yogurt dish similar to a thick cacık, made from certain herbs and spices, combined with garlic and yogurt. Antep Ezme is made with tomatoes, hot peppers, green peppers, onions, garlic, walnuts and olive oil. Look at this! You have to love the carrot slices dividing the individual items. There is paprika scattered on top. The server lays down the spoons as he describes each one. This goes great with bread! Wow! Is this good! I love the variety of textures and flavors!
For my entree, I'm having the Chicken Kofte (flat chicken meatballs). Spicy please! Chicken meatballs aren't easy to find. This is the best! That jalapeño is hot! The salad has a nice light dressing too. I love the grilled tomato! This flavor is unbelievable!
It was also nice to have a few minutes to chat with the owner!
For my dessert drink, I'm having the Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is a rich, unfiltered coffee made from finely ground beans simmered in a special pot (cezve) with water and sugar, resulting in a strong brew with grounds that settle at the bottom. It is extremely fine, like powder, much finer than espresso. Black, for me. I like the metal cup, this way it's not too hot in the hands. This is thick and yummy!
For my dessert, I'm having the Pistachio Cake. This is a first for me. The plate is nicely chilled. This is real good! This place is incredible! There is no shortage of leftovers. I have at least two more servings worth. What a fantastic meal!