Hey, Faithfuls! Since I just got back from Istanbul, I’ve been craving Turkish food like crazy—so when I got invited for a tasting at Anatolia Restaurant on Arab Street, I was all in and dragged my cousin and sister along. I’ve tried another Turkish spot here called Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant, but for some reason, I had never gotten around to Anatolia, despite walking past it a few times.

Anatolia is definitely a bit touristy with its vibrant blue decor and Turkish vibe. You can sit indoors with murals of Anatolia and those iconic Tiffany-style hanging lamps, or go al fresco with a view of Kampong Glam setting the mood.

We opted to sit outside, taking in the sights and sounds—it really did feel like a mini-Turkey experience. BTW, the restaurant serves Lebanese food too!

We started off with the Mezza Platter (S$46.90), which came loaded with all the essentials: hummus, moutabal, baba ganoush, dolma, tzatziki, muhammara, and this massive lavash flatbread. The hummus was creamy with a nice balance of tanginess, while the baba ganoush had this smoky depth to it that made it hard to stop dipping.

As for the lavash, I was blown away by its sheer size—XXL AF! I noticed other tables getting these poofy versions, but ours was flatter, which was a bit sed. Still, the lavash was warm, soft, and deliciously fluffy on the inside.

For mains, we tried the Mix Grill for 2 Pax (S$74.90), which arrived with a dramatic presentation, complete with open flames on the side of the platter! It came with lamb shish, chicken shish, adana lamb and chicken kebabs, lamb chop, chicken wings, butter rice, Turkish salad, grilled chilli and tomato, and a Turkish-style sauce.

The chicken was honestly one of the highlights; it was super tender, probably some of the most tender chicken I’ve had. It was beautifully marinated, giving it a subtle smokiness and a nice herb-infused flavour. The lamb had a slight chew and a hint of gaminess, but not so much that it overwhelmed the taste.