In this week's issue of the New Brunswick Restaurant Guide, we review Efes Mediterranian Grill. (32 Easton Ave, 732 249 4100) Efes is at the corner of Easton Ave and Somerset Street, across from the Easton Ave apartments. The first thing one notices upon walking through the doors is the heavenly smell of roasting meat. Two spits of layered meat, their inverted cone shape helping to keep the meat moist, rotate in perpetuity, their aroma unchanged from the days of Constantinople. For gyro lovers, the chicken or lamb/beef combo are both hands down the best, and perhaps only traditional Gyro in the city. The décor is charming as well; wooden chairs and tables, wood paneling, and pictures of food and historical sights in Turkey go perfectly with the meal. In addition, the lively Turkish banter behind the counter only adds to the authenticity.
We started the meal the way all good meals begin- by uncorking a bottle of wine. Two appetizers followed: Ezme, a tomato, onion, parsley, walnut mixture, not unlike finely chopped salsa, with a thorough dose of Turkish spices on warm pita. Second was Spinach Tarator, a savory mixture of yogurt, sour cream, spinach, garlic and other herbs, and chopped walnuts. The consistency is like your grandmother’s sour-cream-and-onion-dip, but putting the Tarator in this category is nothing short of blasphemous. The cool, slightly bitter taste of the yogurt and garlic mixture atop a fresh, warm pita is worth losing your manners for as you say, “Mmmmmm” loud enough for the diners at the table next to you to hear.
As a bit of an intermezzo, we shared a bottle of Peach Nectar, a thick and rich drink which helped us decide on what to order for dinner. The nectar had hardly settled when the choice was made; Adana Yogurt Kebab. The main dish was the lamb and beef gyro meat, but what was underneath was the true treasure. Rather than served on a bed of rice, the gyro meat was served on top of yogurt soaked, or rather marinated, day old pita. This allowed the pita to have the bitter creaminess of a yogurt sauce, while at the same time soaking up the richness and the spices of the meat. Fantastic.
Not to be outdone, dessert came through solidly. The walnut and honey baklava, that is layers of philo dough with honey on each layer, was a delicious counterbalance to all the savory food beforehand. For 2 appetizers, 1 entrée, 1 dessert and 1 drink, the total was $30.44. So before bottle of wine and tip, a nice dinner for 2 was about $15 per person. Great place for a date, or for parties as large as ten. Reservations recommended for weekends while school is in session. BYOB. Remember: a meal without alcohol is like a meal without meat…Without it is fine, but with it is divine.
We started the meal the way all good meals begin- by uncorking a bottle of wine. Two appetizers followed: Ezme, a tomato, onion, parsley, walnut mixture, not unlike finely chopped salsa, with a thorough dose of Turkish spices on warm pita. Second was Spinach Tarator, a savory mixture of yogurt, sour cream, spinach, garlic and other herbs, and chopped walnuts. The consistency is like your grandmother’s sour-cream-and-onion-dip, but putting the Tarator in this category is nothing short of blasphemous. The cool, slightly bitter taste of the yogurt and garlic mixture atop a fresh, warm pita is worth losing your manners for as you say, “Mmmmmm” loud enough for the diners at the table next to you to hear.
As a bit of an intermezzo, we shared a bottle of Peach Nectar, a thick and rich drink which helped us decide on what to order for dinner. The nectar had hardly settled when the choice was made; Adana Yogurt Kebab. The main dish was the lamb and beef gyro meat, but what was underneath was the true treasure. Rather than served on a bed of rice, the gyro meat was served on top of yogurt soaked, or rather marinated, day old pita. This allowed the pita to have the bitter creaminess of a yogurt sauce, while at the same time soaking up the richness and the spices of the meat. Fantastic.
Not to be outdone, dessert came through solidly. The walnut and honey baklava, that is layers of philo dough with honey on each layer, was a delicious counterbalance to all the savory food beforehand. For 2 appetizers, 1 entrée, 1 dessert and 1 drink, the total was $30.44. So before bottle of wine and tip, a nice dinner for 2 was about $15 per person. Great place for a date, or for parties as large as ten. Reservations recommended for weekends while school is in session. BYOB. Remember: a meal without alcohol is like a meal without meat…Without it is fine, but with it is divine.
