A Taste of Anatolia

Here's a conversation we had at home recently...

Me: Where are we going to eat?

Father: In Anatolia Grill.

Me: Really? Why there?

Father: Because Lebanese food is good.

Me: Uhhhh, Anatolia TURKISH Grill is Turkish.

Father: Same same. Lebanon and Turkey are near each other.

WOW. For the record, those two countries are quite near each other but they're not the same. My father is just being funny... because who doesn't know that Anatolia is Asia Minor or Asian Turkey or the majority of the Republic of Turkey (thank you, Wikipedia, lol)?! And Anatolia Grill is truly, without doubt, a restaurant that serves Turkish food, even though it's not located in Turkey. It's just in Granada Centre. And a branch recently sprouted in Olaya Road. 

Describing Turkish cuisine is quite tricky; it's almost like describing Arabic food in general. It's filled with bread, kebabs, and shawarma (doner), only they're called differently and spelled with letters that are considered special characters in Word. Turkish cuisine is a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan cuisines which tells us why it's almost similar with the food here in Saudi Arabia. To know more about it and why people flock the Anatolia Turkish Grill in Granada Centre, we also lined up to eat there.

Anatolia Turkish Grill opened in Granada Mall in March 2010. It aims to provide Turkish food 'with authentic taste in a contemporary, customer-friendly, and luxurious service atmosphere'. It's quite fascinating to discover its red interiors. We were seated in one of their open tables. Not knowing what to order, we asked the waiter to suggest their bestsellers and that's what we got.

Starters

We started with the combo of chic peas, tahina and garlic mashed until each ingredient is unrecognizable. Hummus (SR11), people! I didn't find any difference between the Arabic hummus with this one. They're both yummy. The bread that came with it is the different one. It's airy and thin. 

The brother got curious with the Perde Pilav (SR16). Called the "wedding rice of Turkey", it reminded me of our empanada albeit with rice mixed with chicken and spices. The Filipino waiter warned that we might not like it because it has an unusual taste but it was okay. A little bit bland but just okay. The menu says we have to ask the waiter why it's called the "wedding rice of Turkey" but I forgot to ask. Basing on its appearance, this looked like a cake. (Errr... I'm just guessing, please ask your waiter next time and tell me the answer! ;)

Beyti Kebap (SR37) is just kebab wrapped in thin dough. The meat was very tender and juicy. It went well with the dip that came with it. (You can tell by now that most dishes are filled with tomatoes, which I don't eat in copious amount.)

The Papyon Kebap (SR35) was my choice. It's striploin beef rolled and skewered with thin sticks to keep the mushroom and melted cheese in the middle. It had me at "melted cheese." The meat was a bit chewy but the cheese lent a piquant flavor to it; pausing the increasing suya in my tastebuds.

The Anatolia Special Kofte (SR30) is pieces of meat served with grilled tomatoes and chili pepper. And because we're all tall and huge people in the family, the waiter might have thought we're so fond of meat that he added Ali Nazik Kebap (SR34), a plate of chopped kebabs tossed in what seemed to be tomato sauce and pita bread and more green peppers which they seem to be really fond of, to our order.

I have to admit that by this time, various flavors were already merging and exploding in my mouth and I didn't know which tasted which. I just know that I was enjoying my time munching on all these meats served before me. (I wished I didn't mix up the names with the photos. Just in case, their menu can be found here.)

All in all, the food in Anatolia Turkish Grill is good and affordable. While I must admit that I've tasted a better Turkish fare in another restaurant in the city, dining in Anatolia Turkish Grill is a fun experience. The waiters are friendly and funny and the service is fast. The place is bright and pleasant (when not crowded). There's usually a long line in their branch in Granada especially on weekend nights.

We might go back again... After I've convinced the father that Turkey and Lebanon are not "same same" and that waiting in line must really be endured if he wants good Turkish food. ~ Sundrenched

Anatolia Turkish Grill

- Granada Centre, Exit 5

T: +966-1-2535527

- Abdullah Al-Sayed Towers,

Tahlia Street, Olaya

(Maps can be found here.)

T: +966-1-4626339

E: info@anatoliaturkishgrill.com

W: www.anatoliaturkishgrill.com
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Saudi Food at Al Romansiah

Raise your hand when you've already dined in a restaurant that serves authentic Saudi food! Have you? Are you sure? When Saudi food is mentioned, the images of shawarma and kabsa immediately come to mind. And why not? They're widely-popular and considered by many as the national food of Saudi Arabia. They're available in most food stations in the street and you probably have your suking kabsahan in Riyadh.

One night, we were cruising along Exit 30 when we passed by a restaurant that one of the bros claim as being a popular Saudi restaurant. Piqued by that information and the magenta building, I highly suggested (read: annoyingly force) that we eat there even after the father decided to park in front of Kudu. So we had to take a turn in the residential area to go back. The restaurant was still closed for salah but a waiter ushered us to the family entrance and let us in. 

Al Romansiah Restaurant serves local Saudi food at affordable prices. It's one of the highly-recommended restaurants for kabsa and kebabs. 

Being new to the place, we looked for the English version of a menu. There was none. We looked for a waiter or cashier to talk in English, there was none. I thought, "wow, this is such the real deal in Saudi cuisine that everything must be in Arabic!" We felt like tourists in a new country. However, I was still feeling giddy in our cubicle. The restaurant is divided by low concrete walls (in marble?) into tiny booths with long curtains as doors. There were booths that you can sit on the floor. We picked one with a table and chairs nearest the exit. 

The father, more fluent in Arabic than any of us, ordered at the reception area. Of course, being a kabsa place, he definitely ordered it. He said he also ordered a meal package good for sharing that the cashier recommended or pointed on the menu. After that got settled, we waited for the food... and waited... and waited...

Until the food finally arrived. (Ten years lang ang peg?!?)

Clockwise from bottom: tabouleh, mutabal, babaghanoush, and hummus

Kebab galore!

Kunafah/knafeh/kanafeh

The starters and dips of babaghanoush, mutabal, hummus, and tabouleh were good. The khubz, individually packed, was a bit warm and chewy. The mixed kebabs, made of chicken, lamb, and various meats, were tasty but a bit dry. The highlight of our meal would probably be the kunafa which came in a paper bag. It wasn't too sweet and cloying; it's not soaked in sweet syrup alleluia!!! I don't usually eat kunafa but this is yummy I had to make an exemption. While we were quite satisfied with the spread, we can't help but notice something was missing... uhmn, where's the kabsa?!? 

Our table spread... without the kabsa.

A little bit annoyed that the food was already too late in getting served, we asked the waiter where our kabsa is. The waiter said it wasn't on the order. Now we go back to the cashier who said we didn't order it. Seriously?! How can we not order the bestseller in your restaurant? The dish that we came here for? Being a patient family that we are (cough, cough), we just tagged it as a case of miscommunication and waited (yes, waited again) for another half an hour for the kabsa that we decided to order to-go. 

Al Romansiah is a good restaurant if you want to taste authentic Saudi food. It's a good restaurant to take your guests who are new in Riyadh. However, please be reminded that this restaurant is so popular that the service suffers poorly in some areas. I like their food but we waited close to an hour for the food to be served in our table. When we exited, I saw a lot of people in the bachelor's section. Waiting also. It can really get crowded, especially in the family section. Maybe we did just come at a busy time.

They have other branches scattered in the city that's for take-out only and for singles only. They also offer catering for your special occasions and events.

And about that kabsa? I didn't get to taste it because it was relegated to our ref and I completely forgot we had it in there. Argh! Next time! ~ Sundrenched

Al Romansiah Restaurant

Exit 30, Khurais Road

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia