Where to find some of Austin’s best Turkish food

We’re establishing a grandiose, unified industry idea of dining establishments, which holds that appetizers typically beat out mains.

• Right after all, the chef has a lot less leeway to screw up a dish — due to the fact there are no sides, there is no spot to conceal.
• So should not we aim for dining establishments that proficiently specialize in appetizers?

That led us just lately to MezzeMe, a Turkish place in The Triangle, the condominium and cafe advanced in the vicinity of 45th and Guadalupe streets.

• In elements of West Asia and the Balkans, mezze refers to a assortment of little dishes served as appetizers.

Backstory: MezzeMe founder Mahmud “Moody” Ugur’s fascination with cooking started in his grandmother’s kitchen area in Turkey.

The setting: The restaurant, with its open up kitchen area, is roomy and welcoming — and there’s a great deal of outdoor seating on the patio, in what could possibly be the most European-feeling nook in Austin.

• Two doors down from MezzeMe is Mandola’s Italian Kitchen area.
• In amongst is the European Wax Center.
• Amid all this is an antique-hunting fountain for throwing pennies in.

We requested the delicious Turkish red lentil soup gorgeous red pepper hummus velvety shakshuka of open fireplace-roasted zucchini, bell peppers and potatoes — all poached in a tomato sauce the lovely shrimp skewers and some in-residence köfte, or beef patties.

The verdict: Let’s just say the concept retains up — all the food items was fab.