by Zeyda Ãœstün

The name of this restaurant located on the corner of Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi and Büklüm Sokak is the same as the name of the cuisine it offers: Ege (meaning Aegean). It was opened a few months ago and is most competent at Aegean cuisine. The menu is composed of various mezes, herbs and seafood while red meat products are not on offer. Although the fish they serve, such as bonito, anchovies and horse mackerel, are from the Black Sea, they are cooked in Aegean cuisine style.

The restaurant is composed of two halls separated from each other by a few steps and decorated in white and blue. It is cozy with wooden chairs, colorful napkins and a map of the Aegean Sea embellishing the ceiling. The second hall also hosts a bar.

The olive oil in slender dark-colored bottles at each table is brought specially from the Aegean region. Not wanting to stick to the menu, we wished to see the meze types. The meze tray was composed of plates full of herbs we hadn't heard of before. Most of them had garlic in them and, unfortunately, since garlic upsets my stomach, I could not taste most of them. I still wonder epecially about the taste of the eggplant salad with tahin (crushed sesame seeds).

The mezes we chose were octopus salad, deniz börülcesi (maritime kidney bean), green olives with walnut and lakerda (salt bonito). The grilled calamari marinated with thyme and paprika was very delicious. The fried horse mackerel (istavrit) and striped goat fish (tekir) were crispy and the mixed salads were both colorful and tasty. Although we were full, the stuffed yellow pepper on the tray still seemed very attractive…

Salmon with spinach and fish-in-a-basket were the chef's suggestions; however, we decided to try them next time.

Besides the tastes particular to winter such as pumpkin and quince desserts, the eggplant dessert of South-Eastern Anatolia is also on the menu. Unfortunately, we were too full to taste them and only ordered Turkish coffee.

We drank rakı with the food. For those who drink rakı straight, they bring the rakı glass in a bowl full of ice cubes. There were people drinking wine; however, rakı is more suitable to these mezes.

The Greek music played did not disturb our conversation; in fact we sometimes found ourselves keeping the beat. After all, the two coasts of the Aegean Sea enjoy the same music.

Ege Restaurant is open everyday, except Sunday, from 12:00 to 16:00 and from 19:00 to 24:00. Reservation is required. They don't have a parking lot; however, somebody will helps you park.

Afiyet olsun!! And if you enjoy your meal, please make a toast for me!

Büklüm Sokak, 54/B, Kavaklıdere-Ankara
Tel: (312) 428 27 17 - 466 21 21

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