Till now, the queens of Asia have ruled (Miss Chu & Chat Thai), so hail a new guru who transports you to the laneways of Istanbul with its European districts of Taksim. Your expert guide; the King of Turkish cuisine, restaurateur and Chef, Somer Sivrioglu.
Efendy is reinvented with its ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ approach to dining. The top floor is all white walled blue mosaic arches and fine dining yet any lover of exotic cuisines knows the real action is at street level with the new Efendy Meze Bar.
Kick off with a Lebanese beer 961 whose honey spicy tones match perfectly with a meze board. This platter comes adorned with heavenly pillows of scorched hot Turkish bread paired with imaginative combos such as octopus, capsicum humus, dried olives, black sesame and hazelnut.
Grab a chair by the open fire or perch by a wine barrel, and tuck into the best Croque Monsieur, ‘pachanga borek’ spiced up with an explosive salad of pomegranate, walnut and tomato. The special of ‘Guvec’ seafood stew will get your tastebuds dancing, if not, get your charcoal grill fix with hot chicken winglets.
With cracking Turkish wines at $7 a glass and a drinking den in the basement you have to admit that getting down and dirty with a Raki, Efes beer or Tek Tek shots (100ml mini cocktail hits) beats penthouse dining any day!
EFendy Meze Bar
79 Elliott Street (Corner of Darling Street) Balmain NSW 2041
T: 02 9810 5466
