Turkish Cuisine… Outside Of Sheepshead Bay?
Who knew that Midwood had such a dazzling array of eateries exclusively specializing in Turkish cuisine? Apparently Brooklyn Based’s Anne Szustek knew, because she wrote the ultimate compendium on where to go and what to order if one has the inclination to fress on some Agean or Black Sea delicacies beyond the borders of our favorite neighborhood:
Brooklyn’s Turkish community is located in the southern reaches of the borough. There are Turkish restaurants and shops in Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay but you’re most likely to hear Turkish spoken on the street in Midwood. Home to Brooklyn College and painted Victorian houses, the neighborhood is easily accessible via the B, Q and F trains. Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue are among its main thoroughfares; the Kings Highway B/Q stop is a good starting point to explore the Turkish community.
The Turks, for their part, use yogurt as liberally as mustard or ketchup—atop pasta, roast meats and vegetables alike. Casual fans of Turkish cuisine may be well acquainted with savory, spicy shish kebabs—another Turkish word. But these skewered treats hardly scratch the surface of the country’s cuisine. Turkey, straddling two continents and 81 provinces, is a hodgepodge of flavors.
Among the places she checks out are Taci’s Beyti (1955 Coney Island Avenue), Güllüoğlu Bakery (1985 Coney Island Avenue) and Turkish Café (1618 East 16th Street).
But beware, Anne points out: “Just don’t go to a Turkish restaurant and eat falafel, which is not a Turkish dish at all—it’s actually nigh impossible to find in the country outside of snooty Istanbul restaurants catering to expats and moneyed Turks who often developed a taste for it while studying abroad in the U.S. or U.K.”
Ah, the more you know, eh? What are some of your favorite Turkish spots?
