Dining Review: Seed Opens, Offering Fresh And Nuanced Turkish Cuisine

While it’s always exciting news to experience a favorable first meal in a newly opened local restaurant, the satisfaction of finding a place that fills a cuisine void in our area adds to the pleasure.

Seed (242 5th Avenue between President and Carroll Streets) opened late last week and provides a diverse Turkish-Mediterranean menu that will please the meat eaters and veggie lovers alike.

The new restaurant takes the place of Ollie & Ry, which shuttered last summer, after lasting for roughly six months. We thought favorably of their house-made gravlax, but it wasn’t enough to keep them going. Previous to that, Bageltique had closed in December 2014.

We think Seed has a good shot at gaining their footing and a following as well.

The design and seating layout serves Seed well. Streamlined, calming, and comfortable, the minimalist approach makes the space seem larger than the square footage. We were told by the staff that their backyard deck would be open soon to enjoy during the warmer months.

We ate the piquant red pepper paste and black olive dip carefully so it would last throughout our meal. It’s one of those super-tasty starters that honestly would be easy to inhale (admittedly, we came hungry). This time, we had enough self-control to save a bit for later.

The Eggplant Salad ($7) is on the starter section of the menu, but did the trick as a healthy and filling lunch when paired with another starter. The sturdy beets and softened eggplant worked well together, and the salad has a cold, crispy zest.

The real winner — and these aren’t to be missed — are the Zucchini Pancakes ($8.50). Latkes come to mind, more so because of the texture than the spices. The feta and olive oil preparation are sure to make this dish a fan favorite.

You also have a large selection of salads, kebabs, pastries (Kasseri & Olive Poga will be for our next visit), fish, and even a Chicken Schnitzel starter ($10).

Neighbor Christie Verola raved about the Lamb Adana ($18), a dish of ground lamb, Mediterranean spices, and served with jasmine rice.

Seed hasn’t gotten their liquor license just yet, but BYOB is just fine for the time being. And for those who love intense Turkish coffee, you can savor some after your meal. And give the pomegranate organic ($4) juice a taste, which is just tart enough. You’ll pucker and smile at the same time.

We found the service to be extremely friendly, and our neighbor remarked on this as well.

Seed triples as a full meal, light lunch, or coffee and pastry stop-off that’s another solid addition to the many stand-out restaurants on 5th Avenue.

We bet you’ll order the zucchini pancakes…

The Dining Rundown: Seed
Where: 242 5th Avenue, between President and Carroll Streets
Phone: 929-295-9031
Hours: 11pm-10pm, 7 days per week.
Reservations: Not necessary, but recommended for larger parties. Call 929-295-9031.
Kid Friendly? Yes. High chairs are available, and the wait staff is very friendly.