No need to travel
halfway across the world anymore for authentic Turkish cuisine.
The Istanbul Seafood Restaurant has literally imported an entire
menu and authentic furnishings for you to enjoy.
Owner Riza Atas, describes his new establishment, which opened
six months ago in Sheepshead Bay, as the first Turkish seafood
restaurant in New York City.
"Often Turkish restaurants only serve meat dishes, such
as kebabs," he told GO Brooklyn. "We wanted to show
Americans another side of our country’s cooking."
This charming restaurant serves up to 25 different kinds of fish,
some imported directly from the Mediterranean and the Black sea,
the two bodies of water that border Turkey. This makes for an
exotic menu laden with generous portions of grilled, pan-seared
and fried seafood prepared by Atas’ son, chef Hicri Atas, who
also hails from Istanbul.
Diners may feast on a fish called levrek, a striped bass filet
from the Mediterranean Sea served char-grilled, or try a traditional
northern Turkish dish, hamsi tava (pan-fried anchovies from the
Black Sea). Accompany each meal with a glass of yakut, a dry
red wine imported from Turkey and stick around for the dessert
platter containing an assortment of Turkish treats, such as baklava
and kunefe, a roll of thin dough crusted with almonds and honey,
a dish enjoyed by a sultan according to Atas.
In addition to Istanbul Seafood Restaurant’s authentic, imported
recipes, the marble floors, silver picture frames, chairs and
tablecloths are also the real deal – even the forks come from
this seafaring country on the other side of the globe.
Istanbul Seafood Restaurant is located at 2817 Coney Island Ave.
between Avenues Y and Z. Entrees: $7-$19. The restaurant accepts
American Express, MasterCard and Visa. For reservations and more
information, call (718) 743-0743 or visit the Web site at www.istanbulrestaurantny.com.
TURKEY’S FISH
