City: New Haven, CT

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (203) 787-3881

Address: 245 Crown St.

Description: This Turkish restaurant next to Louis Lunch and just around the corner from the Shubert Theater is a gem, and the first and only such restaurant in New Haven. Walking inside, you are immediately in Istanbul, with the patterned design and decorations prefacing the genuine food. There is practically a whole page of kebabs to choose from, and the appetizers like yaprak dolma can be ordered tapas style. If you like Greek food, you’ll find many similarities, with musakka and baklava making delicious appearances. For those less adventurous in your family, there are pizzas and sandwiches on the lunch menu, although, of course, with a variety of delicious Anatolian flavors. The Turkish coffee is an absolutely, wonderfully thick version, so be careful about drinking it too late—you’ll be up all night, probably thinking about the great meal you just had.