Restaurant: The Turkish Kitchen

I've never really written an official restaurant review before, and to be honest, I find them quite boring and more like adjective competitions. But I'll give it a go here, in my own style. If I were a restaurant review, what would I look like?

Last night we took my mom out for her birthday at a Turkish restaurant that she loves and frequents, and more importantly, had a coupon for. The walls there are all red, and the tables are always full. There is a perfectly-toned buzz of conversation floating above your head that makes you feel like you're at the best party in town.

We were our own little party. And voraciously hungry. We devoured our appetizers rather quickly. Zucchini patties, fried golden, and dipped in yogurt-cucumber sauce. Filo dough rolls, crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle. A fabulous lentil soup that was so very un-lentil like. We plunged our dinner rolls into the last droplets left behind. That's the sign of a good meal: When you find yourself searching for creative ways to savor what remains.

Our entrees arrived and the wine was poured for those of us declaring we were not going to be designated drivers that evening. One plate was a melting pot of yogurt sauce and beef chunks, which looked more like gnocchi in white sauce. And tasted a bit more like it. Like a ravioli, the waiter told us, which wasn't quite true. Bread had to be ordered to finish it off, because it felt like more of a soup, in an unsuccessful sort of way. But Mom declared that's the first dish that she hadn't given an A+ too there.

I had a plate full of filet mignon chunks, appropriately colored this time. They sat along-side little triangular baked potatoes and surrounded by rice. I have to tell you, it was delicious. Mom and Dad explored the vegetarian options, and got along with their dinners quite nicely too.

Dessert was presented to us on a circle of white plates and we chose what we wanted. We nibbled at our flan-like custard rolls and our almond pudding while sipping hot apple tea.

After the opening of birthday gifts, the evening ended as it usually does. Mom and Sis stretching their stomach and declaring, "I'm so full!" and Dad and I picking up the odds and ends remaining on the table, wondering what we could take home for later.