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This is one of my favourite restaurants, family-run Anatolia in Allandale Road, Stoneygate, Leicester.
I've been coming here for years. It's my go-to place for those occasions when visitors turn up unexpectedly or you've spent all day clearing gutters and really need a relaxing sit-down.
Hassan and his family are very welcoming. Sometimes I've rung in advance to check whether they have a table and sometimes I just turn up, saying, in a plaintive voice, "have you got room for me?" They always have.
Ambience
The restaurant is small, cosy and relaxed with just twenty four places. When I first came, it was just the front room. Now there's a bar at the back, and french windows leading to a garden and a function room. So you can choose the ambience you want!
This evening I was there early doors: their first customer. The restaurant has been re-furbished, the tables stained dark, new upholstered bench seats and lovely comfy upholstered chairs. it looks rich and mysterious.
Menu
The menu is select with a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes and pizzas, plus specials. Meat features strongly, but also sea bass, salmon and prawns and several vegetarian dishes.
If I am eating on my own I will have two or three meze type dishes. My favourite is Yogurtlu Kizartma - peppers, courgettes and potatoes sauteed in olive oil and served with a rich Greek yoghurt flavoured with garlic.
The kebabs (lamb or chicken) are tasty, but my favourite for some time now has been the home-made meatballs. Main meals are served with rice and a delicious mixed and dressed salad.
Sorry for the dismembered look, I started scoffing before I remembered to take the photo!
I've never tried the pizzas but I have it on good authority that they are very good (none are ever left on the plate).
If you need chips, you can have them, although the home-made flat bread is a much better idea :)
Wine List
Anatolia has a nice selection of wine by the glass ranging from £3.95 to £4.10 for 175ml; or by the bottle from £15 to £35 for champagne.
I usually just ask for a glass of white wine, because there are often taster wines not on the wine list, brought in for a function or ordered but not drunk. Tonight was a sauvignon blanc - melons, peaches and honey tastes - very nice.
There are also draught beers at the bar, the usual range of soft drinks and Turkish coffee or mint tea.
Price
Main meals range from £8 to £14, mezes and starters from a few pounds. There are few puddings - a tiny square of complimentary baclava with your bill or two squares with ice-cream if you must. My meal and glass of wine tonight was £16.
Service
Excellent, you are very well looked after. Hassan and his family are very hospitable, tonight I had a good catch up over the bar before I sat down for my meal. You are always remembered and greeted, even if it is months since you last came.
Restaurant Information
Anatolia
14 Allandale Rd, Leicester LE2 2DA, UK
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Hi. Great review of the restaurant with a nice description one each of the topics. Hope to see another great review you soon :)
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Hello @travelgirl, nice to see you again (we met at Steemfest 3). Thank you for your kind comment 😊
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Wow never mind the dismembered look that dish looks delicious and have to agree I can see it going well with white wine, I love kebabs and tasted Turkish meatballs with rice before it was a very tasty dish @shanibeer.
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That looks very delicious and cozy. Sounds like my kind of place. These days it's hard find both cheap and fabulous. And the walk UP the hill after eating is a bonus, works off some of the calories.
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That's what I tell myself about the hill! 😊
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I never eat turkish dish before..maybe someday. Glad that the restaurant have excellent service.
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Turkish food is very tasty, I think you would enjoy it!
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Thank you for entering our <Cheap and Fabulous? Totally possible!> Contest . Thanks to @shanibeer, Tasteem has become a more attractive guide. We upvote your post, wish you the best of luck in winning our Contest!
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@shanibeer, very interestingly written post. While reading it I imagined that I had been in your shoes, in the restaurant.
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I think you would have liked it. There was meat cooked on the charcoal grill, plus a nice healthy salad for your new life-style :) No fruit, though, only tiny pieces of sticky sweet baclava.
The restaurant is just around the corner and down a long hill. Easy to walk there, harder work coming home. But usually we are full and happy so we don't notice the steep climb.
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Oh, I like Turkish baclava.
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Thank you so much for participating in the Partiko Delegation Plan Round 1! We really appreciate your support! As part of the delegation benefits, we just gave you a 3.00% upvote! Together, let’s change the world!
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Great to know that they value customer loyalty, and the food looks good!
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