©2008 By Punchin Intnl. All Rights Reserved.

Punchin Intl. & The Walman Report By Nancy Walman

December 23rd, 2007 at 11:48 am

Tarabia

in: restaurant reviews, upper East Side, Middle Eastern, Good Value

TARABIA -- DINING ROOM PHOTO

Tarabia

ADDRESS: 1071 First Avenue
(Between 58th and 59th Streets)
New York, NY 10022

WEB SITE: www.tarabianyc.com

TELEPHONE: (212) 888-0809

FAX: (212) 888-0209

HOURS: Lunch: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Mon.-Sun. Dinner: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Mon.-Sun.

CUISINE: Turkish

Award-winning website, Punchin-dot-com, features the Walman Report and reviews of restaurants, travel, wine and theater. Executive chef was formerly at Turkish Kitchen (Manhattan’s first great Turkish restaurant). At Tarabia, he prepares classic Istanbul dishes dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

A wide variety of daily Turkish appetizers are offered on a cart in the traditional style of Istanbul. They are all excellent, if a trifle too cold. The elegant dining room is enhanced by candlelit tables with handmade Turkish table-cloths and napkin holders, handsome mahogany and leather chairs and fabric-upholstered banquettes. Cream-colored walls support Turkish chandeliers. Lovely fresh flowers enhance the effect that care was given to every detail.

Outstanding starters include octopus or calamari salad and lightly pan fried phyllo, rolls, filled with feta cheese or pan fried zucchini pancakes served with garlic yoghurt sauce. Of entrees, go for lamb or chicken shish kebob, stuffed vine leaves, grilled lamb chops or whole fish. They are all prepared with care and finesse. Leave room for rich desserts baklava or almond pudding. There is also a selection of Turkish wines, from a shot wine list that should contain more options under $30. There is an excellent Turkish beer for $6. Service is warm and accommodating at Tarabia, 1071 First Avenue, which is the best Turkish restaurant to open this year and rates “B Major” on the Walman Report.

tarabia

(Executive chef Aytekin Yar, formerly at
Turkish Kitchen, prepares classic Istanbul
dishes going back to the Ottoman Empire.
A wide variety of daily meze –Turkish appetizers –
are offered to diners on a cart in the traditional
serving style of Istanbul.)

CREDIT CARDS: All major

PRICE RANGE: 3-Course Prix Fixe Lunch Menu: $14.95
Dinner (entrees): $15.00 - $23.00

DRESS: Casual

RESERVATIONS: Recommended

SEATING CAPACITY: 50

NUMBER OF ROOMS: 1

PARTY FACILITIES: Available upon request

BAR: The 8-foot long custom-made curved mahogany
bar, located in the front of the restaurant, features
a superior global wine list including a first-class
selection of Turkish wines and reserve wines.
An impressive variety of wines are available by
the glass. In addition, the restaurant serves imported
beers. The Lunch and Dinner Menus are available at the
bar. In early-2008, the restaurant will offer a full bar.

ATMOSPHERE: Intimate, romantic ambiance. The “homey” dining
room is enhanced by a 15-foot high ceiling, candlelit
tables with handmade Turkish table cloths and napkin
holders, handsome mahogany and leather chairs,
fabric-upholstered and leather banquettes, cream-colored
walls, Turkish chandeliers, custom-made wrought-iron mirrors,
wood floors, mood lighting, and French doors opening
onto the sidewalk to create the synthesis of contemporary
Turkish and authentic Istanbul settings.

EXECUTIVE CHEF: Aytekin Yar

PASTRY CHEF: Aydin Ayal

OWNERS: Levent Cakar
Ismail Topal
Gaye Topal

OPENING DATE: October, 2007

MENU

Tarabia Restaurant Menu

Soup of the day 4

SALADS

Akdeniz Salatasi - Mediterranean Salad 8
Freshly chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, parsley, cucumber served with fresh herbs and extra virgin olive oil.

Çoban Salatasi - Shepherd Salad 7
Diced fresh tomato, cucumber and onion, pepper and parsley tossed with lemon and extra virgin olive oil.

Izgara Ahtapot Salatasi - Octopus Salad 12
Grilled octopus served with romaine lettuce, tomato and onion.

Piyaz - White Bean Salad 7
Traditional white bean salad tossed with onion and extra virgin olive oil.

Izgara Kalamar Salatasi - Grilled Calamari Salad 10
Grilled calamari served with romaine lettuce, tomato and onion.

Tarabia Salatasi 9
Freshly chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, parsley, cucumber, fresh mint, corn and baby arugula served with Chef’s special dressing.

HOT APPETIZERS

Sigara Böregi - Cheese Rolls 7
Lightly pan fried phyllo dough scrolls filled with feta cheese or beef pastrami.

Falafel 7
Lightly pan fried patties made from traditionally spiced chickpeas.

Mücver - Zucchini Pancakes 8
Lightly pan fried zucchini pancakes served with garlic yoghurt sauce.

TRADITIONAL DISHES

Hünkar Begendi - Sultan’s Delight 18
Chunks of tender lamb served over eggplant puree.

Tandir 17
Finely oven cooked marinated lamb served with herbs and rice.

Etli Yaprak Dolmasi - Stuffed Vine Leaves With Beef 15
Stuffed vine leaves with ground beef, rice and herbs served with garlic yogurt sauce.

Manti 15
Hand made beef dumplings served with yogurt garlic sauce.

FROM THE GRILL

Kuzu Sis - Lamb Shish 17
Specially marinated tender cubes of baby lamb, char grilled on a skewer served with Turkish traditional rice.

Tavuk Sis - Chicken Shish 16
Char grilled marinated cubes of chicken breast on a skewer served with Turkish traditional rice.

Adana Kebab - Skewered Ground Lamb Adana 16
Hand chopped lamb, seasoned with spicy red pepper, char grilled on a skewer served with Turkish traditional rice.

Izgara Köfte - BBQ Meatballs 15
Char grilled ground lamb seasoned with traditional herbs served with Turkish traditional rice and pan fried potatoes.

Izgara Bonfile - Filet Mignon 23
Char grilled, traditionally marinated filet mignon served with mashed potato.

Kuzu Pirzola - Lamb Chops 22
Char grilled special cut baby lamb chops served with Turkish traditional rice.

Izgara Biftek - Shell Steak 19
Char grilled marinated aged shell steak served with mashed potato.

Kanat - Grilled Chicken Wings 16
Grilled marinated chicken wings served with Turkish traditional rice.

SEA FOOD

Izgara Levrek - Grilled Whole Sea Bass 20

Izgara Çupra - Grilled Whole Dorado 20

Grilled Tilapia 19

Karides Izgara - Grilled Jumbo Shrimp 19

All sea food served with chef’s special salad

DESSERTS