• Turkey •
TURKISH GRILLE
November Showcase
272 Melwood Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Phone: +1 (412) 235-7215 Email: info@turkishgrill.com http://www.turkishgrille.com/ |
Located less than a mile from campus and on the edge of North Oakland is Turkish Grille. Owned and completely run by a local Turkish family, this restaurant offers an authentic taste of the rich and flavor-packed food of Turkey in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.
Owner
During our visit, we met and talked with Sarjan, the owner of Turkish Grille. He was incredibly kind and welcoming and seemed very excited to have us visit. He was happy to speak with us and answer all of our questions about his experiences in moving to the United States and starting his restaurant. He began by explaining to us that his older brother had moved to the United States before him and that this was his greatest inspiration to leave Turkey. After studying ESL and graduating high school, he moved to New York where he studied computer science and worked in another Turkish restaurant. Following this, he moved to Pittsburgh under the encouragement of his brother, who had visited here, and again followed his footsteps in opening his very own restaurant--Turkish Grille.
Sarjan shed some light on the difficulties he encountered when first arriving in the United States. Some of the things he highlighted were adjusting to a very different lifestyle in the States, full of greater responsibilities and concerns, and mastering the language. In addition to this, he emphasized how hard it was losing friends and family and trying to build a new community here. Though there is a small Turkish community in Pittsburgh, he especially enjoys being surrounded by the few family members he has here and traveling to Turkey when he gets the opportunity.
Food and Restaurant
Turkish Grille is a family business, with Sarjan’s uncle and aunt in the kitchen and cousin doing deliveries. Together, they work hard to ensure that each meal is made fresh and with great care. All dishes are made in the restaurant every day using his family’s recipes, and the vegetables and meat used are bought and cooked frequently. For this reason, when asked if he would consider expanding his restaurant, he strongly refused. He explained that with chain restaurants, not as much special attention can be given to every dish and he doesn’t want to compromise the quality of his food.
The dishes prepared at Turkish Grille are foods that are typically found in Turkish restaurants as opposed to meals cooked at home. For instance, kabobs and other grilled and cooked meats were common throughout the menu, whereas at home, dishes usually consist of eggplant, sauteed beans and olives. Like the other owners we have met, Sarjan talked about how there are a lot of foods he simply can’t make in America because they wouldn’t be popular so the menu isn't necessarily reflective of everyday Turkish cuisine.
For our meal, we were offered butter rice with nuts, a large salad, and an assortment of meats to share. The table was also given a soft bread that was similar to, but thicker than, pita which paired well with the ground lamb, spicy, marinated chicken, and spiced lamb pieces. In addition to this, Sarjan brought out a vegetarian dish that consisted of falafel and zucchini patties, so there was something for all dietary needs. After a little convincing and making room for more food, we were later served rice pudding with cinnamon and a flan style dessert topped with caramel sauce. We’re glad Sarjan insisted we try them because the deserts were phenomenal. Neither were too sweet and both were refreshing after the heavy meal.
From the moment we walked into Turkish Grille, Sarjan made us feel extremely welcome. He treated us like friends in his home and we are very grateful that he took the time to share a meal with us. Only a ten minute walk from the center of campus, his restaurant is a wonderful way to engage with Turkish culture and cuisine and we hope everyone can enjoy the positive experience we had.