Where to find some of Austin’s best Turkish food

We’re creating a grandiose, unified area idea of places to eat, which holds that appetizers typically conquer out mains.

• Right after all, the chef has much less leeway to screw up a dish — simply because there are no sides, there’s no place to cover.
• So shouldn’t we purpose for eating places that proficiently specialize in appetizers?

That led us not long ago to MezzeMe, a Turkish spot in The Triangle, the condominium and restaurant sophisticated around 45th and Guadalupe streets.

• In areas of West Asia and the Balkans, mezze refers to a variety of little dishes served as appetizers.

Backstory: MezzeMe founder Mahmud “Moody” Ugur’s fascination with cooking began in his grandmother’s kitchen in Turkey.

The placing: The cafe, with its open up kitchen, is roomy and welcoming — and there is a lot of out of doors seating on the patio, in what may be the most European-experience nook in Austin.

• Two doors down from MezzeMe is Mandola’s Italian Kitchen.
• In involving is the European Wax Heart.
• Amid all this is an antique-on the lookout fountain for throwing pennies in.

We purchased the delectable Turkish red lentil soup magnificent red pepper hummus velvety shakshuka of open up fire-roasted zucchini, bell peppers and potatoes — all poached in a tomato sauce the wonderful shrimp skewers and some in-home köfte, or beef patties.

The verdict: Let us just say the idea holds up — all the foodstuff was fab.