Tasting Notes
By Mehmali is at Uğur Mumcu Caddesi 51 in the Dumlupınar quarter of Buca. It is run as an alcohol-free venue and its beef is dry-aged.
From the fire and premium cuts
The house dish is Mehmali tenderloin şaşlık. From the fire come lokum tenderloin, entrecôte, lamb lokum and yağlıkara, lamb beyti and a mixed grill. The premium list has the Şato tenderloin, Dallas and T-bone steaks, and Wagyu A5-Plus.
Starters and the rest
Starters include smoked dried meat, beef carpaccio, mushrooms with mozzarella and a mixed smoked-meat plate, and the boutique mezes are atom, Girit, Mamzana and yoghurt antibiotic. Other dishes are steak köfte with hellim, cheddar or mozzarella, chicken and cream mushroom penne, and the dessert is crisp Hatay pumpkin.
“Order the Mehmali tenderloin şaşlık or the Dana Şato lokum, and start with a few boutique mezes.”
LR Kitchen — field note