Nevizade is a trendy strip in Istanbul where all the coolest bars and restaurants are located, and while you may not have time or money for a flight to Turkey, you can now experience the bold flavours of the country’s cuisine at a prime midtown location.
Nevizade Kitchen+Bar officially opened its doors on Yonge Street on November 1, and promises to deliver authentic Turkish food to its customers.
“When most Canadians think of Turkish cuisine, they think of kebabs,” says Nevizade Kitchen+Bar partner, Polat Yapicilar. “At Nevizade, we wanted to bring real Turkish Cuisine to Toronto and I think this authenticity is what sets Nevizade apart from other Turkish restaurants in the city.”
Polat has teamed up with father-and -son team, Erdal and Resat Can Bayram to open the new spot. Polat and Erdal are long-time friends and together, the duo brings over 60 years of food and hospitality industry experience with a shared passion for building a restaurant that is accurately representative of the Turkish food they know and love.
Polat and Erdal promise that the entire menu will be unique for patrons, but recommend starting with Hunkar Begendi, which consists of cubes of lamb cooked with tomato sauce served over charcoal roasted eggplant. Wash it down with Yeni Raki, a Turkish spirit reminiscent of the more commonly known Sambuca, made with twice-distilled grapes and often served with seafood or meze dishes.
If you can’t decide what to order, the Chef’s Mix Plate is your best bet. The bestselling item will let you sample some of the most popular dishes including rice, salad, lamb, beef eggplant.
With two floors and space for 175 people, Nevizade Kitchen+Bar is ideal for large group gatherings, features a cozy fireplace and is decorated in warm antique-y Turkish designs. There’s even a front and back patio for lunch or dinner when the days get a little warmer.
“We hope when people come to Nevizade Kitchen+Bar, they feel like they are in Türkiye,” said Polat.
Nevizade Kitchen+Bar is located at 1954 Yonge Street, Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday live music will be featured until 2 a.m.
