(Atlanta) – During my recent trip to Atlanta, I wanted to re-visit the food places that I frequented when I was still living there. One of the few places where I spent many lunches whenever I come to office in downtown is European Kitchen – a low-key counter-service diner with vague range of dishes but the food is generally tasty somehow. So I was looking forward to go there. Sadly, my colleagues informed me that EK closed shop just recently. A Mediterranean restaurant called Anatolia replaced the strategic corner spot.
I don’t really mind that EK is gone. It’s not a personal favorite anyway. I just go there before because of convenience rather than the quality and authenticity of food. Since Anatolia is in the same location, I unconsciously assumed it will be just the same. It’s worth giving a try, though. So I went there with my colleagues.
I can sum up into 3 words the first half of my lunch experience with Anatolia: “Service Gone Wild”. There was a line of 20 people with only 3 personnel in the restaurant: a Middle-eastern looking guy managing the counter, an old lady preparing the food and a lost underage Asian boy expediting the plates. There was no system at all. While many were walking out already without a glimpse of the gyro they already paid, we waited for almost 45 hour before the plates landed on our table. Horrific!
The food should be really good; otherwise, I will overturn the table in anger. So I took a bite of my shwarma right away and surprisingly, it was very moist and tasty. Even the fries were addictively crunchy and well seasoned. I had a bite of my colleague’s chicken kebab with vegetable and it was equally delicious. The painful wait paid off and the food wiped out my annoyance. I will add 2 more words to complete my experience with Anatolia: “Good Food”.
Lamb Shwarma with Spicy Tahini Sauce and Fries
Chicken Kebab with Oven-roasted Vegetable and rice pilaf
52 Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 589-8008