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| - This awesome Turkish restaurant stands out in the crowded GTA restaurant scene for its elegant ambiance, engaging experience, and delicious, authentic food.
We stopped by for a weeknight dinner after reading the good reviews on Yelp. It didn't look at all remarkable from the outside, but what a lesson in judging a book by its cover! When you walk through the front door, you'll be greeted first by tantalizing smells from the grill, and second by a huge, open, elegant dining hall. Almost the whole restaurant is all one room, giving it a feeling of intimate opulence. We were seated right next to the kitchen, and it was cool being able to look just over the counter and see the food being made. The restaurant wasn't too crowded when we visited, but it's definitely equipped to handle large groups.
The waiter was very friendly and guided us through the menu, which was full of authentic dishes we didn't know. We got two appetizers to start: the paçanga böregi (good) and the içli köfte (great). Then for our main course, we split the Barans mix platter for two, which was chock full of kebaps and other meats from the grill. It was a great way to sample the many different items they offer, and we both left stuffed. I also decided to be adventurous and try raki, a Turkish liquor. It had an extremely strong anise flavor (like black licorice), and I don't think I'll get it again... but it was a cool experience you don't everyday.
Overall we had a great time trying new things and enjoying the Barans ambiance. We'll definitely be back!
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