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| - Like much of the surrounding Crossroads market, Anatolia has recently received a face-lift with a long, low, and wide serving counter/steam tray that opens up to the back of the kitchen and the big domed flatbread griddle. Thankfully though, the food and value remain the same, they are now just better equipped to deal with the growing lunch lines.
The menu features many middle eastern regulars like falafel and doner kebab, but also standout entries like the stuffed eggplant and a dynamite braised lamb rib. The lamb rib is my usual go-to lunch, and I honestly don't know where else in the city you'll find so much great food for such a price. They've recently raised the cost of the lamb meal to a whopping $6.50, and it's worth easily twice that. He ribs are braised side ribs, so expect some cartilage and a few button bones, but they are braised in a hearty tomato sauce that is a nice counterpoint to the unctuous meat. The mains (whether ribs, chicken, or eggplant, etc.) also come with a nice rice pilaf, a scoop of bean salad, tabouli, and a chopped tomato salad.
Also notable are the baked items. Oval buns stuffed with spinach and cheese, brushed with a sweet egg wash, and the borek flatbread cooked on the hemispherical griddle and served with fresh, house-made chili paste.
The lines can get long, and the service is perfunctory and curt, but the food is so damn good and represents such a great value that this is an easy 5 stars in my books.
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