I went to Alaturka at about 9:45 one night with a large, relatively rowdy group. We were the only people in the restaurant, and the waiter showed us unbelievable hospitality. Our waiter, DJ Eric, who bore a striking resemblance Lou Diamond Phillips, stuck around while we enjoyed a two-hour dinner. He even played along while the Turkish member of our dinner party read our fortunes in our Turkish coffee grounds.
The food at Alaturka is always good, but it takes more than that for a restaurant to stand out. It needs a je ne sais quoi, or however you say that in Turkish. After months or years, I won't talk about the hummus or the kebab (both delicious, by the way). Things like our evening with LDP are what I'll remember about this place as time passes.