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Update 4/13/09:
Funny that I would go back to Anatolian Table almost exactly a year later. But this time I was taking my father and family friends. My dad was sharing about his reunion trip to Saudi Arabia last month and so I thought everyone would enjoy Mideast fare.
Things to note this time around? First, we ordered the appetizer sampler for four. What a great deal with a lot of items. You got baskets of bread with a platter with about eight different appetizers including hummus, dolmas, babaganouch, eggplant/tomato mixture, and a few others. Great way to sample everything and even with five people, we didn't finish it off.
For entrees I will only comment on the dishes that were kind of stews. Both my dad and I ordered different types of these (mine was the lamb guvec) but we both agreed on the same things - they were good but we wouldn't order them again and they needed more meat. We both had selected lamb versions and the lamb was in tiny little chunks, hardly any, so that I was hard put to hunt for them amongst the mostly veggies. Try some of the other dishes listed in my original post instead.
As for the dancers, this time we got the more common belly dancers in the scanty costumes and veils. Nice, but I kinda preferred the more traditional village dancing mentioned last year.
Original Post 4/13/08:
I've had a lot of Middle Eastern food. But then you get the restaurants that want to be more specific for their particular region or country. Anatolian Table (AT) is one and it is representing the country of Turkey. Located in Rocklin, AT had an extensive menu that covered some Mideast basics like kabobs and baklava, but also had some new specialties. My Meetup group had a nice dinner there and quite a few dishes were sampled.
Before I go into the dishes I will mentioned that we were also entertained by some belly dancing while there. What made tonight's performance different and interesting was the group. This was a group of four women dancers who danced individually and then as a group. Often times when you have a belly dancer at a restaurant they can be pretty, sexy, scantily clad versions. These ladies wore more traditional garb of dresses, pantalets, and scarves instead of the scanty, beady outfits. Not a lot of exposed skin. Also nice was that they did not dance to some tape on a boombox. They had a small band playing drums and whatever else.
I started off with an appetizer called PEYNIRLI KRADES: Shrimp cooked with tomato, onion and cheese. The five large shrimp arrived in a creamy tomatoey broth. It was good, but I thought it would have some more spice. The sauce was nice for dipping bread in.
The entrees came out and there was a variety. Many people opted for kabobs. George ordered a combo plate which had the chicken, lamb, and seasoned ground beef.
Robert decided to go try the vegetarian guvec. I take it from the description, and the dish that arrived, that 'guvec' means stew. There were many variations of it on the menu depending on your meat choice.
I tried the Turkish equivalent of pizza. The KUSBASI PIDE: Chunks of tender lamb meat mixed with vegetables on crusted dough. Bryan opted for the shrimp version. I really enjoyed my lamb one. It had a thin crust with rolled edges and a spicy, thin tomato sauce. The chunks of lamb and vegetables were on top. I had wanted to try something I had never had before and this fit the bill. It was served with a trio of slaws on the side. Nice to get your veggies in.
My dessert was also something new and something I had a heard or read about. KAZAN DIBI(Bottom of Pot): Mixed of flour, milk and caramelized. It was like a thickened pudding.
Another interesting new dessert was ordered by Jayne. KADAYIF: Shredded wheat, walnuts, cinnamon, light house syrup topped with pistachios. She said they were a doughy concoction and I figured they were probably made with semolina.
Everyone agreed that the food was good and makes the restaurant worthy of a return visit - if you live on that end of town. Since it is a bit far for me, I'll stick to the closer Persian place downtown. But if you are in Roseville/Rocklin, go search AT table out at 6815 Lonetree Blvd.
