After a very long week, it’s always nice to go out on a Friday night in New Paltz. From Italian to Japanese to Indian, Main Street is filled with all different types of restaurants. But one of the newer restaurants definitely worth checking out for a unique dining experience is the Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant Anatolia, located at 76 Main Street.
Anatolia first came to New Paltz in 1997, and was originally owned by the Demiray family. Kaan Demiray, the owner at the new location, said he and his brother were partners when it first opened. The old location closed in January 2006 and the new one opened this past January.
When I first entered Anatolia with my party of five, a friendly hostess seated us right away. The décor is simple and elegant. The walls are painted peach, creating a warm ambiance.
While looking over our menus, fresh, homemade pita bread was brought to us. The pita bread comes with two sides to dip in, either olive oil or tapenade.
This one-of-a-kind restaurant offers a wide selection of foods, from pasta to sandwiches to burgers, different kebab meals, hot and cold appetizers and different combinations of steak and chicken.
The sandwiches range in price from $7.95 to $8.95, making this a very affordable dining option. The entrée prices range anywhere from $11.95 on the low end to $22.95 on the higher end.
My party and I first ordered drinks. Two very exclusive drink offerings are the Turkish tea and juices. The juices come in apricot, cherry and peach. They also offer Turkish coffee and an Aryan yoghurt drink.
Two of my friends chose the Turkish tea.
When it came to selecting our meals, we ordered the Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta in a red sauce, Chicken Shish Kebab, Chicken Broccoli Alfredo and the Falafel Feast Platter. While waiting for our food, the traditional Middle Eastern music that was playing created a very calm and relaxed atmosphere.
We were served relatively quickly, receiving huge portions of food. My Mediterranean pasta was made in a red, tangy sauce with tons of vegetables, which added a lot of flavor to the dish itself. I enjoyed this dish a lot.
For dessert, we ordered the baklava, served as four pieces for everyone to share. All the desserts are $4.95.
Demiray said he aims to offer friendly service and nice atmosphere to customers at Anatolia, hoping it keeps customers coming back for a good experience.
Another perk of the restaurant is that all of the produce is purchased locally. In addition, food is bought from traditional Turkish markets in Brooklyn and New Jersey.
According to Demiray, there will be student specials in the coming months. He hopes to come up with a student discount upon the presentation of a SUNY New Paltz identification card.
Until then, Demiray said he aims to continue offering interesting dining options to the New Paltz community, a goal this restaurateur believes he has accomplished.