Sofra is another restaurant that has been on my hit list for quick some time now. It looks quite unassuming from the outside but once you step inside, you are greeted to an inviting, cozy and warm Turkish restaurant. Yes, you read right, this place specializes in Turkish food. Not something you see much of in this town.
We dropped by on an early Saturday evening, a spur of a moment kind of decision. With no reservations (I’d recommend it if you want a prime time slot), the staff informed us we could have a table as long as we were out of there by 7:45pm. That gave us more than enough time (over 2 hours) for our meal so we took it.
Sultan’s sofrasi ($80.00)
This is Sofra’s meal for two to share: two appetizers (yaprak sarma and humus), a mixed grilled meat sampler (chicken kebab, swordfish, beef meatballs and rack of lamb) and baklava for dessert. The best way to sample what Sofra has to offer.
Yaprak sarma
Grape-vine leaves stuffed with rice, raisins and pine nuts. These were a great way to start off our meal. Similar to Greek dolmas, the yaprak sarma were light, flavourful and had an umami balance of sweet and sour flavours.
Humus
The humus came with a generous amount of fresh baked pita. The pita was lightly brushed with oil and nicely seasoned with sesame seeds. Man, if I could make pita like this at home, I’d be one happy camper. The humus was fresh but taste wise, it was pretty standard. It could have used something else (squeeze of lemon or garlic perhaps?).
Grilled meat sampler
The grilled meat platter came with two pieces each of chicken kebab, swordfish, beef meatballs and rack of lamb. It also came with a couple pieces of grilled vegetables (zuchinni, tomatoes and green pepper). It would have been nice to have more veggies.
The other dish consisted of bulgur pilaf and a mixed green salad. I don’t eat much bulgur pilaf but this was perfect with all of the meats we had. The swordfish and lamb were delicccious (the lamb was perfectly cooked medium rare). The chicken was moist and flavourful. The salad was standard, basic greens.
Baklava
Everyone loves baklava and these ones were made just right, stuffed with walnuts, pistachio and drizzled with honey syrup. Not too sweet, these were the perfect way to end our meal. Stuffed and happy.
I’m glad I was finally able to try out Sofra’s. While it’s not the cheapest place, you pay for quality. It definitely is a great place to celebrate a special occasion with friends, family or that special someone.
They recently renovated their bottom floor, aptly named The Cellar at Sofra, which is spacious and looks great. They even have a separate menu, which you can find here (click on “Menu” tab). Next time I will have to try that out or their pideler (traditional baked pizzas)! Look for the “evil eye” carved into the tables for added amusement.
Sofra
https://www.facebook.com/Sofra.Authentic.Turkish.Cuisine
10345-106 Street
Edmonton, AB
(780) 423-3044
CHERRY BOB-OMBS 