Lezzet

The life, colours and custom of Turkey

When turning a house into a home, we collect things – paint, add ornaments, textures and colours that make us feel comfortable, relaxed and cocooned.  In a way that’s what Kemal Barut has done at his Lezzet. He has let it grow and mellow over time, with an additional renovation this year resulting in a wonderful space that has all the attributes of a home.

Lezzet has two areas – an expansive glassed sidewalk space over looking the tree lined Brighton Road  (look straight ahead at the end of Chapel Street and there it is) and also a main dining area inside that is all about mood lighting, authentic Turkish ornaments and walls draped with beautiful hand woven,  heirloom rugs from Ankara.

Lezzet is best visited in the evening when the moody darkened ‘Turkish village’ ambiance is really experienced. Kemal travels the villages of Turkey every year or so, when he visits his grandmother just 45 minutes from Ankara, in Bey Pazari and he has brought much of that atmosphere to Lezzet.

Kemal, is a charmingly youthful host and chef  (who shares the middle name of Ataturk the great Turkish leader) and his affection for his parents homeland is apparent in everything he has created at his first restaurant. He discovered his love of restaurants at the tender age of fourteen, while still at school, eventually a local Turkish restaurateur took him under his wing and taught him the ropes in one of Melbourne’s first Turkish restaurants. But it’s at Lezzet that the twenty-something Kemal has finally made his mark. He has created a restaurant that is confidently true to its origins while he explores modern flavours, garnishes and a unique presentation style.

Authentic Turkish flavours are attained through the wood fired oven, used to produce roasted spice blends before any cooking is done. Then the oven is fired up again for everything from his famous 18 hour Anatolian lamb to the Turkish ‘pizza’ style pastries. The menu features such dishes as a mezze platter with tiny claypots, 12 spice calamari, Mongolian chicken with dukkah and thyme on cous cous, Ottoman lamb with eggplant, a platter from the grill complete with koftas and sucuk,  Turkish breads with anchovies, oregano or marinated olives and the best list of sweets including the most stunning Turkish delight sundae – a multi layered dream with Persian fairy floss.

The entire menu is also available for taking home to enjoy with a bottle of wine

What Virginia loves… The room at night, the sidewalk by day, Kemal’s hosting style and the 18 hour wood-fire lamb!

Lezzet Licensed Restaurant
Open 6 days dinner  Tue – Sun
Also Fri, Sat and Sun for Lunch as well
Take Away menu available

81 Brighton Road Elwood
95317733
www.lezzet.com.au