Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in Somersworth

Located in an old railroad station, the Anatolia Mediterranean restaurant paid homage to the history of the location, with modest sprinkles of Turkish culture thoughtfully scattered throughout. Upon entry, you are wowed with the warmth and beauty of the dining room, and unlike most restaurants with horror vacuii syndrome, this one allows the original space to display its historic splendour with its huge rough hewn stone blocks, red brick archways and various railroad signs and ephemera. The one cue that this was a Turkish restaurant was the music and of course the food, which was the star of the show! This was the best food I’ve eaten since I’ve been on holidays here on the NH sea coast! The cold appetizers (excellent nibbles to share with a group) were accompanied with a large flatbread called lavash - a pizza sized pita that was freshly baked and puffed up with steam. We chose the Mezze Platter - (Soguk Meze Tabagi) - a choice of 4 dishes (plus 2 extras) consisting of hummus, Babagannush, Mediterranean salsa, Istanbul tabouli, Haydari and falafels, all of which were a refreshing and symphonic blend of textures and flavours. Every main that came out (perfectly timed, I might add) was beautifully plated and mouthwateringly tasty (so good that the food induces salivation upon recall!) Rice, as simple as it seems, is often the one dish that reveals the skill of the chef, and Anatolia’s chef Ali, had prepared the rice to perfection as it came out plump, fragrant, with the faintest of seasoning (which works well with the meal). Our party chose different mains including Adana kebab (tasty, tender ground lamb), Kofte Kebab, again, ground lamb with different flavours and plated options and kenufe (Turkish street food that looks like a crepe which you roll up and eat by hand - we ate it with a knife and fork though). Every dish was dare I say again, perfection in presentation and the flavours danced on the tongue like a dervish. We also had Turkish hot teas and a pre-meal cocktails, including Raki (the Turkish version of the Greek ouzo) as well as American soda (there are drinks for every taste!), but sadly (or not), we had no room left for dessert, we were that well-fed. Turkish cuisine is nothing to be afraid of as most of us has already been exposed to the ubiquitous Greek food (though mostly not of the authentic kind). Expect full flavours bursting with freshness, savoury richness that leaves one feeling satisfied. There are many sayings in Turkish that are untranslatable in English and the apropos one here is “health to your hands” - the ultimate compliment given to a chef or cook, who has created a delicious food that leaves the diner feeling cared for. Food is love and the...

TL;DR - Fantastic flavor, quality, and service at very reasonable prices for generous portions. Do not sleep on this place!

W O W!!! I grew up in the area and while Turkish places have come and gone, I NEVER expected to eat at a place of this quality in the Seacoast. In my opinion, the quality of the food and the flavor are head and shoulders above what I’ve tasted in Greater Boston and elsewhere.

My parents highly recommended the chicken, beef, and lamb kebabs, though this time we went with the manti, the lahmacun (pronounced and sometimes spelled “lahmejun”), and the stuffed eggplant for our mains, starting with some lavash and some babagannush. Everything was absolutely delicious!

The lavash came hot, tender, chewy, and crisp, a wonderful accompaniment to the smoky babagannush which frankly, could have been a meal on its own. Honestly, I could eat that lavash every day of the week and not get tired of it.

The manti was perfect, the dough/pasta held was tender, but never mushy. And the sauce, it was delicate, complex, and flavorful but never too much; it kept me coming back bite after bite, even though in my estimation, this plate probably could have served two, if not more.

The lahmacun had a beautiful char on the outside, and with the lemon, parsley, and tomato salad it was an incredible mix of textures and flavors. The fact that you get two pieces really parks this dish in entrée territory, even if you’re used to swing it as more of a bakery or appetizer item.

The stuffed eggplant was also delicious, rich, and deeply satisfying, perfect for fall, or colder weather. I’m not sure how the rice is prepared, but that too was flavorful and never distracted from the flavors in the spotlight, serving mostly to highlight the savoriness of the beef and eggplant.

If I still lived in the area, I’d probably live here! The food is definitely worth coming back for and according to my parents’ it’s been incredibly consistent. The service was really wonderful as well; I’m not sure but I think perhaps the woman who took care of us may have been an owner of the restaurant. Anyway, she was so wonderful guiding diners through how best to eat the dishes and overall, from being seated to being served, the service was warm, friendly, and just...

We came to Anatolia's based off a friend's recommendation. We arrived without reservations (we didn't realize it was recommended). We had just been speaking to a friend about how it was our anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere quiet to celebrate without people knowing. When we arrived, the host, Ali, asked us for reservations. We let him know we didn't didn't know that we were supposed to make one. He let us know that they were completely booked and that he usually recommends people make reservations. He told us to have a seat and he would see what he could do for us. After a few minutes, Ali worked his magic and was able to get us a table. When we sat down, we had the most amazing server, Mehmet, who greeted us with an incredible smile and incredible meal suggestions to make our first experience their amazing. I have some dietary restrictions and MANY questions about the menu. Mehmet patiently worked with me and accommodated all my needs. Usually when I go to restaurants, even when I make specific requests with my dietary needs something comes out wrong, but my entire meal, NOTHING came out wrong and EVERYTHING was as requested. I know I am a hard person to serve in a restaurant and servers can often get frustrated with my numerous questions, but having someone work so patiently with me AND do it with a genuine smile the ENTIRE meal was a very rare experience for me. I 10/10 recommend for the food and service here. Thank you to both Ali and Mehmet for giving me and my fiance such a great...