Izgara

Overview

After a short-lived stint on Bayswater Road, Turkish eatery Izgara relocated to Clarence Street with a contemporary new look and a whole different approach to the dining experience, shifting the vibe from fine-ish dining restaurant to a more laidback, more loose street food menu and great cocktails.

The change paid off.

The menu is adaptable to whatever your after — an affordable lunch meeting, a pre-theatre date night or a rambunctious long dinner with your extended crew. You can easily do a few snacks and a glass of wine or get giddy with a full set menu and paired wines.

Begin with an order of pide (courtesy of Malika Bakehouse) to mop up the super delicious char-grilled Turkish chilli peppers and smoked labneh. Don't fear the chilli as they're mild on the heat and sweet so you can eat the entire thing.

The kibbeh, which you order in individual units, is some of the best I've encountered in Sydney. Most kibbeh has a tendency to dry out but Head Chef and co-owner Efe Topuzlu has managed to balance an excellent textural crust with a fragrant lamb mince filling that is succulent enough to eat without the garlic yoghurt it's served with.

The succulent kibbeh at Izgara

Izgara means grill in Turkish, and the grill here is the centrepiece of the main menu. Yamba prawns, lamb kofte and chicken kebab all highlights of the menu that receive the char-grilled treatment or there's börek and baked eggplant options for vegetarians.

The drinks list is pretty impressive. The cocktail lineup is short but sweet with just four signature serves (the sour cherry margarita is a highlight). The wine list on the other hand is more expansive — reaching from around the country and all over Europe including Turkey.

Izgara is doing affordable, fun laidback dining in the city — something that's been severely lacking in days gone by.

Images: Katje Ford