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Anatolia Turkish Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Middle Eastern Turkish, Middle Eastern
48 White Bridge RdNashville, TN 37205
(615) 356-1556
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for Anatolia Turkish Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Dont' forget to order some hot apple tea as well." In 3 reviews -
"You been to that place that serves The Kunefe." In 16 reviews -
"...phillo dough dipped in rose petal jam were YUMMY YUMMY." In 3 reviews
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Craig M.
Nashville, TN
5/14/2012
First time here, will not be my last! Be sure to try hot apple tea. Server VERY friendly and helpful to first time guest. Lamb kabob was great!!! Wife had spinach stuffed chicken. Highly recommended.
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Review from Emily E.
Nashville, TN
Note: I would prefer giving a 3.5 rating.
I've had some did-I-just-eat-in-real-life-Turkey turkish food before. Comparing to such, this was not quite there, but not a dud.
While I liked the music, I didn't enjoy the decor or atmosphere, though my ever-sweet faced husband thought it was superb. I just don't have a thing for messily hung rugs hanging messily on walls and said rugs covering up other objects on said walls.
Ok, to the main punto: la comida. Or, in this restaurant's mother tongue, gda.
We began with the sampler platter: $9.95
-3 grape leaves: I know I don't like grape leaves, so I won't rate. My husband thought they were really good.
-Hummus: Not special, but it was tasty.
-Filo Dough Roll: has Turkish feta & parsley inside...this was great & definitely the platter's winner.
-Also came with pita bread and...rose petal jam, which = Oh, Heaven! Thank you for admitting me and letting me sample this taste bud pleaser!
He also had the lentil soup, which he wasn't too big a fan of. Main course, he had either the gyro or tantuni wrap (can't remember): $6.95.
I had the chicken shish kebob: $7.95. Chicken was ok, the rice was quite good, as was the yogurt sauce. As unfortunate as it is, I'm not much of a VEGGIEtarian ;) so I passed the grilled veggies to my husband, & he said they were just delightful.
It was fairly slow, but service was good, attentive, friendly, and helpful. Our waitress tipped to us that the aforementioned jam is superb with their apple tea - oh! -
Review from Jim R.
Nashville, TN
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
great place, great service.
little classy we felt a little under dressed in jeans but not bad.
food is great hot, very good quality and spiced nice. -
Review from Kenneth B.
Nashville, TN
1/21/2012
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise and if you want something a little different I recommend visiting Anatolia. My client treated me to lunch last week and bragged about the food. The restaurant had a nice relaxed atmosphere and the staff was excellent and attentive.
We started out with some delicious hummus and pita bread along with some hot Turkish apple tea and rose hip tea. The hot tea was terrific (no need to sweeten the tea). I had the Spinach Stuffed Chicken that was a chicken stuffed with parsley, mushrooms, onions, spinach and mozzarella cheese. You have a choice of coconut sauce or tomato sauce. I selected the tomato sauce which was very mild. My client and friend had the Sac Kavurma that was marinated baby lamb roasted with white onions, tomatoes, bell peppers. Both dishes were served with flavored rice.
I will say the food had a home cooked presentation but the taste made up for the lack of plating. I look forward to going back for dinner at some point and see what else is on the menu. -
Review from Jeremy E.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am torn on the rating here. I decided to round up and give it 4 stars, but 3.5 is what I would give if I could.
The food is authentic and very good. I had the Kofte Kebab which is basically seasoned burger patties with rice pilaf and a veggie skewer.
My wife had the chicken stew. I thought that was the best thing we tasted all night. Properly seasoned, correct texture of the veggies and chicken, all around winner!
We also got the appetizer platter to try a variety of what they offer. Stuffed grape leaves were good. Hummus was above average, but nothing that blew your socks off. The fried filo dough with rose petal jam was sneaky good.
My complaint is that I felt like it was overpriced. Maybe it's inflation, maybe it's just poorly priced. But the food bill alone was $43, and many of their offerings are served in a similar Mediterranean way at many restaurants in town for about 25% less. I don't think I should have paid more than $30 for what we got.
Nevertheless, when I get a craving for Kofte again, I will be back! -
Review from Faith B.
Kingston Springs, TN
12/27/2011
This is my favorite Nashville-restaurant overall. Since I moved here more than 10 years ago, the food quality and the service have been consistently good. Vegetarians can easily eat here along with their meat-eater friends, but strict veggies only have one or two entree options.
The Turkish white and red wines make an affordable and authentic option to the other wines on the menu.
Their hummus is excellent, but for a real treat, try the Ezme or the Haydari or ask them to give you half and half. They will. -
Review from micheal p.
Nashville, TN
1/19/2012
Anatolia isn't the best turkish food that I've ever had, but it is certainly the best in Nashville and surrounding areas. They do a few things really well and their service is friendly.
Not everything on the menu stacks up, so here's what I would recommend.
Appetizers - Haydari - a yogurt based dip - DELICIOUS, especially with the warm bread they bring you! Also, ezme - a red pepper/tomato (?) dip.
Dinner
The manti - turkish ravioli filled with meat in a yogurt-based white garlic sauce. The only thing I ever order now. Little tiny pillows of awesome.
lahmacun - turkish pizza - This is only available on certain days because it needs to be cooked in a certain oven... My husband really enjoys it.
Dessert
Kunefe- cheese with crispy filo dough on top. Oh! How we love it! Order it early because it takes them a long time to make it. Have it with a cup of turkish coffee. Nearly finish your cup of coffee and then flip it over in the saucer and ask Dennis to read your fortune! -
Review from Tracy B.
Charlotte, NC
8/7/2011
Anatolia was a delightful find! I've been searching for a great Turkish restaurant since vacationing in Turkey last year and Anatolia certainly didn't dissapoint. Rarely have I been to an ethnic restaurant in the US that even comes close to competing with anything I've had in the actual country, but I can honestly say that Anatolia brought me back to Turkey with each bite.
I had the kofte which were great. A little larger than those that I encountered in Turkey but very, very good. The bread is great and the rice is also really good. My husband had the gyro platter and he raved about it as well. We split a nice bottle of white Turkish wine that paired nicely with our food.
Yes, the decor could be better but if the food is good I could care less. Most of the restaurants I've visited while in Turkey weren't decorated much better! It did have a nice, homey ambience and it was easy to forget that you were actually eating at a restaurant in the middle of a nondescript strip mall.
Overall I give Anatolia 5 stars and I can't wait to go back to try the manti and some dessert. -
Review from Will M.
Updated - 1/19/2012
The chicken isn't as good as before. The apple tea is still as addictive. Kabobs are good. 3.5 stars but a little pricey, so 3 stars. No lunch specials
1 Previous Review:
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11/3/2010
They have at least 3 really good dishes, I suggest you ask, and pick one.
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Review from Matt E.
Nashville, TN
7/18/2011
Anatolia is a great little fine in Nashville. I've been here twice now and haven't had something I didn't like yet. The sampler plate is a good start to try the stuffed grapes leaves, fillo dough rolls, and the humus. The fillo rolls with rosepetal jam is almost like a dessert. For entrees, I've tried the lamb kabobs and the Anatolia roasted lamb plate. Both were good but the roasted lamb was the best. For desert, you have to try the Kunefe just make sure you tell your waiter upfront so they can prepare it. It is so rich, my wife and I could only finish half of it. It was just outstanding. Dont' forget to order some hot apple tea as well. It's so good, it's like Martinellis apple juice that's been heated.
The food is good, the service has always been on par and I haven't had to to wait to be seated once so I highly recommend. -
Review from Zach G.
1/17/2012
My wife and I used to eat sushi at the average place next door and thought we'd try it. The food was really good. Hummus was great. Surprisingly good mediterranean food. Haven't been back though so I guess it wasn't that great as I remember lol.
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Review from Anna S.
Nashville, TN
11/3/2011
When Aladdin offered to show Jasmine a shining, shimmering, splendid world on their magic carpet date, he probably included a stop at Anatolia. Anatolia is a lovely gem of a restaurant located in an unassuming strip mall next to the White Bridge Target. The interior is lovely (oriental rugs don the walls!), and the service is always gracious. You really can't go wrong with anything you order, but my favorites are the Anatolia sampler platter (particularly their filo roll, which is basically deep-fried, salty cheese in a pastry), the chicken stew (reminds me of a high-fallutin' chicken pot pie), and the iskender kabob (kabob meat topped with a savory tomato sauce). The portions are generous and the prices reasonable. Anatolia is a fixture on my list of go-to restaurants in Music City, and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon!
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Review from Blair S.
2/27/2011
I enjoyed the appetizer sampler, particularly the hummus and stuffed grape leaves. The lamb chops were good and the lamb shish kabob was good.
I ordered the kunefe dessert with my meal because it takes 20 minutes to prepare. The waiter repeated the order back to us but apparently not to the kitchen. Instead, shortly after taking our orders, he decided to spend all of his time waiting on his friends in the back. Well after we finished our meal he finally returned to take our plates and ask if we wanted dessert. We asked about kunefe, and got it approximately 30 minutes later.
The atmosphere on a weekend evening was nice. However, I was seated near the door, which people kept holding open even when no one was behind them. I guess it wouldn't have been a problem if the service hadn't ignored us for so long.
I might try it again for the food but I'll definitely make sure I sit away from the door and get a different server. -
Review from Lena F.
Winston-Salem, NC
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Anatolia certainly lived up to the high reviews on Yelp. Our server positively doted on us and couldn't have been any better. The food was delicious. Sampler Platter...check! Mixed Grill Plate...double check! Kunefe and Turkish coffee...bliss!!!
We will be back! -
Review from Jason S.
1/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoy this place.
We have come here frequently for dinner before or after Friday night services, as it is in close proximity to our synagogue. The staff is very friendly and super about explaining about the dishes or recommending wine by the bottle or glass. They have a wine list which includes several Turkish wines, most places don't boast that.
If you are cold, be sure and try the apple tea, one of my wife's favorites. She is a vegetarian, and she has always found plenty of options. I highly recommend the sampler platter, it is all veg and cheese, they have these fried cheese rolls wrapped in filo that you dip in rose jelly - my goodness it's good! I am a big fan of their lamb, beef and chicken; they have great kebabs, too - perfect amount of seasoning. Additionally, if you like some of the things they serve, they have a small store right there in the restaurant, just ask your server if you want to stock your larder with Turkish delicacies.
It can be pricey, but if you look in the Clipper or any similar publication, you can easily find coupons for this joint and they take them without hesitation.Listed in: Life in the 'Vue
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Review from M. J. D.
11/30/2010 ROTD 2/11/2011
The Saturday following Thanksgiving. Since I was away from home for the holiday, I didn't have any turkey leftovers.
So I asked myself: "where does one go for leftover turkey?"
I answered myself: "Why, Turkey, of course."
Since a flight to Turkey was out of my lunch budget, I opted for the Anatolia Turkish Restaurant, on Nashville's west side. After driving over the hills and through the woods (well, I assume woods once stood in the area, now it's mostly Interstate) I began my Turkey hunt. It was truly a hunt, since this restaurant is back from the road, hidden behind Calhoun's Pub. My GPS also indicated that they were on the left hand (south) side of the road, and they were not. That's what I get for putting my GPS on the British voice setting. Always doing things on the wrong side of the road.
The restaurant itself looks like it could of been selling clothes a week earlier. The walls have the grooves to hang shelves or slanted racks. Some of the shelving even held wine bottles, which was a nice touch for a place with no concept of ambiance.
I seldom pass on a shot at a decent bottle of wine, and their wine list was an actual list, which is a good sign. But the menu also had 2 hot teas available. Noting that tea is a Turkish custom, and the hot apple tea would fill my 'thanksgiving leftover apple pie' need, I opted for the hot beverage.
If you like hot cider, you'll like the hot apple tea. Not very tea like, but quite delicious. They serve it in a funny little glass, and keep it refilled. I had like 3 or 4 glasses of the stuff. It was good.
The bread came out. Now to get a review on the bread, well, it must be really good, or suck awfully bad. This is the former. Hot, toasty yet thick enough to still be bread, and tasty - with or without the flavored olive oil for dipping.
The appetizers (5 stuffed grape leaves), were also quite flavorful. They were cold, and that surprised the both of us. I'm not sure if that's normal, but it tasted like it was right. Like a salad in the shape of a egg roll.
The Lamb came with a fair amount of spice. Not hot spice, but a powerful spice that may wreak havoc if you have heartburn issues. Not familiar enough with Turkish spices I couldn't tell what they were, but it pleased my palate.
When they brought the lunch, we went ahead and ordered the Kunefe (they suggest a 20 minute lead time). Of course by the time I finished my meal (and make no mistake, I couldn't stop eating) I was sorry we ordered even more food. My sorrow would have to get buried in a plate of wheat and thin filo dough covered cheese. The desert was clearly meant for 4, but there were only 2 of us. We ate the whole thing.
Nothing like being stuffed on turkey, unless it's not turkey. And it wasn't. It was lamb. The lamb might have been from Turkey, so I guess that counts. Did you know they don't have turkeys in Turkey? Now I have to drive to Sandwich, New Hampshire to see if they have sandwiches there. Maybe a turkey sandwich. I digress...
As a bonus, we came here armed with a coupon from the "Entertainment" book, which saved us $10. After taking the $10 off the bill, the waiter gave us the coupon back, to use on our next visit. And we will use it again.Listed in: The To-Go Box
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Review from Aaron D.
11/23/2010
I came for lunch with a couple of friends today and ordered a gyro sandwich (reasonably priced at less than $7 with an accompanying side of fries).
The waiter kindly offered alternatives to the fries, including a salad.
Waiter: "Would you like everything on the salad?"
Me: "What's everything?"
Waiter: "Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, etc."
Me: "Oh, sure."
(Well, you have to ask when someone says 'everything'. Otherwise you might inadvertently end up with sheep's tongue or something on your salad. Not that there's anything wrong with that, if you're into sheep's tongue.)
Anyway, the gyro was good, the salad was small and *very* lightly dressed, but it tasted fresh. My dining companions seemed to like their food (another gyro and a shrimp kebab plate).
Incidentally, when my gyro arrived, it still came with fries, so I ended up with both fries and salad, but I think that was a small oversight on the kitchen's part. Having sampled both, I would encourage you to go with the salad. The fries are fine, but unremarkable. The salad is better and healthier for you.
Service and ambiance are both nice. Restroom was clean. I like the bowl of chocolate mints available on the host stand.
Tip - If you're in the mood for a different sort of beverage, try the sour cherry juice.
The only low note? A fly buzzed around the table for a bit before landing on our hummus appetizer. After that, I didn't try any more of the hummus, which was a shame, because it was quite tasty.
Without the fly interloper, I would probably have awarded 4 stars. -
Review from Sal S.
Allen, TX
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Good basic food, with taste. Tried the mix platter.
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Review from Puffer P.
Nashville, TN
8/17/2011
Great food and service! I think this was my first time having Turkish food.
We started with the Fillo Dough Roll (deep-fried fillo dough thinly rolled and stuffed with Turkish feta cheese and parsley) that you dip into a rosy jam. DELISH!
We weren't too hungry because we had eaten a few hours prior, so we shared the Anatolia Eggplant. Juicy eggplant stuffed with soft lamb chunks, tomatoes. Also had a side of grilled vegetable skewers which were surprisingly quite tasty! And no attitude for only ordering one plate and sharing! :)
Parking is easy as it's in a huge plaza. -
Review from Tonya L.
Nashville, TN
While Anatolia is in an area that we frequent, this was my first visit to the restaurant. What a great visit it was! I had the Veggie Sampler, which was an eggplant (stuffed with onions, pine nuts, tomatoes and parsleys), an artichoke (stuffed with pine nuts, rice and currants), a skewer of grilled vegetables and a side of rice. While the stuffed eggplant and artichoke were good, the skewer of grilled vegetables was my favorite of the three. The food overall was very flavorful.
I also tried two of the hot teas on the menu: the Turkish Hot Apple Tea and the Rosehip Tea. I highly recommend trying the Rosehip tea. Both were served very hot.
Finally, the best part was the dessert. Upon recommendation from a friend, we tried the Kunafeh, which is a cheese center and a whispy crispy top and bottom (similar to shredded wheat). At first I thought it would be overly sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was just the right amount of sweet. It's good to order this dessert when you order your main course because it takes about 20 minutes to be made.
The service was superb. The server must have known we were new to the restaurant, because he was patient and helpful by describing the menu items when we asked and telling me his opinions of the tea. He was super nice to us from the beginning to the end, despite the restaurant getting very busy toward the end of our meal.
I'll definitely be going back and look forward to trying other items on the menu....and the Kunefeh again! -
Review from Megan T.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I tend to focus my diet on mediterranean food, so I definitely appreciate this place. I wasn't a big fan of the lamb, in fact it tasted more like mutton to me but I have to admitt it has been years since I last tried either. I'm not much of a connoisseur of lamb and it could be that I just don't care for the taste any longer. The vegetable kebabs are to die for, I enjoyed those. I also had the Kunefe, but to be honest it wasn't as great as I had expected it to be.
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Review from David O.
10/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
On the recommendation of a friend, we tried Anatolia. I'm not familiar with Turkish food, so I can't speak to its authenticity. I did very much enjoy my meal however. My discomfort from my unfamiliarity with the dishes was completely banished by the very friendly service. Or waiter was very helpful with recommendations.
The portions seemed slightly small, but that is probably because I'm a big fat American used to big fat portions.
We were there on a Friday night and it got very busy after 6 PM.
I highly recommend trying the Kunefe for dessert which was fantastic!
Definitely plan on returning again to try some different dishes. -
Review from Jamie P.
Nashville, TN
1/11/2012
Anatolia was my first and only foray into Turkish food, and I certainly wasn't disappointed! My husband and I passed this restaurant for months on our way to our favorite haunt, Sonobana, and finally decided to try it out. I love Greek food, and haven't been able to find an authentic Greek restaurant that I loved, so I figured Turkish would be close enough. I was both right and wrong. Anatolia definitely squelched that craving of mine, but I discovered so much more in the process. Anatolia is my new comfort food! Whenever I'm feeling less than my best, my husband knows to pick up the chicken stew and sigara boregi on his way home. The latter is thin fillo dough rolled with feta and parsley and served with a rose petal jam. Technically, it is an appetizer, but I love the salty sweet roll-ups as dessert. Anatolia is the kind of restaurant I love to eat in and love to review. They aren't trying to gussy up Turkish flavors in any way or fuse them with something else. They make real rustic food using the real rustic flavors of Turkey, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Review from mumin k.
Nashville, TN
3/10/2010 ROTD 12/5/2010
Anatolia is the best Turkish restaurants in Nashville. How do I know? Well, I am Turkish and I have been to all Turkish restaurants. I go there quite often and find the atmosphere to be pretty good. The food is also very good. I really like the Turkish meatballs and mixed grill plate. The appetizers are also very good. The sample appetizer plate is very good. Now, if you go there you must try the Kunefe desert, they make it very good. You have to order this in advance though becuase the prep takes some time.
The service has always been good and the owners are pretty good people.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place. Parking is also very convenient. -
Review from Hunter W.
Shelbyville, TN
6/3/2011
I went to Anatolia with a friend that had lived in Turkey for a few years so she did the ordering. I had no clue what I would like, but I will say everything was outstanding. She also ordered something she called a "Turkish Pizza" that was one of the best things I have eaten. This was my first time eating Turkish food, but if this is authentic Turkish food than I am a fan. I highly recommend you try this place out when in the area.
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Review from Dessa S.
Nashville, TN
5/24/2010
Having grown up in California, I often lament the lack of good "ethnic" food in Nashville. I'm on a constant search to find something other than good "white people food." I tried Anatolia based on the yelp reviews and I am VERY glad that I did!
The staff is extremely friendly, and the atmosphere is very welcoming and relaxed--sort of felt like a casual dinner party at a friend's house. The groups of diners were pretty diverse-- a large, multi-generational family, a group of dressed up elderly folks, and couples on dates. Despite what you might think, it worked to have everyone all together in one big room; in fact, I think enhanced, rather than detracted from my dining experience.
As for food, we started with falafel and hummus. The falafel had a bit of a kick, which I really liked. It's hard to mess up hummus and pita bread. I had the chicken kabobs and my husband had the lamb kabobs. Both were excellent - the meat was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Very juicy and tasty. I think someone else said you can tell all the ingredients are fresh and I would have to agree.
Our dinner was flawless - I will definitely be back!Listed in: first time visits (Nashville)
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Review from Habiba W.
Nashville, TN
7/18/2011
This place is great! The staff is friendly and the food is delicious. I came here with my family and we ordered the appetizer sampler to start- the sigara boregi and rose petal jam were so good; i could eat them everyday! We also ordered the lamb chops, andana kabab and roast lamb- all very good! The very best, though was the Kunefe, we had to wait about 20 minutes but it was well worth it! I would definitely recommend this place to others!
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Review from Matthew S.
Franklin, TN
5/28/2008
Not busy on a Thursday night. Being a slow night, we had excellent service. I hear that this place can get pretty slow when crowded, but we did not have that problem at all. The Turkish Apple Tea was great and every time I finished a cup, they were right there refilling it. My friend and I had the Mixed Grill and the Veggie Sampler. It was a nice way to sample a lot of different things. I was very pleased. The kabobs are excellent. The vegetables are nicely seasoned, but a little oily from the grill. The rice pilaf was not amazing, but still quite good. The yogurt dip was very flavorful. Overall, it is a surprisingly authentic Turkish experience. The brothers who own this place wanted to give a sampling of what people would actually eat in their homes in Turkey, rather than what a Turkish restaurant would offer. While the dcor is a little sparse, I highly recommend this restaurant.
p.s. Turkish is very similar to Greek and other Mediterranean cuisine. Expect yogurt sauces, garlic, mint, lamb, thinly layered pastry dough, and cheeses.
p.p.s This place has a great selection of vegetarian-friendly options. -
Review from David S.
Nashville, TN
6/21/2008 1 photo
I first went to Anatolia with a group from work. I had never been even though I don't live very far away. I mainly followed my coworkers' suggestions on what to get, and I was not disappointed. I've since taken friends and relatives to this unassuming place in the Lion's Head strip mall off of White Bridge Rd., and they have loved it as well.
Definitely start with the sampler appetizer platter. Depending on how many people you are dining with, you may be full after polishing off this huge plate which includes delicious dolmas, some fried phyllo dough stuffed with feta, and really fresh hummus with a nice tang of fresh lemon. It's definitely worth it, though. You can always take your entree home in a doggie bag.
I wasn't very familiar with Turkish food and still wouldn't claim to be an expert, but the Iskender Kabobs are awesome. They have a great tomato sauce and are definitely worth a try. I've also had a couple of chicken dishes -- the chicken stew and spinach stuffed chicken -- which were worth it as well.
I wouldn't be intimated by this place if you've never had Turkish food or aren't sure what kind of food you might get. My vegetarian friend was also very happy here. Definitely check it out. -
Review from Joe L.
Clarksville, TN
1/16/2012
Great food and super wait staff. We had a wonderful time at Anatolia's for my 50th birthday!!
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Review from Molly L.
Nashville, TN
9/5/2011
While the restaurant is in an unassuming strip mall, it has awesome food and great service. I've been several times and the kabobs and all other food are top-notch. Also, the rose tea and turkish coffee are excellent.
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Review from Kathryn E.
Nashville, TN
9/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I had such a wonderful dining experience at Anatolia! The sampler platter is a MUST! The hummus had a tad too much garlic for my liking, but I double-dipped in the oil/vinegar concoction they serve with the bread to tone it down some. Stuffed grape leaves were YUMMY and feta-stuffed phillo dough dipped in rose petal jam were YUMMY YUMMY!! I ordered the chicken kabob and it was delicious! My fellow diner was kind enough to share his beef gyro and it was even better than the kabob! Who knew gyro is pronounced differently in different countries?? Great staff! The kunefe was good...not great simply because my motto on dessert is "if it's not chocolate, it's not dessert!" My family LOVED it though!
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Review from Amrita J.
12/8/2008
So I leave my hotel room venturing for a nice dinner out. I had it all planned out, I was going to go to Calhoun's (which is across the street in the same shopping center), I was going to get a BBQ pull pork sandwich/plate, and a beer and call it a day.........
That was until I pulled in and saw the other options (ie- Anatolia's-Turkish Restaurant), immediately, without a second thought I couldn't stop thinking "kabobsssssssss" YUMMMMMM!!!!! So I had to change my dining option for the night, and boy am I glad that I did.
I step foot indoors, and it's a very nice and quaint place, music is nice and adds to the "mediterranean" atmosphere. I had the chicken kabobs, which were yummy. Also, they give you bread to start with some kind of oil dip, and I enjoyed that as well, I think it was roasted red peppers or something in it. Anyways, the kabobs were nice and tender, came right off the skewer. It came with rice (which I felt was a bit dry, I wish their was something to add too it to add some flavor), but other than that it was good. Also, I wasn't really feeling the yogurt sauce as much, even though it tasted good, I wished it was a bit thicker, more like tzatziki sauce. But overall, it was a good filling dish.
The waitstaff was very friendly also, which definitely helps!
So the next time you stop on this side of town, don't let the somewhat "sketchy" area freak you out, drive a bit further down the road and you'll come across this place -
Review from Sharon N.
Nashville, TN
4/6/2008 1 photo
Very, very tasty food here. This place is tucked back in a strip mall, so it is very unassuming, but the food is first rate. They have some delicious vegetarian menu items, like their vegetable Guvec which is a Turkish veggie stew with too many types of veggies to list! ( eggplant, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers...). But their specialties are their their lamb dishes and their kebabs. They really know how to grill the lamb, it was full of flavor. My mouth is watering just remembering this...
I went to Anatolia for a birthday party with friends and got to taste a lot of the dishes, they also let us bring in our own wine. We had a big table of people and spent most of the evening in the restaurant. Anatolia is small and intimate; the decor is modest but classically 'nice.' We all felt really relaxed and had a great evening. Oh, and the desert, it was classic Turkish Baklava and Turkish 'cup o mud' coffee, which both made a great finish to a good long meal.
If you are in the mood for Turkish food, this is a great choice. -
Review from Kevin P.
Peabody, MA
2/21/2010
Ohhh delicious. My fiance and I took a trip to Nashville for Valentine's Day and found our way here. After picking from the recommendations from some of the Yelp reviews we ended up having the lamb kabob, the tea ( it was red?), and the dessert kunefe.
The tea was way too sweet for my taste. I was expecting an herbal tea with a hint of sweet, but ended up with sweet tea with a hint of herbal. Not so grand... The lamb kabob was amazing delicious. I loved every bite of it along with my fiance's turkish stew. Her food was equally amazing. I was only disappointed by the dessert. Lots of people here tend to rave about the special dessert... but it was insanely sweet. Although I must admit it was quite unique. It's worth it to split it among four people, just there is enough to satisfy.
Overall a good experience. Classy yet casual. The waiters were very nice and attentive :) -
Review from Dusty K.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2011
Anatolia may be the best restaurant I've visited in Nashville. The food was simply outstanding. And Turkish? In a strip mall? It doesn't get any more funky than this.
Walking in I felt like I re-entered the 1980s. The Mediterranean-ish theme put me back more than 20 years. I'm surprised I wasn't given a bottle of Aqua Net and some Reebok pumps upon entry. I guess that's my way of saying you won't be blown away by ambiance here but it's the food that really shines. For starters they bring you some bread with a small bowl of spices to which you add as much olive oil as you please. We ordered the Haydari to start, a thick homemade yogurt with chopped walnuts, garlic, carrots and dried mint folded in and served with triangle slices of toasted pita bread. I'm not lying when I say this was one of the best things I've ever eaten. I could eat that everyday, it was delicious. It was so good that once the pita bread was gone, I began dipping the other bread in and eating that. Had we run out of bread, I may have just dipped my finger in or part of my shoe or anything else within reach. I think you get the point. Seriously...order this.
For dinner I went with the Turkish gyros served with cucumber sauce, rice and grilled vegetables. The vegetables were charred and had that wonderful smoke flavor to them that reminds you of summer. My only complaint is that I wish there was less meat and more vegetables. But if I were honest, I would say that you can do better in selecting a different entree. It's not that I didn't like it, I just know there are better options on the menu. And after mowing through the Haydari in record time, my expectations rose.
Will I be back? Hell yes. That Haydari is something I may almost fly to Nashville to order. I love this place. -
Review from T.D. B.
Nashville, TN
6/23/2009
This is one of the first restaurants we tried when we visited Nashville. We moved from NYC so have pretty decent expectations for Turkish and middle eastern food. It was one of our best experiences! All entrees are great - hummus is great, kabobs are juicy and smokie, and HIGHLY recommend the baklava...it's the best we've ever had.
Was very crowded on the night we went, so it's best to call in for reservations ahead of time. Nice and friendly service...despite the long wait outside, no one rushed us. -
Review from Melissa W.
Nashville, TN
7/17/2011
This was my 1st experience and I will be back. Although I have had gyros, and Turkish style food before never the complete experience. Corey the waiter ensured my mother and I experienced the entire process. The lamb was like butter and the rice was impeccable. Mouth watering experience that will take me back for more.
You can tell it is a neighborhood restaurant, because many people knew the entire staff and other patrons. -
Review from Claire B.
8/16/2008 1 photo
I've never had anything but great service and great food at Anatolia. It's one of the few places in town you can get really great lamb chops. My favorite thing to order is the lamb and mint ravioli, which the waiter told me they don't sell to much of because people think it's weird.
The stuffed eggplant is delicious and the grilled plates are much better than you'll find other Mediterranean restaurants around town.
The nice thing about eating here is that you feel like you're eating in a real restaurant, whereas most places serving similar food are paper plates affairs. It's nice to eat this food as it was intended, in a serene surrounding accompanied by wine. -
Review from Taylor H.
Nashville, TN
1/16/2011
Great staff and turkish food. Not terribly adventurous but tasty.
