As much as I love Mediterranean food, most restaurants seem to have the same vegetarian options—falafels, hummus, babaganoush and salads. And then I came across Efes Bistro (8903 Glades Road, 561/488-8883)—a cozy, little eatery that specializes in authentic Turkish and Mediterranean food and is located at the Somerset Shopping Center. While it has lots meat and seafood items, there are plenty of plant-based options as well.
What I liked right away about this café was the décor. The dining area consists of about 15 booths that are situated under an indoor tile roof, accented with brick and decorated with small Turkish wall rugs. For an even more authentic experience, Efes offers live music and has belly-dancing shows every Saturday night.
As for the food, I was pleasantly surprised with the menu. Besides the traditional (and delicious) hummus, falafels, grape leaves and babaganoush, Efes offers other vegan and vegetarian options. Best of all, everything they serve, including bread, is made in-house.
I began my meal with the red lentil soup and couldn’t put the spoon down. It was so rich and satisfying, yet very healthy. I loved the zucchini pancakes even though they were pan-fried. And because I believe in moderation, and I do have wheat once in a while, I tried the homemade spinach pies. It was definitely worth the splurge. The flaky crust melts in your mouth, and the perfect combination of spinach and cheese makes this a decadent treat.
Other vegetarian options include sautéed eggplant platter, shepherd salad, tabbouli, veggie sandwich and Turkish pizza. If you eat seafood and/or are sticking to the paleo diet, check out their grilled branzino with a side of cooked veggies.
