Jake Levitas and Chris KudelkaAya Sofia
6671 Chippewa Street
314-645-9919
$7-$10 lunch, $10-$20 dinner
Most restaurants that serve foreign cuisine strive to transport their patrons to another place, setting a cultural atmosphere while giving them a genuine taste of a different part of the world. Few, however, accomplish this task as well as the brand-new Aya Sofia, located across from Ted Drewes on Chippewa St.
The Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant opened little more than a month ago, yet can already boast customers who “have already tried everything on the menu,” according to co-owner Alyssa. For such an amazing feat, it is easy to see where the inspiration comes from-the extensive menu includes an impressive array of lunch specials, appetizers and entrees, all reasonably priced and 100% authentic.
The reason why this newborn establishment has already recruited such loyal customers isn’t just in the quality of food, but in the spirit of their service and passion for success as well.
Alyssa remarked that the goal and philosophy of Aya Sofia as a dining establishment was to provide excellent service and cuisine, complemented by fine wines, all at an acceptable price.
For those of you intrigued by the name, Aya Sofia is actually borrowed, taken from what is now an architectural and religious museum in Istanbul, Turkey. The Aya Sofia was built in the 6th century to be one of the greatest churches in the world. When the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. Today, it stands as an attraction and an important historical site.
It is significant to note that the owners of Aya Sofia the restaurant adopted this name with the hope to extend the vitality and cultural experience of Turkey into their establishment, their food and their service.
Among the lunch specials are doner (vertically grilled beef and lamb) sandwiches, a variety of wraps and a sampling of the more popular dinner entrees. The full dinner menu, however, is even more mouthwatering.
For starters, there are a variety of meze (small Turkish appetizers), which Alyssa said are very similar culturally to Turkey as tapas are to Spain. They can be eaten individually, before dinner or as several ordered together to form a full meal. The cold meze range from the classic tabuli and humus to midye dolma (steamed mussels with rice) and kizartma (fried eggplant and other vegetables served with yogurt sauce). All are served with soft, warm pita bread.
There are hot meze as well, the most popular of which are sarma (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, rice and onions) and sigara boregi (fried filo dough stuffed with feta cheese and parsley).
We, along with the owners, recommend the Aya Sofia Meze Platter in order to experience the range of distinct flavors of dishes as an introduction to Turkish cuisine.
After the meze, turn to the dinner entrees to feed your fiery appetite. The iskender (seasoned beef and lamb, vertically grilled and thinly sliced, served with tomatoes and yogurt sauce over saut‚ed pita) is especially tasty, and a customer favorite. Although, be advised – the helpings are generous and you’ll be eating to your stomach’s content.
The method of preparation is similar to that of an open faced gyro, for those familiar with Greek cuisine, with emphasis on the intriguing contrast between the yogurt and tomato sauces.
Also, if you’re in the mood for a different twist on lamb, go for the kuzu pirizola (lamb chops marinated with Turkish spices, served with rice pilaf). The cuts are tender and satiating, with a taste of sweet spices, complemented by an array of steamed veggies on the side. If you aren’t in the mood or choose not to undertake the meat dishes, eggplant is a popular foundation for many meals, executed deliciously in the imama bayildi, karni yarik and the musakka.
Whether you’re vegetarian, a true meat lover, someone looking for surprising flavor in a traditional dish or you just want to see what Turkish and Mediterranean food are all about, there is something for everyone at Aya Sofia.
Additionally, the restaurant exhibits an excellent variety of wines, all chosen from several select, small European producers, allowing the reasonable pricing to parallel that of the rest of the menu.
The truly fantastic quality of the restaurant is a direct result of the dedication of those who make it, the two behind it all – Alyssa and her fianc‚e and chef, Mehmet Yildiz. Mehmet wanted to found a restaurant with food inspired by his mother’s recipes, expanded by his own creative experimentation and zeal. Together with Alyssa’s vision for success, Aya Sofia mixes its own style of cooking with traditional Turkish fare to create an incredible blend of modern flavor and timeless classics.
With even more to come, Aya Sofia will begin holding happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 p.m., accompanied by live belly dancers and music. Don’t miss out.