Anatolia Cafe in Columbus, Ohio

Nestled in an unassuming corner of Worthington, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, is a true gem. A family-operated restaurant called Anatolia Cafe serves, bar none, the best Turkish food in town.

Anatolia provides an honest, no-frills dining experience. Opened by Hasmet Aslan in 2002 to replace the notable Istanbul Cafe, the restaurant is one of those rare, delightful holes-in-wall. It's a single room with just enough decoration to create a good atmosphere. Aside from the stellar food, that atmosphere is the best part of Anatolia.

Maybe it's the lively, authentic flavors, maybe it's the close quarters or the friendly staff. In all likelihood, it's a combination of everything that makes the patrons at Anatolia so chatty. In today's world, it's refreshing to have a place where strangers don't mind having a laugh together or recommending a certain dish to one another. And speaking of recommended dishes, here's a four-course meal that'll make you a fan for life of Anatolia Cafe.

The Mixed Appetizers platter is a good enough reason to go with a crowd. It's a generous sampler of all the restaurant's cold appetizers, minus the cucumber yogurt (don't worry, we'll be seeing plenty of yogurt later). It includes Lebni, Babagannush, Hummus, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Eggplant in a garden sauce, Ezme Salad and a particularly zesty Tabouli. Honestly, this combo could be a meal on its own.

After you sample the appetizers, Anatolia's Red Lentil Soup is a must. The color of this dish is deep and natural. All it needs is a squeeze of fresh lemon. The spice is what really makes this lentil soup stand out among all others. It has a kick that doesn't linger. You can also get the Red Lentil Soup as a part of Anatolia's lunch specials.

For the main course, nothing better illustrates the care and wholesomeness of Anatolia Cafe like their Adana Kebab with Yogurt. The lamb is lean and not overcooked, the tomato sauce is rich and simple, only further complemented by the yogurt. The kebab is served on a bed of fresh oregano croutons with a side of pita bread. This is a particularly filling dish, especially after the appetizers and soup. It's very important that you soldier on. Dessert is waiting.

I firmly believe that all Mediterranean restaurants should be judged on the quality of their rice pudding. For being fairly simple, ingredient-wise, rice pudding is a notoriously fickle dessert. Many come out too dry and heavy. Others are too sweet or use inferior rice that clumps or hardens. Thankfully, Anatolia Cafe has a genuinely good rice pudding. It's at least as good as the legendary stuff they used to make in the now-defunct Greek Town neighborhood of Detroit. It's the perfect end to one of the best meals you can get in the city of Columbus. Light, creamy, just sweet enough to feel like a treat. It's even better with a hot glass of ?ay, a gentle Turkish tea.

Anatolia Cafe doesn't serve any spirits, but they allow you to bring your own. Recently, they've branched out to catering and will soon be opening a new location in Cleveland. Whether you're a long-time resident or just visiting, Anatolia Cafe is one of the best all-around dining establishments in Columbus.