Review: Sultan’s Table, Enmore

The way my friend Jenny describes it, you would think that Manchester in the UK is an empty wasteland of food culture. The variety that we take for granted here in Sydney, is by her account, completely lacking in Manchester. When she visited me earlier this year, I questioned her on what she wanted to try when she was in Sydney. What cuisines doesn’t she have access to back home, and what would she like to try?

On the second night that we went out for dinner (first night was at Gyuzou), we had the choice between Ethiopian (Jambo Jambo – read my earlier review here) or Turkish. We chose Turkish and ended up at Sultan’s Table in Enmore, one of my favourite Turkish joints not least because of its convenient location near Cow & The Moon Artisan Gelato for dessert.

With Jenny’s university friend Catherine who had just moved to Sydney and K in attendance as well, we ordered a number of dishes to share. First up, a must at any Turkish restaurant – a platter of Mixed Dips with warm crusty Turkish bread on the side. I liked Sultan’s Table’s unique addition of a little eggplant salsa in the middle of the platter for something a bit different. The winner here though, was the capsicum dip – slightly spicy, but sweet at the same time.

As a big eggplant aficionado, the Imam Bayildi caught my eye as one way to increase our vegetable intake at a restaurant where you’re more likely to order carb and protein-heavy meals. Baked till soft, the halved eggplant was served with a herbed tomato salsa on top. It’s quite heavy for a purely vegetarian dish, and does leave a bit of an oily aftertaste in your mouth.

With over a dozen different pide to choose from on the menu, it’s difficult to settle on just the one! Catherine ends up nominating the Gourmet Chicken Pide which suits us all – the juicy mix of succulent chicken breast with fresh vegetables and melted cheese really hits the spot. K takes the leftovers for a snack the next day at work, and reported that it was still tasty a day later as well.

We finish with the Mixed Grill to share – chunks of delicious skewered chargrilled meats served with a somewhat overdressed side salad, and covered with Turkish bread. The presentation left a little something to be desired – I think that the meat should have been served on the bread as it would mean that the run off juices from the meat would soak into the bread creating pure deliciousness in a single bite.

Sultan’s Table delivers decent, no-fuss, hearty Turkish food that satisfies. It’s not fancy, and it doesn’t try to be either, with staff rarely cracking a smile as they efficiently bustle around the room with plates.

While I wouldn’t go there expecting to spend hours over fine food and wine with friends, it definitely answers a need for quick and tasty food at a good price in Enmore…a good stop for dinner pre-dessert at Cow & The Moon Artisan Gelato.