Midtown Lunch

Today, we are getting a report on a new Turkish restaurant in Old City from profiled luncher Stephanie.

I prefer to trek west for Middle Eastern, seeking out Kabobeesh. Marrakesh Express and Manakeesh to satiate my kafta and doner kebab cravings. When Leyla Turkish Cuisine opened up in Olde City a mere half-block away from my office, the lure of convenience and the possibility of a new lunchtime go-to brought me to its doors. Leyla is open for lunch at 11am, Tuesday through Sunday.

Leyla boasts a colorful menu of exciting options, such as Yogurtlu Adana and Sac Kavurma. Unfortunately, most of these dishes are over the $10 mark. Not to despair, lunch budget-friendly salads and appetizers dot the menu and there is also a back page with selections of sandwiches, paninis, and burgers under $10.

A gyro aficionado, I decided to order the Döner sandwich to see how Leyla would compare with other Middle Eastern offerings in town. At $7.99, Leyla’s döner sandwich was just slightly more expensive than average, even if it did some with a side of fries.

I was a little taken aback when presented with a rather “green” and healthy-looking gyro. I was hesitant to take that initial bite, expecting a lot of lettuce filler and little meat. Much to my surprise, two bites in, I was met with an explosion of meaty flavors!

Beef! Lamb! The individual flavors danced on my taste buds, each prominently discernible. Rather than the usual compressed sheets of meat mixtures, the döner kebab at Leyla seemed to be comprised of mixed shavings of lamb and beef, much akin to the superb counterpart at Marrakesh Express. The soft, pillowy pita that blanketed the juxtaposition of salty protein and crisp lettuce and tomato wascomfortingly pleasant, albeit messy. All in all, this was a respectable döner sandwich that I would gladly order again for future lunches.

I was less enthused by the purported “homemade” fries that accompanied my sandwich. The sprinkling of herbs on the fries and the side of tzatziki dipping sauce were nice attempts to spruce up a batch of otherwise mediocre fries. The fries were unevenly deep-fried, and tasted vaguely of stale oil. Then again, with the fry-centric European Republic located conveniently down the street, it almost seems unfair holding other fries within the vicinity up to higher standards.

On a final note, I also ordered “Turkish Tea” along with my meal. At $1.95, it really just tasted like a blend of Lipton mixed with Earl Grey. Nothing to get particularly excited over, but would nonetheless suffice in a pinch.

While Leyla may not be on par with my West Philly favorites, it is definitely a great lunch option in Old City. I recommend trying the döner, and will definitely be making more return trips to Leyla to sample other items on the menu!

The + (What someone who likes this place would say)

• Good selection of casual Turkish fare
• American options available for the less adventurous

The – (What someone who doesn’t like this place would say)

• Prices are a little steeper than other Middle Eastern establishments

Leyla Turkish Cuisine, 113 Chestnut Street, (215) 923-0300