Restaurant review: Tatamy’s Mersin On Main

I’m back with a special secret.

I picked up a sizzling lead on a concealed gem with reliable, showstopping meals. On the most popular day of the yr, my mom and I created a day with Mersin On Most important in Tatamy. It is a new(ish) institution featuring staggeringly contemporary and flavorful Turkish delicacies.

Soon after a food right here you will be glowing. The Mediterranean Food plan will make me experience like I can operate a marathon without training. You are going to be begging your household and good friends to join you right here. You’ll also be contacting to order takeout (approximately) each evening.

I’m talking baba ganoush, moussaka, hummus, piping hot pita, and shishkabobs galore. Mersin On Main’s owner, Erdinc Uzun (from Mersin, Turkey) has traveled the earth and provides his appeal and practical experience to Tatamy for a definitely unforgettable experience.

Restaurant review: Tatamy’s Mersin On Main — Mersin on Major, serving genuine Mediterranean dishes this sort of as tabouli, babaganush and lamb and beef gyros, has swapped just one key drag for another — relocating from its about calendar year-outdated spot at 52 S. Most important St. in Nazareth (now residence to gluten- and dairy-totally free eatery Indigo 52) to a newly renovated house at 200 Major St. in Tatamy. The BYOB Mersin, named right after the port metropolis on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is established to reopen Wednesday in its new Tatamy digs. (Ryan Kneller/The Early morning Get in touch with)

Comply with Principal Street through Tatamy, and you’ll come across this unique position.

The restaurant sits on a bend in the road alongside Bushkill Creek. Previously found on Nazareth’s Most important Avenue, the cafe located a new residence about five months ago. I hope the Nazareth faithful appear out to the new digs.

On the outside the house, it is hidden in a humble constructing experiencing cornfields. Upon entry, you are greeted by a floor-to-ceiling black and white photographic mural of a downtown metropolis reminiscent of Istanbul. This, merged with the chic scents from the kitchen, transport you to a faraway put.

An open kitchen area is to the right, with about 15 tables for personal functions of two or additional. The interior is serene still vibrant. Hues of grey and yellow compliment the house and the delicacies, which is served on stunning picket lacquered table tops.

The lighting is dim, and blends with all-natural mild pouring via the home windows to create a tranquil atmosphere.

There was no tunes, which I like. There was only the buzzing and hissing of the kitchen grill. That was melody enough for my ears.

Mersin on Primary Restaurant owner Erdinc Uzun sits for a portrait Thursday, July 28, 2022, in the restaurant in Tatamy. (Joseph Scheller/The Morning Call)

On our midweek night time, the location experienced about 4 tables booked. Folks did appear and go for takeout. The support is superb. They were brief-staffed (who is not?) but you’d never know it, simply because the meals arrived out in the blink of an eye.

Even though a single server tended to absolutely everyone, she was serene and sweet. She swiped my card at the table, which I like. It offers me peace of head. I listen to they do that in Europe.

Uzun, charismatic and glowing (I’m tellin’ ya, folks, this Mediterranean food stuff!) came close to to all the tables to examine in. He told us that they are ending up a deck on the next floor for outdoor seating. This will be a great addition.

The support and the décor merged for a laid-back again and stress-free encounter.

Mersin on Main Cafe proprietor Erdinc Uzun prepares a a Mediterranean Salad for a customer Thursday, July 28, 2022, in the restaurant in Tatamy. (Joseph Scheller/The Early morning Connect with)

The key attraction is, devoid of a doubt, end the presses, keep the doorway … the foods.

This was really anything unique. I have under no circumstances eaten these kinds of fresh and legitimate flavors. According to Uzun, it is all built from scratch. No substances are frozen.

I do not know wherever to begin, but I have to, so let us get started with the appetizers.

Mum and I acquired the “Mixed Mezi Plate” since we couldn’t decide just one or two things from the appetizer checklist. This blend experienced it all: hummus, eggplant and tomatoes (which was the richest and most flavorful taste of the night — smokey and sweet), grape leaves, combined veggies, babaganush, and tabouli. All of this was paired with warm bread straight out of the oven. It was completely delicious.

This lineup strike it out of the park. It is the great issue to split amongst a team. Very endorse.

Now for the primary events.

A distribute of regular Turkish dishes Behtyi Kebab, cheese flatbread, and Sultan’s Delight are pictured Thursday, July 28, 2022, in the Mersin on Most important Restaurant in Tatamy. (Joseph Scheller/The Early morning Get in touch with)

We purchased a couple of dishes to go, this kind of as the Shepherd’s Salad — a divine blend of cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, dill, and bell peppers. This tasted like you picked it from your personal back garden.

We purchased the hen shish kebab- or “shish” as they get in touch with it The dish is total of spice and cooked to juicy perfection.

My mum obtained the Alexander — a deconstructed gyro, served on prime of buttered bread, with a thick tomato sauce and a side of yogurt. I went for the Moussaka, which I have in no way experienced. If you haven’t both, permit me explain to you, it is my new most loved dish.

Normally served with floor meat but changed with combined veggies by Uzun, this casserole dish is decadent. Sauteed eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and carrots are blended into a casserole and baked with cheese and béchamel sauce. The flavor is smokey, pretty much like a french onion soup, nonetheless sweet — just like the eggplant and tomato aspect served in the Mixed Mexzi Plate.

The food parts are large, so get ready to get things to share, or just take to go. It all came out steaming, cooked fresh ideal there. You can style it, you can feel it.

Yet again, the phrase of the working day is taste. I have in no way experienced so much subtle nonetheless vivid taste in one particular food in my existence.

Mersin on Primary Restaurant operator Erdinc Uzun prepares a foods distribute for a customer Thursday, July 28, 2022, in the cafe in Tatamy. (Joseph Scheller/The Early morning Connect with)

I am seeking forward to returning with a bottle of vino, and imagining that I am in Turkey.

Yesterday my mom claimed to me, “Madelyn, I am emotion so wanderlust. It’s summertime. Let us go someplace!” Our schedules at the instant never allow for jetting off someplace, but we did journey to somewhere exotic final evening.

Dining at Mersin On Major actually manufactured me experience like we ended up on a fast Turkish holiday as we liked new, and entire food items built with intention.

How lucky are we to have people like Uzun who enjoy sharing their lifestyle and food with the globe? And how privileged that they located their way to the Lehigh Valley?

Madelyn Dundon is a freelancer for The Early morning Get in touch with.