Delicious Dish, You're On the Air: Café Istanbul

Three life-altering events have taken place since I last posted:

1. I bought a hair straightener.
2. I met someone.
3. I ate at Café Istanbul.

The second thing is kinda huge and the first thing is hugely foolish. Only the third thing is relevant to this website at all, so I will shut up and run with it. And I'm in a listing sort of mood, so allow me to continue with a list of reasons why I heart Café Istanbul, and why I've added it to my, ahem, list of favourite dining spots in Halifax.

1. My chicken wrap with salad was so perfectly sized. There is nothing more off-putting to me then someone slapping a heaping platter down at my place. If I want a sickeningly huge pile of food I will go to a buffet. And I will go to a buffet if I want to experience gluttony and food poisoning.

2. My chicken was so perfectly cooked.

3. It had flavours that I couldn't identify but bloody loved. And a little ramekin of a tomato-based sauce. Aren't you loving all these descriptive details? Apparently I've been out of journalism school long enough to forget to take a pen and ask questions.

4. The owner/manager/friendly guy working the room was attentive and made you feel welcome without being slimy and irritating. Thank you for the free Turkish tea. If I had any journalistic integrity left I would have gotten your name.

5. The freshly-baked baklava was pistachio heaven on Spring Garden Road. My co-diner wanted to split. I almost agreed, but was coaxed ever so gently by owner/manager/friendly guy to get my own. He totally gets me.

6. It was good value! $14 for a main, dessert and tea. Not too shabby.

7. Being at the restaurant you can almost imagine you're in a different, more exotic city....until this illusion is shattered by a college student walking down the street in pajama pants.