LOCATIONIn Green Square, Kingston shops.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTSIn the quiet Canberra nights, one can be transported to the heady Ottoman evenings of “old Stamboul” by the delectable aromas and luxurious interior of the Harem Turkish Restaurant. Especially popular with functions, the stylish and traditional Ottoman tent room feels like one of the smaller boudoirs of Topkapi Palace, filled with plump cushions, rich brocade Iznik tiling and dim, opulent lighting. The tent room is so popular in fact, that booking it is near impossible without at least one month’s notice and repeated assurances to the manager that you will turn up.
The selection and quality of the Turkish cuisine is good. The mezeler platter of various Turkish dips and bread is usually good to start with, and the shish kebab of succulent juicy lamb pieces served with rice and stewed haricot beans is delicious. If your selected dishes are unavailable, than the banquets are a good alternative. They offer great value, generous quantities of food, and an excellent selection of what Turkish cuisine has to offer. However Harem comes with a word of warning – the magical feeling that the interior and food evokes can sometimes be dispelled by the restaurant’s inconsistent service. While on most nights dining here is a breeze: a no fuss, quietly romantic evening, on others you have to rely on the delicious food to cover the sour taste left behind by the service.
Russell Buzby, July 2009