LOCATIONAt the Casuarina Square food court.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAFind sensational Turkish fare in a surprising location – the fast food section of Casuarina Square shopping centre! Nilturk launched onto the Darwin food scene barely a year ago; its eye-catching copper open oven and the skills of chef Mesut Demirok making it an instant hit. This is a breakaway from the usual fried fast foods, with most dishes prepared fresh on site early in the morning or right in front of you. The stuffed pide are to die for – no wonder Mesut is already reputed to have a cult following for his fabulous breads. Sink your teeth into one of these enormous hot loaves stuffed with spinach, pumpkin and ricotta and you’ll be back for more. Plenty of other stuffings are available too including chicken, mozzarella, beef and salami.
Owners Mesut and Jeanette use their Turkish and Lebanese roots to great advantage in creating excellent food with the gorgeous colours of Mediterranean cuisine and a distinct Middle-Eastern flavour. They love what they do, and it shows. Oodles of fresh vegetables, tangy yoghurts, spicy rice, succulent meatballs and more make the fare both tasty and healthy. A mezze platter is a great way to enjoy a combination of dishes at a reasonable price. Dolma, stuffed eggplant, dips, chargrilled shish kebabs and pizza are all delicious options. Party time? Nilturk caters for functions.
Merridy Anne Pugh