- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Anatolia's Gate Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Halal Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Mediterranean Halal, Turkish, Mediterranean [Edit]
7084 KingswayBurnaby, BC V5E 1E7
(604) 525-2519
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Anatolia's Gate Restaurant
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Tara C.
New Westminster, BC
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Five stars for the lavash alone. No, seriously. If you like bread (and who doesn't? I mean, really.) then you need to come here.
We got the ajuka dip with lavash, a mixed kabab and a chicken shish. All were tasty and served in a timely manner.
Is it the prettiest restaurant? No. But it did seem clean and the service was attentive and helpful for some Turkish-food noobs. -
Review from Jess C.
Burnaby, BC
4/14/2012
Just tried this restaurant today and the food was to my expectations. I tried the veggie gavoch along with some kind of flat bread stuffed with cheese. The lavash bread was freshly baked in a traditional oven and served with an entire plate of tzaziki dip.
I rated 4 stars, but I would say somewhere between 3 and 4. One reason I can't give it 5 stars is because it looks a little shifty from the front. Nothing wrong with the food or anything. The floor wasn't the cleanest, but I guess its understandable with the entire restaurant being run by only 4 or 5 people who are doing everything (serving, cooking, baking, busing). They were all very friendly though and know their stuff.
I would certainly want to come back again to try some other dishes. From what I've heard (and recommended by the waiter), the Ali Baba (mushrooms baked with cheese) is really good. -
Review from Mark H.
ANTS! I set them ablaze as a kid with a magnifying glass but liked them in A Bug's Life. But they sure don't belong in a restaurant.
We waited for a table for a bit and were seated at one by the window near the front. Minutes later I look closely at the window sill and I see ANTS hard at work. Umm.. How does an owner not notice this!! So we moved across the room to a new table.
ANTS issue aside (hint: I won't be returning), I will give the following positive feedback:
1st star - fresh lavash bread. Turkish version of naan kind-of. Works well with the provided yogurt dip.
2nd star - baklava. Just the way I like it. Moist and covered with pistachios. They were given to us free as we paid, but that's a small token to pay for having ANTS join us..
The baked meat dishes we ordered weren't cooked enough nor had much flavour.
I don't mind dives one bit. But if I want to eat with ANTS I'll go camping.. -
Review from Justin L.
8/8/2011
I've been looking for some good Turkish food ever since my trip to Turkey several summers ago. I think Anatolia's meets the need. Feast on some fine Turkish bread while gazing at the posters of Istanbul that adorn the walls.
My friend and I were quite hungry at lunch time, so we ordered a split appetizer of EGGPLANT SALAD and spicy EZME. The eggplant had a nice smoky flavor to it, but not too strong. The heat level of the ezme was comfortable, but the delicious white yoghurt sauce also helps keep your palette cool. The LAVASH bread with encrusted sesame seeds was piping hot with the perfect amount of crunch, pull, and bite.
The LAHMAJUN was good. I was looking for a little more flavor, but the texture was spot on.
Instead of a kabob we decided to try the BEYTI SARMA, which is essentially ground kabob meat wrapped in lavash that's cut and laid out piece by piece (kind of like sushi). Very good! The tomato and yoghurt sauce drizzled on top adds another dimension of flavor. This came with rice and raw veggies.
We were gonna wash this all down with some AYRAN (salty yoghurt drink), but instead we shared a bottle of Turkish SOUR CHERRY JUICE. Refreshing!
I don't usually like BAKLAVA, which I find too sweet, but Anatolia's is outstanding. Crispy on top, mushy on the bottom, light crunch from the ground pistachios, and the perfect level of sweetness.
Food comes out quickly. Super friendly service. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 6/25/2011 2 photos
* The Turkish breads are still the highlight *
I love the various fresh Turkish breads they bake after you order here. They are really the highlight of the menu for me.
On my latest meal I ordered the chicken shish platter. The meal started off with a freshly baked Turkish lavash, which came straight from the oven all puffed up to the table (Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). It had nice charring, a few sesame seeds, and came with a soothing yogurt dip.
The chicken shish plate itself (which used to be served on pide, but now seems to come with the lavash in advance instead), had nicely seared chicken (which was still juicy on the inside), oven grilled tomatoes, marinated onions, cabbage salad, mixed greens, a spicy pepper, and a generous portion of rice. Overall a very nice meal (although it was plated a bit sloppily). Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
I continue to believe this is the best Turkish food in the Vancouver area, and definitely the best Turkish breads.Listed in: Mary had a little lamb, and I…, Vancouver Middle Eastern Food, Free Vancouver Wifi, Vancouver Pizza, Vancouver Lahmahjun
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/29/2009
* Amazingly good fresh baked Turkish pide *
Ordered the lamb shish which was served on top of a fresh… Read more »
-
-
Review from Cameron T.
Burnaby, BC
11/3/2011
Great food and friendly service.
My wife and I regularly stop by Anatolia's for our fix of Turkish Food. Make sure to try the mixed plate, it comes with freshly baked bread and a taster portion of all their cold appetizer items.
Oh, and he baklava is to die for. -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
This is another neighborhood gem!! My friend recommended me to try this out and the food was fanatics!!
Lavash bread - This is what they're famous for and it's a must try.
Lahmajun (Turkish pizza) - It's a thin and crunchy home made pita baked with a juicy minced beef spread
Chicken Curry - It's strong and tasty but not too spicy. Just perfect!! -
Review from Lois L.
Burnaby, BC
6/24/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Awesome food!
Been a regular since it's close to my home. I've tried just about everything in their menu and have no complaints. The food is consistently good and so is service. I always have cravings for their curry (and I actually don't like curry)!
Suggestion: try not to take out but eat in instead. I've tried taking out a couple of times and it's way better served hot at the table. -
Review from Amy T.
5/13/2011 1 photo
Food was good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
My husband and I were walking by and decided to try Anatolia's Gate. We ordered the lentil soup, Meat Lover's pide and the lamb.
Oh, I wish I saw Marc D.'s review before going because I wouldn't have ordered the lamb. I too, thought it was pieces of lamb, but it was grilled liver chunks. Not a fan.
The Meat Lover's pide was tasty, but I don't think it was $11 tasty. To be honest, I expected a bit more meat. This may be how pieds are made, but when I hear meat lovers, I expected Meat Galore! Maybe call it Meat Pied instead? =P
As for the lentil soup, my husband didn't like it, but I thought it wasn't bad.
This was our first time eating Turkish food and I wasn't too impressed, but I'd give it another shot. One day... -
Review from Richard B.
New Westminster, BC
4/21/2012
I've been to this restaurant many times with my family. We first went on the recommendation an Egyptian friends who praised its food, atmosphere and cleanliness. They were completely right on all counts. The recent reviewer who said it's "shifty" looking and somehow unclean is dead wrong. This places is spick and span, including the washrooms. The service is fast and friendly. The menu is extensive and has photos, and the waiters explain the offerings well if you ask, and proudly, as they should. The food is excellent, quite interesting -- unlike Lebanese or Greek, but obviously related -- and highly consistent. They have a large brick oven and, when you order houmous and pita, one of the young men of the family bakes your pita from scratch. This really is as good as it gets for a middle eastern restaurant in this price range (moderate, not cheap, but not expensive). No liquor licence of course. You can go here with confidence that you'll get a good meal in pleasant (and very clean) surroundings.
-
Review from Raza M.
12/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Give me warm fresh out of oven bread, and you have my vote. They have their own brick oven in which they make their bread, so its always served warm right out of oven, and I keep on going there just for that. The place is overpriced and noisy, and they don't really care about the cleanliness and authenticity, all the things I normally care about, but this place is an exception, I could eat that bread all day every day.
The best time I had here, was when I went with my Turkish friend. It goes without saying he ordered. You can check O. Bilal O.'s review for his perspective. -
Review from Barry M.
8/8/2009 ROTD 8/9/2009
Portions were large, food was freshly made and looked appetizing, lots of options for my vetegarian parents visiting for dinner...
This is a place I could see myself coming to a LOT if I lived closer. According to the owner they used to JUST do take-out but since expanding they have seating for ~25 people or so. It looks like a lot of people still got takeout from the foot traffic that came in.
Everything they serve has a picture of it on the menu so you know where you're getting. Sure, it's a little bit tacky, but I like to know what I am getting when I don't know what the word is - and it might encourage me to try something new that looks good that I might not normally order.
As we were leaving my Dad made a random remark about the baklava that were in the display window near the register. The owner (who I would guess was an owner, or a very giving employee), immediately offered some to take home with us, free of charge!! ** That is service!
This is probably a 4.5 star review. I'd give it a 5 star if the inside was renovated more (looking up you see an unfinished ceiling), and it's kind of decorated but could use a woman's touch. Tea and water refills would have been nice during the meal (some of the cold salad place appies were a little spicy...)
** Your baklava results may vary. Free dessert at a restaurant without asking is not something I would expect when eating out somewhere in Vancouver. -
Review from Eugene K.
10/15/2011
An alternative to Greek and Lebanese cuisine.
-
Review from Mary A.
1/3/2011
Rainy night, long drive to Burnaby but it was worth it. Place was almost empty but food great. We love lamb so we split a Lamb Lahmajun - sort of a pizza - thin crust with small amount of ground lamb on it. It came with veggies and they showed us how to wrap the pizza around the veggies. Really tasty.
The two of us also split an order of Lamb Guvech - sort of stew with lamb chunks and lots of veggies. Excellent. And the best was the Lavash and amazing thick, creamy, yogurt with herbs. All in all a good and affordable meal. -
Review from M S.
5/5/2010
The lavash bread and baklava (we got ours free even though we were a large group of over 25 people) were amazing. The baklava was probably the best I've ever had outside an amazing Lebanese restaurant in Virginia which was one of the best middle eastern restaurants in North America. The bread was fresh baked and HUGE!
The Turkish food is not bad for Vancouver standards - the lack of middle eastern restaurants probably doesn't help to improve these. I love middle eastern and had the chicken shish which wasn't bad and I'd recommend it again. The restaurant is relatively close to my work but not my home so probably would go there more if it was more convenient.
They expanded the restaurant and it looks like it could still use some finishing touches (the comment about using a woman's touch was spot on) but the service was decent. Agree with another review that it could use more water service. Also the presentation of the food itself could use improvement.
The one reviewer who complained about the Indian family who complained about Indian music being used in a Turkish restaurant is off his rocker - both him and the family. This is not a uber classy joint by a long shot but so what if they just play whatever music floats their boat in the late afternoon? -
Review from Reena M.
1/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is definitely the best Turkish food I've had. I love their lahmajun and their baklava! I'm surprised I didn't write this sooner. Thier lamb shish kabab was delicious as well. I've been here on two occasions, once sit down with the family, and once take out. I prefer to sit in because everything is fresh and hot. The service is very hospitable too. The take out got cold too fast. We also got the lamb durum, which was tasty... but I prefer donairs from donair king with all the fixin's. The lamb durum didn't have enough filling inside for me.
-
Review from David L.
12/11/2009
I'm sorry to say Anatolia's Gate is one of the worst restaurants when it comes to presentation, cleanliness, authenticity, and value. When Donair Pizza closed down at the current location of Anatolia's Gate and moved to Davie Street in Vancouver, Burnaby got Anatolia's Gate.
Is this restaurant authentic?
Now, this is suppose to be an authentic Turkish restaurant. While sitting at the restaurant, an Indian couple with their kids were complaining that they were using Indian music and that it was extremely strange and they shouldn't be playing it at a Turkey restaurant. Well, that truly shows the so called authenticity of this Turkish restaurant.
Before sitting down, I realized the seats were nasty dirty. There was mud on the seats, so I had to look around for a clean sit and I ended up switching it. While seated, the waiter was spraying windex spray to clean the tables so I ended inhaling the nasty chemical smell of windex. The waiter gave me a glass of water and there was cardboard shavings on the surface of the water. I was like, "this isn't gonna be good."
While waiting for my food, I realized they have rat poison on the corner of the room beside my seat. I didn't think too much of it because I was more worried how my meal would turn up.
Alas, my chicken durum was delivered to my table. It was wrapped in aluminum foil cut in half. I examined my wrap and I realized that there were aluminum and paper bits all over my chicken durum wrap. For presentation marks, that would be a fail! I realized that they do the same thing for Subway sandwich restaurants when you buy a footlong subway sandwich but with waxed paper but at a sit down restaurant with servers and real plates, it is absolutely silly to have your food delivered to your table with an aluminum/paper wrappings wrapped and sliced in half with the foil on the dish.
The chicken durum wrap which is basically a donair with extremely dry, and it had lettuce and yogurt inside. It was extremely small too for a $6.95 wrap, about the same size of a Tim Horton wraps. The chicken tasted like chicken and it was lightly covered in some spicy sauce and the lettuce and tomato seemed fresh. This wrap was nothing impressive and Tim Horton's chicken wrap at $2.99 taste way better.
I also shared some Turkish bread (Lahmajun which is ground Meat Spread on a thin Crust. Served on a bed of sala) and veggie dish (menemen which is roasted veggies bell pepper, eggplant, zuccuni, mushroom & eggs baked in the oven) and they weren't impressive. The lahmajun was cold, the crust with thin, and the ground meat spread with paper thick. The menemen was a simple tasting dish and I couldn't taste the egg at all. It seemed they were too cheap to add an whole egg, or maybe they didn't add an egg at all.
At the end, I didn't finish my dish. While leaving the restaurant, the cook gave me a NASTY look directed at me while eyeing my unfinished dishes with his arms crossed without saying thank you while I left the restaurant. Lastly, I wouldn't have given a 15% tips if I knew the cook would give a nasty look while leaving the restaurant.
So, to everyone, please stay away from this restaurant. If you plan to eat here, do with with takeout, so you don't have deal with the smell of windex, the sight rat poison on the floor, dirty bits in your drinks, and cooks eyeing your every move.
Why pay Vancouver restaurant prices for a sit down restaurant for prison quality food and environment.
Do you remember a show on YTV called "You Can't Do That on Television?" There's a chef named Barth. Well, the people behind the counter cooking the food reminds me of Barth.
DO NOT EAT AT ANATOLIA'S GATE RESTAURANT OR YOU WILL END UP GETTING FOOD POISONING!!!
This is the worst restaurant of all Burnaby or even Vancouver. A better name for this restaurant is Anatolia's Gitmo. I am not joking people. This restaurant is one of the worst restaurants on Planet Earth. I feel like Chef Ramsey. Maybe, only Chef Ramsey can save this restaurant? If there's a Canadian version of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, this restaurant needs to be on it. It's SOOOOOO nasty!!!
When I walk pass Anatolia's Gate, the chefs still give me the dirty look, so I assumed they read my review.
They need to serve this type of food in prisons.
Yelp needs an option for zero stars for ratings. This restaurant truly deserves a ZERO STAR rating! -
Review from O. Bilal O.
Updated - 12/27/2010
Just come here for Pide or Lahmacun, you won't be disappointed. Order anything else then no promises.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/10/2010
This review is from a Turkish point of view, might be biased.
Let me start saying they have great… Read more »
-
-
Review from Shannon N.
Vancouver, BC
7/22/2009
Atmosphere is simple with tables, chairs, and a few ornaments around the dining area. It is quite a small restaurant, but it was comfortable. The owners were present at the restaurant. Even though their English was very limited, they were still charming.
The menu had a good selection to choose from. I had chosen a vegetable casserole like dish which came with lavash bread. The meal itself was cooked when we ordered, it was not prepped and ready to go into the oven like many larger restaurants. I truly loved the freshness, knowing the food has not been sitting out and warmed on demand. The lavash bread was incredible and huge. The texture was soft and chewy. It was also freshly made when ordered.
Will go back again this weekend. Delish..
