Cafe Orchid

While it's not the type of Turkish restaurant where you'll find opulent draped fabrics or belly dancers performing between courses, this West Lakeview spot serves up delicious, authentic Turkish cuisine like doner (gyro) kebobs, falafil, uskudar (lamb cubes sauteed with onion, tomatoes, mushroom, peppers and garlic, wrapped with sliced eggplant) and homemade baklava. Decor is casual and modest, and the outdoor patio and free parking lot are two big draws. Chef/owner Kurt Sepin, formerly of A La Turka and the now shuttered Cafe Istanbul, says his customers especially love the manti, which is a Turkish ravioli stuffed with spicy ground lamb and served with homemade garlic yogurt and butter.

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Lakeview restaurants, Chicago restaurants, Chicago restaurants, Turkish restaurants