Don’t know your tabouleh from musakka or falafel from baba ganoush? No worries, it’s all good and I hope to make these terms a little more familiar by the end of this column. The cuisine of the Middle East is still under-represented in the region, but the Mediterranean Garden in Johnson City is helping to change that. After a couple of visits, you’ll become an expert in these and other Mediterranean favorites.
Mediterranean Garden is a marvelous gem for those interested in sampling international cuisines. By my count, the Tri-Cities now offers options for those interested in cuisines as diverse as Thai, Cambodian and Indian, as well as Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and much more.
Traditional Musakka at Mediterranean Garden.
Since first opening, the restaurant has expanded. It still retains some cozy, comfortable aspects to the dining area, but it’s definitely more spacious these days.
The dining area features green walls accented with a lot of exposed brickwork. Tables with green surfaces are arranged around cushioned benches and chairs. Sheer fabric hangings of different colors hang over the large windows to give the room an airy, open feel. Likewise, elaborate fabric hangings adorn several of the walls. The family that owns and operates the restaurant is of Turkish heritage, so I assume that most of the interesting decorative items on view around the restaurant are also of Turkish origins. A gleaming coffee service, figurines of dancing men in fezes and a pair of smiling toy sheep are among the items on display.
Guvac, a hearty stew made from lamb slowly simmered with eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, onions and other spices. A small dish of rice and yogurt sauce are served on the side.
There’s also a decorative glass, rope and bead artifact known as a “nazar” hanging on one wall . The intention of the symbol, as explain by our server, is to ward off the “evil eye.” Some online research also revealed that nazars are popular souvenirs in such countries as Turkey and Afghanistan.
I’ve become a regular visitor to this restaurant since I first discovered it. More often than not, I visit among the company of a large group of friends.
If you’ve never tried Mediterranean or Middle Eastern fare, don’t worry. The excellent servers at Mediterranean Garden will gladly answer any of your questions. While the food is well-spiced, I would not describe it as spicy in the “hot” sense. The menu’s focus is primarily on Turkish/Greek specialties with many of the dishes prepared from lamb, chicken and beef, as well as lentils, eggplant, chickpeas and other vegetables.
My friends and I began our recent meal by looking over appetizer options, which included better-known meal-starters such as Baba Ganoush, Falafel and different varieties of Hummus, as well as Sigara Boregi, which is gently pan-fried dough stuffed with feta cheese, and Patlican Kizartmasi, which is a dish made of roasted sliced eggplant served with tomato and yogurt sauce.
Our large party decided to order several appetizers — Patlican Kizartmasi, Dolma, Roasted Garlic Hummus with Pita Bread — to share. The Dolma, or Stuffed Grape Leaves, proved exceptional. This meal-starter consisted of five fresh grape leaves each filled with rice, onions, parsley, dill and olive oil. A lemon wedge was also served with the Dolma.
Chicken Kebab at Mediterranean Garden in Johnson City.
We also enjoyed the Hummus, which is basically a dip prepared from ground chickpeas, olive oil and seasonings. With the pita bread, the hummus is perfect for sharing with a group of friends.
The Patlican Kizartmasi was served on a small platter accompanied with sliced tomatoes and drizzled with a tomato and yogurt sauce. This dish, a personal favorite, tasted quite refreshing and light, enlivened by some vibrant flavors.
From previous visits, I can also endorse the Sigara Boregi. As the name hints, these thin, feta-stuffed pastries look like cigars and are served with Tzatziki sauce for dipping. None of the appetizers are particularly heavy, which serves to whet the appetite for the main courses that follow.
Looking over the menu, diners will notice most of the entrees feature chicken, lamb, beef or vegetables.
Some of the dishes are described as “Classical Turkish Home Cooking” and include Lamb Chops, Tavuk A’la Sultan, or Grilled Chicken Breast with garlic, oregano, fresh tomato, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese, served over rice, as well as traditional Musakka and a meatless version of this dish. There’s also a vegetable stew comprised of carrots, potatoes, zucchinis, eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic and onions.
For diners with pronounced anti-carnivorous tendencies, Mediterranean Garden offers plenty of vegetarian options. There are also some salads, including White Bean, Tabouleh and Shepherd Salad, as well as sandwiches and gyros.
A range of different grilled items are also available. Meat for the kebabs include lamb, chicken or beef, and combinations of these.
Two of my favorites are the Iskender Kebab and the Adana Kebab, which features a ground lamb sausage served with grilled vegetables and rice.
Some of my friends have tried the traditional Musakka, which is a casserole dish made with layers of eggplant, ground sirloin, bechamel sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. I’ve tried this dish at several other restaurant, and thanks to the sample my friend offered I can say that it’s the best example of this dish I’ve ever had.
For those who want to sample a bit of everything, there’s the Mixed Grill Kebab, which offers chicken beef and lamb kebabs, as well as a lamb chop.
During my most recent visit, I ordered the Eggplant Yogurt Kebab. Other members of my party ordered Chicken Kebabs, the Chicken Gyro (there are also lamb and beef versions) and Guvac, a hearty stew made from lamb slowly simmered with eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, onions and other spices. A small dish of rice and yogurt sauce are served on the side.
The rice that comes with the dishes is light, fluffy and enhanced with slivers of almonds and subtle spices.
My Eggplant Yogurt Kebab consisted of sliced eggplant that is broiled and layered over sautéed pitta bread that is topped with fresh tomatoes and drizzled with a yogurt sauce. It was a very tasty meatless entree that I would gladly order again. I also sampled some of my friend’s Guvac and found this traditional stew entirely to my liking.
Keep in mind you will want to save some room for a dessert, which you can savor with a Turkish coffee. Sweet options included Baklava and Rice Pudding. Several members of my dining party, myself included, finished the meal with Rice Pudding and coffee.
Savor the conclusion of the meal with a Turkish coffee paired with Baklava or Rice Pudding. Several members of my dining party, myself included, finished the meal with Rice Pudding and coffee.
The delightful pudding featured a sweet, smooth mix of rice and cream dusted with cinnamon. It went well with the coffee. Turkish coffee is a strong coffee and is served unstrained in small, delicate cups. Be sure to ask your server to share the secret for “reading” the coffee grounds in your cup once you have finished the beverage. I’m not sure I ever got the knack for it, but it is a fun cultural experience they’ve been happy to share with their customers.
Speaking of the service, all the staff have been exceptionally friendly and personable during both my visits. They really know how to treat their customers and make them feel right at home.
It’s an extensive menu, and although I have been very pleased with everything I’ve tried, I hope to continue working my way through all the intriguing dishes listed.
If you find it difficult to move outside your “comfort zone” when dining out, the basic fact you need to remember about Mediterranean Garden is that all the dishes, even the ones with names that are difficult to pronounce, are quite good. For newcomers to this cuisine, I recommend the Chicken Kebab. If those prove to your liking, branch out from there.
If you go, be sure to let them know they came highly recommended.
AT A GLANCE: Mediterranean Garden, 2203 McKinley Road, Suite 100, Johnson City. 328-7685. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Entrees range from $4.99-$22. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available. Catering available.
Dining Destinations 