Coban Salad at Cafe Shish Kebab
This “review” is a culmination of three trips to Cafe Shish Kebab aka “The Sheesh”. I first visited Cafe Shish sometime in the spring/summer as you can see from these pictures. I had to have the Coban Salad as I am a sucker for all of its ingredients – Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, parsley, bell peppers, red wine vinaigre and olive oil. And you have to add the feta cheese despite the $2 surcharge. Perfect on a hot summer day and still tasty on cold wintry ones too.
On one of my recent visits, I tried the Haydari. We like to refer to it as Herrodarri, “It’s so nice to have you back where you berong!” Anyhow, the Haydari is a perfect blend of “thickened homemade yogurt with fresh dill, mint, garlic and walnut.” So good, you think it would be on the dessert menu and not the appetizers. I also tried their hummus. I’m a big fan of the creamy goodness of Pita Hut-n-Grille’s Hummus. But my palate is not too discriminating on hummus as I also enjoy the garlic chunkiness of The Acropolis’ hummus. “Hey, your pistachio chocolate chip baklava is in my hummus butter. No, your hummus butter is on my pistachio chocolate chip baklava.” I especially love when I hit the motherload of a garlic nugget in my hummus there. Pow, that’ll wake you up in the morning. Wow, I thought motherload was spelled motherlode, my spell check is telling me both are wrong – it’s mother lode. Good, primed for Jeopardy! I’ll take Manifold Misspellings for $500, Alex. And that’s our audio daily double!
Anyhow, the Sheesh’s hummus is more of your natural hummus butter. You can really taste the chick peas. I like it and for you hummus purists out there, you will like it too.
Kisir (Tabuli) at Cafe Shish Kebab
Tabuli’s a challenge. If it is slightly less than fresh the flavor changes dramatically as it soaks up whatever juices and/or oils you’ve added. In all fairness, I haven’t retried their Tabuli in a while so can’t recall its nature.
Not pictured here but one of my favorites is the Hunkar Bengendi – Mashed smoked eggplant topped with marinated lamb and served with tomato sauce. Notice they put the mashed smoked eggplant first. That was the highlight for us. So good we asked for a take out order of just the mashed smoked eggplant. Of course, it wasn’t quite as good the next day. Many of you may turn up your noses at the thought of mashed smoked eggplant. We had to ask two different people how it was so good. They merely nodded and smiled and pretended not to understand us. I too would keep the secret well-guarded as you never know what internet blogger you may be disclosing it to.
By the way, our roving reporter, Diner Joe, may have some input on the Sheesh as he recently visited as well. We’ll go to the field and see if he’s out there. Joe? Joe? Can you read me? We anxiously wait your terse comments on the Sheesh.
Also, the custard pictured at bottom is to die for.
This just in from Bloviatar Joe – no, he doesn’t fly a plane -
I was there with my sister (shameless plug ahoy), who was in town for the Columbus Guitar Society’s annual fund-raiser featuring the guitar program of the University of Cincinnati. I suggested, on the advice of this august website, a visit to Cafe Shish Kebab for dinner.
REVIEWER DISCLAIMER: I am a rather provincial diner, in no way a connoisseur of worldly cuisine. However, my sister, in addition to being a cooking fanatic, has (literally) been around the world and is especially partial to Middle Eastern and Turkish fare.
Beginning with a nice cup of black tea (with a touch of mint), we perused the menu and my companion decided we should have an appetizer of hummus. This was NOT done at the remembrance of Fine Repast’s suggestion, as my sister hadn’t seen the blog and I couldn’t remember the specific dishes reviewed. Suffice it to say, Fine Repast has GOTTEN ON TOP OF IT: my sister attested, not only to the plate’s “SCRUM-DIDDLY-NESS” (NOT her term), but also to its superiority to her own recipe. Accompanied with DAMN FINE bread, the dish was a hit.
For the main course, the lady ordered what I believe was a special: lamb shank. I don’t have the specifics, but that dish, as well, evoked quite the favorable reaction. A substantial course, my sister had to take half of it to go. I had the mousakka, which was quite nice. To address the earlier-broached topic, I’m not, by any means, a fan of eggplant, but found it quite all right as a component of the mousakka. Though a hefty-sized meal, I had a bit of room left over. Again, my companion led the charge, ordering what turned out to be very tasty baklava. I, however, had my eyes on (yes, Jerusalem Garden pilgrims and profoundly-sorrowful Michigan fans):
TURKISH COFFEE.
Ta hell with yer late-night convenience, BP capuccino. Pass ya up again, criminally-overpraised Starbucks and Caribou Coffee. Catch ya on the rebound, personal faves Yeah, Me Too, Cup O’ Joe and Rockstar Coffee ‘n’ Creme. There’s a reason this stuff’s served like a shot of George Dickel, contrary to Diamond Dave’s wisdom: a little IS enough. But it’s still JUST LIKE LIVIN’ IN PAIR-A-DISE. And I DON’T WAH-NAH GO HO-OHM.
Editor’s Note: Suzee, Suzee, Girl for cryin’ out loud! You got all the right moves. You make me eat my heart out nightly. And that’s alright with me. No special favors, make it out to cash. We’ll spend it later got to make this romance last. And last. last. That’s it, that’s it.
Turkish brew’s the stuff to tide me over ’til we get to Byrne’s Pub for bluegrass titans Death by Banjo: WAKEY-WAKEY!!
The only down side to this? The frost in my Kelvinator, the Jackson Pollock in my Matisse exhibit, the Schoenberg in my Stravinsky program? Fine Repast neglected to mention there was belly-dancing, yes BELLY DANCING, Friday and Saturday nights ca. 7:15 PM at the Sheesh, provided by the stunningly beautiful Yasmilah (yasmilah.com: yes, I visited). However, a smorgasbord of classical guitar music, with its dashes of musical paprika, awaited ‘cross town in Bexley.
ALAS: you’ll have that.
Nice job, Java Joe – Thanks for the update from the field!
Lahana Sarma at Cafe Shish Kebab
Lamb Chops at Cafe Shish Kebab
Kunefe at Cafe Shish Kebab
Sutlac (Rice Pudding at Cafe Shish Kebab
Kazandabi (Custard) at Cafe Shish Kebab
Cafe Shish Kebab Take Out Menu and Coupon
Bethel Center
1450 Bethel Center
Columbus , OH 43220
p. 614. 273.4444
f. 614. 326.4668
all photos not for use on ColumbusUnderground.com
You Should Also Check Out This Post:
- El Arepazo Latin Grill - Downtown Treat
- 20 Secrets Your Waiter Won't Tell You
- Price Check!
- America's Next Great Restaurant
- Maca Rumored to be Closing Dec. 19.
More Active Posts:
- Ol' Bag of Nails - bring a packed lunch along (7)
- About us (6)
- Users online (6)
- Taboo Lounge (5)
- Trader Joe's - specialty grocery store in central Ohio (4)
- La Michoacana Mexican Market and Restaurant (4)
- Jack & Benny's, "Breakfast served all day" (4)
- Where to find late night eats in Columbus? (4)
- Handke's Closes Its Doors (4)
- Taco Trucks in Columbus - El Nuevo Tacos Tao - err, almost (4)
FineRepast.com is
written by Andy with the help of some others from time
to time. Thank you for visiting and come back again often. Feel free to leave comments,
questions, or points of concern in the comment section of a post. I'll more than likely
return the favor on your blog as well.
Here’s my thoughts on New Taco Tao:
“I drove over here after reading about it on the web. It’s a really dirty truck with a really dirty table. Forget it. ”
On the other hand, Taquikin Taqueria y Loncheria Movil, which is actually on Morse Rd, I said:
“Went back tonight for a couple more taco pastors and an order of refried beans. And tried the roasted jalapenos. They weren’t as hot as I imagined. Also had an orange soda. Very good food. Highly recommended!”