Let’s face it, as much as having babies completely changes our lives, we still want to be able to keep some things the same. Especially when it comes to having new experiences, going to restaurants, and just escaping the confines of home for a little bit.
When you have babies, however, you are constantly wondering where you can go that is relatively baby-friendly, where you won’t be concerned about spit-up on the pristine white tablecloths or the bouts of crying that are bound to disturb the refined diners that frequent high-end establishments. At the same time, we would like to enjoy dining experiences that are not limited to the gourmet cooking that is McDonald’s.
Recently, my family and I visited the Turkish Feast, JinShang branch. I had been wanting to try their food for the longest time, but was pretty sure that this wasn’t a chain particularly aimed at people with babies or kids. Boy, was I wrong!
Besides the very large variety of dishes that ensure there is definitely something that caters to all ages and levels of pickiness, they went out of their way to make our one-year-old a happy camper. The difference was in the small things, from the takeaway cup of water with a twirly straw (and a lid!) that my little one loved drinking out of to the complimentary bowl of popcorn she was given and the cute little car-shaped plate placed in her baby chair along with her baby cutlery. Everything just contributed to a seamless experience.
The waiters were especially attentive. Before I even had time to feel horrible about all the food she dropped on the floor, they had already swept it up. Each staff member who passed us gave her a smile and a wave, and while some of the handsome managers made her quite bashful, she loved interacting with everyone.
The bonus for us was the fun Turkish music that my little dancer loved grooving to! So, we got to have a few peaceful adult bites while she was entertaining the diners with her majestic moves.
Besides the many ways in which it was comfortable for such a young one, the experience was truly a feast for us as grown-ups as well. The food was incredibly delicious, well-cooked, and plentiful. The décor transports you right to the Anatolian Mediterranean, and the service is exemplary.
We had the small mezze platter and chose Turkish baba ganoush, muhammara and yogurt eggplant, which was packed full of smoky goodness. We also ordered the Turkish köfte, Adana kebab, traditional lentil soup, beef and cheese pide, and finished it off with the most delicious baklava. The Adana kebab is, so far, our favorite, and out of all the Middle Eastern eateries we’ve tried, Turkish Feast is the most authentic and flavorful. I am a huge fan of lentil soup, regardless of season, and theirs took me right back to the first time I had it in Istanbul with its tangy lemony and earthy flavors. I highly recommend ordering an extra helping of rice, especially if you are from a culture where rice is a staple, as the serving with the Adana kebab is a bit small for a rice lover.
My daughter loved chewing on chunks of kebab, trying to cram fistfuls of rice in her mouth (most of which landed on the floor), and she especially enjoyed the bread chunks she could suck and chew on. She even took a piece of pide for a spin on the dance floor for some sustenance during her energetic performance.
We enjoyed our experience so much that we decided to add this restaurant to our roster of monthly visits, and I am so excited to try not only their other locations but their remaining dishes. I’ve been daydreaming about the spinach and feta pide! All in all, it was a really nice experience with food you don’t have to feel guilty about having. I definitely recommend giving Turkish Feast a try if you haven’t already!
Find it:
115, 1/F, JinShang Yuan, 20 Xinyuan Xili, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新源西里20号金尚一层115号
Daily, 11am-10pm
Tel: 6468 8321
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Images: Janita Shahsavari, Turkish Feast
