Wishing I was a Lokal

The folks over at Lokal Mediterranean Bistro invited us to trek on out to Brooklyn to try out their fare. "Sure" we thought, "we'll do a post on them for our Brooklyn readers". Oh were we wrong. This post is for anyone reading, because it is absolutely worth the journey from wherever you are.

Turkish Beer & Wine from the Mediterranean

 It was a frosty February night, but when we walked in, we immediately felt a bit warmer. We were surrounded by the whites & turquoise of the Mediterranean and started out our meals with some authentic beer & wine from the region.

Bread, Oil & Vinegar 

Oh the bread. Spongey, moist, and delicious. When we asked what kind of bread it was the waiter was a bit puzzled by the question. To him, it was just bread. However, he very helpfully went back to the kitchen to get the ingredient list for us. Yep, basic run-of-the-mill bread ingredients, but something in the preparation made it transcend basic bread for us.

Sauteed Spinach

 When it came time to order, we went with the waiter's suggestions. Sauteed spinach may not at first sound like an exciting choice for an appetizer, but that is until you read how it is served: pine nuts, raisins, caramelized red onions, red peppers, feta cheese, and paprika yogurt. An amazing blend of textures and flavors. The Mr. immediately declared that he would go home happy with just a huge plate of this, and I had to agree.

Lamb Burger

But we owed it to you, our readers, to continue on with main courses, to truly assess this eatery. We went out on a limb a bit by ordering the lamb burger since we aren't usually big lamb fans, and it paid off. Loved how the cucumber relish and thick cut tomato added a burst of freshness. 

Roasted Free-Range Organic Chicken

But the real star of the show is their roasted chicken served over beets, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. I normally don't like chicken and after eating this dish I now know why. This is the moistest, tastiest chicken I have ever tasted. The sharp contrast made me realize that most of the time I find chicken to be bland and dry. The root vegetables were the perfect accompaniment. We will make the journey back to Lokal just for this chicken.

So there you have it folks. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, go here for your next dinner. If not, figure out what combo of trains will get you there!



*My meal was provided by the restaurant as part of a Press Dinner.