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MELBOURNE | Located in leafy South Yarra, Yagiz is a beautiful curation of modern Turkish cuisine brought to us by well-known chef Murat Ovaz (Balaclava’s Tulum). The restaurant pays homage to Murat’s grandfather, Yagiz, and loving a good family inspired restaurant we gladly accepted an invite to dine there recently.
As soon as you walk through the heavy-set glass doors, you are graced with a stunningly designed space. The exposed brick, mood lighting and large dining areas makes Yagiz a perfect place to share a hearty meal with loved ones or celebrate a special occasion. Tucked away, there is a private dining area and both intimate and grouped seating.
There are two dining options at Yagiz. There’s the la carte menu or if you prefer a little structure and want to let the restaurant do the choosing for you, there’s the chefs selection set-menu (four or six courses). We opted for the latter. For the entrée we sampled the Crekes Tavugu, which consists of a circassian chicken paste, delicate crispy chicken skin, and chives. The Hurma Dolmasi is a must try, mixing the sweetness of a date with the sour flavours of cultured goats cheese curd and pasturma.
For mains, we recommend the delicious Pan Seared Hapuku, served with a shellfish emulsion and finger lime, putting a distinctly Australian twist on things. The Lamb Kofte are succulent and dense, coupled with a smoked eggplant dip which really elevates each bite. There is a selection of sides and we couldn’t go past the simple and moreish Patates – kipfler potatoes roasted in duck fat. For something sweet, there are traditional Turkish delights such as Baklava and more. We tried the Misir Tatlisi, which melts in your mouth. It’s made from milk jam, milk crumble, sweet corn ice-cream and candy corn. A lot of thought and care has gone into the menu and all of the dishes are beautifully presented.
The local and imported wine and cocktail list is impressive, with particular attention give to food and wine pairings. Our dinner was paired with the Lokum Boğazkere, a beautifully structured red grown locally with the Turkish grape Boğazkere. In fact, it’s the only wine in Australia made using a Turkish varietal. Our second tasting was from Lebanon’s famous Bekaa Valley, Les Breteches. This wine is a crisp and fresh white which perfectly compliments dishes like the hapuku.
Yagiz captures what we love about the Turkish way of dining and puts a modern spin on things. It’s all about enjoying good food and drink with your loved ones. With a great atmosphere, delicious food, and welcoming, friendly staff, it’s a great option in South Yarra.
Yagiz
22 Toorak Road
South Yarra
Victoria 3141
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9821 4758
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Wed – Fri: 11:30am to 3:00pm; 5:30pm to 11:00pm
Tue, Sat: 5:30pm to 11:00pm