Turks and Frogs and Orient Express

Osman Cakir's restaurants have the power to put a spell over its patrons, making a person feel as though they have escaped the outside world into an intimate surrounding made explicitly for them. Located in the West Village on 11th Street, The Orient Express and Turks and Frogs are sat adjacent to each other, and after considering the theme behind each establishment, it makes perfect sense. Upon seconds of walking into the Orient Express, you are transported into a 1940's train car just like the original train that combined intrigue and extravagance when taking its passengers from romantic Paris to exotic Istanbul. And if the Orient Express does take you all the way to Istanbul, you can just walk next door and enter Turks and Frogs where charm and mystique will make you feel like you've become part of a small piece of Turkey located right in New York City.

Turkey is a region full of exotic tastes, cultures, and people. Because the country was centered in the middle of what was once three powerful empires, Turkey has become rich with different tastes and flavors that have the influence of three continents. Turks and Frogs provides proof of this with its authentic Turkish menu that although represent the country, also mirrors the foreign presence that its history reflects. Along with your choice of a multitude of different wines, including delicious Turkish varieties, patrons can enjoy several cheese plates and appetizer samplers that include typical regional cuisine from Turkey. A particular appetizer that should not be missed is dolma, grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, currant, and scallions. Everything is served with warm baked pita bread that has the perfect salty and sweet combination.

The name Turks and Frogs has been kept from when the location was originally an antique shop, specializing in Turkish and French antiquities. This gives the charming ambiance even more of a history than can already be detected from the beautiful and subtle Turkish decorations. When first entering, guests walk into a beautiful mahogany bar that is slightly dimmer than the lounge towards the back. The lounge is illuminated by the candle light that is present on each table, making the room faintly glow. The lounge is simply intoxicating; with red walls and the glowing light, every seating area is placed a very cozy distance away from each other, but visitors never feel intruded upon by anyone. The setting is the perfect place to have an intimate conversation while enjoying a terrific glass of wine.

The Orient Express transports guests into a more elegant time where men wore pin stripe suits and women and never left home without white gloves. The wait staff, the decor, the music, and the cocktails all reflect the decades of the 1930's and 40's. The real Orient Express was once known as the elite way to get from Paris to Istanbul in top of the line train cars where luxuries had no boundaries. Osman Cakir's version is not shy of the real thing with a menu for appetizers, dinners, and fantastic cocktails that should not be missed out on. Even if you are just looking to go out for a delicious drink, The Orient Express is the perfect place to listen to great music of a classier generation and relax in the mellow train car atmosphere.

Hidden in two tiny spaces, it would be a shame to walk by both Turks and Frogs and the Orient Express without stopping in. Both are the perfect places to relax after work or to come by later at night for appetizers and a drink. Even if you aren't in the mood for wine at Turks and Frogs or cocktails at the Orient Express, try a cup of fresh Turkish coffee to go with Turkish coffee creme brule. For a captivating experience and a taste of Turkey in the West Village, neither place should be overlooked.

— Written by Valerie Cario

Photo credit: Courtesy of New York Press

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