Review #74 - Chef Abod Cafe & Catering

Chef Abod Cafe & Catering
Variety: Mediterranean, Turkish
Address: 3217 Kempt Road
Date Visited: Friday, November 4, 2016
Orders: Sambusa, Fatayer

Taste: TBA
Portion Size: TBA
Presentation: TBA
Value: TBA
Service: TBA
Bonus: TBA
Minus: TBA
Final Grade: TBA
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)

Notes: Apparently, when T is busy and I get together with the guys, our "thing" is to eat Turkish food. Or, at least that's how it's worked the past two times we've done it.

I suggested this place because when I used to live in the North End, I'd walk by this place on my way to and from the grocery store. Ah, the days when I didn't have a car. Anyway, we never stopped in, so I suggested it because one of my friends works just down the street from it. Apparently, Chef Abod used to be the personal chef of a Prince in Saudi Arabia - pretty cool!

The parking lot was "a little snug" (that's being pretty generous), but it was nothing compared to the size of the booths inside. None of the four of us are huge, but we're not tiny either. Sitting side by side, the person on the aisle definitely had to sit with a cheek dangling. Amplifying matters was that there was nowhere to put our coats, making us feel even more crammed in. We asked if we could move to one of the nearby tables instead, but the server said it was "really messy back there" and asked us to stay where we were while he cleaned it up. Thankfully, he got to work and we were able to move before our food was served.

Heading in to the restroom to wash up, I almost jumped out of my skin after seeing the terrifying decoration on a shelf under the mirror. I can't even describe what the heck this thing was - a candle, maybe? I should have taken a photo of it but I just needed to get the hell out of there. That thing haunts my dreams!

I was having trouble deciding what to order - the daily special was fish, which I don't eat - so I selected a couple of appetizers to try and get a variety of what was available. I selected the Sambusa and the Fatayer. That was a mistake - I didn't really understand they were both pastries, one fried, the other baked. So, I basically got two plates of almost exactly the same thing. The insides of both didn't taste like much, except the spinach, which wasn't to my liking, so I pawned it off one someone else. I was also a little disappointed because I'd ordered a mango milkshake and got a mango juice instead...which tasted like it came directly out of a tetra pack.

I fear I might not have made the best choices when it comes to this restaurant and will hold off on giving it a score until my next visit. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their orders, so I think it's worth another try.

Final Verdict: TBA