Esnaf (San Carlos)

[honkman]

Turkish restaurants seem to get more popular in recent times in the Bay area and quite close by Esnaf has opened a few months ago in San Carlos. The menu looks promising and our first visit didn’t disappoint with very good renditions of Turkish dishes, lively, yet relaxed atmosphere and good service.

Pide - fresh baked and often replenished

Kopoglu - oven-roasted eggplant and peppers, garlic yoghurt, tomato sauce

Lahmacun - angus ground beef, tomatoes, peppers, parsley and sumac onions

Crispy manti - oven-baked beef dumplings, garlic yoghurt, tomato sauce, mint

Kofte - angus ground beef patties, buttered rice, coban salad

Kebab trio for two - beef tenderloin, chicken thighs, kofte, buttered rice, coban salad, lahmacun

Turkish coffee mousse - ground turkish coffee, chocolate, pomegranate seeds

Katmer - pistachio cream-filled filo pastry, served with pistachio gelato

[Annegrace]

Looks good. Have you been to Amara in Belmont? We went to the previous restaurant a couple of times and also loved the garden area. Need to check out the new place.

[honkman]

We haven’t been yet to Amara but it is on our long, long restaurant list (but I have to admit that Amara had a quite interesting menu but the prices, especially for entrees, put them on a lower priority)

[collinlevis]

Thanks for sharing, Honkman—Esnaf looks great, That pide and lahmacun are calling my name.

[Annegrace]

I’ve also got taverna in Portola valley on my list although when we come up we’re usually dining with a 4 yr old and 7 year old so we end up at Zotts or Dutch Goose or Bucks or Amigos Grill.