Situated along the bustling main street of Queanbeyan, Turquoise Turkish Restaurant continues the long tradition of authentic Turkish food in Queanbeyan; Offering locals the chance to savour original Turkish recipes that have been around for thousands of years within a beautifully decorated setting.
Proud owner of Turquoise Restaurant, Meritan Bushari explains that the establishment of an authentic Turkish restaurant was inspired by the food from the ancient city of Adana, particularly, its mouthwatering ‘Adana kebabs’. These succulent grilled skewers, made from seasoned minced meat are a true gastronomic delight. Pair them with freshly baked flatbreads and a side of spicy red pepper paste, and you’ll experience a taste of Adana’s culinary heritage. “When my wife and I decided to establish a Turkish restaurant, we thought, there would not be a better place than Queanbeyan to offer our authentic recipes.” Recounts Meritan.
Their fine Turkish cuisine is specially prepared by their in-house Turkish Chef to deliver amazing traditional flavours. The menu is very healthy, and only the finest, locally sourced ingredients are used, transforming and updating traditional dishes through both contemporary and ancient gastronomic techniques. Kebabs hot off the skewers, wrapped in slightly charred flatbread with sumac (a tangy spice) and herb, sprinkled with onions, tomatoes, and tabouli are the speciality here. Turquoise offer lunch and dinner services including delivery and takeaway options.
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turkish heritage pride
Meritan is very proud of his Turkish heritage. Being from the city of Adana, he honours his Turkish background by providing and sharing the unique recipes that traditional Turkish cuisine has to offer. “Knowing where I come from gives meaning and context to the life I live now, as the towns, countries, cultures, and traditions my grandparents have lived in and experienced have shaped my heritage.” The Turquoise restaurant has done wonderful things for the Queanbeyan community. They have assisted the food SES team throughout the floods as a way of acknowledging their hard work. They have also provided for Queanbeyan West Primary School, nursing staff at Queanbeyan Hospital and many more establishments.
The Story Behind the Name
Meritan recounts that the decision to name his restaurant ‘Turquoise’ was made due to the magnificent properties of the Turquoise gem. Turquoise is one of the world’s most ancient gems. It is the national gem of Tibet and has long been considered a stone that guarantees health, good fortune, and protection from evil. Turquoise is also the birthstone for December and given that the restaurant was established in December, no other name would be more fitting.
the ups and downs of owning a restaurant business in this current climate
Meritan recounts that whilst the journey of starting and owning a business has been rocky, it has also been incredibly rewarding. He explains that the restaurant is in constant operation, even when they are very short staffed and they are always dedicated to remaining open and making it happen no matter what. When Meritan and his wife first established their restaurant, they had a toddler and a baby on the way. Meritan expresses that watching his children grow up in the restaurant has been one of the highlights of this journey. “We survived the Covid-19 lockdown, so I am thankful that I can still run my family business and thanks to our loyal customers, we are able to continue operating with pride.”
menu recommendations
Meritan strongly recommends the banquet specials to anyone trying Turquoise for the first time. This includes dips, entree, kebab skewers with rice, pide, salad and plain Turkish bread. The banquets come in different options to accommodate the meat lovers and the vegetarians as well. Some unique offerings that set Turquoise apart from other similar establishments is the authenticity and passion that goes into creating each dish. Turquoise prides itself on their authentic Adana Kebab and the Kofte (meat balls). A special recipe that Meritan inherited from his grandmother.
The Turquoise Special Pide is also one to try, as it is the Chef’s specialty and one of the most popular pides. The restaurant prides themselves on their Pides (Pizza) as they are authentically handmade by Meritan. The bread is also handmade before lunch with a new batch of fresh bread being made at dinner time. Overall, all of their food is prepared in-house and served fresh to their customers
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