It’s always great when a well-priced new eatery shows up on the Upper West Side. Everyone is constantly moaning and groaning about the state of the restaurant scene north of 14th Street. That’s changing–slowly–and Bodrum, which specializes in Mediterranean dishes, is evidence of how the dining landscape on the Upper West Side is improving.

Don’t go to Bodrum for the decor; it’s pretty basic. The major decorative note is the blazing wood burning oven that faces the small dining room. Out of this oven comes a variety of pizzas. Also out of this oven comes fabulous Turkish bread that possesses an incredibly tender, chewy crumb with a crust burnished by the oven’s flames. I could have made an entire meal out of that bread.

But on to the mezze. The menu is divided into appetizers and mezze, which is a little strange. But the dishes, regardless of the name, are all terrific. Manti are delicate steamed duplings filled with ground lamb and topped with a garlic yogurt sauce. With a wonderfully flaky crust, b’stila djej, a Moroccan dish, is three filo triangles stuffed with spiced chicken, almonds, chopped fresh herbs and cinnamon. I love eggplant salad, and the Turkish Patlican was lovely chunks of eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, garlic and herbs.

We ordered one main course, a fish tangine. It was fairly bland and flavorless especially compared to the mezze.

If you go to Bodrum, stick with the mezze and appetizers. None of them cost more than $8.00 and you can have a splendid meal.

Bodrum
584 Amsterdam Ave.
New York, NY
212 799 2806

Related posts:

1. Upper West Side Restaurant: Bodrum Mediterranean
2. Upper East Side: Beyoglu for Terrific Turkish Meze
3. Lower East Side: Congee Village for Terrific Cheap Grub