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I usually avoid the Cambridge Leisure Centre. It is littered with generic chains that serve food which is often void of any real character or personality. 

That is, until I caught wind through the Cambridge Foodies of a new Turkish restaurant located in the very heart of the complex. The reviews have been so positive that I was dying to visit and give Turkuaz a try. 

The first thing that struck me walking in was the style of the restaurant. Everything was pristine with a real feeling of class. This wasn’t only down to the interior decorating but the formal and highly attentive staff team. 

The interior is decorated in sombre autumn browns and mustard colours that are brightened by chandelier lighting and faux cherry blossoms for added pop. It is a restaurant smart enough for special occasions or casual dining experiences alike.

Turkuaz is also an incredibly large establishment that can handle any number of people with an open plan kitchen at the back, adding a reassuring transparency into the kitchen.

Surprisingly, Turkauz has darts. This adds an interesting dimension that gives you an excuse to come together after a meal and have some fun. The boards are equipped with screens that automatically calculate your scores (though at the time of writing, these have not been set up yet).

The menu

The menu offers a diverse selection of dishes. Think, kebabs, seafood, burgers, steaks, salads, pastas, vegetarian, and a kids menu. I also noticed bottomless brunch options from 12:00-16:00 Monday-Saturday for £32. I’d be surprised if anyone struggled to find something they enjoyed here.

Starters

We were presented with a portion of fresh bread that came accompanied with two side sauces. The bread was warm, soft and almost impossible to put down. We ploughed through two servings of this between us.

We ordered a cold meze platter to accompany the bread. This came with generous portions of hummus, cacik, tarama, salad kisir, saksuka, and baba ganoush.

Everything was executed incredibly well and was beautifully presented – a theme that I quickly noticed throughout my experience.

Portion sizes were meant for two but this could have easily served 3-4.

Mains

I ordered a mixed grill (bottom) and my guest ordered the lamb shish (top).

The lamb shish came with lamb cubes marinated in pepper paste, garlic, oil and spices.

My mixed grill was served with adana lamb, chicken and lamb shish.

Both dishes looked absolutely fantastic, thanks to a serving of cabbage, rice, chili peppers, carrots and greens, which added a vibrancy to the dish that really brought it to life. This also made it a perfectly balanced and healthy meal.

The meat was served on a strip of flat bread (or something similar) that allowed the fat to soak up and add real flavour to the bread.

I was surprised at how tender and lean the meat was with very little fat while still having a bold flavour, especially with the chicken. I found myself really savouring each bite.

I washed down my meal with a pint…or two. I am a big fan of Efes, a Turkish beer with a smooth refreshing taste that perfectly compliments the food. There is outdoor seating outside and I couldn’t help but think that this would be an ideal beer to drink in the sun now the weather is getting better.

We ended our meal with one of my favourite – a slice of baklava. As with everything else today, it was beautifully laid out. There is no boring white plate with a square cube being served here, this is a work of art. 👌

My guest ordered a mint tea which they thoroughly enjoyed.

After our meal, we took ourselves to the dart boards and had a few games. Darts are free here, so you can take your time and enjoy. I won’t embarrass myself by sharing my scores with you but I can guarantee you that we at least had fun 🤣

Conclusion

Turkuaz offers a touch of class and quality in a complex dominated by generic chains. The wider area just outside the Cambridge Leisure Centre is slowly building up some great places to eat and Turkuaz is another jewel in that crown. Could this be a new foodie hub growing under our nose?

I couldn’t fault a thing with my dining experience, from the attentive and friendly staff, all the way to the delicious, colourful, and balanced dishes presented beautifully in front of me. The darts are a novel idea that we both enjoyed, though I will admit, this won’t be for everyone.

Thanks for reading