Anatolia is located in the heart of Fourth Street, Bloomington's hub for all sorts of international cuisine. My friends and I choose to dine at Anatolia for its vast array of menu items, fair prices, vegetarian options, and unlimited black tea. Â The restaurant itself is quite small, however it is beautifully decorated with all sorts of Turkish style artwork. Â There is also a section in the back with floor and cushion style seating, which is a fun way to change up dining in Bloomington.
The service at Anatolia's is always welcoming and efficient. Â Whenever I run out of black tea or water, there is always a server (even if it isn't our own) filling up my glass. Â
What really blows me away about this place is the food. Â Not only is there a great selection, but the prices are beyond reasonable. Â Vegetarian dishes range from about $8-10 while meat dishes range from about$10-$15. Â I am not a vegetarian, but I really enjoy the vegetarian items on the menu. Â My favorite item on the menu is the Moussaka, a layered eggplant and potato-based dish covered in a homemade tomato sauce. Â All full entrees come with a soup (I can't decide if I like the lentil or white bean better) and unlimited pita bread. Â The portions are perfect, and I am always completely content when my meal is over. Â
Try going during lunchtime when all menu items are $1-$2 cheaper! Grabbing lunch and enjoying a nice hot cup of tea is a great way to break up a stressful day and relax.
Anatolia is a perfect Turkish restaurant with great food and excellent ambience. It is located on 4th street in Bloomington, IN. The waiters are very nice. They make sure you have a great time and get everything you need in a timely manner. The seating arrangements, decorations, and the slow Turkish music take you to another world. You feel as if you're sitting on a roadside cafe in Istanbul, Turkey. The whole experience is absolutely magical.
The food that I usually order there is chicken sheesh kebab and red lentil soup. Their red lentil soup is simply amazing. Since it is a Muslim restaurant the meat they provide is "halal" (permissible) for Muslims, meaning Muslims can eat it. This way their market increases because people from all religions, cultures can visit their restaurant and enjoy traditional Turkish food. Their special "kava" tea is also very famous. It is basically black tea with a very unique taste. A typical meal at Anatolia costs around $12 - $16. This is a great price range given the quality of food and service provided.
The only negative about this restaurant is that they don't provide home delivery. I would order them everyday if they start providing delivery.
Over all Anatolia is a great restaurant and I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to try something different instead of the regular burgers and pizzas.
Anatolia's (405 E 4th St., Bloomington, IN 47408) is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Â I'm always welcomed by the staff, and I like how you can choose to sit at a table or on the floor with pillows. Â My favorite dish is the stuffed chicken (stuffed with spinach and feta cheese) and served with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and rice. Â Also, it is served with your choice of soup (I always have the white bean soup), bread, and tea. Â I can never have enough of the tea! The chicken is superb, you're served a rather large portion of it, it's not spicy, but it is very flavorful. Â The soup is the perfect temperature and texture, a little spicy, but I like to dip the bread into it. Â The tea is so warm and with a few spoonfuls of sugar, it's the perfect taste, and becomes rather addicting. Â I've never had anything other than the stuffed chicken and white bean soup, but I'm sure everything here is absolutely delicious. Â Entrees are moderately priced, between $8.50 and $11.50 (the stuffed chicken is $11.50), the bread and tea are complementary, and the soup is included with the meal. Â Service is always excellent, and servers are prompt and make rounds often for refills and to check to see if you need anything. Â The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with authentic decorations and music. Â Usually it is rather crowded on Friday nights, but the wait usually doesn't last long. Â It is always clean, but sometimes can get a little loud given the small space of the restaurant, but I love Anatolia's and look forward to every visit!
Review Source:This is probably my favorite restaurant in Bloomington, and that is high praise, considering the plentiful options along 4th St. and downtown.
The ambiance of the restaurant could best be described as warm - it's just a homey little place where you can either sit at a table or mats on the ground for your meal. The serve awesome tea and bread with your meal (oh, and fantastic soup!), and many great dishes for both vegetarians and carnivores like me. Some of my favorite dishes are the eggplant pide (kinda like a calzone - ish) and the beef kabobs.
I've been here with large groups and with just one other person, and the staff has always been friendly and accommodating. Check it out!
What a delightful nook in the wall. I went for lunch one afternoon with my friends. We were promptly greeted, seated, and served hot tea (which is complementary with the meal).
I never had Turkish before, so I was hesitant. I decided on the mushroom pida. For those that aren't familiar with this food, it is actually very close to an open calzone--baked dough, cheese, spices, and then toppings (mine which was mushrooms). We also were able to order a soup--lentil or white bean. Bread also comes with the meal.
The bread was excellent. The white bean soup I got was very flavorful. The pida was delicious. Our servers were attentive and constantly refilling our waters and tea. The restaurant was very quiet and peaceful. We never were rushed out the door either, which is always a plus.
All in all, for around 9 dollars (including tax and tip), I got a wonderfully delicious and filling meal. It is very affordable and I highly recommend this restaurant for those who want to try something new.
I definitely plan to come back many times. I really enjoyed my first visit.
Amazing Turkish food, cheap, a lot of food for your money. Great place for students who want to expand their taste buds. Their complimentary hot tea is great, especially in the cold months. I highly recommend you try any of their delicious pides. You MUST choose the red lentil soup that comes with entrees.
The decor is fun! There are tables and chairs but there is also low tables and cushions to sit at in a sun lit room.
Got to love a small town that has not one but two, Turkish Restaurants. Â I'd only ever been to Turkuaz before, but Anatolia was quite tasty. Â I had the mixed kebab. Â The "meatball" and turkey were quite tasty, but the lamb was a little dry. Â But I enjoyed my meal. Â Lentil soup was quite tasty, as was the yogurt dipping sauce. Â Fairly reasonable prices too.
Review Source:I'm timidly writing this review of Anatolia.
It's not that this place doesn't deserve 5 stars. It does, and then some.
I'm just not sure I want the whole world to start eating here. I love the mom and pop feel to the place, the fact that it's never crazy busy, and the fact that there's always someone I can drag along who has never tried Anatolia's food before. I hope it continues to wow me!
Anyway, in a college town so known for great 'ethnic' choices, please consider Anatolia's next time you want something other than pizza or subs. If you haven't tried Turkish food before, this is a great start. And if you already know you love it...what are you waiting for?!
I usually order the lamb shanks. They're cooked perfectly, juicy and pink, and are always a great choice. For starters I've had their calamari, humus, and babaganush. Â All are fabulous and fresh!
For veg heads they have a wonderful veggie moussaka, among some other veg choices I've not yet had.
The space is SUPER romantic and cozy, though they can accommodate larger parties during good weather out on the patio. Definately recommended for dates and special occasions.
My husband and I are in town 2-4 times a year and try different restaurants. Â Our fav's are always the ethnic ones (Ethiopian, Indian, Thai etc) Â The 1st of June when we were there, we tried this one. Â I had seen it before (we tour around before we choose) but never tried. Â What the determining factor really was-they had painted and redone the place with bright cheery funky colors and a bigger patio. Â
The day was a perfect 10 weather wise, so the reviews and the decor lured us. Â I was extremely impressed as the service was great (sometimes in the little house restaurants you have to expect slow, methodical & inexperienced) Â The food was a 10 also! Â It was lunch and there were many things we wanted to try (like the pides) but knew we could only hold an entree. Â So we both had the mixed kababs-the lamb was juicy yet tender (I know spring lamb) and the koftas and meatballs were great. Â The red lentil soup was let's say "to die for". Â (I've done much research and will try to copy it as I do with most extremely good recipes.)
--try it here, it's sooo good! Â The price is extremely fair. Â If you think not, Â maybe you're in college (no offense, I remember) Â For lamb?, very fair--
Oh, and did I mention the Red  Lentil Soup??
Only went to Anatolia a few times, but each visit was great. Food was fantastic and the place was surprisingly empty both times I went. The environment is cozy and comfortable, with the option to either sit at a table or on the floor with padding.
Great food if you are looking for something different.
This place is awesome. One of my favorites in Bloomington, which has tons of awesome food. The bread and soups and tea are amazing enough for a whole meal, but their entrees are delicious too. Only downside is you want to eat it ALL so you end up being really full after.
Amazing restaurant. Also, its not cheap, but its by no means expensive. A fair $10-12 per entree that comes with soup and bread. Definitely worth it.
Me and my boyfriend ate here last Friday and had lamb and beef shish ka bobs. They brought out complimentary bread and hot tea. Â The bread was pretty good, the tea was also but nothing to write home about. The soup was fuh-mazing. Like, incredible. We both got the red lentil soup and it has a mint taste, but not overpowering, just enough to make you think about the ingredients. The scenery was really nice (we ate outdoors so I have no idea what the interior looks like) The best part was the meat came out on a spear, how badass is that. We had a server that was working his last shift there permanently. He kind of a cocky attitude on the pronunciation of items and a few quirks, the servers/bussers that were training were very polite but a little nervous (to be expected). All in all it was a great meal and a good experience, we'll be back!
Review Source:Four star because they have free turkish tea and refillable, soft bread and soup that comes with the entree you choose.
This is my 3rd time here and the most yummy entree I had so far is the lamb shank. It's $12, not cheap, but man, are they tender and juicy! I had the lamb kebab today and I think it's not as tender as it says from the menu.
So definitely go for the lamb shank if you're a lamb lover! Oh, and the staff is very friendly and attentive to water, tea refills.
Anatolia is my favorite restaurant in Bloomington. The staff is friendly, the dining room is intimate, the food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable. The Turkish tea comes with your meal, and it is always hot and delicious, as is the bread served alongside. Whenever I eat at Anatolia I always start with the white bean soup, which is included with the order of an entree. The white bean soup is one of the best soups I've ever had, it has the perfect balance of flavors. I have never been disappointed with anything I've eaten at Anatolia, which has included the lamb kebab, artichoke hearts (vegetarian), moussaka (vegetarian), and several different types of pides. Whether you sit inside at traditional tables or outside on the patio, you're going to have wonderful service and a fabulous meal.
Review Source:Excellent ambience!!! Marvelous reviews!!! Greaaat ratings!!! :) In fact, it's safe to say Im a fan. Actually, I have a particularly cherished memory to share with you about the place: I was with a Romanian-American girlfriend, and while savoring the spicy lentil soup with vegetables and fresh "Naan" and all that jazz, we shared our stories about Turkish guys (I am part-Persian) with whom we both had had questionable experiences, and both of us agreed upon their various (imagined) foibles/agreed-upon faults.
       All while enjoying their hospitality, and in their presence (albeit, tucked away in a cozy corner, kneeling on pillows on the floor). It was a magical night. And afterwards, we got to hang out with Persian guys. Lol... Better? I don't know. :)
Expected much better since I heard so many good things. Â First problem was for some reason in the middle of lunch time, they decided to lysol/ammonia the entire resturant. Â I'm glad they're cleaning, but you had fumes while you were eating, which killed the dining experience. Â Also, super disappointed with my food, because much of it tasted like it was out of a can or pre-cooked the week before.
Review Source:This place is my easily my favorite spot in Bloomington. The food is incredible; everything from their soups and the award winning bread, to the stuffed chicken and the meatballs.
Every time I've been there my girlfriends gluten intolerance has not been a problem because you can substitute the orzo rice for veggie and the servers are fantastic!
If you're on a budget you can split an entree with someone and still leave feeling full.
Not as good as I'd hoped (it's no Turkuaz!), but serviceable and relatively cheap considering entrees come with tea, bread and soup. The interior is homey and cozy, both at the floor and the tables. It was busy the night I was here, so I'm willing to forgive a few of the lapses in service, but some were a little irksome. For instance, I'm never a fan of restaurants in which employees sit and eat in view of customers. I'm more willing to forgive it in an ethnic restaurant, as perhaps this is the custom, but when our drinks needed to be refilled and our appetizer and beverage were not arriving, it was pretty disconcerting to see our waiter gobbling down food and staring sternly back at us customers who required attention. (We eventually explained our app and drink had not arrived and the host, although our waiter not so much, was appropriately apologetic.)
The food was equally mediocre, although the portions were large. Meals come with soup and I had the white bean, which was good but very salty. My boyfriend had the red lentil soup and it was pretty tasty: less salty but a little heavy on the fennel seed. My kebab (Adana Kebab) was flavorful but the consistency was a slightly rubbery and very difficult to cut with the butter knife I was given. My boyfriend's mushroom pide was lackluster. The mushrooms were raw and unseasoned and just plain weird.
All of that said, the quality of the food was still superior to that I've had at many other ethnic restaurants and the $21 tab for two entrees, two teas, two soups and bread was certainly appreciated. I'm hoping to give it another try and sample one of their plentiful vegetarian options to better decide if that third star is justified.
Very good food with a superior selection of vegetarian options.  I loved the red lentil soup so much, I practically licked the bowl.  The bread  was also soft and delicious.  I enjoyed the baked dolma very much.  The rice on the side was also tasty.  Turkish tea comes complementary with the meal so definitely take advantage of that.  The price was also right at less than $10 for a meal, which includes soup and bread.
Review Source:Anatolia won out in a rock, paper, scissor battle between other ethnic restaurants on Fourth St.  Fate worked out in my favor, Anatolia is probably the best restaurant i've experienced in my year in Bloomington.  The place is warmly lit, delightfully decorated, and cozy.  Your first option is whether or not you'd like to sit at a table or on cushions, if you want to get the full Turkish experience, choose the cushions and order the hot tea.  I had the red lentil soup, which was the best i've ever had at a restaurant, and dolma, rice wrapped in grape seed leaves  and cooked in a spiced tomato sauce.  The menu is very extensive, I had a difficult time choosing.
Review Source:This place is fantastic. Â
The entrees are fabulous. Â Not all of the entrees have eggplant in them, but the ones that do are extra fabulous. Â You have not tasted eggplant until you have eaten at this restaurant.
The extras are also great. Â The tea is excellent. Â The soups are excellent. Â The salad and bread are normal, but nice additions.
This is a great place for a nice day outside because the outdoor seating is very pleasant. Â Even though you are on 4th St, Â it feels private.
The wait staff are good. Â The restaurant is clean.
Anatolia is a very inexpensive restaurant and it has the best service--I've been there dozens and dozens of times and the staff has never been a disappointment. They provide complimentary Turkish tea (and little silver teapots to pour it out of), making this the one nice restaurant in Bloomington that doesn't charge you for every tiny thing possible. My husband is not a tea drinker, but he insists this tea is superior to all the rest. We also love the Turkish cherry juice. The food is great--if you like lamb, my husband says theirs is always delicious. We've been trying to test out dishes other than our regular choices lately, and that has led to very pleasant experiences. I wish I could remember the names of the heavenly vegetarian dishes I've had--and I'm not a vegetarian, I just enjoy these! Their soups are delicious.
Review Source:Start with the tarator, order a house salad, a double bowl of the red lentil, and dip/swipe your bread into everything and you'll leave happy. Always ask for a pot of tea. Sit outside if the weather permits. Think twice about sitting on the pillows, the awkward server squatting scenario may cause anxiety.
This is a good restaurant to bring guests who say they are willing to try something new but only half-ass mean it. There's something to please even the stingiest palate here.
I've never gone wrong with the pides or vegetarian moussaka, but I don't eat much meat. My dining partners have always enjoyed the lamb dishes.
DO NOT ORDER THE BEET JUICE: you will get a goblet of liquid that is eerily similar to pickled egg brine. Seriously, a goblet.
Service can be a little slow if they are busy, so plan ahead.
In the top three of my favorite Bloomington restaurants.
Do you like to giggle?  Well everytime you go, ask what the soup of the day is.  Listen and comment on how delicious that sounds.  It's the same selection everyday!  It's also fabulous everyday. Probably some of  the best soup I have ever had.
If it's not super nice outside that day, go inside and sit on the pillows. Â fun atmosphere, great service. good date place.
The soups and the vegetarian Baked Dolma here are fantastic. Â I don't like the appetizer version of the dolma though. Â All of the appetizers are cold (I think that's how they can get them out faster), and grape leaves just don' taste good cold in my opinion.
We've received good service both times we've gone to Anatolia, although the second time our waiter was new and forgot to bring us our soup. Â Not a big deal since he realized the mistake later and packed it up to go for us. Â I can never eat all of it anyway. Â The complimentary Turkish tea is great!
There are some tables in the back that are on the ground with pillows for seats, so ladies, don't wear a skirt when you come here so you can enjoy that part of the experience! Â I made that mistake the first time. Â Sitting at a table while eating Turkish food just isn't as fun!
If you like Turkish food you probably won't enjoy Anatolia. Â Every dish I tried (four in total) was overloaded with salt. The baba ganoush was burnt, and had poor flavor. The stuffed cabbage was flavorless except for being tangy and salty. Â The meatball kebab was overcooked, dry, and required water to wash each bite down.
The ambiance of the place is comfortable, and no one at the table complained about the feel of the restaurant, but service was subpar on a slow night.
There are a lot of great restaurants on 4th street, so don't waste your time and money here.
I don't know why this place has good reviews. Â Being of Middle Eastern decent, I had high hopes for Anatolia. Â Unfortunately I was grossly disappointed. Â
Let's start with a couple things:
1. Â The Ayran: Â You know a middle eastern restaurant is good when they are able to make this drink right. Â Yogurt. Â Ice. Â Fresh crushed mint. Â Carbonated water. Â Pinch of salt. Â All blended together. Â How difficult is this? Â When I ordered one, I received a watered down yogurt drink with...crushed basil floating on top? Â Whatever it was, it was clear it came out of some plastic bag that had been sitting on the shelves for several months. Â Awful.
2. Â The Kabob. Â For what you get, it is not worth the price. Â Was that half a skewer of kabob? Â I couldn't tell. Â I think the restaurant likes to pile on the rice as filler...perhaps their way of cutting on costs.
3. Â The Pide: Â Eh. Â This is okay...but I certainly will not be having Pide cravings in the near future. Â
I would not come back here. Â The only saving grace to this restaurant is the outdoor seating and the nice server. Â Other than that, don't waste your time...or money.
Delicious. I've been here several times and always have a great experience. You can choose to sit at a table, on the outside porch, or on pillows on the floor at super low tables. I always choose the pillows! Its 10 times more fun that way!
There is an appetizer that I always get, its simply called something like the "feta plate" and it comes with triangles of feta, with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers....simple but divine. I also love their cabbage rolls and I've had a great shrimp dish there. Everything is just so yummy. And the homemade baklava is the most amazing thing ever!
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