Erol's Chit Chat Cafe opens in Port Jefferson Station
Erol's Chit Chat Cafe in Port Jefferson Station Credit: Newsday/Joan Reminick
New to Port Jefferson Station is a Turkish restaurant with the unlikely name of Erol’s Chit Chat Cafe. The “Erol” part refers to co-owner Erol Catalbas, said business partner Semiral Catalbas; the “Chit Chat” part is because “we thought it was a cute name.” Chef Bora Pala previously cooked at Angora in Medford.
The cafe — actually a dining room embedded inside a Turkish grocery store — offers table service at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It was in the evening that I tasted the restaurant’s fluffy zucchini pancake ($5.95) made with scallions, fresh mint and dill. Both babaghanoush ($5.95) and hummus ($5.95) — staples on any Mediterranean-Middle Eastern menu — were nicely turned out. So, too, was a juicy entree of Adana kebab ($10.95) — highly spiced ground lamb, skewered and grilled. A real surprise was the sprightly salad nestled next to a mound of rice on the same plate.
Breakfast time, you can get your eggs with Turkish pastrami ($5.95); at lunch, there are salads ($4.95 to $7.95) as well as burgers and panini, among them an item called “Turkish toast” made with Turkish pepperoni and mozzarella.
Erol’s Chit Chat Cafe is at 1597 Rte. 112, Port Jefferson Station, 631-509-4300
