Lezzet Mediterranean Grill opens in Smithtown

Abi Ismail’s father emigrated 30 years ago from Giresun, a Turkish city on the Black Sea, and instilled in his family an appreciation for Turkish cuisine. Ismail has lived on Long Island for decades, but once a month he treks to New Jersey to eat the Turkish specialties lahmacun and pide.

Or, he used to. Last month he and his family opened Lezzet Mediterranean Grill, a Turkish restaurant in Smithtown that specializes in these two iconic Mediterranean flatbreads.

For the uninitiated, both lahmacun and pide can be compared to pizza: Round lahmacun, about a foot in diameter, is thin-crusted and topped sparingly with minced, seasoned lamb. You can garnish it with the accompanying sliced onions before rolling or folding it up. Pide is shaped like a long, narrow boat and its thicker crust is stuffed with various combinations of meats, cheeses and vegetables: Think of it as an open-faced Turkish calzone.

Lezzet’s menu features one fine lahmacun ($6) and 11 family-sized pides whose stuffings range from ground lamb and beef, to pastirma (Turkish pastrami) and sucuk (spicy sausage) to mozzarella, feta, spinach and potatoes ($18 to $25).

Lezzet also offers a concise lineup of grilled dishes: Beef-lamb and chicken doner kebabs (gyro) as well as skewers bearing chicken, Adana kebab (spiced ground lamb) and kofte (meatballs). There are also a handful of hot and cold starters and salads, desserts and imported Turkish juices and sodas.

“Everything is made here from scratch,” Ismail said.

The little shop takes over a former Chinese takeout spot in the Terry Road Shopping Center. Ismail said he’s been overwhelmed with the community’s response so far.