Lokanta is a Turkish restaurant in Muscat that opened in 2014. The owner spent over a year traveling throughout Turkey researching designs, accessories, and chefs to authentically recreate the atmosphere of Istanbul. The interior design transports guests to Turkey with decorations imported from there. The menu offers a variety of Turkish dishes, with the signature Metrelik Kebab - a large kebab that serves six people - being particularly popular.

1. at
Lokanata in Qurum
Turkish
flavours
February 4, 201636
Dining Out

2. LOKANTA is Muscat’s few joints which offer authentic
Turkish cuisine since 2014. A fine dining restaurant,
its setting recreates the vibrant colours of Turkish
bazaar and the hustle and bustle of the streets of
Istanbul.
Abdullah al Hashmi, Lokanta’s owner and
businessman, undertook countless trips walking the
streets of Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir and Aydin picking up
designs, accessories and chefs for the restaurant.
He travelled palaces, castles, bazaars, souqs, and
museums taking over a year to put up the restaurant
in the right perspective with a Turkish look.
Lokanta means ‘restaurant’ in Turkish and has
an impeccably and imaginatively executed
interior designing from Studio7Even
which succeeded in ensuring Turkish
atmosphere in the restaurant
“I looked into each and every single
aspect right from the cutlery sets to the
hanging lanterns, mosaic glass lamps,
which were shipped from Turkey,” says Al
Hashmi with pride.
The much sought after is the one-metre length
signature Metrelik Kebab, which customers pose
gladly for a selfie at the restaurant. Considered as
Lokanta’s special dish and is made of Adana Kebab,
served with assorted Sarma kebab, pilic and grilled
vegetables and serves six people.
Abdul Rehman Akra, Lokanta’s General Manager,
says more local foods like salad, fattoush and taboola
will be added. Kasim Bayram, the head chef, was
specially recruited from Turkey and has a hand in
each of the items served from kebabs, starters to
fresh bakery items.
The menu offers cold and hot starters, baked
items, kebabs and other grills, seafood dishes, and
casseroles. For starters try something like Sicak
Hummus which is hummus cooked in the oven with
cheese. For the main course Sarma Tavuk Kebab,
a plate of chicken kebab seasoned with sumac,
Pomegranate and mint wrapped in bread, is a delight.
Also suggested is Izgara Balik with tender Hamoor fish.
For desserts, try Cevizli Kadayif, a Kunafa pastry, filled
with walnuts, covered in syrup and topped with milk.
LOCATION: Opposite Qurum Natural Park, Qurum
Garden complex.
HIGHLIGHT
Cold starters, soups, kebabs and grills, seafoods, casseroles, vegetable dishes anddesserts. The restaurant has a seating capacityof 135 seats with 90 in the ground floor.
MUST TRY
Metrelik Kebab. It is made from Adana kebab
and served with assorted sarma kebab, pilic
and grilled vegetables. Coban Salata (starters),
Izgara Kalamar, Ahtapot Tandir among hot
appetisers, Balik Kavurma (sea food), Tavuk
Tava, Moussaka (casseroles) and Kunefe
among desserts.
February 4, 2016
Dining Out
Liju Cherian
37