Lezzet

In the middle of a tiny shopping strip at 81 Brighton Rd. St. Kilda, almost opposite the end of Chapel St, this restaurant, serving contemporary Turkish cuisine, has recently taken over the next door property and with a few outside tables is now double its former size.
Tables have paper coveringtheir linen cloths and good quality linen napkins
There was a constant stream of takeaway customers as well as a fair number of dine in clients on this Thursday night which I took as a good sign.
The Meze entrée with hot Turkish bread was stock standard. Despite the appeal of their ‘Gourmet wood fired pizzas’, from $9 for small up to $18 we chose from the main course menu.
The Ottoman Lamb $22.50, slow cooked four 4-5 hours in the wood fired oven with corn and green beans on a bed of eggplant and topped with béchamel sauce was a little dry in parts failing to meet the menu’s promise of melt in the mouth succulence. The grilled prawns on pilaf rice $24.50 seasoned with lemon pepper and zest with a light garlic sauce and rocket leaves were dominated by the garlic as was the lamb kebab $19.50. Nevertheless they were satisfying and good sized serves. The barbecued bugs and prawns $29 were, I’m told, sweet and pleasing One Lezzet Sunday proved to be too much for four of us. Filled with Turkish delight which was supposed to melt in the mouth and surrounded by berries it was very rich and stuck to the teeth so firmly it would be a risk to fillings and a no go zone for dentures.
Corkage $7.50 or choose from their modest wine list
They have membership benefits and a webpage where you can see some images of the restaurant and the food. Book on line http://www.lezzet.com.au/ and offer Wi-Fi but I’m unsure if it is gratis
Price: Average suburban restaurant costs - fair value
Comments: Turkish delight - well almost
Score: 13.5/20