08-04-2025
New Turkish cafe brings Mediterranean flavors to north Charlotte
Anatolia Cafe & Cuisine will soft-open in University City on April 18.
Why it matters: Owner Mehmet Tarhan hopes the new addition will diversify our growing coffee shop scene, which has grown quickly to offer a range of options from tiny cafes to some coffee shops with popular DJ sets.
Background: The shop's name is inspired by ancient Anatolia — which consisted of a rich list of cultures like Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, Turks and Kurds — that contributed to Middle Eastern civilization. Tarhan hopes his family-owned and operated cafe offers a taste of that representation through its menu.
The cafe's food will be the main focus of the shop. Chef Omer Aydin, who's had 15 years of restaurant experience and two stores in Istanbul, will craft some of his popular pastries in house.
"We are not only a cafe. We are a hybrid house. We're not only limited to Turkish coffee. We're bringing something very rare from across the states — not only for North Carolina. We'll be making pastries that are specific to Turkish and Kurdish cultures," said Tarhan.
Dig in: Expect a variety of Mediterranean flavors for breakfast and lunch that offer a mix of sweet and savory items.
The menu includes traditional Turkish dishes like börek, a flaky pastry stuffed with meat and vegetables, and bagel-like simit. It also has Turkish-style pizza lahmacun and pide, which is similar to a flatbread.
Other notable items include menemen, baklava, kabobs and döner.
They will also have Moroccan drinks like herbal teas to highlight Tarhan's wife's culture, in addition to specialty lattes and Turkish coffee options.
The vibe: The 2,000-square-foot dining room will have artwork that highlights different parts of Turkey and seating for about 55–60 people.
In the coming weeks, it'll have outdoor seating for about eight people.
Stop by: Find Anatolia Cafe & Cuisine at 1520 Overland Park Lane, in the former Jazzy Cheesecakes spot. It'll be open 7:30am–9pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30am–10pm Friday, 9am–10pm Saturday and 9am–9pm Sunday.
