The promise of Turkish delight
A new takeaway is bringing an authentic taste of Turkey to people’s doorsteps in lockdown.
Huseyin Albayrak has taken over a former Indian takeaway in Beachville Street, Eden Vale, and invested thousands of pounds into totally transforming it into Turkish takeaway, Aylaz.
One of the few dedicated Turkish food places in the city, it aims to bring restaurant quality food to homes across the city.
Huseyin has been a chef for 11 years and for the past seven ran a popular Turkish restaurant in Newcastle city centre, providing an authentic taste of his home land.
Lockdown forced the closure of the restaurant last March and gave Huseyin the chance to spend more time with his family in Houghton.
He decided to look for a
business venture closer to home and found the Sunderland premises, opening the doors four weeks ago after extensive renovations.
Speaking about Aylaz, which is named after his children Ayaz, five, and Ayla, one, he said: “There’s lots of pizza and kebab takeaways in Sunderland, but I wanted to provide
something different, at a high quality.
“We’re a new business, but the feedback has been excellent so far. 60-70% of people who order have actually rang us afterwards to say thankyoubecausethey’veenjoyed it so much, which you never normally hear about happening.”
He added: “The hours are long in hospitality, so lockdown gave me time I’d never had at home before.
"So I wanted to set up a business in Sunderland which is closer to home.
"It’s given me the chance to try something new too.”
The mixed grill is the Aylaz bestseller, but the business also sells a wide range of other marinated meats cooked on the charcoal grill and served with traditional home-made Turkish bread and signature sauces made with herbs and spices imported from Turkey.
Other hot dishes include classic moussaka, chicken dolma and guvec, a traditional Turkish casserole cooked in a clay pot.
There’s also a range of traditional hot and cold mezze, including hummus, kisir, patlican ezme, diced lambs’ liver and muska boregi.
Aylaz is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 10pm and Sunday 4pm to 9pm