Kazan Restaurant
McLean, Virginia 22101
703-734-1960
Tucked away within a shopping center in McLean, Virginia, Turkish treasure Kazan Restaurant is one of those places that could easily be passed by – but I highly recommend you don’t! Despite it’s unassuming exterior, the interior of the restaurant is attractively decorated with Turkish accents.
For those not familiar with Turkish cuisine, it has similar characteristics to Greek. If you’re a fan of Greek, or any Mediterranean cuisine for that matter, you will recognize many of the dishes on the menu at Kazan.
The service is excellent; always very attentive and friendly. Even if it’s your first visit it is easy to suddenly feel like you are their favorite repeat customer. Probably just one of many reasons this local favorite has been open since 1980.
Everything I’ve ever eaten here has been outstanding. A few favorites include the Kazan Meze Special – basically a sampler platter on the appetizer menu. It gives you a tasty crash course in some Turkish (and many other Mediterranean cuisine) staples. Under the chicken category I highly recommend the Anatolian Chicken. Served over pasta, tender chunks of chicken and mixed vegetables are stewed in a flavorful Anatolian sauce and can be made spicy upon request.
If there is one thing absolutely not to be missed it’s the Orange Baklava for dessert. A Kazan original creation, this mouthwatering confection combines the delicate crispiness of orange marmalade brushed baklava with a light, sweet, syrup and is topped off with a dollop of smooth whipped cream. There is also a fun story behind this dessert. While on a visit to Turkey in 1971, Queen Elizabeth II stated that orange baklava made by Kazan’s owner was the favorite of everything she had while there.
-S.L. (08/21/08)