Those studying gastronomy in college are often recommended not to open their own restaurant shortly after graduation. Two alums of the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at Yeditepe University, Naz Tiryaki and Emre Çeri, took this lesson to heart, choosing to forgo lavish plates in favor of a snack bar specializing in mini burgers that resemble the American slider. Five of the six burgers on the menu come with 70-g beef patties, and most feature a variety of toppings – with the exception of the popular şamburger, which comes with a bold pistachio sauce that offsets the need for any cheese or additional garnishes. The spicy burger also delights with its sauce, which leaves more of a hot-and-sweet flavor in your mouth – perfect for those who shy away from too much heat. Mini Eatery also serves a vegetarian burger which Naz Tiryaki says took a lot of trial and error to master. In the end they went with a patty of zucchini, red onions, coriander, fresh mint and chickpeas, which help hold the burger together and give it a chewy center that perfectly complements the crispy exterior.
As for appetizers, you’ll find Spanish croquettes, or fried morsels of ham and béchamel sauce with the perfect consistency, showing zero signs of overflouring or clumping. Tiryaki and Çeri take care not to use any processed ingredients except for the French fries: they even make their own iced teas, sweetened with strawberry jam instead of sugar.
Mini Eatery’s location right near all the bars on Kadife Sokak and Moda Caddesi makes it an ideal spot for the post-drinking munchies (and considering two burgers are enough to satisfy most people, you’ll still have money left in your wallet if you decide to go back for another round).
Tiryaki and Çeri’s future plans include opening other Mini Eatery locations focusing on different dishes – and judging by what this well-trained young duo has already accomplished in such a small space, we have little doubt that they’ll be successful.