TURKISH DELIGHTS
From the falafel or
hummus appetizers
to dishes like red
lentil soup with bone
marrow or the Doner
kebab (beef gyro)
plate, co-owners Chef
Refik Gedelec and his
wife Serife Bulbul
provide a taste of
the Mediterranean.
DURUM DONER TURKISH
GYRO AND KEBAB
325 Union Blvd, Totowa, NJ 07512
973-782-5055
x 4 ght a
The Mediterranean is right near by
WRITTEN BY ADRIANA MARIELLA
I
f you’re looking for fresh, highquality Mediterranean food
served in a friendly atmosphere,
look no further than Durum
Doner Turkish Gyro and Kebab
on Union Boulevard in Totowa.
Opened in November 2015 by husband and wife duo Refik Gedelec and
Serife Bulbul of Wayne, the spot
offers authentic Turkish gyros,
kebabs, and other traditional dishes.
Both originally from Turkey,
Gedelec and Bulbul have been cooking most of their lives, Gedelec having
run his father’s 300-seat restaurant in
Turkey from the time he was 25.
When he moved to the U.S. in 1995,
he opened 7 Hills of Istanbul in
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE-MARIE CARUSO
Highland Park, which until its closure
in 2010, served New York Timesrated cuisine. Bulbul, too, is no
stranger to the kitchen having had an
appreciation for food her entire life.
Durum Doner continues the same
legacy of quality and flavor, using only
the highest-grade ingredients and
Halal meat in its tasty menu of sandwiches, kebabs, soups, and salads.
The best advertising, Bulbul says,
is to “come and taste the food.”
To start, try the house-made
hummus, the eggplant salata (grilled
eggplant with peppers, lemon, and
garlic), or the piyaz (cold bean salad).
Follow that up with any of the menu’s
entrees served as sandwiches or
platters, like the traditional falafel
made from scratch (with grilled
tomatoes and green peppers, pita
bread, and rice), the gyros (with
lettuce, tomato, onions, pita bread,
and rice), the “kofte” (Turkish grilled
meatballs), or a variety of shish
kebabs (beef, lamb, chicken).
For dessert, enjoy the homemade
baklava, yogurt, or rice pudding.
The restaurant also serves Turkish
tea and coffee.
Low-key and comfortable, Durum
Doner is great for weeknight take-out
or a delicious but casual lunch or
dinner. They offer catering and free
delivery, and are open Monday
through Saturday. ■
HOLIDAY 2016
WAYNE MAGAZINE
61