Antepli is a Turkish restaurant on Charminster Road, a short distance east of Bournemouth town centre. The name comes from Gaziantep, the city in south-eastern Turkey famous throughout the country for its cooking, and the menu embraces that heritage instead of settling for a generic kebab-house selection.
On the menu
Meat cooked over charcoal is the heart of the menu: lamb shish, Adana köfte and mixed grills straight from the coals, backed by a long list of hot and cold mezes. The regional focus shows in Ali Nazik, a signature dish of smoky mashed aubergine and yoghurt topped with diced lamb, while sharing platters such as the Antepli Special Mix for two combine several grills with rice. Fish and vegetarian dishes appear alongside the meat-led specialities, all the meat is halal, and there are gluten-free options as well. For dessert there's baklava made with fine filo and pistachio, and sütlaç, a creamy Turkish rice pudding.
Practical details
Walk-ins are welcome at Antepli, but the restaurant says it is frequently full, so booking ahead by phone, through the website or via its mobile ordering app is sensible, especially for weekend evenings and bigger parties. Group bookings and private events are catered for, and gift vouchers can be bought. Check the latest opening hours, menu and prices directly with the restaurant before your visit.
Charminster Road has a growing collection of independent restaurants, and Antepli is one of them. More of the town's kitchens are in our food & drink guide, and what else is nearby is in our things to do guide.