Kisa
Where? Kisa (Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Monday January 27, 2025
Who? Me
Food Style? Turkish
I was supposed to come here with Jordan but he had some emergencies to deal with last minute, so I decided to keep with the plan and go by myself. The restaurant sits diagonally opposite Wellington icons Logan Brown and Ombra on Cuba St and Vivian St, and is in fact part of the Ombra group. The tables are booked out even at 5pm but there’s room at the bar where I can watch the inner workings of the kitchen, and this excites me. Already there are slabs of meat on the charcoal grill, and because of the glass window between me and the kitchen, I can only imagine how aromatic and appetising they must smell. 
The menu has a lot of items and words that I do not understand, but the wait staff recommend some of the dips and spreads, then one or two mezze plates depending on my appetite. I’ve gone for a good selection of carb, greens and protein, so I’m hopeful for a great experience and some interesting flavours. They’ve started me off with complimentary sparkling water, and I’m already impressed.
Appetiser
Hummus and pita bread
The pita bread is warm to the touch and has some flavour from sitting on the charcoal fire for a few seconds. The hummus is definitely homemade and I love the fried chickpeas on top that give it some crunch and texture.
As more people pour into the restaurant, more proteins get slapped onto the grill and the fire starts to come alive from all the drippings. There’s a beautiful array of meats resting above, and a dozen plates of hummus ready to go on the bench opposite, with what looks to be about a hundred slices of orange. Further into the kitchen, the pita bread dough is being prepared and rolled out. I love how orderly and mechanical the kitchen is, and it really is such a joy to observe.
Salad
Turşu pickle salad, frisee, walnut and pomegranate dressing, hazelnut dukkah
It's colourful and vibrant, and my first mouthful is spicy and tangy with some great crunch. That chilli is super delicious, and the sweetness helps to balance the acidity of the pickle perfectly, while the spiciness opens up the tastebuds to fully appreciate the flavours on the plate.
Mains
Lamb pirzola, loin chops, çemen butter, grilled pear
Oh my god that fat is rendered perfectly, and that wonderful smokiness from the grill comes through beautifully. The lamb is flawless and I would happily consume another one. The pear doesn’t really do much for me but that butter really helps accentuate the flavour of the meat, keeping it moist and juicy. I am definitely going to grab the bone with my hands and savagely rip all the meat off until it’s clean. Phenomenal.
Dessert
Candied pumpkin ice cream sandwich, pistachio sesame biscuit, saffron white chocolate
This is surprisingly large, but the flavour is great, though the saffron in the white chocolate is very subtle. It’s not too sweet, but the pumpkin taste is wonderfully strong, as it should be.
I'm so full but thanks to the long summer days, I've decided I'll walk up Mt Vic to catch the sunset and work off that meal.
Posted by Jeremy at 5:34pm on Thursday October 23, 2025 :: 0 comments :: 