Port Jefferson Station, NY - By Lon Cohen - portjefferson.com - Semiral “Sam” Catalbas says it’s easy to guess why she’s opening Chit Chat Café, a Turkish-American café and grocery store on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station. “Because I’m Turkish,” she says with a smile, her accent clearly coming through her words. The Port Jefferson Station resident, who said that her husband owns a gas station, is originally from the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul in Turkey but has lived in the United States for the past 10 years. Catalbas partnered with her cousin, Gilly Akcay, who is also the landlord, to open the new café.

Zeytin Mediterranean Grill is a new Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant that opened this week in Las Colinas. Zeytin, which means "olive" in Turkish, is doing a cafeteria-style buffet on weekdays at lunch; and full-service, full-menu table service on nights and weekends. Owner Kemal Cenkci previously owned and operated Mediterranean and Turkish restaurants in San Antonio and Northern Virginia. "Our dishes are authentic and made from scratch," he said. "We have the gyro, which is well known and loved across the country, and authentic Turkish Doner Kebab, one of the few in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."

This small restaurant with Turkish ornaments on the optimistic orange walls was an American dream for its owner, Mustafa Duru, 30, who came to New York 12 years ago.

"I started with dishwashing and, now, I am the restaurant owner," said Duru, who is proud of his well-managed place. "It needs a lot of work, but it's worth it."

Duru didn't know how to cook when he came to America, but he learned after working for other Turkish chefs. Today, his restaurant is a favorite not only among Americans, but among local Turks as well, which proves the authenticity of its cuisine.

"I didn't expect to have Turkish clients," he said. "They are coming back, so I guess they like my kitchen."

The most popular item on the menu is vegetarian falafel, $5, which is made of chick peas, onions, parsley and garlic. The restaurant also serves chicken and lamb gyro, $8. These are layers of marinated meat wrapped around a large vertical spit and grilled in front of a charcoal fire.

All entrées are served with rice, lettuce, onion, grilled tomatoes and pita bread. It could also be topped with a local favorite - homemade garlic sauce.