Urban Turban Resonates

When it comes to Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine, let me be completely straightforward: the Urban Turban is legit! People who have managed to find this somewhat concealed fast-casual outpost in Cary seem to thoroughly enjoy the restaurant’s superb soups, salads, kabobs, pita wraps and much more.

Owner Asad Abbasi, who hails from Pakistan, is committed to serving quality, healthy cuisine. Witness, for example, the hand-rolled grape leaves, freshly made hummus and scratch-prepared soups.

A tempting lunch buffet offers soup, salad, pita bread, seasoned vegetables and several flame-grilled lean meat choices. You can also order off the restaurant’s wide-ranging menu.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Fredin/S&A Cherokee

Nearly 30 vegetarian items are available from which to choose. Besides turnips, spicy black-eyed peas and green beans, ethnic selections abound like tzatziki; falafel; and baba ghannouj, a purée of eggplant, fresh garlic, tahini sauce and lemon juice.

Prepare to pay a bit more at the Urban Turban than at comparable Mediterranean eateries, but the quality is well worth paying a few extra bucks.