The Black Sea

The Black Sea

St. Paul, MN

Reviewed March 19th, 2005

The Black Sea is Minnesota's first and only Turkish restaurant. In case you didn't know, you'll find the best kabobs at the fairest price here, along with the best service at any establishment in the state. In the Black Sea's version of Minnesota Nice, Ali the chef and owner, greets you personally, calling out "hey buddy, how's it going?" to virtually everyone entering or exiting the building. He lifts up the box in all take-out orders to show you the food, making absolutely sure you're okay with what you see. When you go to the Black Sea, you aren't just a customer you're a friend for life, a blood brother, family.

Consider the unisex bathroom at The Black Sea as just another extension of the hospitality and good will. In it you will find a small entryway which opens into a space capped with an arched, white tiled ceiling. The architectural features give the restroom its own unique vibe, while at the same time the intermittently placed blue tiles with their intricate geometric patterns make it feel a part of the restaurant. A wooden garbage receptacle provides a natural texture and a rich, golden brown hue to offset the bright porcelain tiles. Rolls of toilet paper are not jammed into a shelf or hidden away beneath a sink, but lovingly hung from polished brass hooks on the wall. One can almost imagine each roll knitted together and painstakingly hand crafted, like so many of the ethnic Turkish mementos placed in every corner of the restaurant. "Here my daughter," a mother says, handing off a keepsake that has accompanied a family for generations, "take this, and with it you will keep our traditions."

The traditions of generations thrive at the Black Sea, and so does the love needed to keep them alive.

- Justin Teerlinck

RESTROOM RATING: 8
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