Formerly: Upon first introduction, Sortie might confuse you. Is it a restaurant or a lounge? Or is it a nightclub? It has a French name, but it serves Turkish food? Before you give up and decide to eat or drink at one of the Gold Coast's safer, more predictable venues (McFadden's can be found right next door), give Sortie a try.

A massive island bar and cathedral ceilings hung with gigantic, glass, gem-tone ornaments create a dramatic space, but the food steals the show. While looking over the menu, munch on warm, seeded bread with butter and soft Turkish cheese. Just make sure to save plenty of room for dinner. The filo dough roll ($5.99) is a mandatory appetizer, or at least it should be. Flaky filo scrolls stuffed with feta cheese and parsley come pan-fried until golden brown and served with a creamy, herbed yogurt sauce. For those watching their fried cheese pastry consumption, the Sortie salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, grilled red onions, crushed walnut and feta cheese topped with olive oil, lemon and pomegranate syrup, $7.99) provides a heart-healthy alternative.

For the main course, choose from an array of goat, chicken or beef gyros and kebabs, or try the Turkish stew ($15.99), made with slow-cooked, melt-in-your-mouth beef and veggies and served with fluffy white rice. Once you've thoroughly gorged yourself, you'll want to sit and digest with a Turkish coffee ($4). This incredibly fragrant, viscous concoction smells and tastes like Turkey in a tiny enamel cup. Dunkin' Donuts coffee drinkers will want to order theirs heavy on the sugar.

During dinner hours, the music tends toward soothing folkish instrumentals, but on the weekend, DJs take over with surging house beats, transforming the entire place into a lounge/nightclub. Tables are cleared, making room for sleeker furniture, and the downstairs lounge and VIP rooms are usually the site of private parties. Drop in to dance, drink raki (an anise-flavored liquor), and party with some Turks.

Average cost: $21-$30

Centerstage Reviewer: Amanda Nyren