In the unappealing area that Altona main station is, the colours of Köz Urfa seem to perfectly go with the surroundings, being definitely a big part of it. This is no place for those unable to stand shiny, pastel-coloured, flashy, ostentatious decor, but it is the right place for those looking for a truly Turkey (does not) meet Germany experience.
Having to queue will probably be your first contact with the place, but it is part of what makes it special, the whole turkish community is represented, and one can be overwhelmed by the greetings, the meetings of entire families, waiters flying huge plates filled with rice and smokey meat, and turkish and german being constantly and fastly spoken around you.
Once seated, one can slow down while sipping the creamy and savoury Ayran, the quintessential turkish drink, and leaf thru the several menu pages. The generous amounts of food are as satisfaying as one can expect, and with every bite one can savour the distant and beloved Turkey, which never wants to be forgotten.
A visit to Köz Urfa is not a trip to Turkey, it means understanding the efforts of a melancholical yet ambitious community to keep themselves rooted to what they feel is home.
