Rolled by hand, one at a time. There is no machine and no shortcut, which is why good ones are rarer than you would expect.

What is zeytinyağlı yaprak sarma (stuffed grape leaves)?

The Turkish name is yaprak sarma — “leaf wrapping” — and the olive-oil version is the meze one. Vine leaves are wrapped around rice seasoned with onion, herbs, sometimes pine nuts and currants, then simmered in olive oil and lemon and left to cool. They are eaten cold, with lemon. The tightness of the roll is how Turkish grandmothers judge each other: too loose and the filling falls out, too tight and the rice cannot swell. Getting a hundred of them the same size is a skill that takes years.

How we prepare it at Anatolia Grill

Ours are rolled by hand and cooked in olive oil with lemon, then served cool as they should be. The filling is seasoned rice and herbs — no meat, so they are naturally vegan. 169 CZK, and they sit well next to the yogurt-based mezes because the lemon cuts through them.

Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolma) on our menu

• Dish: Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolma)
• Menu section: Appetizer
• Price: 169 CZK
• Allergens: none listed

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat dolma in Prague?

At Anatolia Grill Restaurant on Na Poříčí, Praha 1, every day from 08:00 to midnight.

Are stuffed grape leaves vegan?

Our olive-oil version is vegan: vine leaves, rice, onion, herbs, olive oil and lemon, with no meat or dairy.

What is the difference between dolma and sarma?

Strictly, sarma means wrapped in a leaf and dolma means stuffed into a vegetable such as a pepper or courgette. In everyday use both names are applied to stuffed vine leaves.

Are they served hot or cold?

Cold. The olive-oil versions are always eaten cool, with lemon squeezed over them.

Visit Anatolia Grill Restaurant

We are on Na Poříčí, a few minutes’ walk from Náměstí Republiky, in the centre of Prague. The kitchen is open every day from 08:00 to 00:00, so breakfast, a late lunch and a midnight plate are all on the table.

• Address: Na Poříčí 1933/36, 110 00 Praha 1 – Nové Město
• Open: every day, 08:00 – 00:00
• Restaurant: +420 777 946 662  |  Meat Market: +420 727 974 844

See the full Anatolia Grill menu, book a table by phone, visit the Anatolia Meat Market next door, or order online for delivery and pickup.