TARIK SENGUL
Born and raised in north east Turkey, Tarik migrated to the US in his late 20’s. While in Turkey, he studied history and for a short time also attended university in Venice, Italy in hopes of becoming an academician. Ironically, he had a change of heart. He returned to Istanbul and became enthralled with the intricacies of cooking. After working in a few local restaurants in Istanbul he decided to pursue the dreams of becoming a chef. Those dreams led him
To New York City where he worked as a line cook for several notable restaurants that boast Michelin stars. It was also in a New York City
restaurant that he met his business partner, Orhun Dikmen. The pair has always given thought to opening their own restaurant. Years later, they have worked together to materialize the eclectic Smyrna.
Orhun Bartu Dikmen
Orhun Bartu Dikmen was born in Izmir,Turkey on the Aegean Sea where he got his bachelors degree in business administration. After he graduated from college, he moved to the US. Rather than pursuing a career in what he studied, he chose to follow family tradition of restaurants and hotels. Mr. Dikmen started his American adventure in Manhattan, where he would meet his future business partner Tarik Sengul. Following his time in New York he moved yo Charlottesville to work with his brother Deniz Dikmen at Sultan Kebab. After six years Orhun is ready yo share the food of the Aegean and the Mediterranean cuisine with his new home of Charlottesville.