I've gone to the 86st/20thave location many moons ago so I was curious, if this location would be…read morethe same...the Bensonhurst location is bigger but the flavors still are the same. I got what was supposed to be the combination platter of chicken gyro (half portion) - but I should've known because it seems to be A LOT to just be a 1/2 (there is a differencein pricing b/w the two that I chalked it up to misunderstanding). But nonetheless, it was really good AND I had left overs for dinner & lunch the next day. So that's always a in my book. Before the meal, you are given pitta bread, olives in oil as well as a white and red sauce (red is spicy). The service was pretty good - you weren't rushed AND the busser came to fill the glass of water w/o you having to ask. I sat outside so I didn't really get a vibe of the place but I'll definitely visit again and sit inside to get a better feel of the place

I was craving some lamb and stopped by their Bay Ridge location. I went for the Adana Kebab, which…read morewas a solid choice. The ground lamb was well seasoned, and the rice was smooth and fluffy. I wouldn't have minded if the lamb had a bit more juiciness and a stronger char. The small portion was maybe 8 bites of lamb so it more like a kid's plate to me. Next time, I'll just go for the large and save myself the guessing. I also tried the Lamb Shish Kebab, which unfortunately was on the dry side and was a little too tough for my liking. The hummus was really good, creamy, smooth, and packed with flavor. The pita was just okay, not bad, not great, just there. Service was friendly, and the space itself was clean and cozy, a comfortable spot for a casual meal. If I come back, I'd go for the Adana in large size, but skipping the shish.

This was the most amazing Turkish food we have ever had in our entire lives. It was unbelievably…read moreincredible. The baba ghanoush was the freshest I've ever tasted, and I've had a lot and the beef shish. Oh my gosh, the portion was enough to feed multiple people. The meat was so tender, and it had the absolute best taste. Both my husband and I agree we've never had such amazing Turkish food. The service was amazing. Every single person was so nice, so helpful and prompt. If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

pretty good turkish food and definitely huge portions great for family style. there was no wait on…read morea weekend dinner which was great for a larger group. overall good food and good vibe.

My family and I were on our way to Coney Island, we were looking for a quick bite to eat, we…read morethought we would get donor kebabs in a wrap. This restaurant came up as highly recommended. When we arrived, we were surprised to see that it was a more formal setting as we were looking for something more of a quick takeout type of place. The restaurant is very nice, it has two dining room rooms and sit down service only for the dining rooms. We were approached immediately and sat down at a table by the window. When we explain to the waitress what we were looking for she let us know that we would be able to order gyros or wraps. We ordered two chicken wraps, and one lamb wrap, as well as lamacune. The wraps came with french fries, they were tasty and they came with a white yogurt sauce on the side. The Turkish pizza (lamacune) was delicious, each order has three pieces. The waitress brought us, complementary, hummus and yogurt sauce along with their fresh bread as a starter. Overall, the experience was good and I would go back to this restaurant if I am in the area.

Great food and a local gem. If you crave meat off a skewer charred to perfection still juicy and…read morenot cooked to hell and back this is the place for you. Great service and in an upscale environment then this is the spot. Prices are a bit on the higher side but you're paying for quality.

Have you ever seen the misadventures of Nedim Sahin, the guy who went viral with videos at his…read moreBaruthane Pilavcisi restaurants? He claimed to taste the first spoonful of each new batch of food to ensure that it meets his mom's standards. There is a well-known Turkish proverb he quotes from - "pilavdan dönenin kaşığı kırılsın". In literal translation it's "break the cooking spoon of the pilaf maker who falters in its task". It's understood as either "see it though come hell or high water" or "bring your A-game or don't bother showing up". Eh, I wonder if the guy who served me this kofte platter at BayRidge Turkish cafe has ever heard the quote? When it came to Turkish food, certain items are universally loved, like çorba (soup) and kofte (meatballs). Çorba has such an elevated status that a commander of the Ottoman elite military corps (Janassary) is known as a çorbaci (soup man). Even today, the term is used in modern Turkish slang as "boss". There's an old saying in Turkish that the best kofte is made by your mom, but the best çorba is from the local kebab joint. What makes for good Turkish kofte? It's supposed to be fluffy juicy pillows of meat the size of say, a mini Snickers bar, made with ground beef and sometimes lamb, with some diced lamb tail fat whipped into the mixture, seasoned with sweet and savory spices like cumin, mint, coriander, mace and such, then grilled over coals. In Turkey the usual service is with a bowl of buttery Turkish lentil soup (often accompanied by their bread), ice cold Ayran, piyaz (navy bean salad), then kofte fresh off the grill, and maybe some rice pilaf (buttery rice with bits of toasted orzo within) on the side. Who does a good version in Brooklyn? Kofte Piyaz in Sunset Park - it ain't cheap, though. So what is up with this 15 dollar kofte platter I got at Bayridge cafe? Well, the size of the kofte is odd, like breakfast sausages (my wife is much less charitable on the comparison and said it looked like something from a kitty litter box). It tasted dry and shriveled up, with no flavor at all, like it was air fried once too many. The iceberg lettuce and tomato salad that came on the side just bleeds off the mediocrity. The rice is just white rice and not pilaf. The inexplicable part is when they serve up lentil soup and gave us slices of American white bread. Not toasted, not buttered, and certainly not Turkish bread. Me and my wife bursted out laughing. The soup is...serviceable, but it certainly won't make any Ottoman Sultan dance for joy or fuel warriors into battle - it tasted flat (the version that I make has tomato and pepper paste, onions, garlic and dried mint...which this didn't have) and we didn't see the usual shaker of aleppo (pul) peppers for sprinkling onto the soup to give it a kick. The bean stew that we ordered (Kuru Fasulye) was watery and without much distinctive flavors. So, eh, is this place bad per-se? Not really. Despite the disappointing kofte, it comes with a small bit of eggplant salad that was honestly not too bad. The Turkish tea was on-point (well, they used Caykur Tomurcuk, which is a Turkish Earl Grey grade) and they used a double boiler to do the tea, which means that it's legitly brewed in the Turkish fashion with the right flavors. The Tulumba wasn't nearly as good as, say...Safa in Istanbul, but it isn't a disappointingly soggy mess like the ones at Djerdan Borek or coyingly sweet with salad oil stench like the ones at Artion bakery in Astoria. It was like how you imagine a good churro would be - warm, not too oily, sweet but not too much so. Crisp exterior, honeyed interior, goes well with a cup of hot tonic Turkish tea, served strong and fragrant. So yeah, it's not hopeless. But geez, guys, save your wonderbread for the American sandwiches and toss pitas or Turkish bread with your Turkish fares, and talk to your mom about serving up proper kofte. I can excuse the soup but that kofte is a travesty. Köftedan dönenin isgaralar kırılsın - either make something worthwhile or don't bother at all.

I could make this restaurant a weekly habit. The employees provide excellent customer attention…read more The small footprint of Bayridge Turkish Cafe doesn't compromise cleanliness or comfort. Our minimal menu exploration was adequately rewarding. This restaurant delivers well.

Afte the sauce and spice barrage here I've almost forgotten my anti-bowl era. At first the…read more6-topping limit seemed arbitrary but these aren't mere lettuce equivalents. Highlights included tabouleh and ezme. With a strong falafel and a fiery orange sauce, I never regretted the non-carnivorousness of the occasion.

Food: The food is excellent here! I tried the beef and lamb shawarma in a pita, and it was…read moredelicious. The pita is also one of the best I've ever had. The quality of all of their ingredients is very good. You have the choice of making a salad, platter (rice based), pita, or wrap with your choice of protein. All toppings and sauces are displayed, and you can customize your entree with 4 toppings and sauces. Entrees average about $16 each so it's a bit pricey, but the quality is there! They also have soups, fries, and desserts. Service: Staff were friendly and welcoming. Ambiance: The place is very small with 3 small tables inside and a bunch of outdoor seating. Space is tight so it's not ideal for large groups. The tables inside can seat 2-3 at most. Overall, I would highly recommend this place!

Opera is always a hit. The food is great and the outdoor area is a perfect place to have dinner…read morewhen the weather is nice.

Grest restaurant. Very large Beautiful Turkish interior. Nice menu with many vegetarian options ,…read morebut no gluten free bread or rolls unfortunately . Staff were friendly , service was fast for the most part, although slow to provide water. There were a few mishaps, however staff tried nicely to make corrections . Nice bread basket at start of meal. Lots of different seating configurations , and lounging opportunities. Also there are private rooms available which looked nice for a party space. Food was very tasty . Would return. Parking on the street.

Stopped by Brooklyn Kebab House for a quick takeout and decided on the lahem seghar ($18) which…read morecame with a massive round of homemade bread straight from the tannur. The staff member who took my order warned me that it would be spicy, but I thought it was quite manageable (or perhaps she made it non-spicy) but overall I thought the flavor was quite bold and the bite-sized lamb made it easy to scoop up with the bread. The restaurant space is fairly large so I'd like to return for sit-down service and to try more Yemeni specialties.

From start to finish, a wonderful experience and delicious meal. Highly recommend this spot in Bay…read moreRidge if you have a family or large group. There are plentiful tables and even a downstairs special event space. Plus, the bathrooms are very clean so you know this is a quality place. Food: 5/5. Huge portions! You can easily feed two people with an entree. We had the Fahsah Chicken in a hot clay pot...so good! It had a plethora of spices and herbs but was not too spicy. And the shwarma was the best we have had in Brooklyn! Ambiance: 4/5. Clean and tidy, they have alot of Yemeni decorations and clay pots that add to the authentic vibe. The doors have a slight draft so it was a tad chilly but nothing too harsh. Overall a lovely spot Value: 5/5. Huge portions of quality food, great service and extra bread. We loved it!

I love a good solo date, especially on a hot summer day, but I definitely made a mistake coming…read morealone because I think I've found my new favorite restaurant. I started with the Fried Calamari, which is always an amazing classic with its crisp and flavor, but I was so excited to try the Mussel Dolma. I didn't know what to expect, so I was definitely surprised to see it was served cold. The combination of the mussel, rice, currants, and warm spices were truly immaculate and blended together seamlessly. For the main course, I ordered the Iskender Steak: a 10-ounce grilled Black Angus strip served over flatbread with brown butter, tomato sauce, and yogurt. Every single bite was rich, savory, and satisfying. I paired it with a side of their Cherry Rice, and I would've never thought to add cherries in rice... but let me tell you, this was easily my favorite dish of the night.. It added the perfect touch of sweetness to the savory rice, making every bite more elevated. To finish, I had their pistachio dessert served with a ladyfinger cookie, and it was the perfect light and creamy ending to an incredible meal. I would love to come back and order Rana's Table to get a sample of all they have to offer.If you're looking to try something beyond the usual dinner spots, Rana Fifteen absolutely deserves a spot on your list!

My friend and I ate dinner at Rana Fifteen during a trip to Brooklyn. We went on a Friday evening…read morearound 8pm and were seated immediately without a wait. The inside of the restaurant is decorated nicely, however one of the lights above us was flickering for the entire meal which was annoying at first, but we eventually tuned it out. We both shared the Rana's Table. This was a really cool experience. This smorgasbord includes a sampling of 8 appetizers, 4 mezes, 1 entree, 1 side, and 1 dessert. For the entree we chose the Iskender Steak. For the side we got the Yogurt Potatoes. The dessert was chosen for us - some sort of pistachio mousse. All the food was good. Between the 8 appetizers and 4 mezes - some we loved, some were just ok. But a lot of that opinion is based on personal preference. If you're planning on eating here, bring your appetite and definitely consider the Rana's Table. Being able to try so many options all at once was a fun and unique experience. Service was good. Multiple staff checked in and took care of us.

Safir is a small, cozy restaurant that makes for a great, relaxed meal. The service was warm and…read moreattentive, and it ended up being the perfect way to wrap up the weekend. The atmosphere is comfortable without feeling crowded, making it easy to settle in and enjoy the meal. The food was excellent from start to finish. The sigar borek were perfectly crispy, cheesy, and just the right amount of salty. The lamb beyti kebab was packed with flavor, and the accompanying sauces really elevated the dish. We also had the manti, Turkish dumplings that were well-seasoned and incredibly satisfying. Portions were generous across the board, and everything tasted fresh and high quality. It's the kind of place that leaves you looking forward to your next visit.

Located in Hunter's Point, LIC, this spot is a gem. The ambiance is casual and cozy and the staff…read morewas absolutely so friendly and welcoming. As it was my boyfriend and I's first time trying Turkish food, they helped explain some of the dishes to us. We got their appetizer spread, their lamacun, and their manti. Everything was phenomenal, but I highly recommend their appetizer spread and their lamacun. I loved the spread as you got the chance to try multiple different dips and it was a huge portion. Their lamacun was also the first I've ever had and it made me think: "Why haven't I had this before?" It was so good. Will definitely be coming back.

At the center of a wonderful Turkish neighborhood. Very delightful dining experience. Everything…read moreis fresh and the staff is lovely. Pide is next level. All the special Turkish drinks. Topped off with the best desserts. Get off of the Belt Parkway and stop here.

My family and I had lunch at this restaurant after I read all of the good reviews they got on…read moreGoogle and Yelp. We like Turkish cuisine. The staff were friendly and helpful. We requested a high chair for my toddler and they had one available. I ordered a chicken pesto panini and my husband ordered the Sucuk kavurma burger meal with Turkish sausage, fries and a soda. The prices were reasonable for the quantity of food. The food was good but the panini was a bit salty for me. The fries were good. They had a good selection of dishes. I was happy to see they had kunefe with pistachios on the menu. I love this dessert. They also have niche drinks too choose from like the fermented black carrot drink. The ambiance was nice. They had ample seating and