This Mediterranean spot in Clifton is an absolute gem, from the moment we walked in, the vibe felt upscale and energetic, like stepping into a special event. The atmosphere is perfect whether you're celebrating something big, planning a romantic night out, or just linking up with friends. The service, impeccable, Micaela took care of us and was an absolute sweetheart, attentive, warm, and genuinely made the whole experience better. Now let's talk the drinks are mock tails, but definitely bring your own bottle. The virgin drinks were very delicious as well so you can easily spike them now let's go to the food, everything we tried hit, the lamb chops were cooked perfectly, the chicken wings were next level, and the popcorn chicken was such a fun surprise, it literally comes out with live popcorn, super creative. The sauces deserve their own shoutout, especially the spicy red dipping sauce, you'll want to put that on everything. For dessert, do not skip the birthday cake with the $100 bill presentation, it's not just a gimmick, it's actually delicious, especially paired with the chocolate covered strawberries. Not everything was my personal favorite, the bread wasn't a standout for me, but my friend loved it, so it really comes down to preference. The DJ kept the energy alive all night, mixing Mediterranean and Arabian beats with some familiar tracks toward the end, it created a unique vibe that just worked. Bottom line, this place delivers across the board, food, service, atmosphere, and experience, definitely worth it, I'll be back read more

Aura Lounge - Popcorn shrimp serve with real popcorn. Both items were so good on a bit of lettuce. - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

The restaurant is in an industrial area that looks like a warehouse. In fact we drove by it because we didn't identify it as a restaurant initially. It has a small parking lot that is valet only, but there are free parking spots outside of the lot out front. FYI Per policy, this BYOB restaurant requires a $90/pp minimum after 6pm on Friday & Saturday. We were all excited to try this newer Mediterranean hot spot, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. The exterior and interior are really nice. Service was friendly, but we were often searching for our server. The presentations were over the top and quirky, reminiscent of Barton G, but that's where the parallel ends. The mocktails had cute aesthetic, but were all way too sweet, artificial tasting, and overpriced. Of our party of 7 the only items that were enjoyed was the aura salad, baby rocket salad, and the baked mushroom although it had way too much cheese. The lamb chops were bland, the lemon mushroom chicken had a rubbery texture, and was also bland. The popcorn shrimp and grilled shrimp were both overcooked. I will say the baklava for dessert was tasty, but after it was delivered the server without warning inexplicably took two spoons and started to chop it up until it was pulverized, soupy and unrecognizable. I didn't know what was happening, but perhaps it's a cultural thing? All in all I would say it might be great for some, but, it's not worth a return visit for me. read more

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Awesome place! Went to this restaurant with my boyfriend and had an amazing experience. There was live music that matched with the vibe of the place. The place was nicely decorated for taking pictures. There was no alcohol in the menu but the food was delicious. The waitress was really nice and helpful. Would definitely come back and bring more people to this place! read more

Aura Lounge - Food - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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When I walked into Aura Lounge, my first thought was, 'I'm about to overpay for hookah', which was 100% accurate. Aura Lounge is a very nice lounge, with a parking lot. It has very nice atmosphere, the menus are on tablets, and the service is excellent. But it is very expensive. We ordered, a coke, mint lemonade, falafel, truffle fries, water, and an orange mint hookah. Somehow, that came out to $130, they even added an automatic gratuity even though there was only two of us. Food was decent, but not significantly better than any of the Arabic restaurants in South Paterson to justify their pricing. The hookah was pretty good though. They used Al Fakher shisha in a quasar head and hmd. The disposable hose had a glass mouthpiece. Flavor was good, but it only lasted about an hour before flavor died out. I'd come back, but probably not too often since I can buy a full hookah setup, falafel, fries, and drinks for way less elsewhere. read more

Aura Lounge - Falafel - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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The vibes are great and the staff is nice. The food was only okay which is a bit disappointing for the price point. When we made the reservation, we were told we had to meet a minimum of $100pp. They are a BYOB establishment so that was nice and they do made mocktails which I regret not trying. For apps, we got the truffle pizza, popcorn chicken, zucchini fries, calamari, and hummus. The zucchini fries were my favorite. Crispy, seasoned, and and had a really good aioli sauce. The pizza sauce felt heavy and wet, the bread did not hold it up. The popcorn chicken was flavorless unless eaten with the sauce which was not on every bite. It did come in a popcorn machine which made for a fun aesthetic. For entrees we ordered the truffle risotto, truffle pasta, and lamb chops. The risotto again lacked flavor except the overpowering truffle taste. The pasta was slightly better. The lamb chops were cooked to order but we're okay. The mushed (yes, that's what they call it) potatoes that came with it reminded me a bit of boxed mash potatoes, also flavorless. For dessert we got the churro platter which was actually very good and it was easy to share. I liked the 3 dipping sauces, raspberry, chocolate, and caramel. read more

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You must try Aura lounge! I went on my birthday, it was a Monday so I thought it would be slow however it was quite lively. The waiters Daulet and Yusuf were excellent, they continuously checked on my party and made sure we had a great night. The food was fresh and the restaurant was clean and all workers were inviting to all the customers. read more

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Let's start with the positives: the ambiance is really nice stylish and welcoming and the valet staff were incredibly helpful and professional. The seafood dishes were excellent: the calamari, shrimp, and octopus were all fresh and perfectly cooked. Easily the highlight of the night. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was a mess. The service was extremely disorganized we waited far too long for someone to take our order and had to ask multiple times before anyone came over. Throughout the night, several different staff members approached our table, but no one seemed to actually be responsible for us. It was confusing and frustrating. The loud music didn't help either. It was so blaring that it was difficult to have a conversation or communicate with staff, which probably contributed to the service issues. As for the food beyond the seafood: The chicken Alfredo was more like soup watery and bland. The chicken fingers were overcooked and dry.The lamb was not cooked to the requested doneness.The hummus came with one single chip literally. We even asked the server for more and he never even brought it. Overall, this restaurant has a great atmosphere and a talented seafood kitchen, but serious issues with service, consistency, and execution on other dishes. Until those are addressed, it's hard to recommend especially if you're expecting a smooth or well-rounded dining experience. read more

Aura Lounge - Octopus - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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I have seen the popularity of this restaurant all over socials. I decided to give it a try since I am a local. 1) their website is down so you cannot make online reservations. Must be called in. 2) a bit over priced. 3) the service was very slow and when I asked for water they brought a bottle vs tap. 4) the food is actually delicious! That was the only highlight of the restaurant. 5) the decor of the restaurant is very chic and modern. Not sure it will be an establishment I'll return to. read more

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To simply put it, the food at Aura Lounge was great and the service was pretty terrible. My friend and I shamelessly saw this place on Instagram and thought it looked like a fun spot to try out on a Friday night. Here are my thoughts: The restaurant itself is beautiful. Spacious, modern, and very open. It's giving city vibes. Also a plus it's BYOB. The food itself was very delicious. We enjoyed the Meze platter, Turkish pizza, and beef kebob. Everything was flavorful and fresh. However when we asked for pita for our Meze platter, it was quite the production....they said they didn't serve it after 2pm? Then ended up charging us for it. The service was pretty awful. After being sat, we waited over 20 minutes before we finally flagged someone down to see where our waiter was. Instead of greeting us or offering us water, the first thing our waiter said to us was "whatta you want??" It was off putting. This restaurant was VERY gimmicky. You can pay for a life size $100 bill with sparklers to come to your table, a large fork with a blow torched steak, hats, speakers, etc. Unfortunately, it was all quite cringy since there wasn't a party atmosphere happening. A lot of people looked uncomfortable with these things. They charge $10 to $15 dollars for "mocktails" which are literally cups of juice. They bring them out again looking very gimmicky with lights and smoke so I can see why they were so popular. They kept trying to clear our plates while we were still eating. This is a big pet peeve of mine. Then when we finished, we sat for 2.5 hours with dirty plates in front of us without anyone trying to clear them. Very backwards. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves but definitely not rushing to return. read more

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Final Thoughts First This place is all flash, no substance. They've invested way too much into the decor and not nearly enough into the food or the overall service experience. It's a gimmick--a place that looks good but delivers nothing more than disappointment. And sadly, that matches the vibe of the crowd it attracts. Don't waste your time or money here. Breakdown below! Wow...where do I start. Let's start with the positive! Ambiance/Decor/Environment: 3.5/5 Pros -- The place looks great. It's upscale and trendy, perfect if you want to be seen. The music blends pop with a Middle Eastern vibe--definitely a unique touch. This spot is all about the crowd, so if you're not into that vibe, you might feel out of place. The setup is not intimate at all; it's more like a high-end cafeteria where everyone's on display. Cons -- The bathrooms are disgusting. It's clear they care more about appearances than actual cleanliness. Hopefully, they'll fix that eventually. Service/Manager/Customer Service: 2/5 Pros -- We were seated quickly, even without a reservation. That's about where the positives end. Cons -- The hostess had zero personality. No greeting, no smile--just a cold, "Do you have reservations?" Felt like we were intruding. The waitress - no hello- no water- no introduction- just "are you ready to order?". Nothing. Maybe because it's an auto service charge of 18% they just want to cut to the chase. Then, the real fun started. We ordered the $9 hummus, which was supposed to come with tortillas (no not pita) per the menu. What did we get? A tiny wooden spoon and... nothing else. We politely asked about the tortillas, and the waitress just brushed us off with a "It comes with bread." Okay, where's the bread? She walked away. Someone else showed up with rock-hard tough dinner rolls and some random red sauce. We were seriously confused--were we supposed to dip these in the hummus? Where is the pita bread? When the waitress came back, we had to point to "TORTILLAS" on the menu because she didn't believe us. Im not joking-we literally had to open the menu after she told us "no" for asking about the mystery missing chips. Her response? "You get one tortilla." One tortilla. For a bowl of hummus. We told her we didn't even get that one tortilla, and she looked at us like we were the problem. After she visibly complained to her manager (who couldn't be bothered) we finally got tortillas... but why did we have to go through all that hell for something listed on the menu!!! Weird. Food: 1/5 The worst part: the food. The food was bland and flavorless. We ordered chicken/beef shish and curry pasta. It was tasteless. I thought I was playing it safe with marinated meat, but even that was a letdown. Social media hype had me thinking this place would be decent, but it was a total waste of money. read more

The location is weird. The food was fine for lunch but overpriced. The place was empty but the service was slow. The server dropped food on my jacket while clearing the table, barely apologized, and offered zero form of compensation. I was then forced to tip a standard 18% service charge which was added to the bill even for our table of two. I did not leave feeling great. I can't imagine being there when it's actually busy. ETA: What kind of restaurant upcharges pita when serving a mezze platter? read more

I came here on a Friday night about 715, 730 without a reservation. It was the two of us and were informed that they didnt have any open tables. Since there was no bar area, we weren't sure what to do. After talking to the hostess, she informed us that she may be able to sit us after 20 minutes. We waited in a very cute waiting room with a couch, a mirrored tiger and a small round stage that makes for great photo ops. We were seated after a while and just admired the ambiance on our way to our table. Caution: Finding this place may take some maneuvering. It is located inside a parking lot with other stores that is not very visible at night when driving. But there is parking, which is always a great bonus. Ambiance: Love the ambiance in this place. Its is upscale, updated, bright and sleek. they have an semi-open kitchen concepts. Service: Service was superb. Furkan, our waiter, was very attentive. He made sure to get a bucket for our bottle (Yes, this place is BYOB) and continued to ensure our glasses were always full. He was very helpful with navigating the menu and providing guidance with menu items. We ordered the calamari and a grilled mushroom with meat and cheese appetizers, which was really good. For entrees, we order the grilled half chicken with fries and the grilled seabass. My only compliant about the food was that the seabass was actually bronzino. We looked at the picture and questioned the waiter if it was branzino or seabass and he ensured it was seabass. But the food was a good portion size, well-seasoned and delicious. there is a private dining area for parties. There is plenty of celebration menu items that comes with a fire show such as the tomahawk and a huge $100 dessert that cost $49. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and will be back. read more

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This place is very honorable. Their service is immaculate and good. They are very dedicated to making sure their customer service is up to par. They will not disappoint you. I definitely recommend coming here with family and or friends for all different types of events. read more

Highly recommend Aura Lounge we came out to celebrate my friend's birthday, and wow! BYOB great option to bring what you love to be able to enjoy with your group. It was a group of 6 our waitress was quick and attentive the manager was always around being helpful from what I saw. Now the food we started out with a few apps the spicy hummus delicious with the pita bread10/10, the fried zucchini 8/10, tuna tartar 10/10 my absolute favorite. For dinner we all had two tomahawk steaks that came with a show and he did his thing minor situation but the manger quickly resolved 9/10, and now to celebrate the girl of the hour we had the 100 dollar bill where they come out with a speaker and dessert 10/10... thank you Aura Lounge for your hospitality! read more

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Thank you to our server Carolina, her service and attention for the entire night was amazing. Attention to detail, really friendly and she makes sure I feel extra special on my birthday! Foos as always is excellent, recommend the Troufle risotto 100%!!!! read more

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yo im sitting up in this bitch rn i got here at 12:00 its 1:38 and i have not seen a crumb of food yet. ong this service is crap bro they brought us a bottle of water a basket of bread and we didnt see the server again after that. the vibe is also a mess the ambiance of this place is so confused. my party is currently discussing whether we js go to cava read more

First, food here is amazing. Everything I tried was delicious. I had the Turkish mezzo platter with pita and the shrimp appetizer. They do not have a liquor license but have a wide assortment of fancy mocktails. I believe they are BYOB. They have their cafe menu open all day, this includes teas, lemonades, and coffees. Vibe here is loungey, some people get super dressed up to take insta photos in front of the many photo op backgrounds. At around 6-7pm the DJ came on and it got super loud in there, not the type of place you go to have a conversation with someone. They also do a good hookah here. You can tell that during the dinner rush they are very busy and service could get slow here. Make sure you book a reservation in advance! read more

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Went on a Friday night with hubby and for it to be in Clifton .. it gave a very lively city vibe! There were so many people celebrating birthdays , a nice mix of upbeat music .. very vibrant with creative spin of their meals. Would return especially for a special occasion! read more

The first initial interaction with checking in for the reservation was atrocious. We were there to celebrate a birthday. However, the name the reservation was under was completely different and so when the lady at the desk brought up the name "Michael", we looked at eachother with confusion. This caused her to catch an attitude right from the jump which left us with a bitter palate. It took a while for the drinks and food to get delivered to our table but our server was amazing which made up for it. Overall a great place for snapping photos but very mid restaurant... read more

Aura Lounge - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

The food and ambience were amazing. The music was great. It was nice to see them cook the steaks in-front of you. We had a slight delay in our order and the manager took care of it right away. I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

I came specifically for a photo shoot, as I do professional photography as a hobby, so not being allowed to use my camera was quite frustrating and disappointing, and I couldn't accomplish the purpose of my visit. That said, the manager was polite and professional, with no rude behavior at all. The atmosphere itself is wonderful. read more

A very disappointing birthday dinner. My husband picked this restaurant because they're known for making birthdays feel special. From the start, he let the staff know it was my birthday and asked for a celebration. I also told the waiter that I have a gluten and dairy allergy, and he said they could accommodate. Unfortunately, the food was cold and underwhelming. My ribeye and mashed potatoes came out cold, and the beef stew was just okay--tiny portion and definitely not worth the price. I mentioned the temperature issue to the waiter, but I was too hungry to wait for a fix. We ordered coffee and waited forever. When my cappuccino finally arrived, it was cold and clearly had been sitting out. I returned it and didn't bother reordering. My husband kept reminding them it was my birthday, especially when we saw other tables being celebrated with songs and desserts. But when it came to me, they refused to do anything unless I ordered dessert--none of which were gluten-free. They said the only option was a $25 fruit platter if I wanted a candle. Seriously? The manager was rude and dismissive when we asked for help. No flexibility, no empathy. My husband said if they had told us they couldn't accommodate gluten-free, we would have never booked. The food was overpriced, the portions small, the quality low, and the service inconsiderate--especially on a night that was supposed to feel special. We won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone with dietary needs--or anyone hoping for a warm, welcoming birthday experience. read more

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I have been trying to make a reservation for a birthday celebration for over a week. They never answer the phone. They don't reply via email. The website is no better. read more

burnt lahmacun also cold, loud music no good service Food qre not tasty and low quality stuff read more

I went last year and my experience there was amazing , I love it so much definitely recommend for others read more

Aura Lounge - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Visited Aura Lounge for the first time on date night. I must say that I was impressed by the presentation first and foremost. It is a very beautiful place, great decor and plenty of photo op places. Aura has a nice size menu for, food, drinks, and dessert. We started off with the Cheese Pita; which was delicious. It has a mixture of feta and another cheese with like a buttery finish. We then had the Chicken shish and Beef saslik both of which were very good. The service was also on point. The waiter was patient and attentive; he checked in on us and was friendly. Overall I enjoyed my experience and would go back. read more

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Aura Lounge has very nice ambiance, and is definitely a place to take cute photos with friends. However other than that, most other aspects are lacking. It's BYOB and they offer mocktails on the menu. The mocktails come out nicely, and sometimes over the top but they lack flavor. The Pina Colada tasted as if they took a basic coconut water (or even just water with coconut essence) and then blended it up. Very little flavor, mostly just an icey water drink. More than one of ordered this drink and we all agreed. I usually don't mind a paper straw but due to the consistency of the drink my straw melted before the drink did. The food is presented nicely, but once again the cut of meat is just OK and everyone was passing around salt due to lack of flavor. The calamari was overly breaded, chewy and was barely crispy. The service is where they really loose their stars. I sat at the table for 40 minutes without any offering of water or a drink. They only gave me a drink when people were ordering entrees. I never had any server come over any time after that except to pick up dishes. I think that people would've ordered more food or drinks if there was better service, but you can't order because no one ever comes over. I think the consensus overall was that the food or drinks were not worth the price, plus the tip is included and for little service it's just not worth it. read more

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I always got comments about how expensive it is and I gave it a try first of all the service was very terrible the breakfast was very good (usual Turkish breakfast) it was very pricey for only two people paying $110 The drinks are way over priced than I thought it would be. Only good part was the decor and the fancy stuff coming with your order read more

Aura Lounge - Price - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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The food, ambiance and service was amazing. Went Tuesday at 6pm. All the dishes were phenomenal, except the chicken fingers; my daughter stated they were a little to hard (dry) but the crust was amazing. Also the menu is super extensive; it comes in an Ipad and very hard to remember what we picked. Suggestion: the Ipad should have another slide where it shows a final pick of your dishes for when the waiter or waitress comes to write your order down read more

Aura Lounge - Mezze - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Great spot for a date night--loved the lounge vibe with mood lighting and a DJ. Food was hit or miss: crispy zucchini and mushroom chicken were solid choices, but the chicken shish was dry. Mocktails looked great but were way too sweet returned them almost immediately; the ginger honey lemonade was much better. I'd come back for light bites and the atmosphere, but probably not for a full dinner. read more

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The place is nice and clean but the servers werent as attentive and the breakfast came down to be 50 per person but this whole table was for three people but they didn't serve for 3 respectively, this was the same as for two people... wasnt as good as we thought but we will still go again ;) read more

Aura Lounge - Supreme Breakfast - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

This place is just meh. If you had Turkish food this is just average. Service is horrible. You have to keep asking for things. Asked for a fork and was told it was coming twice. So I stood up and got one from the next table. Also, this place allows smoking hookah right next to people who are just eating. I'm trying to eat my food but the table next to me is puffing giant clouds directly in my face. It should be split into sections. Wasn't enjoyable at all. Shame for such a large place to have to much potential but to lose it all. read more

Do NOT come here for food. The food is atrocious. We ordered brunch items, eggs, cheese pide, salad and mocktails. Nothing is made fresh, even after asking for multiple items we ordered to be reheated or cooked, they gave us the same exact item with no changes. The bread was stale and cold inside. The eggs were literal hotel eggs. Everything came out slow and cold. The mocktails were terribly flavored and the dishes were dirty. It is very overpriced for no reason. Don't bother coming here if you want to eat!! read more

I'm a regular here. Everything about this place is great. Most things are a little on the pricier side but in my opinion, it's worth it considering the ambience and vibe this place never fails to provide. read more

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Elegant spot in the heart of Clifton. Great Turkish halal food with an upscale ambiance. Service was friendly and efficient. They were passionate about the opening of the new restaurant and it really showed in the way they presented themselves and treated patrons. There's a private event space available to rent, accommodates approximately 20 people. read more

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The ambiance is very nice at Aura. It's amazing how they transformed a warehouse to look the way it does. The service is so-so. The staff is friendly just a little slow with things getting things (our visit wasn't at a prime time where it was super busy either). The food was good, nothing out of the normal. They do overcharge. The prices are expensive for what you're receiving. The portion sizes are smaller than small bite sizes but cost more than entree prices. You're really just paying for the NYC type lounge vibe in Clifton with the NYC prices. read more

For our first time... everything was perfect!! Don't be fooled by the bad reviews. I was a little scared by some I saw, and I should clarify that the service is excellent. The food arrived hot and everything arrived quickly. Don't take it as a joke; go and experience it for yourself. read more

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Wry bad experience , food was harrable , very very bad manger who was argue with me on bad salad that wasn't good very soggy and mushy . Never come again to this place . This manager was not proffinal in dealing with the situation . Have attitude problem . Never again . read more

Although we had a reservation at 9:30 we weren't seated till 11 it was my friends Bday dinner..ambiance was great music was great ... food was cold and lacked seasoning ..found out the following day we were over charged $300...although we were reimbursed a week later management was not at all apologetic .. read more

ALPARSLAN was amazing!! hooked up our hookah real nice :3 our server daniel was a delight and uhurl! super calm and respectful read more

Aura Lounge - GREAT SERVICE - Turkish Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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