100/100!! The food was delicious and the ambiance made me feel like I was in Istanbul, but the service is what really made it over the top. Although all the staff were kind and welcoming, a special shoutout goes to Skylar--he was top-notch! Next time I'm in the area, I'll 100% be back. read more

Amazing dinner with the family on July 4th! The food was fantastic, but our server, Siyar, truly stole the show. His hospitality was exceptional. He was incredibly attentive, warm, and went completely above and beyond to make our evening special. I also come here frequently with my company colleagues, and the experience is always consistently great. Siyar is an absolute asset to the team, and we will definitely be asking to sit in his section next time! read more

I've returned 2 times since my last review and both times I've been a little disappointed. The appetizers and dips were still solid and the pita still comes out steaming hot. However, the chick shish was dry and overcooked. The portion size was also on the smaller side. Another issue was I had the same waiter both times and he was not very good. He was never around when we need something but he would continuously come and ask us if he can take our plates away even though we are clearly not done and still had half a plate full of food. It almost got annoying as it seemed like he was rushing us even though the restaurant was pretty empty and we were 1 of 2 tables during that time. It's disappointing as I enjoyed my experience when I first went but I'm sad that they can't keep up with the quality of their food and service. read more

Avora Mediterranean - Chefs Mezze Tasting - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Finally an upscale Mediterranean restaurant that has equally great food and service. The interior of this restaurant is beautiful and really drives an upscale ambiance. The food is 10/10. Everything was delicious, flavorful, and fresh. The Shashlik, mezze tasting, and cheesecake were definite standouts and not something you can get at many other similar establishments. The waitstaff is definitely giving any upscale restaurant a run for its money. Drinks were promptly refilled, plates and silverware were refreshed, and small touches like replacement to go bags were provided when they noticed a small leak. Overall I would come here every week. read more

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First time trying this place on one of the hottest days this week. The inside was nicely decorated and plenty of seating. They were very attentive to us although I did take a bit for one of our drinks to come out so some reason. The drinks though are so refreshing. Two of us got different lemonades. Both were amazing. I could have chugged my whole drink in one go. The mezze sample was perfect for us to try the different dips. I actually used some with my entree the adana lamb kebabs. So much flavor! The garlic fried were also very good. Crispy and crunchy with the garlicy flavor. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu and the desserts. read more

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I've officially entered my "Avora twice in one week" era and honestly, no regrets. From the second you walk in, the vibe is warm, welcoming, and the staff makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. The first time I went, I literally showed my server a picture my friend had sent me because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Not only did it look incredible, it tasted just as good. And the portions are huge. I had leftovers for days, and they were just as good the next time around. The second visit, we let a friend take the lead and order a bunch of dishes for the table so we could try a little bit of everything. Not a single miss. Every plate that came out was one of those "you need to try this" moments. Standouts for me were the manti, chicken Adana, and the sultan's beğendi. I would reorder all three without hesitation. Also, the only reason I have just one photo is because we were way too excited and hungry to remember to document anything. That should tell you everything you need to know. Already planning my next visit. read more

Avora Mediterranean - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

What a wonderful, accidental find! The line was way too long at our favorite Chinese restaurant down the street for Mother's Day so we walked to see if any places had availability. (my bad for not making reservations anywhere). We came across Avora and decided to try it because we love Turkish food. The service is TOP NOTCH. We were greeted by friendly servers who politely told us that there was a table for us but we would be limited to 2 hours because Mother's Day was so busy. No problem! We were immediately greeted and had our order taken by what seemed to be the manager or someone in charge. we had the Chef's Mezze Tasting, Soujouk Pide, Lamb Adana and Shepard's salad. Everything was so flavorful and freshly made. My favorite was the Chef's Mezze tasting which served as my meal with their warm bread. We will definitely be back! read more

Avora Mediterranean - Soujouk Pide - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Avora knocked it out of the ballpark. Our entire experience was phenomenal. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed by friendly faces and throughout our meal everyone was attentive and warm. The food was amazing - this might be my new favorite Mediterranean spot in NJ. For starters, the complimentary fresh puffed pita sets the bar high, but everything we tried after just kept getting better and better. The cold mezzo platter was delectable - my favorites were the baba ganoush and muhammara, but honestly everything was great. For my entree, I had the falafel was crispy and paired perfectly with the mezzes. Lastly, do notttt sleep on desserts. You will be full from the generous portion sizes, but this is very important because the dessert was the cherry on top. We had the baklava with maras ice cream and *chef's kiss.* It was my husbands birthday and they brought it out with a song, candle and dry ice. Very impressed. The food, presentation, service, ambiance - everything was just perfect. read more

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2nd time here. Very nice restaurant with tasty food and great service. I will definitely return soon. This is a great edition to the restaurants on Main st. read more

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First time here - and already planning our next trip back !!!! Food was outstanding perfect date night atmosphere Our waitress , Feyza, was amazing and made great recommendations . This is the best new restaurant we have been to in a long time ! read more

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I recently had a takeout order from Avora, and to say that I was disappointed is an understatement. Both the Salmon Scallopini and the Branzino were... okay. Not great, not bad, just... okay... more or less like something from a decent diner. Unfortunately, the vegetables accompanying the Salmon were grossly overcooked, and the mashed potatoes that were supposed to accompany that dish were omitted from my order. We also ordered the zucchini pancakes, and they were so incredibly salty that we found them to be inedible. The pita bread was very good, so I'll be generous by rating Avora with two stars. read more

My wife and I were looking to try a new Mediterranean spot and decided to check out Avora in Somerville -- and wow. From the moment we walked in, we knew we found something special. The vibe is warm, modern, and effortlessly cute. You can actually see into the open kitchen, which made everything feel even more intentional and fresh. And let me tell you -- the food tastes exactly like that: fresh, high quality, and made with care. We started with mocktails and ordered the virgin coffee martinis. Absolutely delicious. Smooth, flavorful, and perfectly balanced -- not overly sweet, just done right. For appetizers, we had the halloumi and watermelon, which was incredibly fresh. The cheese was cooked perfectly -- flavorful and satisfying without being greasy (which I really appreciate). My wife ordered the chicken soup, and I have never been more jealous of someone else's meal. I tried a spoonful and it genuinely tasted like someone's grandmother made it in her kitchen -- comforting, rich, and full of depth. For our entrée, we both ordered the branzino and cleaned our plates completely. Every bite was flavorful and cooked beautifully. But the true star of the night? Dessert. The carrot cake with Turkish tea was an absolute explosion of flavor. Moist, perfectly spiced, not too heavy -- just a 10/10 experience from start to finish. And we have to shout out Orçan -- one of the best servers we've had in a long time. Attentive, kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely added to the experience. Highly recommend. Go ASAP -- this place is going to blow up! read more

Avora Mediterranean - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Second time eating t there. this is an incredible place. the food and the service is amazing. from the moment you walk i. the host welcomes you like an old friend. it is super organized and with a reservation you are seated immediately. we dripped water on the table and the busboy immediately wiped it off. the waitress is caring and attentive. we ordered the babaganush humous and the delicious lacmacun turkish pizza and received olives huge fresh pita and tzaziki. i ordered the lamb shank and my cousin ordered the gyro. omg everything was unbelievable. Don't walk. run. atmosphere is stunning. Food is 10 out of 10. our new favorite place read more

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Somerville's ambiance was electric on the first decent Friday night in April, with the spring evening allowing them to open their huge retractable front doors, that drew in a lively crowd. Our reservation allowed us to skip the people on line and get straight to our table. The restaurant's vibrant atmosphere was enhanced by the staff's warm demeanor. I had been here before but it was under a different name and decor, the menu concept was similar but not quite the same. With menus conveniently located on the placemats, ordering was effortless. The waitress's attentiveness and willingness to answer questions was terrific. Forgetting the restaurant was BYOB, we appreciated the complimentary Balon Ekmek (Balloon bread) with dipping sauces and olives as we ordered. I'd go back just for the bread!! The beet carpaccio was a symphony of flavors and textures, winning over even the arugula skeptic that I was with. Both the Baby Lamb Shish and Shrimp Shish Kebap were masterfully prepared, showcasing the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The most tender lamb I have ever had, and I love lamb, eat it every time it's on a menu I think!? While the dessert cart beckoned, we were too full, but are eager for our next visit. Definitely check them out, don't forget your wine! On another note, great place for families, lots of high chairs, date night or catching up with friends. The setting ran the gamut of dining situations, young and old. read more

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Food was decent however we couldn't read the whole menu it is not in English so all 4 of us got the chicken shish kabob which is the only thing that we knew what it was, the taste was just ok nothing special. The staff is mostly Spanish and does not speak much English communication was difficult and the atmosphere is very LOUD. We are foodies and know a good meal when we have one. For us it's a one and done. read more

Ambiance and Service outstanding. Now food was well presented or plated but no real Turkish flavor on any of the meats that I try in grill plate. Also, all humus OK but not great flavor. The best for me was the complimentary bread at the beginning. read more

Beautifully decorated inside. Free bread with three sauces to start. All sauces were delicious and bread was fresh. We started with the cold mezze tasting. All dips were delicious and generous portions. For main we got the Adana ground lamb kebab. The meat was a little different than expected. It was a patty rather than kebab but they were seasoned very well and also a good portion. the salad and rice on the side were good. They have mocktail drinks and are byob. The blueberry lemonade was delicious. read more

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gorgeous place and lovely food presentation. Manager is most welcoming and makes everyone feel very special. Food is delicious. We will be back read more

Food was good, nothing over the top fab but good and reasonably priced. The music they pipe in for birthday celebrations is very LOUD and LONG, so when that is going on they want the whole restaurant to pay attention to the celebration, if that's not your 'thing' you may want to reconsider eating here... read more

A nice addition to Somerville. The food, service and ambiance were excellent. It was a very hot night, so we kept it light with a selection of vegetarian dishes. All were absolutely delicious. The staff was friendly, attentive and helpful - especially our server, Siyar. The general manager was also on top of every detail. Overall a great experience. Highly recommended. Be sure to save some room for dessert! read more

We had a reservation for 10 people and everything was wonderful. This place is beautiful inside. Food was amazing and the staff was very attentive (our waiter Siyar was so amazing and kind). We had 5 different appetizers, meals, and dessert with Turkish tea. Everything was perfect (the bread is perfect). Will return. read more

Great addition to the Somerville dining scene. Great vibe - and attention to detail. The restaurant was packed on a Friday night and our waiter Orcan couldn't have been more attentive. But the only thing better than Orcan was the food- we had the mezze platter and puffy bread - the family mixed grill for 2 was enough for 3 )highly recommend) and the Bronzino were fabulous - the Turkish tea and carrot cake topped off the evening. We will definitely be back!! read more

Absolutely astonishing experience. Had some Turkish friends tell me to come try this new restaurant. Baklava blew our minds honestly. We had the meat platter and the branzino and it was exceptionally cooked. I would recommend going to this place if you haven't. It is an experience you wouldn't like to miss out on. read more

Great food, great service and atmosphere. As soon as we arrives the waiter brought us a giant balloon bread and two sauces. We had the chef's appetizer which had several different dips and spreads. We shared a grilled lamb kabobs whose was so yummy. read more