Great food and atmosphere! We thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered! My husband's grandmother was from Turkey and we were pleased to see some of the items he was familiar with on the menu. I ordered a Turkish stew that was served over rice. It was wonderfully seasoned and very filling. The decor inside is very pleasing with several nice booths for romantic date nights! Definitely give this place a try! read more

Aya Sofia - Patio Entrance - Turkish Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I got to say this place has changed significantly since the first time I've been there........ 1. I ordered the Adana kabab.... I have the same thing numerous times this one tasted like crap. And it arrived to my table Cold... thats right cold. 2. The rice was undercooked, not just a little bit but a lot. Like it would have to be cooked for another five minutes. 3.The cuscus from my wife she said it felt like she was eating pices of rubber. She had that with a fish a full fish. When she opened the fish the fish still have a piece of the organ inside it and was undercooked.As anStarace still some cold meat inside of it.( it probably came from the freezer.) 4. i asked where one of the waitresses was they told me that she got fired. Because she did not do her job ever. I've been coming to this restaurant for 6 years she's been there( i had multypul partys of 7 and more and she was my waitress.) I think she was working for a long time pretty darn well working at a place for 6 years nobody will let somebody work for 6 years and not work. ...... 5. Oh in the food that came to me cold took 45 minuts to get there.... . now the fish i understand but still 45 minuts and cold both foods. it sucked and the desert that we orderd the baklava. it was dry and no flavor in it. and by dry im saying leave a pice of cornbread out for 7 days and eat it.. 6. the wine sucked.... just fucking sucked. it was viniger. the water we had her name emily or somthing like that said that she cant drink on the job. so she wouldnt taste it. it sucked... 7. the bathrooms sucked. the roomes have broken sinks in it and the toilets are fucking discusting....(worse than a restarea)....... 8. i took a look in to the kitchen.... its a shitty one i seen a cook spit on to the grill . and he seen me and yelled bad words at me in spanish. read more

This is a very good place to eat. Would have given it 5 stars if they took care of the sides as they do with the protein. Had the lamb shank and wife ate the lamb chops. Both lamb proteins were well seasoned, the rice pilaf and broccoli lack flavor. We had the Kalamar as a starter (aka calamari) that also lacked flavor on its own. They are almost there... they just need to make sure everything on the plate is seasoned. read more

Aya Sofia - Lamb Shank - Turkish Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Enjoyed the dumplings Friendly and attentive staff Our table of nine were seated in time No complaints from anyone Good liquor menu Recommend high read more

We had our valentines dinner here and it was to say the least amazing. Service was stellar. I can not wait to come back to try more. read more

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My first visit to this spot was a Tuesday evening. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and given the nice evening I elected to dine outside and was guided there by a friendly hostess and her young son helping mom. On Tuesday's the "wines by the glass" choices are on special for half price bottles. Dan was my very helpful waiter so he guided me to a bottle of wine from Turkey (when in Rome right?). It was a very drinkable red for only $20. I think the name was Katun or Katuna. I started with a warm appetizer of Kibbe, which was hamburger, pine nuts and Mediterranean spices. It was served as two squares. It was ok, although as I say that I've not had it before elsewhere so I'm not qualified for comparing it to other kibbe. It seemed it might have not been prepared that same day, that's all. Lots of tasty looking choices on the menu. Often in a new spot I'll simply ask the staff, "what do you want to serve me that will bring me back?". Dan explained that would be their whole-grilled fish, a mediterranean sea bass?, which is what I settled upon. It was grilled to perfection and very tasty. You have to pick through the fish and the bones, but with a full bottle of wine, it was a delicious exercise. Alongside was some pickled vegetables. I'd recommend this restaurant and I plan to go back and try some of the lamb selections, which also are a specialty I believe. Some swordfish too. It's nice to have such diverse restaurant choices in the STL. ps... Ted Drewes is across the street if you want ice cream afterwards! read more

I just had the most wonderfully exceptional birthday takeout dinner experience I could have ever asked for! The process for curbside take out during Covid is seamless. Every single bite and flavor was better than the last. We had Aya Sofia Meze platter, Sebseli pita, Kiymali Peynirli Pide and Baklava (with an extra Baklava included). I am stuffed with so many leftovers and I will be hard-pressed to save them until tomorrow. We will be back again and again! What a local treasure! read more

Very mediocre. Had never been here before and the hummus, doner sandwich and other dish we had weren't particularly well spiced. The fries were also extremely burnt! Hopefully it was just an off night. read more

Wow! First time trying Aya Sofia, and I'm upset I didn't try it sooner! Carried out a few great dishes. Food carried out very well. Iskender was amazing, so was the mediterranean chicken. The hummus and haydari were awesome as well. All of it was so fresh and delicious. The staff was super friendly. Definitely will be heading back soon. read more

Aya Sofia - Iskender, Mediterranean Chicken, Hummus, and Haydari - Turkish Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This restaurant is fabulous! The food has been amazing both times I have visited. Staff is very friendly and courteous! It is on my must visit list every time I get to St Louis. read more

Food was ok. Service was ok. Nothing special. The location is good but parking is an issue

Good food. Great service. Brought back wonderful memories of my time in Turkey many years ago.

Aya Sofia is one of the best restaurants in St. Louis! The waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable, just the right mix. The koftka and moussaka are my personal favorites! So much to choose from - all delicious! And the location (across from Ted Drewes) is perfection!! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis. The food and service are always exquisite and the decor is delightful. Somehow Aya Sofia manages to be elegant and cozy at the same time - I never feel stiff or uncomfortable here, but I always feel pampered. The lamb shank is to die for, so juicy and flavorful, but I usually order whatever fresh fish is being offered. Don't miss the pistachio liquor with dessert, it's really special. Also, the bar is really friendly and they have happy hour specials on weeknights and wine flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bartender, Sandra, is the type who learns what you drink really quickly and gives you great advice on new things to try. read more

Very cozy and romantic restaurant for upscale Turkish/Mediterranean food. Decent wine selection and top three falafels in town! Good selection for those with dietary restrictions, from vegan to vegetarian to gluten free. I think the food may be a taaaad overpriced and the Old Fashioned left something to be desired, so I'm docking a point, but otherwise, excellent choice for a slightly unconventional date night. read more

Love the romantic atmosphere here. The service is perfect and the food taste amazing. I recommend the lamb.

I couldn't find a single thing wrong with this experience, not a one, and I look when things seem to go so smooth. If anyone wanted to crab, maybe they could about the parking or the cold bathroom, but that's nothing. On approach, the outside has a nice cool look to it with soft lighting. Once inside you walk down a short skinny hallway, nicely decorated, into a dining room of tables in the center and booths that line the outer walls and an outdoor patio that must be a priority to get in nice weather. The booths have wooden fenced? details between them with pulled back curtains on each booth entrance. The lighting was just about right for a nice meal and wait staff were very attentive. The food was excellent and surprisingly quick for as busy as it was. We had the Turkish meatball entree a very good dish and the meatballs were not what I expected, but better. Also we had the Musakka an excellent dish, leftovers of which I easily consumed for lunch (cold even) while starting this review. It was excellent warm, it was just as excellent cold. I also ordered the Saksuka which I thought would be a potato side dish of sorts (I was imagining fried potatoes for some reason) but was pleasantly surprised at what arrived and I tasted. It made an excellent side dish, although it is listed as a cold plate, I am pretty sure it was warm (a day of fading memory already). I will go back, if nothing else to also try dessert this time, I didn't even ask what they had... Ted Drewes is right across the street so I had to go there. Put this place on your to try list. If you like Mediterranean food, you won't be disappointed. read more

Mmmm....turkey. Wait! Where the hell's the turkey??? OK. I kid. Aya Sofia is one of those restaurants that I always feel like I'm rediscovering. (In a good way) Service--professional without being standoffish Gluten free request--handled very well-the chef came out to the table to assure us that everything would be safe Parking--they might be making a silent statement about rampant oil consumption in the U.S.--be prepared to do some street parking folks cause you probably ain't gonna score a parking spot here Atmosphere--romantic and lush without being cheesy and over the top Pre Dinner Cocktail--Meh...I wasn't that impressed with my drink or the one Jordan got--definitely not a deal breaker though Food--color me impressed--every single thing that came to that table was excellent and prepared perfectly--on our last visit we had humus with veggies, karides sis kebab (shrimp that practically sings it's so damn good), fall off the freaking bone lamb shank, and steak that rivals some of the best I've had in St. Louis Aya Sofia rocks. read more

I now know the definition of foodgasm: Aya Sofia! Mine is still lasting through today. I swear, I didn't even eat breakfast because I'm still full! And I'll be having my leftovers for lunch. Last night was the best International Supper Club ever (and the most expensive!) Maybe those two things go hand in hand. It was worth it, no doubt about it. Aya Sofia is so romantic and I'm glad I wasn't trying to have a romantic dinner for 2 while the loud group of 20 of us were there! I definitely would come back. Guys, I highly suggest you bring your partners here because you would get major brownie points! The bar area is small and we quickly moved into the dining room as our numbers grew. There are lots of booths with gauzy curtains around them adding to the romantic ambiance. The patio looks lovely, if it weren't 20 degrees outside! I ordered a "Lebanese Princess" cocktail, which is vodka, peach schnapps, apricot nectar and sparkling wine. YUM! It was so yummy that it convinced Erin G. to order 2. I would've if I didn't have to drive! It was a nice gesture to have carafes of water on the tables so we didn't have an empty glass, but since the service was so awesome I think we probably would have had full glasses anyway. As many people mentioned, the service was impeccable. One of the best places I've been to in terms of service. Our waiter was super funny and nice, gave recommendations, and there were several people around to take care of our every need. Our food came out timed perfectly, even though we had about 20 people, so we were sitting forever waiting for our food while someone else had theirs or vice versa. Everyone was friendly and wonderful. I loved it! It went with the great ambiance. As for the food - as I mentioned, major foodgasm. I tried several appetizers, including the hummus (creamy and with a nice kick to it, maybe roasted red peppers?), baba ganoush (not a big eggplant fan - liked the consistency, not chunky, but too oniony for me), yogurt dip that I forget the name of (creamy and tasty, though maybe not stand alone), and the feta and spinach in phyllo, which stole the show. They came looking like egg rolls (long tubes) but weren't greasy and the insides were oozy with feta. They came with this tangy delicious tomato based sauce that I loved! I think I would come here just for this dish. Props to them for having many vegetarian dishes! I ordered the spinach and feta noodle casserole for my entree (and could've done without since it was so much food). Its presentation was very nice, with parsley on top and green beans and carrots to the side. The veggies were perfectly cooked with a nice seasoning that I'd love the recipe for! The noodles had another tangy tomato sauce and did not skimp on the feta. A cheese lover's dream! This is one of my fave new places. I can't WAIT to go back!! read more

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The office went for lunch Friday. This is a really small place, with about 5 parking spots. It looks like there's two patios, which would really expand their capacity in good weather. We walked into a dark place to be greeted by a sign that said, "Seat Yourself." Well, we had to figure out where it was that we were supposed to seat ourselves. A bar was straight ahead, so we turned left and followed the trail. There you go. Into the dining room. And we did just seat ourselves, wondering if anyone noticed that we'd entered. We sat at a spacious booth that offered pillows. But I don't know who's been doing what with those, so I didn't touch it. Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. We started with a babaganus appetizer ($7), served with toasted pita triangles. So delicious and included a couple cucumber slices and a kalamata olive, all of which I devoured. Good flavor of eggplant, tomato, garlic, lemon and tahini. So good. And I was full. Entrees were: #1 -- Firanda Mikana ($9.95). Casserole of spinach, feta, tomato sauce, garlic and cumin. It looked fabulous. He said it was delicious. #2 -- Karides Sis Kebap Platter ($11.95). Two grilled shrimp skewers served with rice (or fries) and vegetables (carrots and mushrooms). She opted, when offered, to get one of the skewers as beef. I got the same as #2, including the swap out of one skewer with beef, rather than shrimp. And I opted out of rice for fries. I don't like rice. We all got (for an extra $2 apiece) the small Shepherd Salad -- a chop of tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumber. Both red peppers and green peppers were ingredients, and one of our party does NOT LIKE IN ANY WAY green peppers. So she picked them all out. There was also a lot of parsley in this salad. I did not like that. Parsley to me is bitter. Even so, it was a really good salad. And a large serving! After all this food, then we had the entrees! I ate one shrimp, which was wonderfully cooked and spiced. I ate one piece of beef tenderloin on the skewer, cooked perfectly. It was delicious. I ate the incredibly fabulously seasoned carrots and grilled (?) mushrooms. This was a great side. I could have eaten these five times until Sunday. I shared my fries. They were coated (?) and wonderfully hot and snappy. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. When we left, I had the leftovers of the babaganu with pita triangles, more than half of my Shepherd Salad and the majority of my entree: carrots and mushrooms, skewers of both beef and shrimp, and fries. Gangbusters on leftovers. read more

I dined at Aye Sofia, after driving by a few times and being tempted by the neat decor/patio and the idea of Turkish cuisine. Glad I did! I had the hummus, which was delicious (I didn't think I even liked hummus!) and the Iskender (lamb and beef dish) which was amazing! Neat atmosphere and great service. Overall, it was more than I would normally spend for a dinner in the area, but I think it was worth it ($60 w/ tip for 2 people.) Definitely not a regular spot, but a great place to celebrate a nice occasion. read more

So first time here and I should have come here sooner. I have been missing out on some amazing food. The spaghetti squash soup blew my mind. It was creamy and very well spiced. The meze dip trio was very nice and it comes with cucumber and tomatoes. Must try the sultan's delight. Steel over mashed potatoes with cheese. The stuffed eggplant my domestic partner loved more. Will be back to try other things. read more

The ambience is very cozy and tasteful. We tried a glass of the red and white wines from turkey. They offered us a taste before we made our selection. The wines were delicious. The grilled sword fish on skewers was juicy, flavorful and perfectly done with grilled carrots, zucchini and rice on the side. I tried a bit of the lamb kebabs that my husband ordered. Everything was delicious, fresh and well seasoned. The server was knowledgeable and attentive. We had a nut based pudding for dessert and we really enjoyed it. Over all a wonderful dining experience. The only thing I have to say is the food took a teeny bit of time to get from the kitchen but I assume that is because it was freshly prepared. No criticism only an observation. Will definitely go back!! read more

Omg omg omg. I was wondering if all of the 4 and 5 star reviews for this place were spot-on or not and they ARE. IT'S REAL! It's not a trap! :P lol. Came here last night with the BF. Was worried he wouldn't find something he liked, but he ordered the beef kabob things and was only a bit disappointed when the waiter (Josh, I think? he was pretty good) told him that the onions and red peppers thing was a type-o on the menu and it actually came with carrots and zucchini. Those carrots were some of the best I ever had (no wonder I feel so good today!) and I wouldn't have been too disappointed if I had those instead. But Sean was a little bummed, as he loves red peppers. I think they should really correct this on the menu or else expect a lot of confused/upset customers. I also think the waiter should have brought some for Sean because he asked about it but in fairness, we had a metric assload of food to eat so it's not like we were gonna go hungry. Just something I wanted to point out. We got the ezme mezze platter to start with. I really wanted that bigger platter with the grapeleaves but I figured I'd be getting more food than I knew what to do with so I restrained myself. But OMG I am sooo glad we got those dips. Came with three dips: hummus (traditional hummus but a bit more sour, probably more olives or tahini(?) in it), biber ezme (Justin Biber?! just kidding. it's like a roasted red pepper dip with garlic, mmm), and finally last but certainly not least Baba ghanoush (eggplant-y dip. OMG.) My favorite was the last on the list, Baba ghanoush. Tasted like a fresh veggie garden with a hint of garlic and maybe some olives. Bust mostly veggies. Unffff. I'll say this again, if all vegetarian food was this good, I'd be a frickin' vegetarian, lol. The pita bread was hot and tasty and the server brought us extra at no cost and some to go as I took the dips home. Sean didn't really like any of the dips which shocked me because he loves hummus usually, and he loves roasted red pepper like it's nobody's business but he stated that all of these were wayyyyy too strong for his tastebuds. Too much garlic or olives or something. Oh well! I loved them. (Hoarding Baba ghanoush in my fridge now..lol.) I got the fish special. I think it was chapu or something? Basically like a seabass and it came with all the bones in it which kind of sucked but there is something quite awesome about seeing an entire f'ing fish on your plate staring up at you, haha. Reminded me of my time in Japan and Hong Kong where they serve fish whole. Just be careful eating the fish and avoid bones because I nearly swallowed one. Needs a disclaimer on the menu or something, lol! But so worth it. If anything I ate a lot slower which led to me feeling better after. I don't know how I will be able to try other food on their menu as this fish is so freaking awesome, I will want it every time. Their couscous is amazing! They cook it with margarine so it's nice and buttery. The tomatoes looked very red and very fresh. Mmm. Also came with onions which were a little strong for me. I saved some of the ezme stuff and put it on my fish! Only other minor gripe: the hostess seated us in the worst booth possible, right by the server station/kitchen. We had to smell the cleaning stuff the entire time we were there and hear a lot of noise. But the food and everything else about our trip there was so awesome that I am willing to overlook this and give them 5 stars. I just don't get why hostesses do that all the time especially considering the place was pretty dead when we got there (6pm on a Saturday night, oddly.) Also the decor here is lovely and romantic and next time I wanna see their bathroom (I'm weird, haha.) Wanted to try dessert but Ted Drewes was calling my name from across the street! V__V; next time, for sure, as I plan to take my mom here when she comes into town again and she LOVES this kind of food!! Only downside is that it's expensive. Our total came to about $60 even plus we left tip. Kind pricey but you definitely get tons of food and you can always get it to go! read more

Aya Sofia - Ezme platter mmmm - Turkish Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

My first visit here was with the beautiful wife and the rest of the International Supper Club last week. As an unabashed lover of Turkish history, I was excited to visit, regardless if the cuisine was authenticate or Americanized (I figured it would be the latter, after all, I assume the Turkish population of St. Louis isn't substantial enough to maintain an "authentic" place) Anyway, a number of the ISCers have already written reviews, so I'll touch on some aspects that haven't been mentioned: Booze: Raki -- I glanced over their drink menu too quickly and thought they didn't have raki. Ah, but they have Arak Razzouk, which is Lebanese and fairly close. Next time. Timisoreana -- beer from the oldest brewery in Romania, how could I resist? It's a pretty normal, average lager (though it was served really cold, which helped). I convinced/tricked Zac into getting one, so I think I owe him a beer at some point. I'd drink it again, especially if it was hot out. Food: Adana kebap/kebab (pick your spelling) -- ah, this was fantastic. Ground lamb mixed with red chili flakes (described first as an 8 on the hot scale, then 7, then 6) I asked if mine could be "really really spicy." And they delivered. However, this is not first date food, unless you're really trying to convey a certain "hint" to your date. Am I being subtle enough or should I just come out and say I described it as a "big dick of meat"? Well there you go, I just did. Babaganus -- OK, others mentioned it (and many thanks to Justin for letting us sample some of his order), but it was the best I remember having. Wicked awesome. Service and atmosphere: Again, as others have mentioned, the service was incredible and the atmosphere screams romance (then again, I was seated next to the beautiful wife, but I digress). All the wonderful food and drink does add up -- it's not cheap, but I think you get sufficient quality and quantity so that you don't mind. I was impressed -- we certainly will return, especially to enjoy their patio. read more

Last night, we held Yelp International Supper Club at Aya Sofia, and it was hands-down one of our best events ever. Despite a few last-minute cancellations and no-shows, we had about 22 Yelpers and their plus-ones at dinner - perhaps our biggest turnout ever and more than we were expecting! We didn't know how much the group would continue to grow, so Erin G. called up the restaurant before the big day to ask them to break from some of their normal policies and agree to split checks and take multiple credit cards - and they happily agreed! And once we were at the restaurant, the good service didn't stop. From the welcome into the venue to the pleasant chit chat around the bar to the excellent recommendations from the servers and the smiles all around, Aya Sofia brought its A-game. The restaurant seemed just as happy to have us there as we were to be there. Honestly, Aya Sofia was one of the best restaurants we've worked with for a Supper Club event, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for a large business lunch, rehearsal dinner or family reunion. They know how to take care of people! You go to a restaurant to eat and not just to gawk at happy servers, though, right? Aya Sofia's Turkish roots were on full display on the menu of wonder. Our table did the family thing and shared appetizers. The humus was a reddish-brown color and had a very slight kick to it. The babaganus was creamy, the eggplant wasn't weird and eggplanty, and the onion and lemon juice was very detectable and delicious. The meat-eaters among us raved about the calamari. And the pita bread that was brought forth was fluffy, warm and plentiful. For my entree, I ordered the sebzeli musakka ($15), "baked layers of eggplant, potatoes, red bell peppers, bechemel sauce and grated cheese covered in a garlic tomato sauce," and it came with pearl couscous (the big kind, not the fine sandy stuff). As a vegetarian, I get bored with eggplant and it's not my favorite thing ever, but I enjoyed Aya Sofia's version. It wasn't weird and stringy, and it felt more like mushrooms than eggplant. The sauce was tasty, and I LOVED the seasoned, crisp green beans that were tucked away on the side. The portion was huge, so I have plenty to eat for lunch today. Actually, eggplant in general is my only complaint about Aya Sofia, and it's why I'd actually give the restaurant 4.5 stars instead of a full 5. I SO SO SO appreciate the vegetarian entree section of the menu, but I'd really like to see another entree that contains something other than eggplant. There is one made of feta (yum!) and noodles, but when I tasted it, I still felt like I was eating eggplant. It was kind of tasty, though. My boyfriend ordered the lamb shank ($19), and leftovers were not in his future - he enjoyed it so much that the plate was left completely clean! His dish normally came with rice, but because of his diet, he requested vegetables instead, and Aya Sofia was more than happy to accommodate him. The night was capped off by a surprise dessert - the Aya Sofia crew brought out baklava for everyone at no charge! I'm a sucker for baklava, so you'd better believe I was thrilled when friends near me complained of full tummies and handed their desserts over to me. I ate THREE portions of baklava and LOVED the flaky top and sweet, honeyed bottom. It's a shame that we don't bring International Supper Club to a restaurant more than once, because another Aya Sofia surely would be a hit. Everyone went away happy, though, so there's no doubt that many of us will be back to this accommodating, romantic restaurant individually. read more

I'd like to preface this by saying I am the Marketing Director for a group of restaurants and while I have never actually written a Yelp review before, I do read and respond to many reviews - both good and bad - on behalf of our restaurants. There are times when I get frustrated with writers who have clearly exaggerated a negative experience - I mention this only because I want other readers to understand that I am in no way exaggerating with what I have to say. I have been to Aya Sofia around a dozen times and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere, but last night I experienced perhaps the worst customer service I have ever had - anywhere. Early in the day, my mom called to make a reservation for my parents and myself (they were taking me out for my birthday). She had a coupon from restaurant.com and in her message she mentioned the coupon and asked that someone call her back if we would be unable to use it (she wanted to make sure because it was a weekend). She never got a call and assumed it would't be a problem. When we got to the restaurant, we were seated and after the waiter introduced himself (before we ordered) we gave him the certificate, which he took without indicating a problem. Eventually, we ordered and received our drinks and salads. A few minutes after our salad plates had been cleared (about 30 minutes after we arrived) we were patiently waiting for our main course and our server returned. He said our food was ready in the window but before he gave it to us, he wanted to let us know that he couldn't accept the restaurant.com certificate. He acknowledged that the certificate said that "this coupon does not expire" and that they used to accept them. He went on to say that they have had a bunch of problems with that website and have been trying for years to remove their coupon (though it remains today). (For those of you who don't know, Restaurant.com is a website that sells certificates/coupons that are worth a discount on a minimum purchase. In this case it was a $25 discount on a minimum $50 purchase. The coupon was purchased for $10 just 2 weeks ago.) I can tell you first hand that Restaurant.com is incredibly easy to use for both restaurants and customers. Additionally, when a restaurant signs up with restaurant.com, they sign an agreement to accept all coupons purchased for their restaurant, forever. There is never an expiration date. At this point, we asked to speak to the manager. The server went into the back and returned without the manager and apologized again and told us he just said that they absolutely would not accept it. We expressed our frustration and accepted his apology (obviously it was no fault of our server) and again said that we would like to speak with the manager. Our server left again and we waited. And waited. Finally, 40minutes later our server returned and asked if we wanted any water or dessert. Confused, we inquired about our food - which he had told us was in the window close to an hour before - and he said it had been thrown away because he thought we were going to leave. This was never indicated by anyone in anyway. Shocked, I asked for the bill for our salads and drink - which he said we wouldn't have to pay for - and we left. In a nutshell, we were given about $30 worth of free food/drinks so they could avoid accepting a coupon worth less than that. That and the fact that the manager refused to visit our table absolutely blows my mind. How does it make any sense to loose loyal customers over a discount that they gave us anyway. At least with the certificate, we would be paying for close to $100 in additional food. Like I said, I have never written a Yelp review before, but this experience left me so outraged I felt like I had to warn others (and the owner of a good restaurant, that is in the hands of a completely irresponsible manager). read more

4.5 stars What a gem Aya Sofia is! It's tucked away on Chippewa right across the street from Ted Drewes. A large group of us came here for dinner on a weekday evening. Our wait staff accommodated us well but I think this place is best frequented with a small group as it is small and intimate inside. It would be a great place for a date or HH. The food, though, was incredible. The lamb chops were some of the best I've tasted in years; cooked to a beautiful medium rare, just enough seasoning to bring out the natural flavors of the lamb, with a perfect amount of fat to make each bite even more luscious. I'm reeling just thinking about it again...the lamb shank also deserves a shout-out as it was incredibly tender. But those chops stole the show. I'd definitely recommend getting some lamb option here; while the moussaka is good, don't deprive yourself of that delicious meat. I will also add that I appreciate how thoughtful the chefs are of seasoning here. Nothing was too aggressively salted or seasoned, making each bite well-balanced. I am also impressed at the large portion sizes they give here. Sure, entrees aren't cheap ($18-$25), but you're going to have enough to bring home for another meal - rare when you're getting a relatively expensive cut of meat. Aya Sofia isn't exactly what I'd call upscale - it's not cheap, but it's not fine dining suit-jacket-required kind of dining either - but it certainly made me feel a little pampered. Aya Sofia will certainly be on my list of places to return to when I need a little bit of that. read more

It's been a while, but I made it back to Aya Sofia this week. The place was almost totally empty, but it was a Tuesday night. I'm hoping that's not the norm because I would hate it if this place closed. I tried some different dishes this visit. I had the spinach -feta version of the Borek...wow. Really good! More cheese than spinach for those who are a tad nervous about the vegetable. I also had a white been cold tapas...don't remember the name. It was alright, but I've had other things I liked better. But the highlight of my meal was the moussaka. OMG good. I've had it because at a Greek restaurant and remember thinking it was ok. Maybe I'm remembering wrong but I was expecting something like a lasagna layered casserole. Instead, I got something that resembled stew over a pile of Israeli couscous. The flavor is amazing, especially the bites of lamb. I got full and couldn't finish, but I dug out every piece of meat I could get. So good! I also had no idea that they have Sunday brunch. Now I have to go back soon to check it out. read more

I had a certificate from Restaurant.com that was about to expire so we wanted to use it quickly and finally try Aya Sofia. We attempted to go one other time about a month ago not realizing they were closed on Monday. My husband and I finally had another night off together a few days ago and went. I loved the decor and dim lighting. Our waiter was wonderful. He was very informative and attentive, but not intrusive. We chose the wine sampler of 3 different Spanish wines after the waiter suggested it. It was $12 per person, but I enjoyed trying the different wines. Now I know which one to commit to the next time we visit. We had the Ezme Meze Platter of humus, biber ezme, and babaganus. They were all very good, but I especially enjoyed their babaganus. We were given plenty of pita bread in a basket, warm and cut into triangles. I could have made a meal out of this alone. My husband had the Kalamar Tava which was lightly breaded calamari with a garlic aioli. He loved it and I thought that it looked very good. For our entrees, I had the Imam Bayildi which was eggplant baked with onions, garlic, tomatoes and olive oil, served with tomato sauce and pearl couscous. It was pretty good, but what I loved was the zucchini served on the side. I could have eaten an entire plate of that by itself! The carrots had a nice spice on them and were not too soft, not too crisp. I had never had this type of couscous before and it was interesting. It may have been nice to have more of it though or some rice for all the sauce on the plate. My husband had the Kuzu Pirizola, which was grilled lamb chops. It looked very good and he was extremely satisfied with it. He also thought more rice might have been nice, but had no complaints. It was a HUGE difference compared to the sub-par lamb chops he had at a chain restaurant we made the mistake of visiting. The chops at Aya Sofia had a better color to them and weren't greasy, were thicker and actually cost less than the place we previously visited. We also shared a baklava which was unique with pistachios. All of their deserts looked wonderful though. We were quite full and took the rest home to enjoy. Our server wrapped it all up for us and we didn't even have to ask. We were never wondering where our server was and never were in want of anything, i. e. more water, etc. Like I said, very attentive. It was also nice to have a professional man waiting on us and not a kid for once. I really appreciate that Aya Sofia has several vegetarian and vegan friendly options. They can accommodate anyone it seems. We did end up spending a bit more money than planned, but it was well worth it. I have had dinner and drinks for two that have cost much more and were not as pleasing. My only concerns would be that there isn't much of a parking lot, but we found a space on the street right away that was not too far. My menu also had food on it which was a little offsetting. Other than that, it was a close to perfect evening. We can't wait to go back again. I would highly recommend Aya Sofia for your next night out. We had not had Turkish food before this night, but it was very similar to other cuisine we love. It is wonderful to have such a place in our city which is also not too far of a drive for us. read more

Wow!!!! Love this gem. Just found out about this restaurant while shuffling through my deck of taste cards. The food was extremely good and the wait staff was superb! This place is a must try after you get done you can go get some Ted Drews Ice Cream. read more

Love the kofta plate here, but this time I thought I'd branch out and try the chicken kepbap lunch. The seasoning is fantastic and the portions are just right. Their lunches are quite reasonable for the quality of food and I always find the service to be good. My pilaf was nutty with just a dusting of an herbal seasoning on top - zatar perhaps? The yogurt sauce was a nice counterpoint to the zippy chicken kebab. Not exactly sure what all was on there, but there was a weee bit of a gentle heat, and otherwise very savory. The chicken was nicely cooked and for lunch, one skewer is quite adequate unless you really need a heavy hit of protein. The tabouli was refreshing with a good mix of herbs and parsley. All in all a very nice lunch. If you have a hankering for something a bit different from your usual routine give them a try! read more

Aya Sofia - Chicken kebab lunch special for 9.95 - Turkish Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

A place like no other in St Louis. Charming interior w/ impeccable well-informed service. Beyond delicious meal! Can't wait to try the patio this summer. read more

To sum this restaurant up: YUM. Last weekend, the boyfriend and I decided we didn't feel like cooking and since Aya Sofia is right down the street from our place, we decided to go there. I have heard mixed reviews about it but since we love any sort of Mediterranean food, we had to try it out. We were seated right away (probably in part ot the nasty weather that night - the restaurant was only half full) and given menus, a drink menu and waters. For my cocktail, I chose an Evil Eye Martini (Three Olives Pomegranata vodka, Absolute Citron vodka and lemonade) and the BF had the Istanbul not Contstinople drink (vodka, organge juice, Turkish cherry juice and I'm not sure what else...) - both were strong but good. For an appetizer we shared the Karides Sis Kebab (marinaded and grilled shrimp) which was simple but done perfectly. Then came the salads - I was going to skip that but when I saw that most had goat cheese on them, I couldn't resist. I had an Aya Sofia Salatasi (spring mix lettuce with goat cheese, onions, tomatoes and olive oil) which was delicious. The BF had a small side salad which was also good. (Can't remember what was in his salad - I was zoned out on my goat cheese.) For our entrees, I had the Kabap (marinated beef on skewers) which came with yellow squash and carrots. I also swapped out the rice pilaf for their pearl cous cous. Everything was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. The beef was amazing and while I've never tried pearl cous cous, I'm now in love with it. The BF had the Kofte (chargrilled beef and lamb, mixed with spices and breadcrumbs) which came with the rice pilaf and the same veggies I had. it was delicious. His also came with a side of their yogurt sauce which was so good that I had to ask for a side of my own! For dessert (which we had to order, even though we sure didn't finish it - too full!) we tried the Kadayif Dolmasi (traditional Turkish dessert consisting of thin strands of phyllo dough, butter, sugar, and nuts - probably a few other things but that's all I can remember - I was far into a food coma by then). It was really good and unlike anything I've ever had. The service was great, the price points were reasonable and the decor is spot on. It's like being transported overseas. The owner did a great job of creating an intimate atmosphere, even in the bar area (which we took a peek at - really cool). Whoever had negative reviews of this place must have been out of their mind - the BF and I will definitely be back! read more

For a truly cultural experience, I highly recommend Aya Sofia. This is NOT your everyday Greek restaurant, rather, its Turkish. Its menu items are unique, cultural, and excellent. The service is outstanding. I've had several of the appetizers and they were good. My favorite meal is the Iskender. My girlfriend and I generally split it (for a $3 surcharge). Even then, they bring us so much food we leave plenty full. The Iskender is Gyro meat atop pita bread, and covered in a somewhat spicy tomato sauce. Delicious! This could be a romantic place for a date, but prices are reasonable enough just for dinner. read more

Aya Sofia was delightful. One of my new favorites in STL. My boyfriend took me here for my bday dinner and we both really enjoyed this place. As you walk in you see all the Zagat awards on the wall, many of them rated for best date place. I can see why with the excellent service, good food and lovely decorations. It was a stormy night so we didn't have to wait long. We were seated in the cute booths with the lovely curtains and intricate wall decor. If it was nicer I would have loved to sit on the patio, but maybe next time. We split the Borek which was a delicious, flaky spinach and cheese appetizer. It came with a nice tangy tomato sauce that went really well with the pastry. They were very good and perfect for sharing as the portions for the entrees are quite large. I ordered the Kuzu Pirozola which were the lamb chops. Perfect is the only way to describe them. I have no idea what it was seasoned with but the lamb was tender and the meat was so flavorful. oh my goodness. SO good. My boyfriend ordered the Kuzu Incik which was a sort of lamb stew with mashed potatoes. It was delicious as well but I think I liked the lamb chops better. I didn't have any room for dessert but got a complimentary custard ( I think). I don't remember exactly what it was made of but it was good. This was my first experience with Turkish food and I would definitely go back. Aya Sofia is a gem in the Chippewa neighborhood, everyone should definitely try it!! read more

I was having diner the other night at Aya Sofia and I realized that I was having a great time. Yeah, you know those moments where you realize that everything is just going your way and couldn't be better. Everyone is having a good time, the atmosphere is great, and if everyone broke into song and dance, you wouldn't be surprised at all. In reality, if people broke out into song and dance, it probably would be nice and appropriate. I had the Iskender. It was wonderful. The seasoned lamb and beef thinly sliced with tomatos and yogurt sauce was great. The meat was cooked just right. If you enjoy beef or lamb, then the Iskender is the way to go. Aya Sofia is a nice place to go and priced very nicely. read more

Amazing! Our party of three had appetizers, 3 dinners, a bottle of wine, desserts AND a liqour for $116. What a great variety of tastes and dishes! The food and service is very high quality. I love this place. Let see--can't remember what we had since it's been about 2 weeks but it was all good. The decor is charming! On Wednesday night they have half price wine by the bottle, so that's what helped keep our bill down. Highly recommended. read more

Great food, excellent service! Best brunch! Waiter was super nice and took our pics! I always feel like I'm in the confessional, when I sit in the booth! read more

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So after my mediocre food experience at International Supper Club the other day, I decided to give Aya Sofia another try. I live super close, so takeout was the plan. I called and ordered the Kuzu Incik (lamb shank with white bean sauce and rice pilaf) along with a piece of baklava. The order was ready when I arrived, and it was still piping hot when I got home. The guy packaging my order was nice enough to include a TON of pita bread and olive tapenade with my meal, which was a nice touch. Everything was packaged securely to ensure no leaks or anything like that. The food itself was not bad. The lamb was extremely tender and literally fell off the bone with a gentle tug of the fork. The white bean sauce and rice pilaf were good. The baklava was also pretty good. Even the pita bread and olive tapenade were good. So why only 3 stars? Well, it was all good -- not great. The portion was huge, but the flavor was just middle of the road. Not bland by any means, but nothing that wowed me in terms of flavor. Oh, and the price for my lamb shank and baklava? A little over $28 bucks. Kind of expensive for a meal for one. I don't have a problem paying a premium for GREAT food. I DO have a problem paying a premium for AVERAGE food. And in my opinion, while the service at Aya Sofia is fantastic, the food is painfully average. I'm not itching to come back, unfortunately. read more