A perfect lunch restaurant...and the dinner takeout menu is awesome! The baked haddock is highly recommended.

Wow, I just stumbled upon Cafe Mangal during the lunch hour today, and I couldn't not have been more impressed--no wonder they are a local favorite! I ordered the Vegetarian Sandwich, which was delicious and came with a nice side salad too. I will absolutely be back! read more

Absolutely amazing food made all the better with the lovely atmosphere and ambience. The service was fantastic. Would definitely come back again. read more

Came in after the lunch rush with a friend because this place get busy during peak hours, after standing in front of the register waiting to order for 5 minutes, the woman behind the counter took the orders of the two ladies BEHIND my friend and I before she took ours....even though it was obvious that we were waiting first. She was not particularly friendly to us either while taking the order, she seemed annoyed for some reason. Our server was very nice, brought our food over and some waters. Food was good, I got a small soup and a half of a tomato prosciutto sandwich. It was good, pretty fresh, the bread was very good. Overall it was fine, but in my opinion pretty overpriced for what you get...there are places on the same block where you can get better food for cheaper. Good food but I really only ever come when someone else wants to go. read more

Lovely food and staff. Always fresh and presented in the most appetizing fashion. Love the salads for lunch and take-out dinners are easy to reheat. So grateful to have this wonderful restaurant in Wellesley! read more

This is a great place. Food delicious friendly staff. Turkish apple tea is amazing. This place have great ambiance as well read more

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My go to lunch spot in Wellesley! My kids love it too. Casual Turkish-inspired sandwiches, salads and soups in a very Covid-safe environment. I cannot wait until they open up for dinner again! read more

Café Mangal is a Mediterranean restaurant with a Turkish twist that has been around for 13 years. The food is unique and has an authentic ethnic touch. The menu includes a wide variety of fresh fish, lamb, chicken etc. The prices are rather high and I found it very annoying that the menu online does not contain any prices. I spent at least 30 minutes online trying to find the prices of dishes or even a price range listed somewhere. They really keep you in the dark. I must say this almost discouraged me from even checking this place out but since I was in the area I decided to stop in for a bite to eat. I tried the halibut filet baked in toasted pine nuts with dill, chardonnay, and butter served with arugula and radish salad. This dish had flavor but was not overpowering. Most of the ingredients in the dish were rich and it felt like they used a large amount of oil/butter to cook the fish itself. This ended up upsetting my tummy later on in the night. The grilled red snapper filet served over saffron rice with peas & carrots, fresh Mediterranean style tomato sauce and chopped cilantro is another dish I tried out. This dish was filled with an abundance of flavor and had so much going on. It was interesting but not really my style. Overall, I certainly enjoyed my experience at Café Mangal, but I probably will not be a recurring customer. The prices are a bit too high. I definitely think it is worth checking out at least once. read more

Cafe Mangal - Mediterranean Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

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Fantastic spot. Really good and healthy food. Nice atmosphere. Staff were very accommodating. Will definitely come back again.

Cafe Mangal is one of our favorite spots in Wellesley. Their lunch salads and sandwiches are amazing, and we've always received warm and welcoming hospitality from the staff. COVID has prevented us from having a sit down meal, but we can't wait to do so (the ambience of the restaurant is awesome). Keep it up, Cafe Mangal! read more

I had lunch with a friend here for the first time today. The restaurant is very cute, cozy and spotless. The menu had so many fabulous sounding dishes I had a tough time picking one! My friend was given a soup that was different than what she ordered, with ingredients she doesn't eat. She didn't realize this until after she started eating. When she alerted the server they took the time to figure out what went wrong and they were very apologetic and immediately refunded her, and gave her a simit. We both had salads which were beautifully presented and we both enjoyed them very much. We were both very impressed with the owner's kindness in dealing with the soup situation. I will look forward to returning! read more

Popular with the lunch crowd. Nice salads and Sandwiches with a Mediterranean twist. Pleasant servers.

This restaurant was one of the best restaurants that I tried in Boston area. We had a reservation for 3 people, arrived on time and were seated on time. The staff was very friendly answered all the questions about the food and were ready to answer any more question about the menu. I will definitely give 5 stars, will definitely go back there again for the next trip, and will definitely recommend this restaurant to others. read more

We were in the area visiting a friend so I wanted to stop in here and check out Cafe Mangal. I can not even remember the last time we had "Turkish" fare. Dennis is a little (a lot) hesitant over experimenting with new cuisines so I did most of the ordering. We started with Turkish coffee (of course!) Then a pear salad, which was just fresh and yummy. I played it a bit safe and ordered a tomato, basil, and mozzarella sandwich which was just so good. I just love small family owned restaurants like this. Its so refreshing to get AWAY from the corporate chains. This is AMERICIAN Flavor ladies and gentleman. BTW, Its BYOB but we did not today. read more

What an incredible find! We ordered takeout and it was fantastic. The service was exceptional, and the food even better. Definitely a must visit! read more

Cafe Mangal - Lamb shank, chicken breast Dardanelle, hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

My favorite lunch spot. No one does tuna better. It's light and fluffy. Every salad is outstanding. Chicken mozzarella panini yummy. Such a pretty and cozy space and The friendliest owners and staff. read more

This family-owned establishment is one-of-a-kind, hands-down. I have spent years eating at Café Mangal with my family because of the unspeakable hospitality, and delicate and flavorful preparation and taste of the dishes. Chef Mehmet provides the homiest and most personable experience, making us feel like we are welcomed into his home! My go-to #1 favorite is the Prosciutto and Arugula Goat Cheese Salad with Figs. It arrived and I was astonished by the presentation and the freshness of the entire meal. I live almost 45 minutes from Café Mangal but I will go out of my way any day to enjoy Turkish cuisine at Café Mangal! read more

Fantastic spot for lunch! Came here while visiting my parents and the food was delicious plus the service was great! The owner came out and spoke with us for a few minutes and even brought us a complimentary order of baklava which was the highlight of the meal! We'll definitely be coming back here. read more

Wow Wow!!! My first visit to cafe mangal for lunch.i got yengen which turkish grilled cheese i loved it.my wife she got roast beef sandwich she loved it.presentation is great.my last visit for dinner here is my review appetizer combo 5 star Borek 5 star Beef Kebab 5 star ( well marinated and tasty my plate looks great) My wife she got chicken dardanel she loved it.it comes in special china. Finally Balava is out if this world. A-Z Great Experience Be Back.... read more

Cafe Mangal - Like It...Delicious - Mediterranean Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

Best secret restaurant in Wellesley. Authentic Turkish food. Wry reasonable prices and huge back yard seating under trees. Baklava is awesome. The chef often sends out a piece when you order Turkish coffee!!. read more

Wow, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. Their customer service is SUPERB and the food is delicious. We went twice over the past month or so: -Visit 1: we went around 8:15pm on a Saturday night, and were able to get a table for 2 (we called 1/2 an hour ahead of time for a reservation). It was crowded, and temperature not well controlled (super hot). However, they were doing the best they could to open the door; we had an unusually warm October. When we got the menus, we were promptly told that they were out of a dish or two, which was disappointing but ok. We placed our order, but 5 minutes later our waitress comes back and tells us that BOTH of our (different) dishes were gone. Ok...so we frantically picked another set of dishes--because our waitress said there was one left of another viable option--and got our order in. At this point, things were not looking good for Cafe Mangal. However, over the course of the next hour, they made it right two times over. They brought out complimentary appetizers (not just pita and sauces but something large and filling too!) and, when dessert rolled around, complimentary desserts (creme brulee). Throughout the meal the waiters and waitresses were very attentive. At the end of our meal the chef came out and apologized for the food being out of stock, and chatted with us for a while. So, from a service perspective, they'd earned back their stars. Now the food: WOW. everything my spouse and I had was deliciious, and I very rarely say that: pita with a sampling of sauces, Baked Portobello Mushroom with roasted red peppers & goat cheese appetizer, Broiled Scottish Salmon, Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Thighs with Tahini, creme brulee, peach & lemon sorbet, and hazelnut cake. Incredible. -Visit 2: this time we came early (6pm) on a Saturday night to make sure we'd have our pick of entrees :-) Indeed, they did, and we each had the beef shish kabob. AMAZING. The sorbet and hazelnut cake were also as delicious as we remembered. This is our new go-to restaurant in Wellesley when we want a nice night out. Kudos to Cafe Mangal for getting so many elements right that are sorely lacking nowadays: great customer service coupled with incredible food. read more

I'm sorry but I just can't get over how extremely overpriced this place is. $15+ for what was supposed to be a panini and turned into some chicken w/ mozz. cheese w/ pesto on about 8" of baguette. $19 for a Turkish version of a gyro and small Spring Mix salad I guess everything is great by everyone's review but I wanted to walk out when I looked at the menu board. read more

This is a great little spot. It's small but has the gravitas and style of a bigger restaurant and it definitely holds its own against bigger city restaurants. It is has a nice European-style, romantic , cozy ambiance. It is BYOB, which I didn't know going in, so make sure you BYOB! I understand during the day it is more cafe -style with sandwiches and a more casual atmosphere. Dinner is slightly more formal with full service . Staff was extremely pleasant and well-trained and the owner /Chef Mehmet came out and greeted each table while I was there. Everything was fresh and delicious . Because it is a smaller establishment , they had run out of a couple of the main courses I wanted to try, but I also got there at the very end of the night /serving. Mehmet said if wanted something in particular I should call ahead and he would save it - very much appreciated and made for such a personal and lovely experience . I definitely will be back . read more

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Positively civilized and lovely place to stop in for an espresso and baklava. We enjoyed sitting in the window seat to look at Wellesley go by. read more

My friends and I are students at Wellesley College. We went into town to grab an easy and quick lunch option. While prices are slightly high, the quality of the food matches, and the service is amazing. The owners and employees are very personable and lovely to interact with. The tiramisu and turkish coffee are our favorites from the menu. The sandwiches are also very fresh and of great quality. I would definitely recommend!! read more

Cafe Mangal is my favorite lunch spot. They have the best salads. My favorite is the Avocado Tuna Salad. All the salads come in two sizes, small and large. It's a bit pricey, so when I go for lunch with a friend, we order the large salad and split it. The large salad is big enough to share and it's cheaper than both ordering a small. The seating area is first come first serve. You order at the counter and get a number for your table and waitstaff brings out your food. When we go for lunch, we try to get there at noon sharp. It's very busy during lunch time and since we are limited to our hour lunch break, it's best to go early to avoid lunch crowd. read more

Cafe Mangal - Avocado Tuna Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

Delicious salads. Excellent service, very kind and courteous staff - they treat you with respect and kindness. Great coffee and deserts. Very warm and friendly place. This is by far one of my favorite place in town for lunch options. read more

Did not realize you order at the counter for lunch, so wasted 15 minutes waiting for waitstaff to take my order. The restaurant is charming. The food is okay, but I expected it to be better based on the yelp reviews. The meat in the Lahmacun reminded me of Steak'ms. The side salad seemed like it came from a bagged salad from the grocery store. It hardly had any dressing on it. read more

Cafe Mangal is one of those small hidden treasures that I'm reluctant to write about since then everyone will go there and it will be harder to get a reservation. I highly recommend a reservation for dinner and going before 12 noon to get a seat for lunch. Cafe Mangal has to be my favorite dinner place in metro-west Boston. The food and flavors are incredible -- they make healthy Mediterranean and American food. What sets them apart are their fresh meats and veggies -- with the most unique blend of herbs and spices. It is the flavors that are just delicious. With no liquor license, just bring your own wine or liquor and they are happy to serve you. Really nice people, too -- family run. If I lived closer, I would be there every week! read more

Fabulous lunch with great salads sandwiches and coffee. Very large portions, half salad was equivalent to full sizes elsewhere. Expensive but quality ingredients portions and sizing feel worth it. Very nice owner who clearly takes pride in his restaurant and satisfying customers. read more

Going into Cafe Mangal, we had great expectations for great quality. We wanted to love the family restaurant that seemed to be award winning, beyond town-famous. Our party had reviewed the menu in detail, and so the $35+ entree prices did not surprise us. But the results were very disappointing. First, the lamb kofte/kebabs were not on the day's menu. Then we started with the mezze of four dips and pita, which were fine, but we've had more complex flavors from Trader Joe's and far better quality pita. The chicken dardanelle, recommended as a signature dish was over salted and tasted like a Food Network recipe simplified for the home cook--open jars of olives and artichoke hearts, drop in a casserole over chicken, shake some oregano on top and cover with Costco quality feta. The tahini accompanying the chicken thighs had so much salt it was inedible. The duck, ordered medium rare, was still impossible to cut through with the knife. The vegetarian main was bulked up by a green pepper and sad overall. And the carrot and green bean side that filled up all the plates were boring and bland. We felt so guilty to the one footing the bill at our table for choosing what we thought would be a transportive fine dining experience, inspired by the complex fresh flavors of the Mediterranean. It was not. It was passable, but embarrassing for the pricetag. I felt compelled to write this review because I felt mislead by other reviews. read more

My favorite restaurant in Metrowest! Delicious and fresh Mediterranean food. Their dinner menu is truly unique. Chef Mehmet is a genius and Gul is a gracious host. I feel like I'm transported to a cozy European bistro when I visit, which I do as often as possible, even if just for a piece of delectable baklava and pot of tea! read more

Cafe Mangal - Mediterranean Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

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I absolutely love their chicken and mozzarella panini (or is it a press?). My family also enjoys the roast beef sandwich, and the salads. So yummy. read more

Among all those salad and sandwich options, my favorite sandwich is chicken mozzarella panini by far. I pretty much tried all of them. They are all good. But panini is my favorite. I love the combination. Basil pesto, mozzarella...I also like their coffee too. High quality coffee beans for sure. Besides quality, I also like the service. They are very friendly and warm. I highly recommend this local cafe/restaurant. I also have been there recently for dinner for the first time. Completely different menu and table setup. Basically that upscale cafe turns into a fine dining mediterrean restaurant. I had a few mezes to start with, then I had the grilled sea bass. It was amazing. I also love the tartar sauce which comes with the fish. I can easily say that both lunch&dinner was delicious and service was very very good. You should definitely give it a shot! read more

Another wonderful dinner at this cozy restaurant. Both sea bass and a rack of lamb were flavourful and satisfying. I loved the grill marks on the sea bass, great presentation! Their baklava is always a decadent treat. We had a great time, thank you. read more

We've lived out of state for many years but never forgot how much we enjoyed Cafe Mangal and the amazing lunches and dinners we ate there over the years. This weekend we reserved the restaurant for a private family dinner to celebrate our child's college graduation. The food was beyond delicious from the meze to salad and borek to main courses of the signature chicken dardanelle and halibut with pine nuts. In addition to the amazing food was a lovely and intimate ambiance. Mehmet and Gul charmed us with stories and shared in our joy. Our children, now adults, commented on this gem of a restaurant and we know they will be dining at Cafe Mangal for future special events. read more

One of the best Turkish /Mediterranean restaurants in Boston area, if not the best. Nice decor inside, friendly and hospitable staff, delicious menu. I had lunch with mushroom soup and lahmacun (which came with a delicious healthy fresh salad). Everything was excellent. Will be back. You must visit too! read more

Today was my first visit to Cafe Mangal but it definitely won't be my last. The atmosphere was charming - you can tell this place has been well loved, both by the family who runs it and the customers who come there. It was packed today - turns out today (March 16 2022) was their 22nd anniversary. I am not surprised that they have been in business this long, and through COVID to boot! I had the warm goat cheese, roasted red pepper, and eggplant sandwich, which was delightful and delicious. The side of salad (good lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers) was under a mound of very finely grated sweet carrot, topped with an olive and drizzled with an amazing sauce. I loved every bite. All I can say is "Happy anniversary Cafe Mangal, and many more years to come we all hope!" read more

The best restaurant--not just in Wellesley, but in any neighboring area. Those lamb shanks are amazing...hummus is home made and delicious...I never had anything there, lunch or dinner, that I didn't love. And it's family run--and they've been great--there is even curbside pickup. read more

Came here for lunch and it was wonderful. Fresh, homemade, and delicious. Mehemet was so sweet and welcoming and took it upon himself to make sure we enjoyed our meal. Would come again. 5 stars!!! read more