Back around 2010ish my friends convinced me to try Saray Turkish Restaurant. I didn't really know what I was getting into quality wise but I remember being pleasantly surprised by how good and fresh the food was. There was such great attention to detail that it quickly became one of my favorite restaurants. I recently returned with my pastor for a visit and we both had an excellent lunch! We arrived and were able to be seated quickly since it was a slow weekday, only 8 other people in the restaurant. We sat down and both got a couple of kebab combos, a shepherd's salad, with a mixed hummus and baba ghanoush appetizer. They also bring out house made bread, still hot out of the over. Their bread is fantastic, unfortunately both of us are avoiding carbs so we added it to the to go bag for family. The service at Saray is good, the staff is always friendly. One thing I love about Saray is that they don't rush you out like so many other restaurants do. That being said, if you want the check you may need to flag one of the staff members down or get their attention to get the bill. If you have the disposition of a squirrel this may make you uncomfortable but keep in mind they're not ignoring you; they are just letting you stay as long as you like. From what I heard that's more how they treat you at restaurants in Europe, where your table is yours till you leave. I prefer that than feeling like I'm disrupting an assembly line by not leaving immediately after finishing dinner. Anyway our food came hot out of the oven. I ordered a kofte and donner kebab combo. Kofte is like a Turkish meatball while donner is a lamb and beef blend roasted on a spit. My friend order chicken shish and kofte kebab. The food was cooked very nicely and as always had great flavor to it. The only gripes I could think of at Saray over the years is here or there the rice was a little on the soggy side. Also a few times the donner kebab, the one roasted on a spit, was a little dryer than other times but that's not the end of the world in my mind; plus I've never experienced that with their other kebab choices. If you're rather hungry I'd recommend trying the mixed grill as it's kind of a sample kebab platter. And the Iskender kebab, lamb with tomato sauce and in house made bread, is also a fantastic choice! The atmosphere at Saray can range from a perfect quite date spot to rather boisterous with families and couples filling the restaurant; although generally most of the time it's a relatively calm atmosphere. Keep in mind too that they can be fairly busy at different times, I've gone in there on a Tuesday night and it's been more packed than a Friday, although more often than not the weekends are their busiest days. Saray can be a bit pricey but so is everything these days and they give you decent sized portions. Saray is a model for consistency, they have been on point with their food for years. If you like Turkish food or if you would like to try something new, give Saray a try; they are fantastic! read more

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So this place is super dated on the inside and the food is pretty decent. The stand out part of the dining experience for me was the service! Our waiter Oulas, (please forgive the spelling that I have probably butchered) was absolutely wonderful! He was so kind and accommodating, he told us stories of Turkey and Himself. It made it a really was and special experience that made us feel more like family than just customers. I will be back! Oh and watch out for that hot green pepper on the entrees! That thing will burn your tongue off haha! read more

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Great food. Great service. The restaurant is nice without being stuffy. We enjoyed our hummus and warm fresh bread. There was barely room for dessert but it was delicious. Definitely returning! read more

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Saray is a lovely Turkish restaurant - spotlessly clean, welcoming, and consistently excellent. The food is outstanding, and the staff are exceptionally courteous, professional, and always accommodating. It is a place you return to with confidence and genuine pleasure. read more

Great experience! Got the lentil soup and iskender kebab. Great flavor on both and even had lots of leftovers. Waiters were also very nice and attentive read more

We grabbed takeout from here while passing through. The vibe inside looked great. We tried the chicken shish tawouk and the Adana kebab--both were quite good, but the shish tawouk was the winner. The rice and bulgur were flavorful. A bit on the pricey side, but overall a good experience! read more

Great space and the staff is very pleasant. Awesome Food is delicious and take out is quick and easy read more

I highly recommended this place. It's very popular, and there's lots of parking. The food is great! I've been there a few times, and it's great each time. They serve fresh warm bread and butter. Service is good, very fast, and the restaurant is pretty with nice art. Bathroom is very clean and smells nice, which is always a good thing. read more

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When we are in need of Turkish food there is only ONE place for us STR. We have enjoyed countless meals over the years and appreciate the consistency of each meal. The service is always pleasant and professional with a helpful suggestion when we feel adventurous! The atmosphere is best when crowded you can feel the energy. BTW the restrooms are spotless! read more

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I do enjoy Turkish food. I picked this place on a whim, and I'm glad I did. The service was prompt and courteous. They offered me çay (per custom), but I politely refused the tea because I'd had plenty of coffee to start my day. Nothing left to do now but enjoy the Istanbul-inspired decor. I don't speak more than a few words of Turkish, so I was surprised when my "kebab" came out looking like shawarma as opposed to chunks of meat on a stick. Not that I minded! A little dry, and it could have used some heat (the grilled jalapeño helped); but the taste was spot on. The sides were pretty good, too. The free bread was a surprising hit, with a fresh crunchy texture that paired well with everything, including my girlfriend's falafel dinner. I always wind up too full for dessert, so I'll have to come back and try another dish. read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Doner Kebab - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Very good food and great atmosphere , I recommend this to anyone.the bread they give you with their red lentil soup is amazing.

Written yesterday (05/14/23): Returned to Saray after so many years, now that we've been so long in Boston. What an incredible experience. Just as incredible as I remember, or somehow even better? Besides serving the sort of meals that make you feel like you are being personally fed by a top chef, it also still has the old-school feel of a tablecloth-and-cloth napkin establishment with a team of highly attentive waitstaff that is increasingly feeling like the marker of a bygone era. Okay, onto the specific dishes: Mixed cold app - always start with this, a perfect assortment of fresh flavors. love those eggplant dishes, especially the smoked chopped ones. The haydari also has the thick creaminess that reminds us of this decadent labneh we get at one of our favorite places in Providence. Cheese pide - fresh and salty cheese. Gets into the folded bread at the ends so it's soft and oily and cheesy... yum Yogurtlu chicken shish kabob - reminds of me of some of the best grilled meats I've had--tender, with that special grilled taste that some meat marinated in a certain way (is it lime + garlic? I'm not sure) can have. Sitting on top of these butter- and yogurt-soaked bread cubes that complement it so well and just makes things extra decadent. This had become my new favorite since my last posted review. Cardak - flavorful lamb in delicate phyllo, completed so nicely by the yogurt. Kunefe - the first time I ever tried this years ago I wasn't really used to it, but since then it's grown on me, and now something about it keeps me coming back. A little bit savory, honey sweet, perfectly complemented by the crushed pistachios. Kadayif - similar to the kunefe in terms of a shredded dough soaked in syrup, but with ground pistachios instead of the cheese. Every single thing feels like it was made completely from scratch, with only the best ingredients and the utmost care. The service is stellar, continuously filling water, always a smile and so kind. Despite how busy it was, we felt constantly taken care of. Obviously we could not finish it all, as much as we tried (we also purposely ordered extra so we could bring some home). We are now on the way back to Boston, carrying leftovers but wishing we could take the whole restaurant :) one of the absolute stars of New Haven. Someone give this place an award. read more

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Great service and amazing food. The free bread for the table was unexpected and super yummy! We ordered several items to split with our group and none disappointed. We thoroughly enjoyed their appetizer dip sampler and the huge pies. read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Falafel and chicken sampler plate - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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The service was so welcoming from the moment we walked the through the doors until we left. We were sat near a family who were having a great time and we knew the food was going to be good and it was. Very authentic and we left stuffed and happy. Great restaurant all around and looking forward to returning! read more

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Delicious food! Got the large cold appetizers, bread was hot and fresh and delicious the kebabs were amazing as well! read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Adana Kebab, Chicken Shish Kebab - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

This place is my favorite turkish restaurant for takeout. I usually order the Adana Yogortlu and then Chicken Shish Platter. The food quality matches the price for the food. I love how this restaurant has always served high quality food and fast service. I definitely 10/10 recommend read more

I highly recommend Saray for a great meal. I absolutely LOVE the Lentil Soup !!!! I have been going here for years and they had me at Lentil Soup. I normally do take out and when I walk oin the waitress knows my order from the moment she sees me. I love that. Great fresh food and friendly service. Do yourself the favor and check them out.....thank me later! read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Lentil Soup, Chicken Shish and bread. - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Yup! The best Turkish spot; big portions, quick service, clean space and delicious menu! We always order the lahmacun (lah - majoon) which is like Turkish pizza, and then we also had the "Yogurtlu Adana Kebab" which is minced meat served over cubed garlic bread. Dessert options are also phenom - try the Baklava and make sure to order Turkish tea! read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Lahmacun - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

I was on a mission for a Doner Kebab and I was very fortunate to visit Saray Turkish Restaurant. After receiving my meal, via takeout, I decided to sample a few pieces of the sirloin beef & lamb which left me feeling extremely happy. The meat was moist and delicious, along with the yellow rice. By far, this was the best Doner Kebab ever. Unfortunately, I devoured my meal with the intentions to have leftovers...no regrets!!! read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Delicious Doner Kebab (marinated sirloin beef & lamb)... - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Great Turkish Restaurant was excellent assortment of food and great service. PLUS BYOB !! I recommend the mixed meat platter, which has a nice assortment of chicken lamb steak with all the fixings. read more

First time here. Wanted to get here a long time ago, wish I had. A rainy night and fairly quiet tonight. The service was good but at times difficult to get waitress attention. Interior is very clean and reminiscent of an old New England seafood restaurant if not for the murals of Turkey on the walls and samovars and other Turkish (Russian) trinkets on shelves around the dining room. To start, we ordered zucchini patties to start. You get 3 along with a white yogurt based sauce (very similar to tzatziki) and a salad of lettuce, cabbage and beets and a fresh lemon to squeeze onto the already oiled mix. It was delicious and the salad as fresh as could be. We also ordered a cheese pie which is basically a cheese pizza. I asked and was told it was mozzarella cheese which was delicious but a bit disappointed it wasn't a the more "exotic" cheese Turkish Kashar as listed on the menu. For dinner we got a whole trout which was covered with cheese, sautéed onion, peppers, mushrooms & tomatoes. It came with a side of two types of rice. It was very good, but I would've liked it better without the cheese. We also got the shrimp kebab. A generous 6-7 shrimp, a bit overdone as most skewers are, but well-seasoned. It was supposed to come with a veggie skewer but instead a small salad similar to the one we got with the appetizers. We were quite full but couldn't resist sometime sweet. The rice pudding was excellent! On the way out we stopped to view the several display cases of desserts, each one looking better than the next including an assortment of filo dough treats including baklava and other middle eastern takes on that wonderful sweet and nutty treat. read more

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Place was horrible i havent been there in a year because i moved so im in the area i ordered the Mixed Grilled meal they said 20min. i get there in 20min Price went from 27.00 to 33.00 wow ok also ordered the large assorted appetizer was 17.00 now 20.00 wow didnt argue. get the bill for $60.00 just for those 2 things highway robbery. I get home and i take the food out the back and i notice the lamb chop is hidden in the meal like intentionally, i pull it out and its a 1-4 inche thin and 2 1/2 in in diameter wtf my kid would swallow that. The shedded lamb put a small amount also and to top it all off my food wasnt even hot 2 min away from there location at a freinds house so yeah. I called sarays and talked to the boss and all he can say was i dont know what to tell you this is how we get it and this is how we serve it WHAT NO F@!K YOU LIKE HE DONT GIVE A CRAP BECAUSE HE ALREADY TOOK MY MONEY INSTEAD OF BEING SYMPATHETIC and saying i am sorry come back i will give you another lamb chop or give discount on the next time you come here, no wonder why there place is empty stay away from these people they give you very little, quality has gone down and are very greedy. Go to Kebab House down the street there actually better. read more

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This is the first Turkish restaurant I've tried when moving to Connecticut. It is absolutely delicious, I tried the beef kebab it came with grilled vegetables and rice on the side. So flavorful and yum! My husband tried the yogurt loo( not pictured) it was a creamy yogurt entree so savory and good. I also got to try their babaganush so fresh and delicious. It's a semi formal place with a lot of variety of dishes. It is also halal. read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Beef doner kebab entree - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

I was here a few weeks ago. During the week on a very cold night. Only two other tables with guests. So it was nice and quiet. I've driven by this place literally dozens upon dozens of times. That's to Yelp reviews I made it in. Service was on point after they initially stumbled and tried sitting me at a dirty table not cleaned from the previous guests. There were crumbs all over the table cloth. The food came out fairly quick. Loved the flavor of the lamb. So savory and a lot going in with the lamb and veggies. Many flavors. It was almost like a party going on in my mouth. The hummus was good. Basic though. The spicy hummus was also meh. These rice was cooked nice, light and fluffy. I mixed it in with the meat and vegetables. Overall I'd come back to try something different. The complimentary bread was also very good. Easy parking in their private lot. read more

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Just stopped in for a double coffee with sugar and flan. And it was very delicious. The coffee was beautifully strong and the flan nice and light without being too sweet. read more

What kind of falafel is this? No flavor, hard like it was baked. No Tahini sauce or any sauce??? Horrible for $14, at $2 I wouldn't eat it. At LEAST put it on pita not a burrito wrap. The eggplant salad was good & so was the rice & salad but NOT the fish Patties ! So dry & tasteless. Never again. Don't mind paying & it's a clean looking establishment. Not for non meat eaters. read more

Very disappointing meal and service. We visited for my birthday and were all disappointed. I was excited to try Saray based off the phenomenal reviews. We came in excited to try the Doner Kebab which we were told was out. We also ordered the chicken soup special which we were also told was out. I asked the waiter what he would recommend and he suggested the Adana Kebab. This turned out to be very greasy and almost not edible. I took two bites before my friend shared his meal with me (pictured). I am not sure on the name of it but it was wrapped in phyllo dough. It was more flavorful but still very greasy. The waiter almost seemed to enjoy that we did not like the food, he smirked when I commented on my disappointment with the Adana. The desert (rice pudding) was the saving grace of an awful meal. When the bill arrived we noticed the small sodas my friends ordered were $2.25 each. They each ordered two not realizing there were no free refills. It would have been nice to have been told there were no free refills. I will not return. read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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Wow yum ! I called in for take out doner kebab dinner and it was ready in 10 minutes. Nothing better than fabulous food ready in a flash. The doner meat was super moist and full of flavor. Same exact comment for the rice and bulgur. The huge grilled pepper and tomato that accompanied the meal were cooked perfectly and added a nice brightness. The portion was so large I got 3 meals out of it. The bag of bread that came with it was really good too and had to snack on it in the car, you know... for quality control lol and yeah, confirmed to be super good. The pistachio baklava was excellent as well. Honestly I'm glad I only got 4 pc to go. Don't think I could t have restrained myself around more. My mouth is literally watering as I write this. Everything I had was so damn good. I can't wait to return and work my way through the menu. read more

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Authentic flavorful perfectly seasoned cuisine in cozy setting with friendly kind attentive staff Very reasonably priced Big plus is BYOB so you can bring your own wine no corkage fee Plenty of free safe parking Be sure to order the baklava and turkish coffee! read more

I got the wrong soda. The kofte kebab wrap was missing the house special white sauce. And when the Uber Eats order got mangled, my call to Saray wasn't a pleasant experience. Logistical issues aside, I can understand why Saray is well-liked. The kofte was expertly prepared which mitigated some of the concern about the absent sauce. And the antep ezme was brilliantly spiced, with the red and green peppers adding more textural variety than usual. read more

This is a nice classy restaurant. Restrooms are super nice. Fried zucchini patties appetizer was excellent. Donor kabab was really good. Lamb chops didn't have much of flavor. Caramelized Rice pudding for dessert was good, but I prefer other desserts like baklava or kunafe any day. read more

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A friend and I got a weeknight dinner here. We had a very pleasant time. You could hear you a lot of Turkish being spoken the second you enter the large restaurant, which I always think it's a good sign. The menu is very huge, and I already know I need to come back to try more food. The dinner special, though, is very enticing. You get to try a lot of food for just $20. I started with the lentil soup, and then got the kofte kebab as my main. The main dish came with rice and grilled vegetables. The kofte was good, a little bit greasy, but a lot of food for the price. I tried my friend's fish kofte, which was also really nice and came with some more vegetables and salad. The special concludes with a dessert choice. I always go for rice pudding. Definitely check out the spot if you're looking for Turkish food in the area. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Got takeout as a last minute option on our way home and boy am I glad we chose this place. Everyone was so nice, the food was wonderful and the interior looked much more impressive than you would assume. read more

Fantastic food amazing service. Everything is delicious and healthy from start to finish. And their bread is perfection!

I went there on last thank giving dinner , it was really nice service and food was yummy to fill tummy and not that much pressure on wallet . read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

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Maybe you're not lucky to live nearby but are just driving through like us on 95, cursing CT roadwork - get off, eat here! Delicious food and gracious service. Can you say authentic? Can you say it in Turkish? They can! And so can the other customers. We had humus, Falafel and doner wraps, and baklava - perfect pick me up food before another 3 hours on the highway! This is sit down (nice casual), but we were in and out in under an hour. read more

I ordered shrimp shish kebob and was somewhat disappointed. What I got didn't match the phone on the menu at all. There were no grilled vegetables. I asked the waitress and she just said "yeah that's how it comes now". read more

Some very tasty items. With Covid most of the food I get from here is takeout but it is always food I look froward to having. The restaurant has recently been upgraded and they make some wonderful breads among other things. However their baba ganoush used to be the taste I crave but they changed the recipe a few years ago and I would stick to the Hummus. read more

This place is amazing. The food is authentic and super tasty!! I'm so glad we stopped in here for lunch and will most certainly be back. We shared the falafel, fried zucchini, lentil soup, hummus and grape leaves. I wanted to try the kebabs but will have to save it for next time. read more

Saray Turkish Restaurant - the dining area - Turkish Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

Had been wanting to try this place- so not disappointed!!! We ordered the dolma and falafel appetizers- both were delicious and nice sized portions. My daughter ordered the falafel wrap and I the doner kebab entree - huge portion! The best doner meat ever! Melted in my mouthDessert was the baklava and kadayif- both amazing! Def will be back- can't rave enough! read more

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