I tend to go here with family when we visit Charlottesville and have other things to do in town (catch a UVA game, movie, etc.). Even when they were very busy, the wait for a seat is rather short. It's mainly four-top seats but they can push together tables as needed. There's music always playing and not a lot of padding to soften noise so I'd call the location "average" loud. Downtown Charlottesville doesn't really do free parking. You can park at the next corner in open parking to the left or paid parking to the right. But we're talking $2 or so, not a bank-breaking experience and with lots of shopping across the street it's worth staking out a spot and then walking the area. What I like: The food is tasty. The appetizers are solid. There's a large enough menu that you can always try something new. And the portions are ample enough to share. What I'm not so fond of: The waitstaff spend a lot of time at the front scrolling on their phones. They aren't too keen on refilling your drinks either. I say this as someone who has eaten here about a dozen times. Also, I don't normally mind cameras, but there are enough blinking lights on cameras to make it feel more like a jewelry store than a restaurant. That said, if you are not in a hurry, want some good food in solid portions, and plan to do some shopping or window shopping downtown, this has been my go-to place for years. read more

This restaurant is a prominent corner space and offers a some regional ambiance. The food includes some vegetarian choices typical of Mediterranean cuisine, and the platter I got included a bunch of them. It's largely cold items and salads and was ready almost immediately. There were one or two things in there I didn't like, but with a sampler this size you've got options. Their spiced mashed potatoes and white bean salad were notably flavorful. A pomegranate tea tasted a bit too much like juice and not enough like tea for me. I'd just get a plain tea if I had to choose again. Having said that, I needed some variety in my diet and I was happy to have received it here. read more

Sultan Kebab - Vegetarian Platter - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

This used to be one of our favorite spots when we visit Charlottesville, but this time the experience didn't quite live up to expectations. The appetizer was very good, we ordered Sigara Börek and for entree combo Lamb and chicken but the entree was underwhelming, small in portion, a bit bland, and quite pricey. It had few pieces of bread which felt a bit dry. The service was fine, but nothing particularly stood out. On the bright side, the atmosphere was still very nice, with tasteful decor and the option for outdoor seating. We arrived during the early dinner hours, so it wasn't crowded. While we've had great meals here in the past, this visit left us questioning whether we'll return next time we're in town. read more

See all

Can't say anything crazy here. The kinefe was nice. The pomegranate tea was delish. Vibes were great and clean. Kind of quiet for student move in day. The platter was plentiful and yummy read more

See all

I had some pretty standard Turkish food at Sultan Kebab. They provide heaping portions of rice and pita but go rather meager on the chicken, lamb, or beef skewers. This is fairly typical and I can't complain. Expect lots of hummus and bread, but the meat is a bit dry and not all that amazing. The price point is fair but more than I'd prefer to pay for some dry meat with lots of rice and bread. The restaurant has plenty of tables, a nice amount of Turkish decor, and the staff seem pretty authentic Turkish, arabic, or mediterranean folks. Everything was clean, orderly, with decent chairs, nice bathrooms, and plenty of reading material in the waiting area. Sultan Kebab is not a bad place to get lunch, but compared to the wealth of options in the Charlottesville pedestrian mall, you can do better if you keep walking another block or two. read more

Best rice I've ever tasted never had less than a wonderful meal at Sultan Kabob and the owners are fantastic! read more

Sultan Kebab - Murals are wonderful! Food is fantastic! - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

We stopped by Sultan Kebab for dessert and coffee. We ordered a kunefe; a warm, crispy dessert made with shredded phyllo dough, melted cheese, and sweet syrup, topped with pistachios. The service was friendly, the restaurant was beautiful, and the dessert was absolutely delicious. A perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a sweet treat or a full meal. read more

See all

Stopped in while driving through Charlottesville based on the reviews. It was very good - the döner sandwich with fresh bread was great. The chicken shish was also good. The doner meat was not what I'm used to but was still good. Outdoor seating was a very nice. read more

Sultan Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Phenomenal. Came in with a party of 11 without a reservation and they were very accommodating. The food was delicious. We ordered several combos and platters along with baked hummus, Turkish coffee, Turkish Delights and Baklava. All was incredible. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order however the chicken and Adana were the standouts for us. read more

High quality meat and great food all around, especially the kunefe which is a must have! Service was great and well-timed, plus it was a beautiful day outside -- highly recommend the outdoor seating if the weather is good. I'd say the only (slight) con was the price, but for this quality of food it's definitely worth it. The combo platter was more like 1.5 meals rather than 2 meals (if you're hungry). read more

Sultan Kebab - Chicken and Lamb Kebab Combo Platter - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

We were super excited to eat here when we saw they had Turkish pizza which we haven't really seen on a menu since being in Istanbul in 2022. We stopped in for lunch on a Friday and were starving. They weren't very busy - probably three tables - the gals inside were playing on their phones and my husband had to go get them after we waited 10 minutes and no one came to get our order. We chose to get the Turkish pizza and hummus appetizer with a Shepherd's Salad. They have a ton of appetizers and a large selection on the menu if you love this sort of food - which we do. The salad was disappointing... more onion than anything else and not a lot of cucumber on a smaller plate than I expected. The pizza was delicious - hummus was good but we could've skipped it bc we went with a two protein entree that came with a small salad and hummus and pita bread. They have a single protein entree option or a double protein option which is a great price for two people to split so we went with two and chose the lamb and Köfte. Both were delicious. Lamb was great quality and hubs loved it. It was good - but service wasn't good - and the hummus and salad weren't amazing. Great option to have in C-ville but our experience was like a 3.5 at best. Parking can be an issue but there are plenty of parallel and paid lot options around. read more

Sultan Kebab - Turkish pizza. Delish - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Very nice atmosphere, and excellent service. The food is delicious, as well as the pomegranate tea and desserts. No complaints. I knew the place when they began in a small place off Rio Rd in VA. I was delighted when I found them again near IX Park. read more

Really great food! Had the lamb and it was amazing as well as the lentil soup to stay. The service was good, seems like a family owned business. Would definitely come again if in C-ville read more

Sultan Kebab - Lentil soup - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

We had a large group of 15 in Charlottesville for a conference and were searching for a place that could accommodate us. We made multiple inquiries and ultimately decided on a Sultan Kebab since they were very responsive and happy to work with a large group, some with dietary restrictions. The meal did not disappoint in the least. The restaurant is lovely. Service was friendly and helpful. And the food was delicious! Parking was a bit of a pain, but so what. It was well worth walking a few extra steps for good food! Highly recommend. read more

Very authentic kebab place! Had the Doner kebab sandwich. It was good, the meat felt more processed than I anticipated but I'm sure it was fresh. I wish I would have known my sandwich came with sides because 1) I wasn't entirely sure what they were and 2) I would have substituted them for something else. Everyone else got the chicken shish kebab platters and loved it. The service was a little slow but overall atmosphere was nice. Wish we got dessert - they looked delicious! read more

Sultan Kebab - Doner Sandwich - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Small. The ambiance was ok. Expensive. Our meal came to $60 (including tip) for 2 people at lunch time! The chicken shish kabob was bland. The lamb was so so. Our server seemed distracted and had to be flagged down by another staff member. However, the hot pomegranate tea was great as well as the baklava! I'd go back just to have both. That's why there are 3 stars. read more

See all

One of the better meals we've had in Charlottesville so far! Stopped in on a Saturday night without a reservation and were lucky enough to be seated quickly. We started with the Halloumi cheese appetizer which was delicious but for the $7 price, we were hoping for more than two pieces of cheese in some sad looking lettuce. The chicken kebob platter and Adana kebob platter were both good and the portions were large! The four star review is solely due to the fact that a sauce or dip would have elevated the flavor of both entrees. The meat had good flavor but was quite dry. The table next to us were offered spices for the rice which would have been a nice way to add some depth but we were never offered any. Overall, a solid meal! read more

See all

In town for a little getaway. Wife and I love any of the Mediterranean meals and look for restaurants. This place is as good as we have ever had. The hummus hot casserole is outstanding. The meal perfect read more

Service was amazing! Our food was wonderful, very tasty! They were willing to accommodate any requests we had. They made suggestions for those who wanted them! read more

Great food, good price, but okay service. Their breads and chicken kabab patters are the best! The gyro sandwich was a little dry, needed white sauce. However, it was worth a try. read more

I found about Santana and decided to try it It was a great place We are moving here in Charlottesville soon I'm glad we found it The food , the atmosphere and everything else was perfect read more

Everything we've ordered has always been good. Like being able to sit outside on the patio when the weather is warm.

Sultan Kebab was an accidental surprise, and we absolutely loved it! I put in a semi-large order for my son and his grandparents (when we realized Sticks was closed on Sundays) and they did not disappoint. I should also say the dining room is world-class fancy -- not something you'd expect in downtown Charlottesville. They forgot to include our order of grape leaves but we didn't mind since the chicken skewers, rice and sides were so great. highly recommended! read more

Sultan Kebab - beautiful dining area - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Ran by the place multiple times and finally decided to go in and try it and I'm so glad I did! The inside is nice and cozy. Our server showed us the QR code on the menu that has photos of every food item which I loved! And they were real photos, not stock photos. I ordered the Ali Nazik and it came out looking just like the photo. Beef was so tender and the entire meal was so flavorful. Our waiter was super nice and attentive. I also ordered the kunafe which came out pretty quickly (says it takes 15 min). The place was decently full for a Tuesday evening and it seemed like take out/ door dash was non stop. The food was spectacular! Can't wait to come back and try more items!! read more

Sultan Kebab - Ali Nazik - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

I give 5 star reviews sparingly because I really think few places exceed expectations with how great it is, Sultan Kebab deserves all 5. Their service is fast and efficient, and everyone we interacted with was very friendly. The inside of the restaurant is very cute, and there's space for larger groups as well as small tables. The menu is extensive, and there are a lot of options, and vegetarian/vegan options for those with dietary restrictions. I had the lamb shish kabob platter and it was absolutely delicious. The lamb was perfectly seasoned, very tender, and paired great with the hummus. The rice was delicious and flavorful, and the salad was fresh and the dressing was great. The portion size for the meals is very large for what you pay for - I can eat a good bit but couldn't finish the plate. You won't leave hungry! We finished our lunch with baklava with vanilla ice cream and it was just perfect. 5 star experience from start to finish, and I would highly recommend. read more

See all

I love Sultan Kebab. This has been our go-to restaurant any time we're in Charlottesville. The food has been consistently delicious throughout all these years. My favorite is the vegetarian platter-- you get a little bit of everything and it is all very good. Doesn't feel heavy after eating, so if you're looking for something light, flavorful, and fresh-tasting, this is your spot. We brought our dog here last time since we were traveling and we were able to sit at the tables outside and enjoy brunch with our pup. read more

See all

Amazing food with an outdoor patio, service was also great. Really enjoyed this as someone coming out of town. I often come to Charlottesville and will be back in the future! read more

Sultan Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great service and excellent food. Had the Lamb Kabob with rice, salad, bubba ganush with fresh homemade bread.

A proper kunefe prepared on site. That alone is a reason to visit, especially if you've yet to try this Turkish/middle eastern dessert. It's a rare finding. What else? An excellent adana kebab. A good, but on this eve, not best lamb platter. A broad mix on the veg platter. Haloumi cheese, definitely try it if you've yet to. Baba ghanoush- unusual. not sure what is mixed in to have given it a creamier and white color. Very nice, though different that I make it (broiled to solar sunspot levels, salted, peppered, lemoned, garlic-ed and a touch of tahina). 'Shepherd's salad' to a larger chop rather than the fined cubed. Good. All in all, a great meal and will be back. And try the kunefe. read more

See all

I've dined in a couple times and ordered out for the first time this week. The combination meals are great and I like that you can add additional meat for another $10 per kebab. The kebabs come over rice, accompanied by a bright salad, excellent hummus, and fresh bread. Healthy, flavorful meal! read more

Delicious food, pleasant atmosphere; courteous staff. My husband and I enjoy eating there.

Really yummy! We came in on a Friday night and were seated right away. The restaurant is beautiful and has amazing murals. Everyone was nice and the wait staff was attentive. Everything we tried was good. We shared 3 appetizers, the babaghanoush, and cheese covered hummus casserole and a sausage dish also with the same cheese. Whatever cheese that was is fantastic! We tried 3 sandwiches also, a chicken kebab wrap, a ground beef wrap and a beef and lamb sandwich which was like a gyro bit on an amazing roll! We were so excited to eat them, we forgot to take pics of those! Then we tried the balaclava, which was served with ice cream and it was a good combo. I never even went to the ladies room, so I can't tell you about that. read more

See all

I came here with some friends after working out at the gym on an unassuming day during Christmas break. I was famished upon arrival and as always my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Luckily my friends talked me down from ordering two plates of two skewers. While the employees ensured that I would be full from the amount of food from one plate, I was a little unimpressed by the portions (as I thought they were going to be bigger). Overall the food tasted great and the kebabs were pretty good! While I left with a happy belly, I definitely could have eaten a little more. read more

The food was fantastic and both my wife and I were pleased with our choices. Conversely the service was awful. We never received our drinks and ran out of water. No one ever came to check on us. It was not busy and the wait staff was busy playing on their phones and doing each other's hair. We wanted desert but we gave up on the service after never getting our drinks. We were initially charged for the drinks. I can honestly say this was the worst service. The food was the one redeeming quality. read more

I love this place. The food is so fresh and flavorful. I eat here often. This time I just stopped by for an appetizer called Lahmacun aka Turkish pizza. It was so good ! read more

Sultan Kebab - Lahmacun - Turkish Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My husband is from Pakistan and lived in Turkey for a period of time, and at first he was a bit skeptical when looking it over. However when we arrived and started ordering and eating he was doing his happy dance. Haha the food was great and we liked the decoration and overall vibe of the place. read more

Food is tasty but not extraordinary - like when they opened at the old location. We return periodically and food is solid but could use an update. Salads are best part of most meals. Breads are okay but not special - as if baked elsewhere and reheated at the restaurant. Meats are overcooked in some cases. Portion sizes are fine except for meat - they don't provide much for the price. Service is fine. Takeout is always ready at the time they say. Ambiance is fine but we usually take out. Perfectly fine meal at an okay value. read more

Service was terrible on my takeaway order. They got hit my soup and bade me drive all the way back to prove it was missing. Decent food. Subpar service. read more

Delicious food - one of the best places for Mediterranean food in C'ville. Highly recommend

We are so impressed with this place. The appetizer we got was called the bulgur pilavi. It was amazing we ate it all in like two minutes. Atmosphere is nice. Has some cool art work around the eating area. Love the kebabs here my personal favorite is the Adana kebab platter. Their naan bread is the best. It is different from the Indian naan. Theirs is like a loaf of bread instead of flat. I love this place it has an amazing taste. I recommend you come here when you are visiting Charlottesville read more

See all