It is a very great Turkish restaurant and I highly recommend it. I think main dish is a little bit normal.

10 out of 10 my favorite restaurant on Franklin st. Anything in the menu is exquisite! Not a must but a NEED. This place is an experience!

Talullas Turkish fare is well worth trying. We stopped there recently for dinner and loved the flavors, the environment and the opportunity to try some vegetarian options. Service was great even at a busy hour. It was enjoyable to sit at the bar. Check out the menu soon. Lots to enjoy. We will definitely be back. read more

Always delicious Good great service and atmosphere too. They are usually able to accommodate last minute reservations as well.

Amazing serendipity, finding this gem while exploring Chapel Hill. We just moved locally from Dallas, which really has a vibrant food scene, including Turkish and Middle Eastern. I thought I'd stop in for wine and a small plate, but from the moment I stepped off the sidewalk inside, I was dazzled by the rich interior. Then came the menu, which was also dazzling, but the server described a fresh branzino special. to which I responded enthusiastically, "YES!" Glad I did, and glad I stopped wolfing down the warm, crusty loaf with red pepper sauce because the fish was STUNNING, especially with a chilly glass of Spanish cava. If you seek a culinary respite from college town burgers and pizza, look no further. read more

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Loved everything about our meal at Tallulas. Ordered the lamb kebabs and hummus. The food was delicious, staff was very friendly and offered good recommendations, and the ambience was great for lunch with friends read more

Talullas - Lamb kebabs - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I came here on a whim and SO GLAD that I did!! As soon as you walk in, you feel like you've been transported elsewhere. The decor is seriously on point. We started out with the baba ganoush appetizer which was mouthwatering. They also brought out complimentary bread and tomato/wine dip which blew my world away. My friends and I were fighting to lick the tomato dish at the end. We then got one main and two appetizers, to split among the three of us. We all wanted to try a variety of flavors and so didn't mind splitting. Ended up with the Sultan's delight main which was an eggplant based chicken dish. Sensational. The two apps were mucver and cop sis, a vegetable and lamb dish pro. Next time, I would opt for the lamb dish as a main instead of an appetizer. The lamb was very tender and its hard to find it like that. read more

Took my 96 y/o Grandfather here for what would have been his 68th Wedding Anniversary. He lives outside Chapel Hill, though doesn't get into town too often when we're not visiting to try out the various restaurants. Couldn't decide where to go for dinner, so we turned to Yelp. Had been planning to go to a Japanese restaurant that we found, but then he mentioned that he was in the mood for middle eastern food, which brought us to Talullas. Made a reservation through OpenTable (100 points!) for Sunday night, though it wouldn't have been necessary. To keep this short, the food was excellent. The dipping sauce they bring around was so good, I wish I had asked for seconds! We shared the falafel and a shrimp appetizer and both had lamb for dinner. My lamb dish was spicier than the others, and absolutely delicious. The waiter was very friendly, though service was a bit slow. Not a huge deal, but it did take a while to get his attention when ready to order, as well as pay. I'll definitely go back to Talullas the next time I am in town! read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service! Recommend getting a reservation on weekends! New favorite place in chapel hill :)

What an amazing place! The food is to DIE for - and we tried a LOT of it! I come to town a few times a year, and will be sure to return each time from now on! The staff is helpful, friendly, warm, and welcoming. Can't recommend enough! read more

Love Tallulahs, been eating here for 15 years and love it. I can't believe it has so little reviews. Have celebrated birthdays, bring visitors, and come with family. The doner kebab on Fri and Saturdays is always a hit. Along with the breads, hummus, and chicken. And the cous cous I could eat by the bowlful. This place has a home like vibe and transports you across the pond. They are great with both large and small groups. read more

This was my first time coming to Talullas, but my mom is the one who recommended it as she's been before. I LOVED IT. The services was a little spotty, but we were told that a few of the servers were training that night, so we were patient. We had to ask for the bread and it was so yummy!!! The main server (tall blonde woman) apologized for the service not being the best and comped us some baklava which I will DEFINITELY be ordering next time I go. It was so juicy and perfect. Everyone was so nice and the original server helped us pronounce the dish names properly. I had the chicken kabab which was divine. The sauce it came with really made the dish. And the grain was also delicious. We couldn't stop talking about how well decorated the place was as well. And the music! It really took you away. We will be back! read more

Came here Christmas night with an 8 pm reservation, showed up early and they still sat us right away! Everything from the bread to the dessert was AMAZING! The service was great, portions were perfect and the atmosphere was so unique. All of our meals were so delicious, but the lamb shank with the eggplant purée was all of our favorites! The Turkish coffee and baklava cheesecake are must tries for dessert. Will definitely be back and recommend Talullas to friends!! read more

Had been talking about trying out Talullas since forever and finally got a chance to try it out during restaurant week. The price is 25 dollars for three courses. It's quite good value for money. Before your meal they serve you bread with a roasted pepper/olive oil/garlic/herb sauce for dipping. Most Turkish places will serve something similar to this, this one is the best though. We asked the waiter for the recipe so we can make it at home. Beyti kebab was presented quite differently from how I have normally seen it and with the bread wrapped around the meat pieces. Most importantly the meat was not dry. The veggies were cooked just right. I really like that white and red sauce they have at the bottom of this and some of the other dishes. Adana kebab was a little bit on the dry side, but nice to get two skewers as some places serve only one. One of the reasons I wanted to come to Talullas in the first place was to try their Mucver, which is like zucchini pancakes. I would have this regularly at Turkish restaurants in NYC, but have not found it anywhere in NC until now. It was not the same crispness to the fritter that I'm used to and it was much darker and thicker. But still quite tasty. This version was more similar to some Indian appetizers. Maybe it's a Turkish regional difference. The red lentil pattie was good, but I had expected it to be a hot appetizer, it was a cold dense thick paste. But I would still have it again. The Sultan's Delight had the most tender chicken pieces you can imagine. Such good quality of chicken, so soft and a distinct charred flavor through it. The dessert pudding was very soft and light, not too sweet. A small portion, but really I didn't need more than that. I'm not really a dessert fan, but I think this was a good way to end the meal. The baklava was light, flaky, not too dry. Overall, I really like the food and I think the flavors beat the Turkish competitor Bosphoros in Cary. It is a bit more expensive, but worth it on special occasions. The rugs on the walls are nice, if you would have had too much too drink I suppose you wouldn't know if you're looking at the floor or not. I'm one of few yelpers who regularly comments on the choice of music in restaurants. In this case it was a lot of very sad classical music. I enjoy classical music while dining. But this was like music to accompany the Last Supper, Mozart Requiem-ish. No big deal obviously, I do appreciate that they have some kind of background tunes. The service was a bit stand off-ish and blase. Not very welcoming and they made no effort to sell or advertise the restaurant week menu. Very close to a five star review, maybe next time. read more

Definitely pricey for the amount of food you get. Don't go in large parties because they won't do individual checks. So you're either scrambling to find cash or having 1 person pay the whole bill and then everyone else pay them for their part. read more

Awesome food and atmosphere. Service is to the point, nothing more. No need for any upselling. Pretty good value for the amount of food you get. read more

Fantastic Turkish food but tables are very close together. Everything with eggplant is good, the moussaka is to die for. The red pepper and olive oil sauce that comes with the bread is awesome. I brought 3 people who had never had Turkish food and they said they will be coming back often. read more

Talullas, a Turkish restaurant on the far end of Franklin Street before it dog-legs into Carrboro, is my go-to special-occasion place in Chapel Hill. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this before. Better fix that. Talullas has been around since 2007 under Aligul and Janan Sevil's ownership. The place is still wonderfully decorated in folk art and rugs from Turkey. I love Turkish culture, which has the benefit of being at the literal cross roads of North African/Arab, Southern European, and Caucus-centric cultures - and its cuisine reflects those influences. Book early and make sure to reserve one of the two bench nooks next to the windows. Talullas serves authentic dishes that you'd find in Turkey (where I had the luxury of spending a month eating my way across), including easily recognizable "Middle Eastern" foods like hummus, pita, and the like. You'll find "Greek-like" dishes like dolmas. And you'll find Persian-influenced dishes. But all of them are still cooked in a Turkish way. For those of you whom don't normally eat Turkish, think of it as the Japanese food of the Mediterranean - finding amazing ways to cook the same 12 ingredients so that you never get bored. Olives + Eggplants + Tomatoes + Onions + Sweet Chile Peppers + Lamb + Chicken + Legumes + Bellpeppers + Lemons + Garlic + Zuccinni done 10,000 different delicious ways. Don't like those ingredients - you'll like it the way they cook them. Almost every dish here is fantastic. Their sampler mezze platter should always be ordered as it gives you a wide range of flavors and tastes that will stretch your comfort zone. Have a kid (or someone who eats like a kid) - order a pide/pideler, which is football-ball shaped pizza-like but far more flexible in toppings and less reliant upon cheese/tomatoes with a very satisfyingly chewy crust. Their lamb shank - which is a frequent special - is always amazing and often comes with an amazing smoke eggplant puree. Their mixed grill is great too. And don't be afraid to order something you might never order on their menu because each one I have had is delightful. Their shish-kebabs are good, but pale comparison to most of their other dishes. The one thing you might avoid is their falafel, which I found unusually hard. And *always* eat that red powder that is on the side of every dish; that's sumac - a wonderfully exotic spice that is like lemon zest and paprika together. read more

So many restaurants, that is your first impression of Chapel Hill's Franklin Street and surrounding alcoves, then you're gastronomically kidnapped,as we were,at Talulla's... Ambience calls you in and transport you to an innovative kitchen serving Turkish food at an elegant table. I strongly suggest the appetizer plate but if you want to dive right into a main course, you will be teased by a tangy red pepper sauce and very warm bread. A green salad is artistically served with a too pretty to eat sign but your taste buds will say otherwise. Mozzarella and spinach rolled in phyllo dough and delicately fried will keep you counting as you wait for them too cool, but then ,elation ! Soft pillows of dough stuffed with delectable lamb and served in a red or yogurt garlic sauce will complete a lunch, they have a vegetable version of these dumplings also. For hearty eaters,lamb and green pepper skewers ,served on pita bread with sides of pickled cabbage, and tiny couscous will amply satisfy the famished.Then there's dessert, but we were just too full!! Pictures of our lunch will need to be a memory, since we were just too busy feasting. In all it was delicious food cooked with great care and served with pride! I just have a little quirk; please have your air conditioning check or place fans to move air about for the comfort of your patrons .Thank you! read more

Picked up my UNC student and grabbed dinner here on a Wednesday night. The food was excellent, our service was kind and patiently answered questions and explained a few things on the menu to me and my kids as it was our first foray into Turkish cuisine. Everyone loved their meals and the appetizer we ordered. We will definitely be back. read more

We went here with bunch of friends on a weekend night. Place was well decorated, but small. We ordered bunch of different entries and most of them were delicious. I am taking out one star for the service; it was slow and we had to ask couple of times to even refill our water. I would definitly recommend this place for good turkish food. read more

Very cute, cozy and lovely decorated Turkish restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious. The complimentary bread with the roasted pepper dip is absolutely out of this world delicious. Everything was delicious, from appetizers to main to drinks. Fairly price as well for Franklin Street. Parking lot across the street is a plus. Will definitely return!!! read more

First visit was great, second was a disappointment. My boyfriend and I stopped by during restaurant week a few seasons ago and we really liked it. The bread and dip was very good and our meals pleasing. This past time, we got a series of hot appetizers to share, and the only thing we really loved was the bread and dip. Sad! Service wasn't very good the latest visit either. Sometimes I feel like wait staff see people in their late 20's and assume we're not going to tip well or something, and I felt this way at our dinner. read more

When I walked into Tallulas the first think I noticed was the amazing smell! They definitely score high points for atmosphere. It's a place that you could come for a special occasion/intimate gathering, but it's also fine to be a bit more casual if you're there on a random Sunday night (as we were). The reason we initially chose Tallulas was we heard they had good wine deals on Sunday night. While their website didn't specify the specials it did say they have "Selected wines specials every Wednesday and Sunday." However, when I asked the waitress she said their Turkish wines are a special every day of the week. I asked one more time because it seemed like there might have been a language barrier, but I was still confused afterwards, and didn't want to sound super cheap by asking a third time. We ended up ordering the Turkish wine she suggested but it was full-price, so I'm not sure there any wine specials. Overall, they do have an impressive wine list. We had two hot mezze, including one that was a special, but honestly the Turkish bread and dip it came with was the best part! So delicious. Their prices can get expensive, but I enjoyed the vibe, wine, and food. It was reasonable splitting two small plates and the bread among two people-- both price wise and getting a decent amount of food (although we weren't starving to begin with). I can probably see myself coming back for wine and an appetizer or wine and a dessert rather than a full meal. read more

Visiting from out of state, we ate dinner here with family. Everything was tasty. The server was quite personable and very helpful. We tried the lamb dumplings and anchovies as appetizers. Warm, fresh bread on the table with a delicious dipping sauce, was a plus. Lamb, fish, and mussakka were all very good. Prices are reasonable. We will definitely be returning on our next visit. read more

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Having been wanting to try Talullas forever I took advantage of Triangle Restaurant Week to finally go, and I wasn't disappointed. I really like the uncommon and cozy atmosphere here. I don't know a lot about Turkish food except that I've liked most of what I've tried so far. One of my favorite things at Turkish restaurants is that Roasted Red Pepper sauce served with bread. I can definitively say the bread and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce served at Talullas are worth dining here in their own right. The sauce is made from Roasted Red Peppers (obviously) with olive oil, garlic, and vinegar I believe. It might not sound like a big deal, but it is unbelievably good. I actually ended up getting the bread and sauce to go after my meal cause it was that damn good. I've had this elsewhere but Talullas is definitely the best I've had to date. For the three course dinner I went with the Mücver for the mezze, the Balik Böregi for the main, and the Baklava for dessert. The Mücver Zucchini fritters were just okay, and I probably wouldn't order again. The fritters themselves were crisp on the outside and moist and tender on the inside, but the yogurt, tomato sauce, and borderline excessive use of parsley all combined in a flavor too sour for my taste. I was tempted to get the Sultans Delight, because that's basically what all yelpers rave about in reviews for this place. I was kinda in the mood for fish so I asked my server which he preferred between the Balik Böregi and the Sultan's Delight, and he just straight told me to get the Balik Böregi. I'm glad I did, as it was a great light dish that had perfectly balanced flavors. It was cooked just right and the red wine sauce, pomegranate purée, and spinach were the perfect compliment to the Tilapia baked in phyllo dough. The dish ended up combining sweet, sour, briney, bitter flavors that were just right for the light flaky Tilapia and the rich savory Phyllo dough. I don't really like sweats that much, but I'm a fan of Baklava. Baklava seems like one of those basic things that I would've though would be the same just about everywhere. Well I have to say the Baklava I had here is the best I've ever eaten by far! I'd highly recommend trying. Overall I was very pleased with my experience at Talullas. I thought the food was mostly great, and I'd say the same about the service. The atmosphere and experience of this restaurant alone are worth a visit for sure and I look forward to trying more here, definitely gotta try that Sultan's Delight sometime. read more

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I really like this place and have for many years. I've yet to have a bad experience with the food. The service has always been a bit slow, but I've also never gone here in a great hurry. The service tonight was great, very attentive and personal. The mezze platter is a great way to start sampling a mixture of 6-7 various appetizers along with their warm bread. It is a little steep at $16 but its enough of an appetizer for 3-4 people...so not that bad looking at it that way. My favorite dish, and the dish I get every time I visit, is the Iskender which is tender slices of lamb over pita baked with a yogurt & tomato sauce - very yummy and tangy. I brought my wife along tonight and we had the Iskender, a dinner special (superb anchovy special which were flash fried and fresh from Turkey), the mezze platter and one beer and came out around $70 (including tip). The decor is authentic and the lovely rugs adorning the walls are available for purchase (that might boost that overall dinner cost to above $1500 though). They do accept reservations and depending on what's happening in town on a given night you may need them. They also have outdoor seating, along the sidewalk, weather permitting. Definitely give this place a try - they have entertainment some weekends, a great wine list, and great food. read more

Really good middle eastern food!! Everything on the platter was amazing. The Greek pizza was super fresh and good!! Definitely worth a visit. read more

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My favorite restaurant in Chapel Hil that I've tried so far!! Their grape leaf dish, eggplant dish, baklava dessert, and their complimentary bread with red sauce (has vinegar, red pepper, tomato, garlic) is to die for! (I forgot the Turkish names for those dishes) I love the decor and music of this restaurant. Everything I've tried here has been so delicious! Love coming here for lunch on Fridays with my coworkers. read more

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It was pretty packed when we went there for a weekend dinner, so I suggest you make a reservation before you although you don't get to wait long to be seated. Staff is friendly and they want to make sure you are happy and satisfied with everything. The menu has a great variety of dishes you can choose from, which was not something very common in other Turkish restaurants I have been so far. (My girlfriend is Turkish, so I've been to Turkish restaurants in NY,NJ, VA, TX, LA, FL before.) I tried the Turkish wine, and suprisingly liked it a lot and bought a bottle of it for the rest of our dinner. Definitely a must-go place in Chapel Hill! read more

Talullas - Mezze Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Best mojitos in town! If you come on a dinner date, ask for the private corner room. It's a space where the table is low to the floor; you sit on big pillows and can seclude yourself by drawing the thick, draping curtains. The table to the right as you enter is also a good one to nab. It sits in a bay window and has curtain you can pull shut too. Nightlife here often features a DJ and rave music. read more

Talullas - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I'm not really sure how to feel about Tallula's. The food is decent, albeit overpriced (you can get tastier food a few doors down, at Mediterranean Deli, for about half the price), but the service isn't quite up-to-par. Don't get me wrong: the staff isn't completely incompetent, but it's perhaps their competence itself that turns many away. They are, in short, haughty, rude, and snobby. Each time I've eaten at Tallula's the staff has acted as though we were an inconvenience to them, even to the point of once telling us (immediately after we'd received our food), that they needed us to be out of the restaurant in 45 minutes because it was a Friday night and they would be busy. We had made reservations and everything. Do yourself a favor. Forego the beautiful decor of Tallula's and walk a few doors down to Mediterranean Deli, where you can get better food, spend less money, and not have to put up with an uptight waitstaff. You won't regret it. read more

OK, I have to admit that I don't write review much, although I read reviews all the time. Yes, I'm getting free-ride and I'm not proud of it. But the main reason that I have to write a review for Talullas is that their really really deserve a better rating than this. I recently moved to Chapel Hill and was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of food here. It's sooo good that I tell my friends to come visit me because there's a great Turkish restaurant in town. And so far, all my guests have loved it. I'm not from Turkey, but I'm very familiar with Turkish cuisine. I love Turkish food. Talullas is maybe one of the best Turkish restaurants that you can find in the whole United States. I have been to many Turkish restaurants in Los Angels area and also in Bay Area. None of them can beat Talullas. What bothers me most is that their reviews are worse than another Turkish restaurant nearby, called Bosphorus. The food in Talullas is much better. And it's not just a matter of taste. Their ingredients and specially meat is fresher in Talullas. A final tip: try to go there on the weekend because that's the only time when they serve gyro (and other dishes made with gyro). My favorite is Eskandar! Perhaps, only in Turkey you can find Eskandar better than this. Oh, and by the way, it gets very crowded on weekends. read more

We went to dinner on Saturday night and went back on Sunday because it was so delicious!! The specials were braised lamb shank and a whole deboned grilled branzino fish. I had the fish the first night and wanted to try the lamb the next night. Both were exceptional. We also had the desserts: chocolate mousse and baklava. Again, both were very good. Service was great, ambience nice. All in all, a wonderful place to have dinner!! read more

Outstanding food and attentive service. I love their baked hummus, fish special, lamb kabobs and all of their desserts.

I thought about giving Tallulah's 5 stars, but the service is almost always terrible - so it can't be given a perfect score. Despite the inattentive wait staff, the food is wonderful. Be sure to try the combination platter appetizer for a nice mix of dips and sauces, and if you're still hungry after that, the turkish pizzas are also great. I hardly ever get entrees here because I love all of the little plates, but I've been with several friends who've gotten fish or meat dishes and they all raved. Wash it down with a pomegranate mojito, if they happen to be on the menu...YUM! Aside from the food, Talullas also has a lovely atmosphere. I love sitting in one of the circular booths by the window, or - if I'm only with one or two friends - in the curtained area near the bar. It's private and cozy and everyone looks really jealous when they see you sprawled out on cushions enjoying your meal. Be sure to call ahead if you want this space. read more

We went in the middle of the week and something seemed off right when we walked in. It seemed pretty empty and not very clean. All our food and drinks seemed OK. My entree wasn't the freshest, but it was OK. Service was good. I have to agree with the other reviews... that it really is too overpriced. I was willing to overlook it at first, but there really is no reason why it should be one of the most expensive places to eat. But if you are going to go sometime, DEFINITELY go on Friday or Saturday. The food is much, much fresher. read more

Tallula's is one of those places along Franklin St. that I've been wanting to check out for a while and finally, I had an excuse. It's always fun checking out new places in the name of a friend's birthday celebration! The interior is lovely with perfectly dimmed lighting and huge beautiful Turkish carpets on the walls, as well as a few cozy, draped-off booths with pillows lining the benches. Unfortunately, we had too big a party for the booths. Bread with some delicious tomato-y olive oil dip came out pretty quickly. There was also hummus ordered for the whole table-yum! The waiter seemed a bit overwhelmed and kind of stand-offish, but we were a big, distracted party, so, no worries, Mr. Waiter. I ordered the Etli Bamya (chicken cubes w/ okra in a tomato-onion sauce topped with cheese and served w/ rice) and it was okay. I think I'll order something else next time. Question: why is it that the rice restaurants serve you always seems so incongruous to the meal? I mean, I'm not so hugely into rice, actually, but others might be...so really, what gives? Anyway, I couldn't finish my meal because I had had so much bread and dip...it was kind of a long wait for our entrees. My husband ordered the lamb kebabs and he seemed very satisfied, ate it all up. This would be a nice place to visit on a date, maybe snag the corner booth! read more

Call me myopic, but I think I would've enjoyed my meal at Tallulas had I stuck with ordering some stereotypical Mediterranean favorites like hummus, falafel and tabbouleh. What I ordered was way too meat-heavy for my palate. While delicious, the Yaprak Doner Kebabi contained an overwhelming pile of shaved lamb atop toasted bread cubes, all resting on a yogurt/tomato sauce. I lost my good judgment when the waiter hyped the meal as only available on Fridays and Saturdays--and described the succulent depth of flavor. However, I just feel better when I have a little meat and lots of vegetables. My Uludag Gazoz beverage--a Turkish soda--was quite refreshing with its faint fruitiness. Huge Afghan rugs covered the walls, and wooden cabinets and chests with complex compartments decorated the restroom. The worldly vibe and friendly service pleased me... I truly regret not being narrow-minded and ordering a lighter dish. read more

I'm not sure how this place has gotten such high scores. We came here on a Sunday night and the place was pretty slow, as are most places I guess. They have a pretty nice ambiance but the food is just really overpriced. We got a meat platter that cost over $20 and the appetizers will run you about $8 each. The desserts sounded really good on the menu but were overall disappointing once they made it to the table. This place is lucky that there isn't a $5 NYC street meat cart on Franklin somewhere because that would blow this place out of the water. Don't fall for this place and spend $20+ for a mediocre meal! read more