The vibe is very cozy and intimate. I do wish it had been slightly warmer and I had to keep my jacket on through dinner. The wine list was extensive and it was nice to try Turkish wines. I enjoyed the manti- smaller portion but filling and flavorful. The falafel I felt was over cooked - I got one bite that was like biting into a rock. The lamb shank was delightfully soft but lacked flavor and spice that I was expecting. read more

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This place serves the best Turkish food outside of Istanbul! (I know I've been) The staff / owners are always friendly and delightful. Every single thing we have had here is amazing. All the homemade kebabs are juicy and delicious. The lamb chops are perfectly cooked. The actually know how to cook a whole fish perfectly, moist and flavorful! All the types of hummus and dips are incredible. The homemade bread will change your life! Love everything about this amazing establishment! read more

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

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I enjoyed an amazing dinner at Talullas! The service was exceptional, and the food was authentic/amazing. We were seated in a wonderful spot in the back which was a little enclave, perfect for a date! The atmosphere was great, and allowed for good conversation without any distractions. The menu has great drinks, and too many amazing dishes to choose from! The service was over the moon! Overall, I think this spot deserves to be on everyone's weekend radar! read more

Talullas - Drinks were amazing! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Great place and their fresh bread is to die for and it comes with roasted red pepper sauce.. my kids And I tried turkish pizza (Pide) and my hubs tried some goat curry that was baked in a clay pot screaming 'authentic'.. Our pide was chicken and another one was cheese and tomatoes .. I love chicken but in this case cheese and tomato were equally delish with a hint of fresh basil .. may be from somewhere in their backyard because the aroma was so genuine ..my son also ate the seekh kabob and did not share a single piece so I am not sure how it tasted but his cleaned plate said it all and finally the Turkish coffee took us to heaven... that small coffee pot I so wanted to steal but my husband said it would be better if next time I asked them to sell one to me or at least tell me a place where I can go get one .. it was super cute presentation with real kick inside (I am pretty sure the beans were roasted in-house) great family place .. we saw 2 little kids in the back and family members which made this place real gem because it was away from any drama and formalities and made it all very 'real' A rustic decor .. old but elegant and beautiful .. we will be back for more read more

Talullas - The coffee pot ...I might ask them to sell one to me next time - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Good, not great. Friendly and helpful server. Cocktails were slightly disappointing especially the Pasha, too watery. Ambience is cool, but they need to turn the lights down. Most of the dishes were good, some were a bit dry or cold. 3.5 Star experience really. read more

Passing thru town and walked by this restaurant with patio tables available. First time trying Turkish food and it was delicious! Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and they had fresh fried anchovies tonight as a special which was new to us and quite delicious. Everything was fresh and very tasty. We found the prices good too and would recommend! The waiter wore a mask and the tables were spaced apart for covid. read more

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Excellent recommendations by our server. She also provided us a dessert sample at the end, which was amazing (Baklava). Food and drinks were excellent. If I am ever back in Chapel Hill, I will go again. read more

This is one my favourites in the entire Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, and if it was closer to me I would treat like a weekly hang-out. The Yaprak Döner, İskender Kebap, and Levrek were my favorites, and there is always good pide and Çöpün Salatası to go with the meals. I finished the meal with the same kahve I make at home every day, which is by far the best coffee! The staff and owners are very friendly and my wife and I always enjoy talking about Turkey with them! The atmosphere inside and outside is remarkable. On weekends in warm weather we enjoy the ambience, with often a performer or people watching , or the interior which reminds me of taverns and coffee / tea houses in Turkey. read more

Wonderful Turkish food, on Franklin Street. We went on a Friday night and it was crowded (but we made reservations). The crowd was very diverse, some families, college kids, couples, academia people. We got one of the pides, which is like a pizza. The patlican ezmesi (baba ghanoush), kofte kebabi, and the talullas guvec. Everything was tasty. The kofte patties were a bit undercooked, definitely a touch raw in the middle. I would come back, but would like to try other dishes on the menu. Service was OK, but it was a very busy night. There is a small bar, u can eat at, if u did not have reservations. It was empty when we got there and I considered sitting there instead bc the restaurant was so crowded. Next time maybe, it had more elbow room. read more

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I have been here on Valentine's Day, did not knew that they had valentines menu. But anyway the food was average and vegetarian dish is the worst on the menu. Appetizer and Dessert were ok. Service was ok, I was not able to enjoy ambiance on a busy Valentine's Day dinner due to seating and the sofas that was arranged against the wall was not comfortable at all. read more

Delicious dishes and great service topped by an incredible Ottoman ambiance! The inside of this restaurant is one a kind. You don't feel like youve transported to a different continent in really any other spot on Franklin street. Gorgeous tapestries and traditional decor - perfect for a date night or a treat for any reason! They always start you out with complimentary Turkish bread and dip (which they send you when you order take out, too)! They are very vegetarian friendly with traditional dishes including some with eggplant which are among my favorites. You must try the Turkish pide (flatbread) here, too - several options with and without meat. Main meat dishes to check out here are the classic Turkish kababs - iskender kabab or Adana kabab! I think they only serve one of these certain days of the week so check the menu beforehand. I do wish they included more kabab in their "sis" (pronounced sheesh) entrees... but they're still delicious. Desserts are great too! This is one of the few spots where you can find fresh made kunefe! read more

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One of the best food experiences I've had. Fantastic. Couldn't recommend more. The ambience and service were excellent and the food was outstanding. read more

Really delicious!! My lamb was a little dry but I would still recommend this place for 1) the antep hummus and 2) sebzeli musakka. The server was really nice and willing to explain the dishes to us. They also have a cute outdoor space. I have not super familiar with Turkish food but I would definitely want to come back to try more of their offerings! read more

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

I love this place. Not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. Helpful wait staff, but not over-bearing. They are usually pretty busy. I like the Turkish decor. Definitely feel like you're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. Food is excellent, especially weekend specials. I go for lamb shank or whole grilled branzino, but everything is really good. read more

Highly recommend it, this place is wonderful. The food is amazing, their lamb dishes are always perfect. Would recommend trying the Künefe for dessert. Great wine selection as well. Service is always wonderful. My favorite date night spot. read more

Amazing atmosphere and very friendly staff. The starter bread was very warm and fresh. The dip was also freshly made and very flavorful. The portion sizes for the meals are enough for one or two people. The plating is aesthetic and matches the atmosphere of the restaurant. A staple in Chapel Hill. read more

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

Disappointing considering the glowing reviews. Started with an unimpressive and frugal cheese plate with 4 small pieces of bread which was insufficient. We didn't receive extra slices, even though we asked 3 employees. Next we had steamed dumplings which were heavy. Oven baked humus which was tasty although no better than regular hummus except for being warm. The small bread was excellent. Would not return Staff was slow and kinda surly read more

Taken away slightly by the reviews but this place is so unique and many great flavors! Many people talked about the service but this is a local family owned restaurant which did not bother me. I loved the staff and the amazing different dishes that we got to order! Wow the bread and sauce really got me I had too much bread before the entrees ever came out the red pepper dip was truly amazing! I ordered multiple different things I would best say to get the sampler meat platter which gives you a little bit of everything. read more

Very cool vibe/ ambience. Excellent food and service. Great spot for date night! Try it!

I discovered I love Turkish fare at Talullas. This is absolutely one of downtown Chapel Hill's best restaurants. It is not fancy, but the dining is a delight. read more

Total surprise in downtown Chapel Hill. Hubby had the cocktail with cherry juice, Chambord and gin, almost like a sangria. We were served warm home baked bread with dipping sauce, which proved a challenge to limit to only a few bites. Next tried the smoked grilled shrimp appetizer, lamb and beef keftes and vegetable dumplings. The first two were outstanding, the latter a little dense. The lamb shank as one of the specials was fall-off-the-bone tender, the Talulla salad perfect given all the appetizers we tried. Opted out of desert but finished with apple and plum-grape tea, both different and flavorful. Talullas is perfect if you're looking for some Mediterranean food in a warm, inviting interior. read more

Talullas - Lamb shank, tender deliciousness - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This is a great place if you are looking for something different on Franklin Street. Warm and inviting ambiance combined with friendly and welcoming staff. The food is great - I recommend the Musakka or the Iskender. The house made bread is great too! read more

This was disappointing especially for the amount of money we spent. We had reservations on Valentine's Day and the restaurant is a tiny place with lots of two tops. There was a table within 4 feet of the entrance and dead center of the entrance. It was the table no one really wanted, especially during COVID times. As luck would have it, that's the table we were offered and we took it because it had already been 20 min past our reservation time of 7:30pm (now 7:50) & no other tables were open. The placement of the table was not enjoyable as it was pouring rain and people were coming inside dripping wet. Also, any time someone opened the door to come inside there were huge gusts of cold air hitting us. It's not their fault that it was raining or cold but during a pandemic I wish there would've been more thought put into the table placement. Also service was ok but very slow. We were there for 2 hours... We started with the shrimp appetizer and it was good. No complaints there.. the shrimp was char grilled very nicely and I really enjoyed the taste. My boyfriend got Karışık Izgara (Mixed Grill), a mixed kabob platter. That was pretty good, the meat had good flavor and the vegetables were fresh. I got the Yoğurtlu Kebablar which comes with a kabob served with Turkish pide bread and yogurt and tomato sauce.... this was really disappointing. The tomato sauce tasted like canned tomato soup and the lamb meat tasted slightly metallic. It wasn't awful but I wouldn't recommend it. Finally we ended the night with baklava and Turkish coffee. This is the highlight because the Turkish coffee was delicious and so was the baklava. Overall, this place was ok but for $100 for 2 people it was a bit pricey for what it was. read more

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As much as I would love to give this place five stars, unfortunately, I will have to settle for two stars for food and one star for service. The server was unpleasant and even made a comment along the lines of "Eat like Turkish people but tip like Americans". Seriously? Not once did we get our glasses refilled with water for the duration of the visit. We asked twice for another dipping sauce and did not receive one, and yet asked us to tip him well. Being someone who has dined at many Turkish restaurants locally as well as around the world, I would say the food at Tallulas was mediocre at best (not to mention very expensive). A $28 Sea bass dish? A $25 mixed grill dish that literally had 6 pieces of meat (see pictures)? I'll have to admit, the Adana kebab was juicy and good, but not $25 good. I will likely never return here, especially with the very poor service we received. read more

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What can I say?! The ambiance, service, and entrees were out of this world. We're from out of town but will be back!

Daaaang... super good! I had the tilapi in filo dough ( can't remember the name) honestly amazing. Wish I had way more. Maybe next time. I'm traveling so I'm outta here but if you live here - eat here. read more

Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere. Our table ordered several appetizers - the dumplings were our favorite. The lamb was tender and had great flavor. The baklava was to die for. read more

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

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Crowded and understaffed so service is slow and IT'S WORTH IT! I've never had a bad dish and we adore the appetizer bread and dip. Pidé is always good salmon was delicious. read more

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Outstanding. Hubby says it's his new favorite Chapel Hill restaurant & he's pretty picky. Food and ambiance was great. Portions are generous. Staff was attentive. We had an early lunch so thankfully it was quiet when we arrived and of course got busier as we left. Parking is always an issue on Franklin but there is street parking & a small public lot directly across the street from them. read more

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Food is fantastic: salads, appetizers and Kebobs are delicious! ambiance is very authentic Turkish, service is quick and friendly. They accommodated my husbands dairy allergy thank you! Wish we lived closer so we can come more often :) read more

This restaurant is such a hidden gem. I have been here a few times now and each time we have been absolutely blown away by their food. If you want to get a great selection of their dips, try the mezze platter. You won't regret it! Also any of the lamb dishes that they serve are absolutely divine. The service is excellent and it feels very safe with COVID precautions! read more

Waiter is so wholesome and funny. The food really tastes amazing and the decor of the place is one of my favs of all time. On an evening with nice weather and you have a desire for some upscale food this is an excellent choice on Franklin street! read more

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

This place was incredible. We never had Turkish food before and were excited to try it - it was outstanding. The staff and service were also incredible making for an amazing overall experience. I give this place my highest recommendation. read more

Food is delicious, but every time I've been here, the service is incredibly awful. Very slow and inattentive. I understand there is likely a staff shortage due to COVID, but it is ridiculous when the server disappears for 45 minutes at a time. If you come here, plan on spending at least 2-3 hours and bring your patience. The atmosphere is cute, but due to horrible service, I'd only get takeout here from now on. I highly recommend the hummus and do NOT recommend the falafel (there is hardly any filling -- it is very dry and most of it is fried). read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner at Talullas with our out of town friends. The service and food were great and the ambiance was very lovely. Will return soon! read more

Super yummy food, and awesome experience!! Customer service was delightful. Overall the experience transported me to the Mediterranean! I will be back again (this was my 2 or 3rd visit)...always spectacular!! Now off I go to take a nap... read more

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

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Delicious place, but as others have mentioned, their prices (the price range listed on Yelp should definitely be $$$, not $$) are too high to warrant a return for some items. My boyfriend ordered their whole fish special, which tasted incredible. However, it was $28! That's a really steep price. We also ordered a fried liver appetizer, which was good but not worth the $10 imo. I ordered the Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan's Delight), which was $19 and consisted of eggplant, vegetables, and cubes of chicken in a sauce. I was extremely disappointed by the dish, mainly because it tasted like something comparable to what I could cook at home or at other restaurants I've been to. It was pretty good, don't get me wrong, but the value was not good. The portion size was also very small for what I would expect from a nearly $20 dish. The ambiance and food may be good, but the steep prices that do not necessarily live up to the dishes might make us think twice about returning. read more

Talullas - Grilled whole fish special ($28) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This place is a real gem. The bread appetizer that comes out with the red sauce is steamy and thoroughly delicious. The lamb shanks and the Sultan's delight are excellent dishes that are packed with flavor. Your sense of adventure will be rewarded if you get a glass or bottle of Yakut; it is a Turkish wine that has a nice cherry note and a light body similar to that of Pinot Noir. Covid note: They are doing takeout. You can call in your order and schedule a time to pick it up. They can bring it to the curbside. I will be there this evening. read more

A friend and I stopped by Talullas for a late dinner on a Sunday evening around 7:30. This establishment is nicely sized and dimly lit. Even though my friend has previously been there, she still had a difficult time choosing from the large menu. We ended up deciding to split a couple of items. We opted for the following items: + Sigara Boregi + Sebzeli Manti + Talulla's Guvec with lamb Before I dive into the items we ordered, the complimentary pita bread with the dip was excellent. I really enjoyed the sauce. Out of the three items we ordered my favorite was the sebzeli manti. They are eight mini dumplings stuffed with vegetables served on top of yogurt and garlic sauce. The flavors were very aromatic and I enjoyed every bite I had. The sigara boregi was also pretty good. It sort of reminded me of a lighter version of a taquito without meat. My least favorite dish was the tallula's guvec. This dish was a hodge podge of vegetables served with tomato sauce. I didn't particularly enjoy the taste profile of this dish as it tasted pretty basic/watered down. In addition the lamb wasn't prepared well as it had a gamey taste. Overall I enjoyed my dining experience here. If I was given a chance, I would come back to try out their other items. Their menu is extensive and they have some items I have not seen from other Mediterranean restaurants. read more

The restaurant was closed when we reached driving 20 miles It was so disappointing! Yelp still showed it as open. read more