This place is perfect. The food is delicious and very flavorful. The staff is amazing and yes they are very family and "home" oriented. Would eat here everyday if I could! :D read more

This restaurant is the best Turkish restaurant I have ever been in US over the last four years. The owners are the most friendly people which reflects the real Turkish hospitality. Iskender kebab is my favorite food which is from my hometown and these people cooks this food almost as good as back in Turkey. Even though, I am Turkish and I lived 23 years back in Turkey, I have never eaten an olive but when I went to Bosphorus Restaurant, the olive oil they serves along with the bread was so good, I couldn't resist! I strongly recommend this place if you are a real Turkish food lover! read more

Some months ago we visited another Mediterranean restaurant occupying the same space as The Bosphorus today, and that former restaurant was mediocre at best, so we never bothered to swing this way. One day, we just happened to be in the municipal parking lot that The Bosphorus is located, and noticed it was now a Turkish restaurant. Deciding to give it a shot without much expectation, we ordered Chicken Shish to bring home. It was absolutely delicious! And that bread... even after cooling down during the 5 minute drive, it was still wonderful. Fast forward a couple of weeks, we decided to visit again, this time eating in. Mixed Grill was wonderful, seasoned just so nicely. The Bosphorus Salad was not just delicious but visually appealing as well. When we were done, the owner Nora asked if we wanted dessert, we were undecided, so she brought out a Kazandibi for us to share; since she picked for us, it was on the house much to our surprise. Oh how could I forget about that bread -- Warm, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside. I've picked up this from a friend many years ago: Always judge a western restaurant by the bread they put on the table; if it's good, the restaurant is probably good, because they pay attention even to the complimentary things they give patrons. Since then, we've been visiting every other week, if not weekly, both eating in and taking out. We noticed that the Mixed Grill sometimes has different ingredients (a couple of times without the lamb, to our disappointment), but the super-friendly service (the owner chases us down to give us a hug when we depart without her noticing) and the great food is always consistent. Try the breakfast platter. Simple small plates, but definitely quality ingredients. This place is definitely a very solid 4 star. If Yelp allowed half stars, I'd give it a 4.5. But since Yelp doesn't have that, I will happily round it up to a 5, for it is definitely the best restaurant in Nutley all around. read more

I've been here couple of times and the food is just wonderful. Very fresh and just tasty. My husband reluctantly came with me this time and really enjoyed the food. I'm just a little disappointed because when I called to make the reservation they seem really reluctant to give it to me? They questioned the time couple of time and then asked me if I'll be on time? When we arrived they then tried to seat us outside which against our wishes. Our reservation was at 6 pm and the restaurant was empty with the reserved sign on every table. When we left around 7:30 it was still half empty. So I don't get it.... read more

Great authentic Turkish food served but by some great and authentic people. From the amazing Turkish breakfast dishes, to cold appetizers like lebne and ezme and the iskender and adana kebab, this place always hits the mark. read more

Wow. I'm not even from this neighborhood. I would come from Brooklyn again because no brooklyn spot even compares. Just wow. Amazing, personal service. Delicious food. My own mother don't take care of me this good read more

I decided to try The Bosphorus after a strong recommendation from my parents. Growing up in a Turkish house I thought I knew what to expect, but I was very impressed. It has a very authentic Turkish feel and the food is outstanding. Fresh, delicious, and craftfully prepared food combined with great service makes The Bosphorus one of the top Mediterranean restaraunts in the tri-state area. read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. The food quality is exceptional. The staff genuinely cares about every single facet of your dining experience, even taking the time to explain certain dishes and how to consume them. I have been here a few times and have tried an array of dishes (either ordering them myself or stealing bites off of someone else's plate): I tasted the branzino and it is excellent. Perfectly cooked, amazingly fresh. The waiter, on this occasion, actually insisted that this meal would be amazing, offering to bring my mom any other dish she wanted if she decided that she did not like it. She loved it. The grilled salmon was also delicious, fresh, and perfectly cooked. The serving size was so large that I was able to get two full meals out of it. The lamb shish is flavorful and tender. During one of my visits, 3 out of the 4 people in my party ordered this dish. Everyone loved it. On another occasion, I tasted the manti that my friend ordered (essentially tiny raviolis with yogurt and tomato sauce) and it is delicious. The waitress actually took the time to describe the dish in detail to make sure that my friend was certain that he wanted to order this since it is a bit on the adventurous side if you are new to Turkish/Mediterranean cuisine. Its not often that servers care quite this much about your dining experience. Stuffed grape leaves are great. This place is perfect when you want to go out for a relaxing evening or maybe an early Sunday dinner. This is not a restaurant you should go to for a quick meal because it is about more than the food itself, its about the experience. This is very much the type of place for relaxing and socializing with your friends and family. The staff will not rush you out and instead they will make you feel as if you were personally invited to their home for dinner. read more

This place has delicious food! its a little tricky to find, the address is for the front of the plaza, but u have to go around the back to find the entrance...but its def worth it! we were greeted by nora, she was so sweet and had great recommendations. place is really cute and classy, service is wonderful. My absolute favorites off the menu were the lamb adana and mixed grill plate. soooo moist and just the right amount of spice. dad got the whole fish and he couldn't stop raving about it. its freshly made and served nice and hot. rice pudding is yummy too, as is the turkish tea.Highly recommend this place. read more

My boyfriend and I had a really fantastic meal here recently. We got the ezme and sauced eggplant for appetizers. Both were amazing! We also split the lentil soup and the grilled halloumi salad. Glad to see that they had plenty of vegetarian options here! It is a husband and wife team so allow time for your meal as it isn't highly staffed. However they are both very helpful and genuine. I would recommend being as clear as possible while ordering because I did notice some challenges with communication among other tables. Overall I would highly recommend this place, they put a lot of thought into their dishes and plating! read more

Food was terrific. Lamb shank amazing, also had the calamari (delish), shrimp kebabs (tasty), shrimp casserole (definitely order again), lamb burger (fantastically spiced), the tiramisu (my son loved it), and the milk pudding - the only innocuous item on the table. Place is BYO. Service was very European - courteous and (to Americans) slow. No one will be rushing you out of the place. On the way out, we got hugs from the owner. Will definitely be back. read more

I am such a fan of this place, one of my favorite Turkish restaurant in Jersey. I have tried most of their dish, the taste and the beauty of their plates is great. You will not get disappointent if you looking for a good mediterriean food, the chef will satisfy you. read more

Wife, kids and I went a few weeks back. The establishment is great. The owner is very friendly and packed extra rice for my daughter as we left. The food was delicious and I was looking for a decent Mediterranean place for some time. We will definitely go back. The only thing preventing the restaurant from really taking off is the location. Its a hidden gem next to the Nutley diner in the parking lot so its very easy to miss. read more

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. I never said this about a restaurant, but we felt like we were on vacation. The service,the food the atmosphere ,probably one of the best in town. If you are not familiar with mediteranian food they explain ,and actually came over to us and said they would give us different apps if we didn't like. Well we liked a lot. They also do lunch and brunch . We will definitely be going back read more

The Bosphorus serves up delicious Mediterranean food. Some friends and I enjoyed a girls night dinner and sat outside in the small front patio area. We started out with the cold appetizer sampler and enjoyed 4 dips. The baba ganoush was particularly tasty, as was the home made bread fresh out of the oven that we dipped in olive oil with pomegranate, which was a unique touch. For dinner I ordered the chicken shish, which our server recommended after I tried to order the grilled chicken. She said the chicken shish was similar but a much better dish, so I took her advice and wasn't disappointed. The chicken shish was juicy and served with yogurt/cucumber dipping sauce, rice and fries. The presentation was nice as well, as a cherry tomato and sprig of rosemary were on top of a pita tent as the meal was served. We all shared baklava for dessert which was very doughy. The service was very slow, so come here to enjoy a leisurely meal. It took a long time for us to order, and then there was lots of time between each course. We enjoyed the nice weather and weren't in a rush, but come here ready to spend a few hours. read more

Just hit here yesterday, excellent service!!! Refill the water so soon and help us handling the salad and bread. The best fried calamari I ever have. Salad is amazing and the lamb is juicy and tender. Fish is so fresh because they don't use the frozen fish. Absolutely come back!!! read more

Lamb Kebab was very delicious, huge, and flavorful (may be enough for two people!). Owner is a well traveled and colorful character who clearly appreciates your business. Location of the restaurant is hard to find. Make sure you look for the diner on the opposite side of Franklin street to find the restaurant. The shepherd salad was very large, fresh, and pretty delicious. $2.00 additional for Feta was a little disappointing but prices in general were fair. It is a BYOB establishment which I appreciate. The grape leaves, hummus, and baba ganoush were all very good. I would come back here just to try the Turkish coffee again, a different dessert, and a fresh fish dish. Coffee price was a little on the higher end at $2.99 per cup for turkish coffee (as compared to american coffee and $1.99 per cup). read more

So I came back here on a Monday only because 2 other restaurants in the area were closed on Mondays. I figured I'd give Bosphorus another chance. This time, food would get 5 stars. Everything was delicious--from the bread and Humus to the Lamb and Chicken Shish. The lamb was probably the most tender I've ever had. Presentation also was very nice with. What this restaurant really needs is PROFESSIONAL WAIT STAFF. Once again, the service left much to be desired, and it was not at all busy. Long wait to have our orders taken, never checked on after being served our food, and never offered coffee/dessert. I also watched another table get served their food by someone dressed in a dirty t-shirt and jeans (I believe he was one of the cooks/chefs). If you are trying to portray yourselves as an upscale exotic restaurant (which they definitely are, based on the nice decor and cleanliness), then you need to also have professional wait staff and everyone should be in some type of uniform. It's really a shame that the service is so bad, because the food is quite good. I really hope someone from The Bosphorus sees this and fixes their problems! read more

This is my "go to" breakfast place when I need to slow down and enjoy the morning. The food is as beautiful as it is tasty. The gentle blues playing in the background, which is as unobtrusive as the wait staff, keeps the mood mellow. This restaurant hugs you with its warmth, and so does the owner! I never want to leave. read more

By far the best Turkish food I've had in the Tri state area. It easily puts tacis beyti, opera cafe, istanbul and Sahara to shame. Everything was delicious and the service was impeccable. I highly recommend the traditional iskender dish for your entree. 10/10 read more

We decided to take the drive to this restaurant after reading the great reviews. The reviews were correct! The food was delicious. We had chicken Shish and Beyti shish. The chicken was marinated just right. Super tender and delicious. The beyti was perfectly cook! The hummus is definitely the best we've had. The best part was the hospitality we received. Welcoming words and a goodbye hug from the sweetest owner! read more

Went here today for the first time for take out. While the food was delicious (more in a moment) I was most impressed by the absolutely warm, appreciative, and attentive service from the entire staff. In just ten minutes of placing and obtaining the take out dish I was warmly greeted, given a thorough explanation of menu items, offered a drink while I waited, offered little candies (twice), and sincerely thanked for my patronage. That was so lovely and is rare to find nowadays. The gyro plate was delicious with thinly shaved well-seasoned lamb, rice, pearl couscous, and some vegetables. Came with a nice fluffy pita that was really fresh and tasty. The milk tart was very nice too. I'll definitely be back. Not only do they do Mediterranean food very well, but they are really lovely, hospitable people. read more

The owner has serious attitude issues. First we made reservations but the restaurant was full when we arrived. The lady said we only had 1 hour before the next reservation. We said okay but all the way she stared us down and the service was average at best. If you were to charge a premium on the restaurant atmosphere, I hope you can deliver on that as well. The chef and the food were excellent but she's turn everything from good quality to the worst dining experience we had. At the end, she even dropped the check without saying a word or looking at us. If you want to eat well, avoid this place to teach them a lesson. read more

Came here the other day with my cousin ha I got been here when it was an Italian place. Wasn't off to a great start when the appetizers I ordered just weren't doing anything for me. However when the entrees came this place proved its weight in gold. The chicken and the lamb were unbelievably good - a must return. The appetizers for me reduce a star. The entrees were 5 star all day - looking foward to coming back read more

Very much enjoyed the food here; everything tasted fresh, and they had lots of veggie options. Inside was very quaint and I could see it being a nice date night spot. BYOB although it looked like they had a bar, too. Waitress was very helpful and made several recommendations for us, although the salad she recommended to start with was gigantic (and that was split between two people!). Hummus was so delicious! It does take a while to get the meal, since it is cooked to order, so you need some patience. But it's worth it! read more

Love this place, friendly staff that treat you like family. Food is amazing and bountiful. The Bosporus breakfast is a feast in itself.

I used to order their lunch specials all the time when I used to work in the area. I must say that their food is just delicious. From their salad, soup, & entree all for just $12! Such a steal for such amazing food. Definitely recommend ordering from here. read more

Went here on a Friday night around 6pm and the food was amazing... The only reason why this fell to 4 stars is that there was only one person to be the hostess and waitress with about 8 tables going. As you can imagine, when you have to wait 20-30 minutes to put in a dessert order or to ask for the check is a little ridiculous. If they add a couple more waitresses that should definitely help. I had the branzini which was insanely good and my gf had the mixed grill which was also great. Food and atmosphere 5 stars, service 4 stars. read more

Service is TOP notch! Nora (owner) is tremendously sweet and genuinely cares about the customer. She asked me if I liked my food several times (food was FANTASTIC) and was so attentive. I mentioned I needed to sit in a certain spot to make sure I didn't get a parking ticket and she literally went to put change in meter. I couldn't believe what was happening. After my meal, she asked if I'd ever had Turkish coffee and said no; she quickly went into kitchen and served me some w/ Turkish delight at no charge. Nora made my day! Ended up with a delectable meal and a new friend! Will return without a doubt! read more

We loved this place. The owners are so nice and helpful. The meat is delicious. Try the lamb meatballs. A wonderful place to sit outside on a nice night. Enjoy! read more

For full disclosure - I have not eaten at the restaurant yet BUT they appeared at Nutley Food Fest this past Sunday (in September) at the Nutley farmer's market, among other restaurants. And out of the other restaurants present when I was there, this one was by far the best. After each tray ran out they brought out a new tray with different options. They had salads, falafel, chicken dishes, etc. It was all very good and I intend to try the restaurant out. I think it was admirable that they put their best food forward when it was free for people to try - other restaurants were putting things out like chicken breast on a roll with no sauce, dressing, etc. So they outdid their competition and I will write an updated review once I eat there! read more

Honestly the food is probably the most amazing Turkish food I have EVER consumed. Their service is outstanding I loveeeee NORA she's so sweet! Top quality food and service. I'll probably come here like all the time! Amazing! read more

Bosphorus is a real treat: the type of loving, upscale (but not snooty) family restaurant with tasty food and and a great environment. The owner was so helpful and interested in making sure our order matched our tastes. They took care of any food restrictions of our party, including vegetarians. We ordered a number of the dips, falafel, fish and lamb shank, all of which delivered. I cannot wait to go to Bosphorus again! read more

The food and hospitality make this place perfect :) they serve crispy falafel and lentil soup with seasonings that compliment it perfectly. Always fresh and simple dishes. read more

The staff was very nice and the good amazing! Atmosphere is great too. There is a reason this place has a 5 on here. Enough said :)

What a gem to find in a town full of Italian restaurants. It's clear this place is family owned, the owner herself takes your order! A little slow on the service side, but it was nice to relax and enjoy dinner with the family without feeling rushed out of the place. To start we got the pick four from the dips - all very flavorful. I got the Bosphorus steak which was amazing - enough to bring home for leftovers! Got a Turkish coffee and the custard-y dessert to end the night. Not too sweet which is a great way to round out the evening. Definitely recommend for those in town looking for something different, but close by. read more

First time tried the Turkish food,it was good.the coffee thing,soup...impressive!!! even the service is a bit slow the time we went,but good to try tho. read more

Exceptional food and great atmosphere. The service was good and and the variety was plentiful. The owner also hugged us at the end :)

My family and I had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon. They had a very comfortable high chair, similar to the one that I have at home, for my daughter. She usually doesn't like the generic cushionless high chairs that other restaurants have, so it was a major plus. The service was superb. The food was even better, and the presentation of the food was beautiful. They really pay attention to the details. Not only did the waiter come around to check on us, but so did the owner, and the chef. We were really taken care of. Most noteworthy is that they were really busy Sunday, but it did not seem to effect their service, food, or presentation. The prices are also reasonable. They have more than enough parking in the back. They also have an appealing breakfast menu, that I have not tried out, but am planning on it. All in all, I highly recommend this restaurant! If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out! And it's family friendly! read more

Excellent food and service. The waitress and the owner were very polite. The restaurant was clean. We ordered hummus, the Bosphorus salad and the chicken kebab, everything was delicious. I will definitely come back read more