Imagine 8 "Men of a certain age" on a guys night out with a few bottles of wine and some beer. The owner handled our manly middle-aged table with aplomb as she graciously walked us through the menu with a smile on her face throughout. Now, this is not an "eat and run" kind of place. This is a full dinner experience. The owner reinforced with us throughout the night that everything is prepared fresh - "enjoy your starter courses and give me your dinner orders now for they'll take around 30 minutes or so". OK - we've got nowhere to go! Shepherd's salad, ezme and babaganoush dips, fresh sesame bread, all delicious. For dinner - my Lamb Adana was the right mix of delicious lamb flavor and spices. Accompanied with rice and bulgar, it was just the right portion. Other dishes / kabobs looked good too and friends seemed satisfied with Bosphorus. Dessert was a round of Kadefe for all - a phyllo and cheese patty served elegantly and warm. Coupled with Turkish coffee, it was a nice end to a great meal. And, yes, as other Yelpers described, the owner hugs you and gives a peck on both cheeks as you leave! How cool is that?! read more

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Pretty tasty. Looks like a family business thats been there for awhile. The matron provides good gentle service.

The restaurant has such a welcoming ambiance with an equally welcoming & pleasant staff. The food was fantastic and came out quickly. We had the hummus, tzatziki and chick shish. The best part, though, was how kind Nora in particular was. She was extremely attentive and genuine. Would definitely return back! read more

Our meal was fantastic and the dips are amazing! Would highly recommend trying them all with the cold appetizer sampler. The staff was so kind and then when we left, they gave us the biggest hug. We will definitely be back! read more

I have been here several times, but never left a review so now here it is. My recent visit was for my friend's birthday dinner. We started off with a mixed platter of their dips, all were yummy. Also had the grilled octopus and the puff rolled pastry stuffed with cheese. Both were so good, the octopus was cooked perfectly and turned out to be my favorite of the apps. My entree was the dinner special lamb shank. The meat was so tender it was falling off the bone. For dessert I always get Kunefe with homemade ice cream. I've had this dessert in other places , but they make it the best. Finally, the owners are very nice and accommodating. My friends and I will be returning again and again. read more

Amazing, genuine service. Hostess made us tea while we waiting for our to go order. Welcoming atmosphere and ambiance. The food was spectacular. Fried calamari was fresh and warm. Falafel cooked perfectly and baklava was the best we've had. Wish we could eat here everyday! read more

We came here Sunday night for dinner. I actually had a bit of difficulty find this place. The GPS took me to Franklin Ave but the entrance to the restaurant is in the parking lot parallel to Franklin. You can park in Franklin, go through an alleyway, turn right and the restaurant is on the right across from the diner, or you can just park in the large parking lot by the diner. As we were getting seated, the server was so nice and welcoming. My friend's phone was dying and he immediately lent us a charger and found an outlet for us. We ordered the mixed cold appetizer sampler (choice of four) and got the hummus, babaganoush, eggplant, and the grape leaves. when choosing your four, keep in mind some of the entrees come with the yogurt dip. We shared a large shepherd's salad and also shared a chicken shish. Everything was fresh, delicious, and made to order. For dessert we ordered the baklava and was planning on sharing a coffee but our server just brought us an extra one! The owner also came by multiple times to check on us and was SOOOO extremely sweet. It felt like we were having a nice home cooked meal instead of eating at a restaurant which was awesome. She even gave us hugs at the end! Cannot wait to come back. Wish Nutley wasn't so far. read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Excellent Turkish restaurant. Hummus appetizer was tasty. All the lamb dishes are good: lamb chops ,lamb stew , whisk kabob. Good vegetarian options. Top of meal with Turkish coffee at end . Had no room for dessert. No liquor license so bring your own. Service was excellent and owners are involved . read more

Never disappoints. I love Mediterranean foods, so I may be biased. I little pricey, but large portions, with a lovely atmosphere. Owners/staff are always for friendly and gracious. I love coming back. read more

Great service!! Food is amazing, presentation, quality, portions, price! I can't wait to go back! read more

Ordered takeout. Food was delicious! Everything was very fresh and tasty. The lamb had the perfect amount of spice/flavor and did not have an overwhelming gamey taste. The rice was also flavorful, light, and fluffy. The fish filet was perfectly crispy with the skin on and was super fresh! Plenty of lemon to add on and the salad was abundant with a mix of vegetables and chickpeas. The potato wedges were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just how a potato wedge should taste! The grape leaves were standard, but still good. Not sure I would get them again, but will definitely be back and hopefully for dine in! Servers for takeout were friendly too. read more

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The great-tasting food and lovely atmosphere are sadly overshadowed by the lacking portion size, overpriced menu, and M.I.A waitress. I don't know if I came on a very understaffed night but getting the server's attention was a mission. My drinks were never refilled, or even asked if I wanted something else. I had to flag down the server to order dessert. When the Turkish coffee arrived, it was not as sweet as I liked, so I again flagged down the server to get some sugar or something. We made eye contact, and I signaled her that I needed something, but I was completely ignored. We could not get the server's attention to pay the bill for over 30 minutes. I saw someone else bring out some food and was lucky enough to get his attention and able to pay finally. I feel that they were understaffed but still not a great experience. The Next issue was the portion size. I ordered the Adana kebab and received two small lines of meat, a small tzatziki sauce, a small portion of rice, and a few fries. Me and my girlfriend spent over $100 and were left hungry. Lastly, the prices seemed high for what we received. This wasn't a gourmet dining experience where small portions highlight specific flavors and moods; this was slightly above average Mediterranean food marked up a crazy amount. The meal I mentioned above was priced at almost $30 after-tax. The server asked us if we wanted some water and then handed us two bottles of room temperature Poland Spring water bottles; they cost a total of four dollars. For that price, you can buy a case of water; that's a ridiculous markup. TLDR: Overall, the restaurant had a nice ambiance, the food was OK, the server was friendly but nowhere near as attentive enough, and the food was heavily marked up. 2.5/5 read more

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I rarely give 5 stars, but this place is worth it! Cute little restaurant. Cozy. Nice decor. Clean. Good for groups. Prices are worthy. Plates are small/medium. Menu is decent. Food is freshly made to order. Mixed grill was delish! Service is a little slow due to made to order. The food was well seasoned. The server was adorable!! Will definitely come back. read more

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Delicious food & amazing service! The plating was unreal, very colorful & savory. The workers were so kind & attentive. To top it off, BYOB! Will definitely be going again. read more

The Bosphorus - Avocado salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

I've been here twice now and I absolutely love it. The food is delicious, well presented, and reasonably priced.The atmosphere is very cozy and there's a huge parking lot outside to park. The best part is the woman with the glasses who works there. You can really tell she cares about the customers and looks to build relationships. She helped my friends and I order by recommending her favorite dishes or what the speciality at the restaurant was. She was very attentive the whole night and we even shared a couple of laughs. On the way out she gave us hugs. Overall, this is a great place to come for a date, group dinner, or even a special event. I recommend the mixed cold appetizer, lentil soup, the mixed grill, and the grilled octopus. read more

Our dinner a few nights ago was fine - nothing memorable or a must have. The service was slow but we were patient. The one thing that was odd and a bit annoying happened at the start and at the end. Almost immediately after we were seated, the waitress brought each of us a small bottle of Poland Spring water. During the meal, a few of us asked for more water and more bottles were brought out. Was there a problem with the tap water? Don't think so. We chuckled, but when the check came, the chuckles ended. We were charged $12 for a total of six bottles (4 when we were seated and two when we asked for more water.) Normally, I would have objected to this but didn't want to spoil a nice evening with friends. So be warned, that water comes at a price even though you didn't ask for it. read more

I visited last night for the first time for our date night dinner. The lamb was exquisite, as was the babaganoush, hummus, and grape leaves. The owners are so friendly as is the wait staff. I do wish there was a little more ambience in the restaurant and outside of it - perhaps better music (the music occasionally skipped or cut out) and we couldn't help but hear other tables eating and talking. More plants around the terrace area could make it feel less like a parking lot. Overall, I highly recommend! It's BYOB and has outside seating. read more

Always a pleasure to eat here as the environment is calm. The owners always treat us like family and every time I visit I make sure to order the lentils soup! read more

Service friendly, restaurant has a friendly home-like feel, and the delicious food is presented beautifully. Will continue to keep eating here :). The owner is very nice. When you leave, she is ready with a hug and a bowl of candies. read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Amazing service and adorable vibe inside. It takes you away from a plaza in nutley and makes you feel like you're on a terrace with your grandmother's finest cooking and china. The dishes are exquisite and placed beautifully on gorgeous plates. Perfect date spot! And it's BYOB. read more

The inside is quaint, the food is tasty, but that ends the good news. Prices are very high. I needed some tap water, they charge $2.00 for it for a 12 ounce bottle. My wife was never asked if she wanted a refill on her iced tea, she never got one. My wife's chicken Kabob's consisted of 2 pieces of ground chicken formed into a log, rice, and a few French fried potatoes, no vegetable. There was a small serving of taziekie with it. The place was not crowded, only a couple other tables for most of the time we were there. There are a lot of other better places around with similar menus. read more

FANTASTIC food, wish I still lived close to it. Genuinely a very underrated restaurant, one of the best in the area. How it looks on the outside is really not flattering, but the inside makes up for it and is so cozy and comforting. The service was fantastic as well. They're really funny people and are so humble. A great place to dine at, and is one of the best restaurants I personally can recommend, so please, go give them a try!!! read more

This place is awesome and the lady who is serving which I believe is the honor is amazing it's very attentive and the food is great the taste great and the presentation is exceptional I would definitely give this place a try you can just come in and you will not regret it read more

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first time here. this place has nice ambience. however, it is sooo overpriced for the food you are given. i had a vegetarian meal n i spent about $51 w/ t+t. i had a small bowl $7.50 of lentil soup and a falafel "meal" that could've fit in a pita bread for $22. bottled water was $2 n tea was $3. the food was ok but again neither the portions nor the taste made it worth the price. my friend ordered octopus n it was chewy n salty. read more

I would highly recommend! The Food was AMAZING! The service was outstanding as well! They delivered to the office, food was hot and fresh. Everyone was excited to order here agin. read more

I like this place. I do. My husband and I have come back here because the owners and service are truly wonderful. However, my advice is to be clear about what you're ordering, ask questions and make sure you are aware of how much everything is. This place is adorable, and a cute hidden gem in Nutley, but is slightly expensive. The food is always good and fresh, but tends to take a very long time. Again, I really enjoy this place, but pack your patience and your wallet! read more

We found this place with a suggestion of a coworker. I know Turkish food very well and have eaten in many places here in the USA and ISTANBUL. Let me tell you this; food is excellent. They must have a really really good cook. We had soups, cold appetizers , mixed grill and lamb shank and finished with kunefe and tea. All were perfect. I give 4 stars because service was super slow. We waited really long time for the each single course. We will come again but they really need to take care of service part... read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Still 5 stars deserved for this restaurant! Came here with a larger group on a Weds evening before Christmas and service was on point and food was equally delicious! I feel compelled to write an additional review bc this evening I had the best OCTOPUS of my life here! I say this after coming back from vacation from Zanzibar (an island off the coast of Africa known for their seafood). The Bosphorus just cooked their octopus to the perfect tenderness and added just the right flavoring. I truly love this restaurant! read more

This restaurant is great! The service is always good and as timely as can be. The dining room is very homey & comfortable. No matter what one orders, it will be excellent and fresh!! read more

Best Mediterranean food around! Family run business and they make you feel like part of their family. Cozy atmosphere

The Bosphorus strait draws the city of Istanbul together, connecting its European side to its Asian half with chameleon blue strokes. Similarly, the Bosphorus restaurant in Nutley draws anyone who visits closer together through a beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, impeccable service, and wonderful people who run the establishment. I went in here not expecting anything as I've had delicious Turkish food (and other cuisines before), or so I thought. Let's get to what matters, the food! Nora and her husband who are the owners are both from Belarus. It doesn't make sense that they made the best tiramisu I've ever had, not to mention their branzino which is truly the fish of dreams. Did I mention it's BYOB? And she does private events? Moving to New Jersey from New York, I expected less in terms of food. The Bosphorus threw that expectation out the window. It's a must try for anyone, and please say hello to Nora, she really is delight and loves her customers! (And don't forget the little candies she gives at the end, perfect "nightcap") read more

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Such lovely friendly service. Amazing fresh food. Authentic and traditional. We always order the cold appetizer sampler. It has a nice selection to choose from. We usually get the hummus, grape leaves, babaganoush, and the sauced eggplant. The falafel is also fresh and crispy. I have had both the Adana and the chicken Adana and they are both super tasty. We usually don't have room for dessert but if we do we get the baklava. read more

Great food, excellent service and clean location. I had the grilled octopus, cold sampler. Then had kazandibi with Turkish coffee. Def coming back to this location! read more

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We've been coming here for years. It's my family's favorite restaurant. The food is incredible, especially for the price. Nora, your Mediterranean grandmother, greets you in front and serves you, sometimes with a hug. It's her family in the kitchen. She serves you like you're visiting her home. The food is fresh, homemade, never frozen. The salads, particularly the Bosphorous salad, is enough for the table to share or an entree. Beautifully presented. The appetizers are great to share. I love the grape leaves. All the entrees are worth getting. Any of the shish dishes are delicious, but adventure from the Mediterranean norms and you'll be pleased. Make sure you ask her why they're closed on Tuesdays. Bring your own wine. read more

Came here for a date night. Its a small restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating. We were seated right away, without reservations at 730pm on Saturday. We waited about 10 minutes before the waitress came over to take our orders. The wait staff was very nice and attentive. We ordered the grilled halloumi for an appetizer. My boyfriend ordered the lamb shishkebab and I had the mixed vegetables. Both of us really really enjoyed our entrees and the appetizer. The grilled halloumi was perfectly cooked. I definitely will come back here for more! I'll probably try the vegetable shishkebab next time! read more

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The Bosphorus is a hidden gem - quite literally because they are off the main road. The food is delicious. I always order something different every time I go, and I have yet to dislike something. I recommend the "Bosphorus-style steak" (see picture). P.S. Personally, I love that the owner gives you a hug and thanks you personally for eating at her restaurant. It's just an added bonus to the friendly and family-like atmosphere of the restaurant. read more

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Yummy food. The chicken shish and andana kebab were delicious. It's a must try. The ambiance and cost and it has a homely vibe.

Good Mediterranean food in the heart of downtown Nutley. Lot of authentic food options. Rating it 4 only because their portion sizes are on the smaller side. read more

A true Turkish delight!!! My wife and I were really excited to try this place after reading the numerous positive reviews and we were not disappointed at all. We were greeted by the owner Nora who gave us a big welcoming hug when we arrived. We ordered 2 appetizers to sample the falafel and the babaganoush and both were great My wife had the chicken shush kabob and I had the lamb shush kabob each were delicious We will definitely be going back. read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

I would give 6 stars if I could! I truly do not know why it took my husband and I 3 years of living in Nutley to try The Bosphorus...but now that we have we will be back soon!! The food is incredible, and the service was just perfect. The presentation of the food was even fantastic! We started our meal with an appetizer sampler of babaganoush, cacik, hummus and grape leaves - AMAZING! With the warm pita bread to accompany it, even better! We tried the lentil soup - best I've ever had! Then my husband got the Doner/Gyro and said it would some of the best lamb he's ever tasted! I had a Falafel platter and it was definitely the best I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside and perfect on the inside. The amount of love that is put into the food and the welcoming atmosphere was so apparent, we couldn't stop eating just because of that! Nora is the absolute sweetest, and whoever is in that kitchen can cook their butts off! Thank you for an amazing meal - we will be back!!! read more

The Bosphorus - Gyro/Doner entree platter with rice, French fries (under the lamb), cacik dip, and string beans! - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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