Best Muhammara ever!!!! So good it's a must anytime I am in the city the vibes are also really cute

We've been to Alora countless times, and it's one of our favorite restaurants in San Francisco. We usually sit on the beautiful outdoor patio, where the views of the Bay make an already incredible dining experience even better. The food is consistently outstanding, and the service is always top-notch. Over the years we've enjoyed just about everything on the menu, from the Muhammara and Spanish Octopus to the Spaghetti Chitarra and the Adobo Shrimp Plate. I almost always order an Alora Spritz, while my wife enjoys a glass of prosecco--the perfect pairing for a relaxing evening by the water. On our most recent visit, we decided to sit at the bar and had the pleasure of meeting Sid. He was knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely passionate about the menu. His cocktail recommendations were fantastic, and every drink was expertly crafted. Sid also suggested the Summer Corn Lasagna, and it absolutely stole the show. It was rich, flavorful, and one of the best seasonal dishes we've had in a long time. Alora continues to impress us with its consistently exceptional food, warm hospitality, and unbeatable waterfront setting. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for an outstanding meal, Alora never disappoints. read more

We came for dinner mainly for the nice patio view and luckily it was a warm sunny day in SF. My friend and I shared the muhammara, charred eggplant and adana kebab plate. It was the perfect amount of food for us to share and our favorite had to be the charred eggplant which came with a nice eggplant sauce, labneh and was roasted with pieces of date on top to give it a really yummy sweetness. The muhammara was also pretty good and came with a piece of fluffy bazlama (Turkish flatbread)! I enjoyed the side of rice and cucumber tomato salad on the kebab plate but the lamb and beef kebabs themselves were a bit dry and could have used more seasoning. The staff was great and super friendly the entire time! I wouldn't say the food here was life changing but really solid spot for a meal with a nice view of the bay. read more

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I thought I had taken pictures of our food, but I completely forgot! I came here for dinner, and we decided to sit inside since it was a little chilly overlooking the pier. The only downside was the wait for our food--it took about an hour to arrive. However, once it came out, everything was worth it. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, and every single one was delicious. The indoor ambiance was beautiful and made for a great girls' night out or a nice date night. Overall, despite the longer wait, we had a great dining experience and would definitely come back. read more

I've been to the San Ramon location and enjoyed it, so when in SF for lunch with friends decided to give this location a try. Prices are higher than San Ramon, probably due to its waterfront location. Our server was very friendly and fast. Our group of six shared. Several dishes, smoked lasagna, ravioli, kebab, muhammara (roasted pepper dip), burrata, and trout. All the dishes were quite flavorful, but portions were on the small side and would have liked more bread for the dip. Overall a lovely lunch. read more

Alora - Lasagna - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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All of the food we had here was delicious. I really enjoyed the cocktails and the steak and egg dish on the brunch menu in particular. I removed a star for two reasons. First, the cost was a little high for the value on certain items. In particular, the dip sampler was not worth the cost. The individual dips were $14 for a much bigger serving and the sampler had 4 much smaller servings for $48 and half the bread serving. It did come with some crudite and olives as well but did not feel like enough extra to justify the 50 dollar appetizer. The second reason is I went with a friend who has a parsley allergy and it didn't feel like it was taken seriously. We asked which dips had parsley and one of the ones we were told was safe had parsley on top as a garnish and appeared to have parsley in the dip as well. Additionally, for the main we had to check multiple times that it did not have parsley and never got great confirmation. She still enjoyed her food but it felt worth calling out! read more

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Was a bit skeptikal coming in because of the rating but we were so pleasantly surprised. On a Sunday at lunch their inside (beautiful space by the way) was empty, but it was the patio that was full! You have a great view, and they have heaters for when its a bit windy. Lots of vegetarian options! The falafel, the bread that came with the artichoke dip, the rice, the beet salad - wow. The meat eaters enjoyed the fish and the octopus. Lots of cocktails, they were quite nice but a bit sweet. The desserts were great too! The cheesecake was so nice, and the chocolate baklava was not too sweet at all the perfect amount. Kind and helpful staff! They were lovley! #vegetarian read more

Alora - falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We made Sunday reservations for Mother's Day, and while they were offering a special prix fixe menu, we decided to order à la carte instead. We started with the dip sampler, which came with a variety of fresh veggies and bazlama bread, and also added a side of focaccia. All of the dips were super fresh, flavorful, and packed with great spices. The hummus was probably my favorite. The focaccia was also incredibly good. A few of us ordered pasta dishes, and everything tasted very fresh and thoughtfully made. I got the sunchoke ravioli, which had a really delicious nutty hazelnut sauce that worked so well with the dish. My dad really enjoyed his chicken kebab plate with rice and sides, and my mom's lasagna was very unique with corn and a crispy cheese topping. Overall, we really enjoyed all of the dishes. The restaurant is right on the water with a great atmosphere and attentive service. read more

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Walked in on a Monday around 12:30 for lunch. The place was pretty empty when i came, but it started to get packed towards the end of our meal. The place is cute, and there's outdoor seating where you can see the water. The only downside was that the bathroom was outside and a public restroom for anyone to use. Not the cleanest. The food and service was good. They were accommodating to my dog and provided her with a water bowl. Got 2 glasses of champagne, the trout and tzatziki with bread for apps to share. The trout was ok, lacked salt and flavor. I wish they had given us lemon as it was a little fishy. The tzatziki was fine, but the bread was freshly made and delicious. read more

Alora - Mt. Lassen Trout - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here for dinner on a weekend and was surprised that it was quite empty. The overall vibe of the restaurant was really nice though. The covered outdoor area had great natural lighting and a decent view, which made the experience feel more upscale and relaxing. Food-wise, I thought some dishes were definitely stronger than others. The dip, bread, chicken, and brussels sprouts were all very tasty and probably my favorite parts of the meal. The branzino was a bit underwhelming, and the spaghetti was just okay compared to the other dishes we ordered. Service was great throughout the meal and everyone was very attentive. Overall, I enjoyed the ambiance and service more than the food itself. For the price point, I didn't really think the meal was worth it, but it's still a nice spot if you're mainly going for the atmosphere and views. read more

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Amazing food and service!! Had such a nice evening out on the heated patio with a pretty view of the water. Our waiter was very nice and helpful and the manager (or owner??) came by a couple times as well to check on us. read more

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In SF overnight celebrating another trip around the sun and decided on Alora for dinner. On the surface appeared to be a perfect spot. Mediterranean, seafood, cocktails and by the water. We were seated in the covered patio by request to be by the water. After a couple cocktails my partner ordered the spaghetti with burrata and I ordered the beef tenderloin on a bed of couscous with pomegranate seeds. It was all good. My serving size was perfect but I thought the spaghetti serving was lacking in size. We forgot a bottle of 2013 Paradoxx wine at the hotel so opted for a bootle of Emblem cab of the wine list. Service was fine, ambiance was fine food was good. So here's the rub. It was just fine. Based on Sam B's criteria it's 3 stars. read more

I've come here twice now for brunch, and I'm always surprised by how empty it is, given what a nice brunch option it is. You get to sit outside and enjoy nice views of the waterfront, and it's covered with heaters so you won't get too cold. Plus the food is pretty good. Makes it a great last minute brunch res. The dips are really good, so definitely start with one or two. I'm partial to the muhammara, but partner liked the tzatziki as well. Both of the dips come with their bread, which is so good, probably my favorite part of the meal. Fluffy and soft, paired with the dips, it's great. This time we also ordered the Izgara Ailet Arzi (platter of different skewers), which, in my opinion, is pretty overpriced for what it is, but good for trying everything. I was surprised by how much I like the adana kebob. Usually I don't like them, but their version was very tender and not too overwhelmingly spiced. The chicken was quite good too. I didn't love the shrimp skewer (imo not the most tender) and the octopus was okay. I wasn't a fan of the Mt. Lassen trout - it wasn't really flavorful enough for me or salted enough, and then upon reheating the next day it was quite fishy. The corn lasagna I was also pretty disappointed by. I usually love corn lasagna, but the rendition here just didn't have much corn and had way too much pasta and cream. Get your corn pasta fix elsewhere. The first time we came, they also had a Dutch pancake that was incredible, but this time it sadly wasn't on the menu and it had been replaced with a waffle. read more

Alora offers solid Mediterranean fare with some standout dishes, though portions feel small for the price tag. Highlights Octopus was tender and flavorful, ravioli melted in your mouth, and the steak and eggs brunch hit perfectly. The breads were a delight to start and pair with the dips. The adena kebab came out disappointingly dry, missing moisture despite good seasoning. At these prices, bigger servings would balance it out. Overall, 4 stars--worth it for the pros if you're craving those hits. read more

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Would rate 5 stars just for the ambiance - came for a team dinner with a party of 15, and the view (see pic) at dinner was just incredible. There were heat lamps, so it wasn't cold even though we were right by the water. Food is overall on the smaller portion size, we ordered a variety of items, some highlights were the grilled octopus, trout, grilled eggplant, and cucumber marinated salad. Drinks were a bit on the sweet side - I had ordered the Turkish Tea Delight, not my fav, has a bit of a hawthorn taste. Oysters were also not very sweet. Minus one star since 2 dishes that we had ordered were forgotten, and came out when the rest of the meal was pretty much finished. Overall would recommend for a great team dinner spot. read more

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My partner and I had dinner here on his birthday. Located on the SF Embarcadero, the location is great, and a short walk away from the Embarcadero Hyatt Regency, where we were staying. The interior was nice, and after requesting to sit by the water, we were seated in the covered patio area, and it's a good thing it's covered, with the chilly SF climate, and peculiarly strong wind that went on all night. We started with a dozen oysters, which were fresh. For our mains, RB went with the beef tenderloin with couscous, and I chose the spaghetti with burrata. I felt the portions could have been more generous. My spaghetti was pretty tasty. We brought a bottle of wine from home but left it in the hotel room, so we selected a bottle of Emblem cab from the menu. Even though we didn't finish it, it made more sense to get a bottle than pay the inflated cost per glass. Our server was nice, but I did feel like they wanted to get us out pretty quickly - maybe it was closer to closing time than I realized. I feel like there was an element of warmth lacking from the entire experience. Everything was fine, nothing stood out as great. Might return, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so. read more

I had such an amazing meal at Alora the other day. If you ever find yourself walking along the Embarcadero and craving Mediterranean food, this is the place. I came on a Friday night, and to my surprise found the restaurant to be empty. Alora definitely deserves more recognition for its delicious food. The interior is beautifully decorated, service is great, and the vibe is hip. With bar seating, standard dining, and outdoor patio seating, Alora is perfect for small and large parties for all occasions. Standout dishes were the summer corn lasagna, brussels sprouts, and izgara aile tarzi (kebab/skewer mix). I highly recommend Alora. I'll definitely be returning! read more

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Pleasantly surprised with the service and food this time around. In the past, service was really slow. For a recent event that we've hosted here, they were incredibly attentive to our party. They noted everyone's preorders and the timing that I've set in place. The appetizers were good (though a bit pricey), trout was moist, and the cheesecake was yummy. I really enjoyed my dining experience here. read more

The lasagna and Carlitos way cocktail was the best! The service was friendly for us arriving right before closing. Nice spot by the water and would like to come back for their happy hour. read more

TLDR: Unfortunately had a very disappointing experience here. The food quality and portion size did not meet expectations set by the prices on their menu, and service was lacking throughout the night. The restaurant itself is beautiful and their sauces and dips were delicious, but I think the menu could use some major renovations. ------ FOOD: 1. Rabbit Cannelloni (5/5) This was excellent and a must-order in my opinion. Comes with three large cannelloni (each one can be split in half easily). Rabbit was well seasoned and ground into a smooth paste. The ground meat itself visually wasn't the most appealing but if you ignored that, the taste was great. 2. Eggplant (4/5) The onion caramel was an extremely flavorful addition to an otherwise flavorless eggplant. Beautifully plated. 3. Cheesecake (4/5) It was a standard basque cheesecake that was more on the crumbly (vs. creamy) side. That was fine by me and was one of the better things of the night, though nothing special in a vacuum. 4. Alora Tasting (3/5) 3 great dips, super flavorful. But very small portions. Each dip was less than what I'd even imagine a personal serving size would be. 5. Brussels Sprouts (3/5) - Standard 6. Golden Potatoes (3/5) - Standard 7. Burrata (2.5/5) - Standard 8. Saganaki (2.5/5) A bit too sweet for me and only two small pieces of cheese. Came with a cool presentation because they poured flaming alcohol on top. 9. Pea Pasta (2/5) Quite al dente and really lacked a depth of flavor. It was a visually beautiful dish though! 10. Izgara Aile Tarzi (1.5/5) Kebab tasting that came with various meats and seafoods and 2 sides. Only came with 5 small kebabs, the meat was slightly overcooked for all, and the proteins weren't as flavorful as you'd imagine. The various sauces that came with the proteins were the saving grace. The sides weren't bad but you can just order them individually without ordering this. 11. Sliced Chocolate Cake (1/5) Unfortunately this didn't taste like chocolate? It actually surprisingly lacked any flavor and I would not recommend if you are a chocolate or cake lover. If you're going to get a dessert, I think the cheesecake is a much better choice. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE * The interior is nice and matches the quality of all the nicer restaurants along the Embarcadero * They don't have a bathroom inside the restaurant, so you actually have to go outside and use the public bathroom nearby * There are two parts of the restaurant -- a true interior without views of the water and a covered patio with views of the water behind a lowered screen * In general, the tables in the covered patio area of the restaurant felt a bit tight on space read more

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My brother and family surprised me with a brunch treat here a couple weekends ago. Although the service was slow, the food and ambiance created a wonderful memorable experience. The staff was kind in greeting us, taking our orders, and being patient with my young nephew too. I had the most delicious Moroccan style & spiced beef tenderloin skewer with golden potatoes, scrambled eggs, and za'atar flatbread. The portions were large enough to create three meals out of that order. And the flavors of each ingredient were uniquely complimentary. My nephew enjoyed the spaghetti chitarra, possibly tasting basil for the first time. My brother enjoyed the same. Although she said it was tasty, my sister-in-law said the summer corn lasagna mille foglie was a bit heavier than expected. We dined outside by the water, soaking in a rare warm San Francisco mid-afternoon. read more

Alora - Steak Shaslik & Eggs - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came in for a last minute "happy hour" menu literally! We were waiting for a wedding to start we came a little early. Since we had time we stopped at Alora. The spot looks fancy. The bar is beautiful. So we sat at the bar and ordered from the happy hour menu. The guy at the bar was really nice, but he did keep repeating we have less than 10mins to orders. So we did it quickly. We ordered Hummus HH and Crudo. So beautiful on the plate and tasty flavors for my pallet. Of course we also ordered drinks. Like I said we didn't stay too long but for the short time we stayed it was fun. We'll have to come back for an actual meal to get the full experience. But totally recommend happy hour menu. Can't beat the price. read more

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We went on Sunday for brunch with my family and another couple of friends. Although it's brunch, you can also order from the lunch menu, which was a nice option. We sat outside, and it was a lovely setting. To start, we shared the Muhammara spread with their special bread--it was delicious, though a bit on the spicy side. For mains, I had the ladolemono chicken plate, which was very good, while my husband really enjoyed the local halibut. Our friends ordered the spaghetti chitarra and the burrata with focaccia, and from their reactions, I'd say they liked them too. Overall, it was a good experience, though portions are on the smaller side and the prices are a bit high. read more

Alora - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here for Father's Day, only 3 tables. Took 45 mins to take our order, they forgot my wife's drink, couldn't flag any servers down. She had to use the restroom and alora doesn't have one so she had to use the public restroom. The sink was full of needles, there was no toilet paper so she had to wipe with the wax toilet seat liners. The appetizers sucked, disgusting experience, worst Father's Day dinner experience I've ever had. read more

Really great food! Everything was delicious, and the hummus was especially amazing (always a good sign). Service was excellent and super smooth. We came with a large group (20), and the coordinator was on top of all the details and even had custom menus printed for us, which was a nice touch. Definitely a great spot for company dinners and group meals. My only small complaint is that the table was a bit tight, so people had to get up to let others out. read more

The food was the highlight. Steak and shrimp kabobs - delicious - appetizer platter also good. We split the sweet corn lasagna and shrimp dish amongst the 3 of us and we all enjoyed. We were surprised at the lack of wine expertise given the price point of the wine. If you aren't going to have a sommelier on site then at least educate your servers. Not all customers will be educated in French and Mediterranean wine. The service also seemed to be a bit off. read more

As mentioned in my previous posts, I am on a mission to find the best octopus plate. Alora was ok. Compared to Coqueta's octopus plate, Alora's was decent. The staff were super nice, considering we came in about 30 min before closing to eat. We were seated along the entrance window and the vibe was super relaxed. However, I did not like that our unused plates had to be replaced because they were dirty. Overall I enjoyed the steak and cocktails. I felt healthy drinking my green cocktail. read more

Me and my aunt came here for lunch since we were in the area. The space is really beautiful and inviting and has a lovely outdoor covered patio as well that faces the water. The service was good, though a bit slow, so be prepared to wait. For food, we ordered the shrimp wrap and the shrimp plate and both were delicious and full of flavor. I would definitely come back here again the next time I am in the bay! read more

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Millie is amazing! Great service! Always smiling when we come here and wanted to make sure she's well known for great service. From Sacramento but this is a great place to visit on the pier if you're ready for a good bite and drink! The atmosphere is also very great. Millie makes everything better! read more

Alora - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for restaurant week and definitely had mixed feelings about this place. We got a seat at the outdoor back patio - but even though it was "outdoor" it was fully covered and pretty claustrophobic with the plastic curtains down. The indoor seating was completely empty on a Saturday lunch with only people seated outside. We got off to a bad start with waiting over 30 minutes and having to escalate it multiple times to waiters and eventually the manager before our starters even came out. We got the hummus with pita and beet salads to share and the hummus was really good with warm fluffy pita bread. We then got different mains, the chicken wrap that was good, the spaghetti which was definitely a let down - was super plain and had nothing special about it, and the eggplant which imo was the best dish of them all. The desserts were definitely the biggest let down, the panna cotta had lots of citrus and floral decorations which made it overpowering and tastes almost artificial, while the tahini cookies were dry, and the sorbet was also ok. The only saving grace was the good service of the manager after we mentioned to him how long we had waited, he offered us some complimentary drinks and immediately did make sure our food was being served promptly after the starters came out. However overall I think it was probably due to a lack of staff which was surprising considering its restaurant week and on a Saturday too. Pretty pricey and average food, probably wouldn't come back but it was worth a try! read more

Alora - Desserts - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here on Valentine's day and I was really excited to have a cute date night here with my boyfriend. This restaurant is located near the Ferry Building. Due to the location, it is a bit difficult to find street parking so I'd recommend allocating 10-15min to find parking. We had a reservation at 7:30PM and we were, unfortunately, not seated until almost 8PM. l loved the look of the modern interior and the atmosphere was lively. Since I was here on Valentine's day, we had the set menu for $90 per person. The first thing I had was the Spiced pumpkin bisque which was the Amuse Bouche. I enjoyed the bisque and it had a great creamy/nutty flavor. There was also a bit of Dungeness crab on top which provided a delicate seafood saltiness that helped bring out the other flavors in the bisque. I felt that the Amuse Bouche was served a bit awkwardly because it was served in a small teacup with a handle without a spoon or other utensil. The starter that I chose was the Sumac-Beet Root Cured Trout. The cured trout had a great smokey flavor and I liked the trout roe on top. I also tried my boyfriend's starter which was the Butter Dungeness Crab Hummus which was the highlight of the whole meal. The amount of Dungeness crab was generous and with the hummus it was delicious. For the main, I had the Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin. In terms of the cook of every aspect on the plate, everything was cooked well. The meat was tender and juicy. However, that's where my praise for the dish ended. Overall, it was very bland and I felt it lacked basic seasonings such as salt. I was super disappointed and surprised by this. For dessert, I shared the spiced chocolate heart cake. It had a very decadent, rich chocolate flavor that did not get balanced out by the spices. The cake itself was very dense and I wish there was more strawberry jam on the side to cut through the rich chocolate flavor. Throughout the meal, the service was painfully slow. I never had my water refilled despite asking our server twice to please bring some water. This was odd because they did not provide a water carafe so the only way to get water refilled during our meal was from our server. Overall, I did not see the allure of Alora. The inconsistency in how tasty the food was and the subpar service detracted from my experience. I would consider coming back to try some of their other seafood items, but not anytime soon. read more

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For the price point and food quality, with dining on the water for a warm weather day, it was a delightful visit. Good char grill flavor on the shrimp and chicken dishes and the rice pilaf was stuffed with lentils and spices. The brunch/lunch menu had a lot more options than the website, too. read more

Alora - Spanish Adobo Shrimp and Ladolemono Chicken with Olive Grove Artichoke Dip (very garlicky) and Z'atar Flatbread - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Professional, welcome vibe for a work dinner. Came on a Monday night and the restaurant was largely empty until after 7am. Good selection of fresh Mediterranean options. Prices are high but expected for the location and vibe I ordered the eggplant entree which was surprisingly hearty. The best part of the meal was the desserts - we tried the cheesecake and baklava read more

I personally really enjoyed this place and the menu and even though it was Middle Eastern (i am middle eastern), I feel that there were so many flavors here that I've never experienced in Middle Eastern food. I personally loved the rice medley that came with my chicken. I will note that not everybody loved it but the seasonings and flavors were so good. I don't even like lentils, but it was such a great compliment in the medley. I felt that all the food was cooked correctly. All the meat was still tender and juicy, and flavorful. Again, the flavors were all unique to me and all very tasty. The bread here was definitely addicting. Highly recommend trying it. I should have ordered some to go to take home :) I definitely want to take note that service was so great. Hear from the host to the server. We had kids with us so that's not always easy for servers, and we were a party of 10 so large groups are also not the easiest. We tried to be as respectful as possible to make their job easier, but they were so nice and friendly and understanding. They have a wonderful drink menu. The ambience is also great if you just wanted to pop in for a drink and some nibbles. read more

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Came here for dinner with a friend and had a great experience. The waitress was very friendly and had some great recs. We got the muhammara hummus, octopus, beet salad and crudo. Everything was so good and perfect way try a bit of everything. read more

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Came for the summer corn lasagna and boy did it deliver - so rich & creamy, with such a delightful crisp on the outside. It even came out enclosed in glass with smoke, which added another dimension to the already delicious flavor profile (and made it a show!.) There was honestly not a single dish here that I didn't enjoy, plus my peach cocktail was so summery & refreshing. It's also a fantastic location right by the water with a heated enclosed patio. read more

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Bryan deserves recognition for exceptional service. He went above and beyond to accommodate us. Great ambiance by the waterfront. Good food, good vibes. read more

This is one of the worst restaurants I've been to in a while. The menu makes no sense. The kebab bowl for $36 is something that is considered a mediocre lunch you'd expect to pay $15 for. There was only one, small, dry kebab. The lamb takes 50 minutes to prepare so why would anyone order that, and also, why would anything be on a menu if it takes that long to make. The rice isn't gluten free so the only carb GF option is potatoes. I regret eating here. The service is fine and the cocktails were good. read more

My husband and I came for a spontaneous dinner date on a Saturday evening and were able to get seated in their heated patio area which has nice views of the bay. It was also well covered and heated to a very comfortable temperature, which I love because I always run cold. The waitress was friendly and every item of food we got was very delicious; I filled up on the appetizers alone! We would like to come back again to try more of their menu items. read more

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Turkish grill platter is amazing! Very delicious and tender! The side crispy Brussels sprouts are absolutely my favorite,very flavorful and have three diff textures. Sweet and savory. Yum! Also got a Turkish bread on the house, that was pretty neat too. read more

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