100/100!! The food was delicious and the ambiance made me feel like I was in Istanbul, but the service is what really made it over the top. Although all the staff were kind and welcoming, a special shoutout goes to Skylar--he was top-notch! Next time I'm in the area, I'll 100% be back. read more

Finally an upscale Mediterranean restaurant that has equally great food and service. The interior of this restaurant is beautiful and really drives an upscale ambiance. The food is 10/10. Everything was delicious, flavorful, and fresh. The Shashlik, mezze tasting, and cheesecake were definite standouts and not something you can get at many other similar establishments. The waitstaff is definitely giving any upscale restaurant a run for its money. Drinks were promptly refilled, plates and silverware were refreshed, and small touches like replacement to go bags were provided when they noticed a small leak. Overall I would come here every week. read more

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Came here for lunch on a weekday and it was pretty empty and very easy to get a table. Came here with a couple of friends and we ordered their chef's mezze tasting which included 6 different dips consisting of their classic hummus, baba ghanoush, eggplant in tomato, yogurt dip, Muhammara and their special beet dip. We all enjoyed their dips very much and specially the beet one, which unfortunately we found out it's not always available. The only thing is the muhammara was too spicy for us so no one touched it but it may be for you if you love spice. It also came with bread, which was made fresh and came out piping hot. I think this is a great appetizer to start and share with the table. I also got their herb marinated chicken shish, which I only got a photo of it when I was half way through it. The chicken was super juicy, tender, and flavorful, and a little charred on the outside. I loved pairing it with the yogurt dip. It also came with rice and salad. The interior was spacious and beautiful and they have bifold doors where if you sit by there, it's like you're half inside and half outside so would be perfect for nice summer days if you enjoy dining outdoors to enjoy the weather. Our server was also extremely friendly and attentive. Overall, this is a great option for lunch or dinner. Food and service was excellent and I can't wait to go back to try out other dishes they have to offer. read more

Avora Mediterranean - Chefs Mezze Tasting - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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First time trying this place on one of the hottest days this week. The inside was nicely decorated and plenty of seating. They were very attentive to us although I did take a bit for one of our drinks to come out so some reason. The drinks though are so refreshing. Two of us got different lemonades. Both were amazing. I could have chugged my whole drink in one go. The mezze sample was perfect for us to try the different dips. I actually used some with my entree the adana lamb kebabs. So much flavor! The garlic fried were also very good. Crispy and crunchy with the garlicy flavor. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu and the desserts. read more

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2nd time here. Very nice restaurant with tasty food and great service. I will definitely return soon. This is a great edition to the restaurants on Main st. read more

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I've officially entered my "Avora twice in one week" era and honestly, no regrets. From the second you walk in, the vibe is warm, welcoming, and the staff makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. The first time I went, I literally showed my server a picture my friend had sent me because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Not only did it look incredible, it tasted just as good. And the portions are huge. I had leftovers for days, and they were just as good the next time around. The second visit, we let a friend take the lead and order a bunch of dishes for the table so we could try a little bit of everything. Not a single miss. Every plate that came out was one of those "you need to try this" moments. Standouts for me were the manti, chicken Adana, and the sultan's beğendi. I would reorder all three without hesitation. Also, the only reason I have just one photo is because we were way too excited and hungry to remember to document anything. That should tell you everything you need to know. Already planning my next visit. read more

Avora Mediterranean - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

What a wonderful, accidental find! The line was way too long at our favorite Chinese restaurant down the street for Mother's Day so we walked to see if any places had availability. (my bad for not making reservations anywhere). We came across Avora and decided to try it because we love Turkish food. The service is TOP NOTCH. We were greeted by friendly servers who politely told us that there was a table for us but we would be limited to 2 hours because Mother's Day was so busy. No problem! We were immediately greeted and had our order taken by what seemed to be the manager or someone in charge. we had the Chef's Mezze Tasting, Soujouk Pide, Lamb Adana and Shepard's salad. Everything was so flavorful and freshly made. My favorite was the Chef's Mezze tasting which served as my meal with their warm bread. We will definitely be back! read more

Avora Mediterranean - Soujouk Pide - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Avora knocked it out of the ballpark. Our entire experience was phenomenal. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed by friendly faces and throughout our meal everyone was attentive and warm. The food was amazing - this might be my new favorite Mediterranean spot in NJ. For starters, the complimentary fresh puffed pita sets the bar high, but everything we tried after just kept getting better and better. The cold mezzo platter was delectable - my favorites were the baba ganoush and muhammara, but honestly everything was great. For my entree, I had the falafel was crispy and paired perfectly with the mezzes. Lastly, do notttt sleep on desserts. You will be full from the generous portion sizes, but this is very important because the dessert was the cherry on top. We had the baklava with maras ice cream and *chef's kiss.* It was my husbands birthday and they brought it out with a song, candle and dry ice. Very impressed. The food, presentation, service, ambiance - everything was just perfect. read more

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Second time eating t there. this is an incredible place. the food and the service is amazing. from the moment you walk i. the host welcomes you like an old friend. it is super organized and with a reservation you are seated immediately. we dripped water on the table and the busboy immediately wiped it off. the waitress is caring and attentive. we ordered the babaganush humous and the delicious lacmacun turkish pizza and received olives huge fresh pita and tzaziki. i ordered the lamb shank and my cousin ordered the gyro. omg everything was unbelievable. Don't walk. run. atmosphere is stunning. Food is 10 out of 10. our new favorite place read more

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We had a reservation for 10 people and everything was wonderful. This place is beautiful inside. Food was amazing and the staff was very attentive (our waiter Siyar was so amazing and kind). We had 5 different appetizers, meals, and dessert with Turkish tea. Everything was perfect (the bread is perfect). Will return. read more

My wife and I were looking to try a new Mediterranean spot and decided to check out Avora in Somerville -- and wow. From the moment we walked in, we knew we found something special. The vibe is warm, modern, and effortlessly cute. You can actually see into the open kitchen, which made everything feel even more intentional and fresh. And let me tell you -- the food tastes exactly like that: fresh, high quality, and made with care. We started with mocktails and ordered the virgin coffee martinis. Absolutely delicious. Smooth, flavorful, and perfectly balanced -- not overly sweet, just done right. For appetizers, we had the halloumi and watermelon, which was incredibly fresh. The cheese was cooked perfectly -- flavorful and satisfying without being greasy (which I really appreciate). My wife ordered the chicken soup, and I have never been more jealous of someone else's meal. I tried a spoonful and it genuinely tasted like someone's grandmother made it in her kitchen -- comforting, rich, and full of depth. For our entrée, we both ordered the branzino and cleaned our plates completely. Every bite was flavorful and cooked beautifully. But the true star of the night? Dessert. The carrot cake with Turkish tea was an absolute explosion of flavor. Moist, perfectly spiced, not too heavy -- just a 10/10 experience from start to finish. And we have to shout out Orçan -- one of the best servers we've had in a long time. Attentive, kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely added to the experience. Highly recommend. Go ASAP -- this place is going to blow up! read more

Avora Mediterranean - Turkish Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Somerville's ambiance was electric on the first decent Friday night in April, with the spring evening allowing them to open their huge retractable front doors, that drew in a lively crowd. Our reservation allowed us to skip the people on line and get straight to our table. The restaurant's vibrant atmosphere was enhanced by the staff's warm demeanor. I had been here before but it was under a different name and decor, the menu concept was similar but not quite the same. With menus conveniently located on the placemats, ordering was effortless. The waitress's attentiveness and willingness to answer questions was terrific. Forgetting the restaurant was BYOB, we appreciated the complimentary Balon Ekmek (Balloon bread) with dipping sauces and olives as we ordered. I'd go back just for the bread!! The beet carpaccio was a symphony of flavors and textures, winning over even the arugula skeptic that I was with. Both the Baby Lamb Shish and Shrimp Shish Kebap were masterfully prepared, showcasing the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The most tender lamb I have ever had, and I love lamb, eat it every time it's on a menu I think!? While the dessert cart beckoned, we were too full, but are eager for our next visit. Definitely check them out, don't forget your wine! On another note, great place for families, lots of high chairs, date night or catching up with friends. The setting ran the gamut of dining situations, young and old. read more

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Beautifully decorated inside. Free bread with three sauces to start. All sauces were delicious and bread was fresh. We started with the cold mezze tasting. All dips were delicious and generous portions. For main we got the Adana ground lamb kebab. The meat was a little different than expected. It was a patty rather than kebab but they were seasoned very well and also a good portion. the salad and rice on the side were good. They have mocktail drinks and are byob. The blueberry lemonade was delicious. read more

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Food was good, nothing over the top fab but good and reasonably priced. The music they pipe in for birthday celebrations is very LOUD and LONG, so when that is going on they want the whole restaurant to pay attention to the celebration, if that's not your 'thing' you may want to reconsider eating here... read more

Great addition to the Somerville dining scene. Great vibe - and attention to detail. The restaurant was packed on a Friday night and our waiter Orcan couldn't have been more attentive. But the only thing better than Orcan was the food- we had the mezze platter and puffy bread - the family mixed grill for 2 was enough for 3 )highly recommend) and the Bronzino were fabulous - the Turkish tea and carrot cake topped off the evening. We will definitely be back!! read more

Absolutely astonishing experience. Had some Turkish friends tell me to come try this new restaurant. Baklava blew our minds honestly. We had the meat platter and the branzino and it was exceptionally cooked. I would recommend going to this place if you haven't. It is an experience you wouldn't like to miss out on. read more

Great food, great service and atmosphere. As soon as we arrives the waiter brought us a giant balloon bread and two sauces. We had the chef's appetizer which had several different dips and spreads. We shared a grilled lamb kabobs whose was so yummy. read more