I've driven by this place a million times at Forbes & Braddock but hadn't tried it until recently. Bosphorus instantly became our go-to close-by spot for takeout. Easy, timely ordering and pickup. The food is excellent too. The meat dishes were delicious; we had chicken and lamb Adana and both were very tender. Each dish also comes with a good helping of pita. Falafel was excellent too. The platter comes with six pieces, rice, and salad, whereas the appetizer comes with four pieces. The Bosphorus salad was very tasty and had a nice light dressing. Cigarette Borek was a crispy, yummy and beautifully presented appetizer. We also went in person one Friday evening. The food was delicious as always but the experience wasn't quite as great. The air conditioning wasn't working so the place was sweltering and everyone seemed frazzled. The bathrooms were also a little run down. read more

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Generous amounts of good food for not high prices. I got two lunches out of the falafel platter. New this time I tried the salgam, fermented beet juice, which is a beautiful garnet color and, ahem, opens the bowels. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Grilled pita, some kind of cold potato salad, water and a beautiful metal ewer - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Nice date place right next to frick park. Meat is delicious, handsome man sat across from me. Food takes normal amount of time to come out, friendly staff, vibes. Normal price, slightly on the higher end for pitt i guess. Love the lamb. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great local owned Mediterranean food! Very cozy restaurant located right in Squirrel Hill and such nice and friendly staff. BYOB and plenty of options for my friends with different dietary restrictions. I enjoyed my pomegranate salad and the hummus was delicious. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The service was a bit slow but the food was so good! I l got the mixed meat platter and mixed hot apps. They have BYOB and I want to try next time!! read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I absolutely love this place. The owner is very kind and friendly, and seems to care deeply about presenting and sharing excellent Turkish cuisine. The space is nicely decorated, with an outdoor seating area when the weather is nice. I recommend ordering a large spread of both hot and cold appetizers: every item is fresh and well seasoned, and pairs extremely well with the toasted flatbread they are served with. We ordered takeout, and everything was very well packaged and easy to transport home. If you're looking for a nice vegetarian main, the Imam Bayildi was fantastic. It paired very well with an artfully presented Mediterranean salad and a full spread of sides. If you enjoy Middle Eastern food, I can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

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First, I would like to say that I never leave reviews. Second, this place is my favorite restaurant in all of Pittsburgh. Not only is the food amazing and authentic but the prices for this restaurant is beneath what they could be charging. The food here is so good that even when you're stuffed you still eat bc it's just that good. Third, I come here often and sometimes I'll order an app + dinner and it's less than $60. Sometimes I'll order an app + dinner + desert and it's still less than $60. Idk how. It's witchcraft but I'm not complaining. And if you get the privilege to eat here, leave them a good tip. Family owned, amazing food, even better prices... I lowkey don't want to submit this as I want it to stay my own little secret but they deserve to blow up and make insane revenue. Service is amazing. Ambiance is perfect. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Chicken Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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In the area & wanted to try a new place to us. We have been on a Mediterranean kick and found this restaurant. Warm inviting decor & staff. Food was plentiful & flavorful & took some home for the next day. Couldn't decide what to order, so we went with hot appetizer platter, cold eggplant, & then the house special mixed grill! We had no room for dessert, but finished our meal off with Turkish café. read more

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Great mediterranean food! One of the best in the 'burgh, one of my top two! I've been here many times, but I've been remiss in not writing a review. If you are vegetarian, or vegan this place is heaven. Omnivores - you will love it too, but good healthy veg restaurants are few and far between. For veggie folks - the baba, hummus, ezme, many salads, lentil soup are all sublime. But a great option is " Imam Bayaldi" - half a stuffed eggplant that is a rare find and super delicious! Their tabooli is absolutely the best I've ever had, I think it's the parsley they use - not at all bitter. For meat eaters - the lamb is delicious! The chicken options : Doner, saute, adama are all super tasty! There is a lamb stuffed option of Imam Bayaldi also. Portions are generous, service is spot on. I don't know that I'd order a fish option - might be good but that's not something I'd order at this type of restaurant.... I don't care for their Fallafel - disclaimer : I've made my own from scratch for decades, and I don't deep fry mine - which every restaurant seems to do, this one included. This restaurant is BYOB. Go ! Enjoy!! read more

I'm an New Yorker that now lives here in the Pgh area. I'm use to choices for my diverse pilot. So I expresed my wish to my brother and his wife and they suggested this intimate spot in Regent Square. And they did not disappoint. We were greeted by the owner Oliva with an delightful smile and gracious spirit. The food was seasoned with the aromatic spices of old eastern culture that transported me to places like Instabul, Cairo or Lebanon. The lamb was succulent and flavorful. Hummus was creamy and accompanied with warm tasteful pita. I highly recommend for the adventurous taster. You'll feel like an world traveler without out leaving the Iron City of franchise restaurants. Take the adventure to Bosphorus and your taste buds will thank you. read more

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The food was so fresh and good. We shared the small appetizer platter and it was perfect for us as we weren't that hungry. Plenty of food for both of us. Our server gal was great. We sat outside with our dog. Definitely recommend. read more

Stopped in to get some appetizers to take to a reunion. Brought my own serving bowls and asked them to garnish them. They did it all! The food was great as usual. And some folks who have never had Mideastern were won over. Imagine my surprise when there was a container of dolmas, "on the house." They're the best. read more

Amazing! The owner of the restaurant greeted us and was very friendly. She just bought the restaurant 6 months ago and she is doing a fantastic job. The food was absolutely incredible. Best lamb chop ever! My husband and I shared the hot appetizer platter and the dinner platter that included multiple types of meat and chicken. The restaurant is cozy with pretty Turkish lamps. Everything was so good. We will definitely be back! read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Large Mixed Appetizer Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This place was great. The food was great and reasonably priced. I will say I am not a fan of Turkish coffee but I tried. It just had a lot of fine grounds in it. I loved the stained glass lamps. It was very cozy and peaceful. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Very pretty and quiet for lunch on a Tuesday. - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We have been coming to this wonderful restaurant for quite some time and ususally eat here at least once a month if not more. The quality of the food coupled with the variety of dishes on the menu is top notch. The staff is very kind and considerate as well. One of our favorite dishes is the Imam Bayildi which is whole eggplant stuffed with vegetables in a delicious tomato sauce. Everything is fresh and wonderful including the deserts. We cannot recommend Bosphorous enough. read more

Warm Hospitality and Generous Portions Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine is a standout--thanks in large part to the amazing and genuinely friendly owners who make you feel right at home. The food is always fresh and flavorful, and the portions are enormous (in the best way). We always end up ordering more than we can finish, but it makes for great leftovers the next day. A quick tip: if you're ordering pitas, one order is huge, so double-check with the server before requesting more than one--they're happy to help guide you. Our go-to favorites are the fries, doner kebab, Mediterranean salad, and hummus. Highly recommend if you're looking for delicious food with heart and hospitality. read more

After so-so experiences here in the past, I was hesitant when Bosphorus was suggested for a monthly gathering of friends. I'm so glad we gave it another try. Both the service and the quality of the food was much improved. Our group of 10 ordered a wide variety of dishes - all were beautifully plated and everyone enjoyed their food. Most of our group is vegetarian and there are plenty of options. Our server was very knowledgeable in guiding me to gluten-free options. We dined outside per our preference, but the dining room has a nice atmosphere as well. FYI - they are BYOB, which I greatly prefer to outrageous mark-ups on mediocre wine found at some restaurants. read more

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I've been in this building a number of times in my life in the heart of Regent Square but never as this Mediterranean restaurant. The service was friendly and attentive. The small Small Mixed Appetizer Platter contained a fantastic mix of Piyaz, tabuli, hummus, baba ganoush, and a thick, creamy yogurt reminiscent of tzatziki. Amazing with the freshly grilled pita. My daughter shared her doner kebab with me, and I shared my falafel platter with her. Both were delicious. Her lamb was so expertly prepared that there was no hint of gamey "lambness" to it at all. The falafel was not dry as it can be. We saved the yogurt from the appetizer to pair with all of it. We could have eaten gallons of it! read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Doner Kebab and Falafel Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I thought the food here was great! Seemed very authentic and tasty. I've had numerous items similar to the ones I ordered from Bosphorus, and I think they are some of the best in the area. I ordered the Haydari and the rice pudding. The haydari was excellent. They gave me multiple large pieces of pita to accompany it for free. The haydari itself was very high quality. If you have never had it, it's like a very thick yogurt. Good amount of walnuts in there as well. Creamy and delicious. Good portion, price is a bit high, but still pretty fair. Sprinkled with a tad of spice. The rice pudding was amazing as well. It was extremely creamy and had the perfect amount of sweetness. You could still feel the rice kernels. Not much cinnamon, which I prefer. And the portion was amazing! A great deal. The only down side was that some of the kernels stuck together and made a weird chunky texture. All in all, this is a great Middle Eastern spot. Not sure how good the meat is, but the haydari and rice pudding were both great. Recommend it for a healthy meal. read more

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Excellent food and service! Located outside of downtown near The Frick. Worth a stop.

This is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I've ever experienced. The food and service are truly exceptional, and the warm, friendly atmosphere makes it a perfect place to enjoy a great meal. I highly recommend giving it a try. read more

Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What a great place for our wine group to meet. Food, service, hospitality = excellent. The portions are large and tasty. BYOB with small corkage fee makes it even better. Talked to the new owner (a charming young woman). We will definitely items be back. read more

Excellent lunch and dinner last week at this BYOB gem. Lunch was the cold appetizer plate shared with my husband. Everything was so flavorful: charred eggplant salad, baba ghanoush, tabuli, dolma hummus, and piyaz (large bean salad). YUM!!! The pita was hot that accompanied it. Dinner was a huge mixed lamb grill platter that we shared. SO much food! The rice pudding was to die for. The Turkish tea was nice tho I've always had it pre-sweetened and minty - but this was more like hot black tea. LOVE this place. The service is professional and helpful. Ambiance is cozy (a good date nigh place!). Love the covered outdoor patio, too. read more

We ordered take out and the portions are generous, everything was well packed and delicious. We had falafel, chicken kabobs, and grilled veggies. Several dips and rice pudding. We stayed within walking distance and the dinning room looked lovely, if you would prefer that. read more

There are certain menu items at Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine that are really good but unfortunately the quality of some of the menu options and the service are both inconsistent. Things use to be different until the waiter Adem seemed to start losing touch with reality and became both distracted and disrespectful toward me as a customer in a way that made me feel really uncomfortable. I have talked with other people about this who feel that his behavior reflects that he may have started using drugs. When we went I tried to order the Veggie Platter because I was really in the mood for grilled vegetables and the person I was with ordered the Chicken Mixed Grilled Platter. After we ordered, the waiter, whose name is Adem, informed us that the chicken platter was big enough for the both of us and that he would just give me a side of grilled vegetables instead. I really felt uncomfortable that he did not consider my own opinion for what I wanted to order and only offered a small side rather than what I ordered. He did not consider the fact that I wasn't interested in sharing the other persons order and just wanted what I ordered. At least he let me have the lentil soup I ordered (which I absolutely love) or else I would have been starving. When the "side of grilled vegetables" finally came it appeared to be a few slices of boiled vegetables with burnt grilled marks that were added last minute rather than grilled vegetables - the vegetables were soggy and bland rather than the delicious grilled vegetables that I remembered having here before. I think it is false advertising to claim he is going to give me grilled vegetables and then give me boiled vegetables - that would disappoint anyone, right? He also asked me 4-6 times if I wanted to order something I repeatedly told him I did not want to order. I really wish he was less pushy and this unfortunately is just one of several instances. As I left I asked him how much it would cost for a canister of the Turkish coffee and he asked me for my phone number and told me he would text me when the order came in. As soon as he got my phone number he started flirting with me in a very unprofessional and ungrammatically correct way which surprised me as I am only a fraction of his age. When I came back to pick up the coffee he price gauged me for 20 dollars when the cost of this coffee is only 12 dollars on Amazon. I really just wish they had a different server here because I really do love some of the food and the way they decorated the interior of this restaurant but at this point I just feel awkward coming back with the way Adem treated me. read more

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Delicious! One of the better Mediterranean restaurants in Pittsburgh. I'm surprised this restaurant has so few reviews. Appetizers: Small mixed appetizer platter - included 5 different kinds of appetizers. They were all pretty good. Came with a side of fresh, warm, soft pita bread. Would order this for take out when I'm entertaining friends next as an alternative to charcuterie board. Entrees: Iskendar: hearty, maybe even a comfort food. Generous portions of the protein. If you like meaty marinara based pasta dishes, you might like this. Lamb chops: medium rare lamb chops are succulent and juicy. Seasoning was good. The salad that comes with it complimented the meat quite well. Dessert: Milk pudding (Kazandibi): it's like a cross between vanilla pudding and creme brûlée. Nice way to end your meal. Parking: If you are looking for free parking, there is frick park trail within walking distance. I'd just park in the parking area. Overall, will be returning to this restaurant and ordering take out as well. read more

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The food is incredibly delicious and seasoned beautifully. The lamb we had was extremely tender! The customer service is also unmatched. Thanks for a great experience. read more

Great food and service every time I go. Try their coffee or tea after your meal. They are both delicious. I've tried almost all of the appetizers and several entrees over the year and they do not disappoint. read more

I had a great couple of months in Pittsburgh this summer and was reflecting on all the things that stood out, like playing in a "Pickleball Tournament" at the convention center, showing my 1966 Austin Healey 3000 at the "Grand Prix" in Schenley Park, playing Zydeco and Blues music, visiting and eating out with friends. But, the one restaurant that really stands is Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine, located at Forbes and Braddock ave. The food is to "Live For". We ate there 7 or 8 times and each time was an awesome experience. The food is exceptional and, my favorite dish is the Falafel Plater. ***** We ate mostly outside on the patio, with the park across the street, and when you dine inside, with it's bright cheerful colors and when the lights are turned on, you thing you are in a "Hot Air Balloon Parade". Super clean too. The service is awesome, and the owner, Ademe really has a way of making you feel at home. If you like middle eastern food, this is a "Must" for you, or if you want to try middle eastern food for the first time, The Bosphorus Restaurant will be a very present surprise. I highly recommend it! Here's to friends and outstanding eating experiences. The Bosphorus, one of Pittsburgh finest. Make sure you meet Ademe and tell him Coach Freddie sent you. Coach Freddie, Playing Life's Game to The Fullest read more

Very good. I ordered the Iskender Kebab--which is essentially a lamb gyro with tomato sauce--and it was fantastic. I had never before had tomato sauce on a gyro, but I highly recommend trying it out! It was served with a side of rice and yogurt to drizzle on top. Yum! The restaurant is right on Braddock avenue and has an outdoor seating that is perfect for a nice spring or summer day (if you don't mind the ambient noise of passing cars). read more

21 Apr 2023 - I have been going to this location for some time. I remember when it was named "Istanbul" then changed to "Sahara" and now "Bosphorus" Decided to try it again under its new name. The menu hasn't changed much but that's not a bad thing. The variety of dishes are much the same and well prepared. It was a nice day so we sat outside. We ordered the Lamb platter, cold appetizer combo platter and Turkish hot tea and some Salgam. It all tasted as good or better than I remembered it. We usually eat the hot appetizers but wanted to switch it up a bit. All of the different items were very tasty. The variety includes eggplant, tahini yogurt, chickpea hummus, and more. Great to add on the pita bread or mix with the meats. I'm sure I'll be going back again someday soon. read more

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This place means a lot to me. It's actually where I met and fell in love with my husband. He was a waiter here at the time and I told him I liked his glasses when I walked in We continued our conversation throughout the night and I ended up leaving my name and number on the receipt. That night he texted me and we had our first date at the Carnegie Art museum. From this I got to go on an amazing adventure to his home country Turkey where I met his family. Fast forward five years later we are having dinner here tonight. The food is always so satisfying and authentic Turkish cuisine. My favorites include Iskender kabob & karniyarik. For dessert you have to try künefe! It's a cheesy heaven! I know cheese and dessert sound weird together but it's amazing .. gooey sweet, crunchy and cheesy. The moral of this story is to take a chance, try something or meet someone new. It might just change your life at the very least eat here for a really good meal. read more

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Delicious authentic Turkish/Mediterranean food! They had drinks and desserts I haven't had or seen since I was in Turkey three years ago. Felt like I was sitting at a cafe along the Bosporus again. Nice spacious outdoor seating right along Braddock Avenue across from Frick Park. Friendly, kind service and great food! Strongly recommend for something tasty and different. I was so happy to stumble upon this place while in town. Teşekkürler Adem! read more

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We have enjoyed Turkish food all across the city, and would highly recommend Bosphorus. The zucchini in the hot appetizer plate was unique and flavorful, don't miss! The lamb was juicy and tender. The vegetarian stuffed eggplant was also delicious - a treat for vegetarian or non-vegetarians. Finally our service was excellent. The overall food quality and experience was that of a much higher priced meal -- a superb value for either a casual weeknight meal or a special occasion. read more

Recently we had a party for 30 people in this restaurant. They have a party room with separate entrance. This restaurant is under new ownership and the owners were very helpful. They have put nice decorations in the party room. All our guests loved the food very much and and gave us compliments for selecting such nice place even several days after the event. read more

if your looking to try a new place and go wrong with this place. all the food does not disappoint! service is also unattached

Nice variety of Mediterranean dishes. Quick, friendly service with outdoor seating in good weather. Convenient location at the corner of Forbes & S. Braddock. My wife & I have stopped here a couple of times and definitely plan to return. read more

Absolutely incredible. The food was amazing. The staff and ambiance were super perfect. I recommend 125%

Wow!! What a delicious meal we had here! We started with their appetizer plate with dolmas and fresh dips! The pita was freshly made and just warmed up. We shared the lamb and chicken plates which were succulent and savory! A must eat place when visiting the Steel City! read more

A favorite restaurant turned sour due to racism. We walk in for our 6pm reservation for 3 people to lots of open tables. The owner sees a black man with dreads (with 2 white ladies) and immediately body language changes. Two people walk in after our party and the owner immediately helps them and seats them first. We stood confused and just waited. His son seats us at a table close to the window - we start sitting and the owner says, "or you can go over there where it is more comfortable" to a booth table away from the window against the wall. We do so. We set our bottle of wine on the table at this BYOB restaurant. He whisks it away and de-corks it quickly, sets it without a word on our table. He comes to take our order. I am ordering for the table - no questions, efficient, confident in what we want. "Are you sure that is all you want? I am about to leave, are you absolutely sure? You don't want anything else? I am about to leave, are you absolutely sure that is all you want?" I assure him multiple times that is all we want. I am confused by his disposition, which feels patronizing but I cannot put my finger on any particular action. Our food comes and is delicious with the exception of the salmon being undercooked, basically raw. The third in our party waves down his son after 5 minutes of waiting - his son then grabs the owner. She says, "can we just have our salmon cooked more." The owner says absolutely, whisks it away and brings back delicious salmon. "Is there anything else you need?" We pause, "just the check, thanks so much." The restaurant was my choice, I had been here many times and loved the food, it was his first time. It is a celebratory night, he has scored music to a play for the first time....branched out from his music career to push boundaries on what he was capable of. I loved watching him create new music in the evenings for weeks on end. We are here celebrating his creativity, drive, growth, and success. We are seeing the play for the first time tonight at 8pm. We are finished eating at 7:05pm and feel there is plenty of time to get the play. 10 minutes pass, 15 minutes pass with no check. We look around for someone to ask to pay. We look at each other - "should we just stand at the front?" I say absolutely and walk over to the front to pay - we don't want to be rushed to get to the play. We stand there for 5 minutes. The son comes to the front. He says, "I just want to pay." He hands the son a $100 bill. The son appears distressed at the requirement to be disrespectful. He rushes away to find the owner. The owner comes back and begins counting money. "I just want to pay." "Of course, of course" the owner says as he continues counting money from his register. He does not look up. He makes no move to help us. After making it obvious he does not respect him, the owner eventually takes the $100 bill and gives him change. In order to tip 20%, he asks the owner for change for a $20 and leaves a generous 22% tip. There was no illegal action and the food was delicious. The glaring insistence on disrespect because he was an African American male were disgusting. Infuriating. Dehumanizing. I will not be returning to Bosphorus. read more