Everything on the menu is fantastic, beautiful variety, extremely clean, very well run restaurant with lovely hosts!! Thank you read more

Hidden treasure in Wellesley. Every dish is delicious! Enjoy a slower pace conducive to conversation and the added perk of BYOB

I love that I can still order from them even though Covid has taken away the indoor dining. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to their delicious take out! Their baklava is to die for. Their stuffed peppers are to die for. Their braised lamb shank? You guessed it... It's to die for. Their dip options are delicious. Their carrot dip and hummus are always so fresh and go good with so many things but especially paired with pita bread. I truly love all their options so I could go on and on but you really should just try it yourself! Looking forward to warm weather so we can eat outside again! Afiyet olsun! read more

As a former resident of the Needham/Wellesley area, I felt like I wish I had discovered this place a few years ago, but then thought about it and realized I probably wouldn't have come here as a college student anyway. Don't get me wrong, Cafe Mangal serves up some pretty tasty sandwiches - but $10-12 is a lot to pay for something that can best be described as, er, dainty. I had the chicken mozzarella panini -- tasty pesto, great fresh mozzarella, pretty decent bread, and a tasty but small side salad -- but I snacked again a few hours later. There aren't that many places where you can get a cup of turkish coffee, either, which is fun, but at over three bucks a pop it's not cheap either. All in all, good food but a poor value. Also, a quick tip: for lunch, it's ambiguous when you walk in if there's table service or if you order it deli-style. Order at the counter, then they give you a number and bring you your food afterwards. read more

This is definitely a gem in wellesley! Every time I come home this is always on my list to come stop. Their food, atmosphere, and hospitality is unmatched. Anything and everything on the menu is delicious, but their homemade salad dressing is not to be skipped! This is a must try spot! read more

I enjoyed our dinner at Cafe Mangal. Our favorite dish was a cold appetizer of artichoke hearts and beans. Yum! We also had the borek (cheese and puff pastry - yum), the beef tenderloin (tender meat with a thick yogurt sauce), shrimp casserole (my least favorite - a little on the bland side), and one other dish I can't remember (it's not a good sign that I can't remember because I have a picture of the menu right in front of me!) Dessert was the hazelnut cake which was fine, but not amazing. Probably the weak link of the dinner. The BYOB aspect is nice, and they took great care of us - bringing glasses, etc. The wait staff is really attentive and sweet. Would I drive out to Wellesley just for the food at Cafe Mangal? No. But if you're nearby, it's a great place to have some interesting dishes. read more

We love Cafe Mangal and have been so disappointed that we have not been able to go there for dinner in a long time . We bought a dinner to "take out" from Cafe Mangal the other evening and it was delicious. Each dish was in it's own microwavable container with specific instructions as to how long to cook it. The instructions were "spot on" and the food was delicious. Well done! read more

I remember walking by this place as a kid, but never went in until last week. It's a bit squished inside, but the decor is nice. The food, at least for lunch is, eh... So you go up and order yourself, and they'll bring it to you. I took one look at the menu that's drawn up front in chalk and was immediately overwhelmed with the amount of choices. I was starving, so naturally, I decided to go with a sandwich. I wanted something that seemed authentic or at least close to the Mediterranean, Turkish roots. So, I went for the Yengen sandwich (their specialty), which contains a pepperoni sausage that's made with beef. What came out of the kitchen was a small sandwich that literally could maybe fill me up 50% and a small side of salad next to it on a plate that's 70% shaved carrot. The sandwich itself was overwhelmed with cheese that I walked out feeling like I'd ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, that I could have paid a lot less for, and also still hungry. Also, I'm still not entirely sure what yengen is supposed to taste like. The prices here are not cheap, especially for lunch. I spent close to $20 for my sandwich and a drink. On the plus side, the people and service are nice and friendly. Maybe I'll give this place try for dinner next time I'm back in town. read more

We had a very nice dinner here with my wife. Great atmosphere, great service and great food! What else can you ask for? Awesome place to try for special occasions. read more

Cafe Mangal is a wonderful place to eat, and certainly the best restaurant in Wellesley. The food has a lot of flavor and the restaurant is beautiful. Cafe Mangal's excellent food, beautiful decor, and friendly service make this restaurant the ideal place for a lovely dinner. (They're also open for lunch, which I'll definitely have to try at some point. I've heard lunch there is amazing.) The chicken dardanelle (their signature dish), the salmon, and the kebab are incredible, as are the other items on the menu. If you're looking for wonderful food in the Wellesley-Boston area and you'd like to support a small, family-run restaurant, I wouldn't hesitate to go to Cafe Mangal! read more

Easily my favorite place in Wellesley and really the whole Boston area for lunch and especially dinner. For lunch my favorites are the toasted tuna sandwich, avocado tuna salad, roast beef sandwich w/ extra avocado. The salads are amazing especially the Arugula Salad with Poached Figs & Prosciutto. Also would highly recommend the Turkish Lahmacun or borek for something a bit different. While the lunch here is really great the dinner menu is what really makes this place special. I would recommend always starting with meze platter. The carrot and haydari are great mixed together and the hummus will be the best you have ever had. My girlfriend loves the chicken dardanelle and grilled chicken thighs with tahni while I love the duck plate and the salmon/swordfish. Crème Brulee and baklava make for a perfect dessert to split. I could go on but to keep this short this is an consistently amazing restaurant with a comfy atmosphere and great friendly service so I can't recommend it enough. read more

We wanted something different for dinner and had seen the cute outdoor tables for lunch and remembered the menu. We loved our meals! Everything we ate was delicious, especially the Chicken Dardanelles. We will come again. read more

I am giving one star not because of food or service. If you are expecting to find any Turkish food, you are absolutely at the wrong place. Menu is totally Americanized overpriced some kind of hybrid menu. Disappointing! Not coming back for sure ! read more

We had a fabulous lunch at Cafe Mangal and I hear their dinners are even better. I've seen the restaurant described as Turkish-inspired Mediterranean fare. My avocado tuna salad was very tasty. It appeared to be huge upon first sight, but was just enough in the end. Extremely tasty and fresh ingredients. Not overdressed or lacking in any area. The lunch menu is extensive and contains ample vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Soups. Sandwiches. Tea. Coffee. Desserts. The desserts looked amazing. The atmosphere is totally casual. Order at counter and the food is brought to your table. Two salads and one cup of tea was about $35. Based on the quality/taste of the food and the great service, I would highly recommend and can't wait to go back for dinner. read more

Had the Turkish Spice Rubbed Rack of Lamb, and it was amazing. The best Lamb that I have ever had. The portion size was perfect. I finished the entire meal and felt satisfied, but not overfull. It was healthy and flavorful at the same time. The sample mezze platter that was delicious. The best way to start off a meal. The Mangal Style Shaksuka was delcious as well. It comes with oven-hot pita bread that adds a nice touch. In terms of decor, the restaurant is a lovely place to go to dinner. They put out table clothes and warm lighting. Our server was very pleasant, and consistently came to see how we were doing. The hostess is the same ever time I go and very pleasant as well. Overall, this is one of my favorite restaurant to take people to in the Boston area. It is consistently good, and love everything on the menu. read more

This place is so lovely. The food is fresh, great service plus they smile!!! It is BYOB but we were there on a school night so didn't matter. We had the Mezze which is 4 dips w/ a bread basket & then the Borek, which is so rich & gooey inside w/ nice crispy phyllo on the outside. Highly recommend it! And also had a Turkish coffee creme brûlée for dessert. I'm not a fan of flans nor Creme brûlée but this was well prepared and nicely presented. I had about 4 bites, it's a texture thing for me. Flavor was yummy. Service outstanding. Plus there's a parking lot on Cameron Street which is free after 6pm!! Enjoy! read more

I had an excellent lunch today at Cafe Mangal. Pear salad is to die for and roast beef sandwich is very good. Price range is on expensive side but I highly recommend this place. read more

Appetizers: the Hummus is like the smoothest hummus I have ever tried. so nice to have the warm, soft pitas to go with it. The Havuc Salad is a perfect blend of drained yogurt and crunchy fresh carrots grated. this is what appetizers are supposed to do--get you ready for the main course. For the main course I had the duck. I have had a lot of duck dish and this was one of the best. It really shows off what a yummy duck dish can taste like. The turkish apricots were simply amazing to go with the duck. Service was friendly, warm, welcoming. Every time we went there it has been a great meal! read more

Went to this place for lunch with a friend and ordered the salmon sandwich The sandwich and the ingredients are extremely fresh and very tasty my friend ordered a salad and it was the same as well this is not your usual lunch spot because the meal is slightly on the pricier side and the quality of the food reflects the price as well we ordered one piece of baklava and it was very good as well stop by if you have time and willing to spend a few dollars more than your typical lunch and you'll be happy read more

No doubt the best restaurant in Boston! Everything on the menu is a hit, matched by the authentic and welcoming family that owns the establishment, it is no wonder almost every customer becomes a friend and regular to Cafe Mangal. My father's favorite meal is the Hunkar's Choice special, featuring the cafe's specialty: richly flavored lamb from New Zealand! You can't miss this dish during the winter months, as well as the delicious Rack of Lamb and traditional Chicken Breast Dardanelle. The chef is passionate and unmatched in talent, with a great sense of humor! Cafe Mangal will remain Boston's best for years to come. read more

A small but varied menu with some delicious selections including wonderful Turkish dishes, an under-rated cusine. Also includes simple steak and fish choices for those who are frightened "foreign" food. A cozy room that has an old world feel. Friendly and responsive staff. BYOB saves on the bill ($7 corkage). A place that deserves to be on the local dinner rotation. read more

This is one of my most favorite restaurants ever! I always get the tuna salad t's so delicious. I love how friendly the staff is. I went back there after about a year of being out of state and they remembered me! Incredibly welcoming and easy going atmosphere despite the typical crowds and busy lunch times. read more

I've eaten at Cafe Mangal many times. Today I was in the area and ordered a salad, with chicken, to go. For $22 I expected better than three slices of chicken on 95% lettuce. Update: The chef-owner just called me to discuss my review and to get feedback as to how they can improve. For me that is worth a tremendous amount and I have edited my review accordingly. read more

Outstanding service, food and atmosphere. We visit each time we come to Wellesley. Never disappointed. Evenings, byob. Thank you so much for providing such a fine restaurant. read more

Six of us visited Cafe Mangal for dinner last evening (4/21/18). The ambiance is delightful and the seating most comfortable. We were all impressed by the staff who were very knowledgeable about the menu. We started with a meze platter which was shared by the table. It consisted of four dips accompanied by some wonderfully warm pita. Our entrees were chicken, lamb, steak and fish. Each dish was prepared with finesse and beautifully presented. Each dish rated 5 stars +! The desserts were delicious and every table in the restaurant was filled. We thank you Berna for guiding us through menu selection. It is a family owned and run restaurant and it is obvious that they do an incredible job. Ellen and Steve Micky and John Janice and Andrew Holliston,MA read more

Great food and lovely service. It wasn't our usual cuisine so we were hesitant to go, but we sure were happy we did!

This was our 6th time visiting Cafe Mangal. This time we brought 3 other couples. Driving from Hingham to Wellesley is no easy feat in Friday nite traffic but it is so worth the effort. The restaurant is somewhat small so make reservations for a larger party. For an app try the meze combo platter. Fabulous Our personal recommendation for a main dish is their Turkish Kebap with Yogurt. It is the best!!!!! Service is friendly, attentive and never pushy to get you out like some restaurants. No bar available so BYOB. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

To call this place snooty and overpriced is a gross understatement. My girlfriend and I went here based on reviews we read online, and their menu looked interesting but of course didn't show any prices, which should have been our first clue. At six-thirty on a Saturday night we showed up to an almost empty restaurant (all but two tables were vacant). The hostess asked if we had reservations - we didn't, but she seated us anyway in an aisle table for two. Earlier in the day, we had been strolling outdoors to enjoy the nice weather. Despite being inadvertently caught in a sudden downpour that afternoon, we were dressed well; I in a dress shirt, and my girlfriend in a blouse and sweater, though my hair was quite wet so I was wearing a plain black driver's cap. After sitting for a few minutes and mulling over the menu, a woman approached us and asked that I take my cap off; perhaps I was offending the other 4 people in the otherwise desolate dining room. Anyway, I obliged. The menu was obscenely overpriced. $30+ for what amounts to chicken and bell peppers? Get real. If the salsa (for lack of a better term) and breads they brought to the table were any indication of the food at Cafe Mangal, I wasn't so much disappointed by the pricing as I was offended; I can make chopped cucumbers and tomatoes with olive oil and serve with pita bread at home. Of course the staff coldly eyeballed us the entire time we were there, and to top everything off, we couldn't even get a glass of wine because they don't serve alcohol. Typically I'm alright with BYOB, but we weren't prepared to make ourselves comfortable in what turned out to be surprisingly the coldest reception we've ever received at a restaurant - which is saying quite a bit, considering how often we dine out. About ten minutes is all we could endure of Cafe Mangal before we got up and left. It would seem that the internets failed us again; hopefully others will read this review and take heed. read more

We were shocked when our bill arrived and we were charged a "beverage tax" for two empty wine glasses that we used for our BYOB screw top bottle of pinot noir. Next time, I'll bring my own wine glasses. The sea bass was excellent and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. read more

Everything is amazingly delicious at Cafe Mangal. I'm in love with every sandwich on the menu. A true neighborhood treasure, highly recommend for lunch. read more

Great food,ambiance. Smoke Solmon & aragula with the goat cheese salad is perfect for lunch.

When I was in high school this was about the only place in Wellesley that made me feel at all like I was not in Wellesley, which was a welcome feeling at that time. the place is family owned by the most wonderful Turkish family, Mom, Dad and son. They're all quiet, helpful and sweet. In addition to having wonderful Turkish coffee, and other staples like cappuccinos and lattes they also have delicious pastries and beautiful jewelry, scarves and other Turkish wares. While they've been open for dinner for a few years now, I'm sorry to say I haven't gotten in there yet. In the meantime lunches (esp. the turkey sandwich!) and pastries will suffice beyond your wildest dreams!! read more

We've wanted to go to Cafe Mangal for a long time and finally made a reservation. It was worth the wait! The food is absolutely amazing, the staff is attentive and extremely prompt and the overall atmosphere did not disappoint. Five stars for sure! read more

Amazing restaurant. Went here one evening with a group of friends. Be sure to make reservations because this place gets packed quickly. The food is delicious. The mezzanine plate is a nice appetizer to share. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal thoroughly. read more

Perfectly delicious prosciutto, fig, and arugula salad. Friendly service and pleasant atmosphere.

I have been wanting to try Cafe Mangal for about a year. We finally made it here tonight, and were impressed. We made a same day reservation on the phone, and were seated right on arrival. The restaurant is cozy, but nice. I remember when this spot was a sandwich shop, and they've really made it quite nice. BYOB is great ($6.50 corkage fee). Service was attentive and friendly. The bread basket was nice with pita and at least 3 other types of bread/rolls (there was one with olives, one with raisins, and one with sesame). We also liked the infused oil with the bread. We shared the avocado, arugula, grapefruit, and hearts of palm salad, and it was perfect for a summer night. Very lightly dressed, and all the elements came together perfectly. A nice salad to share as a starter. For entrees, we ordered the Chicken Breast Dardanelle and the Grilled Red Snapper, and switched entrees halfway through the meal. Both were delicious. The snapper was a very light dish (felt healthy eating it) with nice flavor from the black olive paste and the tomato sauce; the bed of rice under the snapper was nice too. The haricot verts (skinny green beans) were really good too. The chicken Dardanelle was definitely the heavier dish, with plenty of feta. It was delicious, and would have made a great pizza topping. Lots of great flavors with feta, tomato, olives, artichoke, and chicken all kind of chopped together and baked in a casserole. The side of rice (seemed more like couscous) with this dish was good too. This is a great local spot that delivers on some different flavors and brings a bit of Turkish cuisine to MetroWest. I'll definitely return! read more

The food is excellent, and the prices are reasonable, but the main reason to go here is that it is one of the very few good BYO restaurants in the Boston area. They were recently considering getting a liquor license, but thankfully, they changed their minds. So, it is once again my "go to" BYO. read more

Delicious all around. Service was attentive. We had the duck and the ribs, would recommend both! Definitely coming back!

We've been going to Cafe Mangal for years now. This local gem has it all. Wonderful, amazing people who are warm, funny and genuinely happy you are there and fantastic food. Whether you want to taste traditional Turkish food or just have a steak, you will not be disappointed. I promise. Plus, this restaurant is BYOB/W. If you want to go out for either a romantic dinner or a group dinner this place is it. You can bring your own wine, enjoy a great meal, be waited on by friendly great people and just leave feeling happy and wanting to come back for more. GO! You won't regret it. read more

the best restaurant in wellesley, no contest. food is fantastic (lamb and steak especially, they are always cooked perfectly), ambiance is classy but far from pretentious, BYOB means you get to choose a tasty wine from your rack, great service, great desserts. always order the mediterranean sampler to start. the house made dips are excellent (dont be afraid to mix them on one bite of pita). you will thank me later. i have been about 12 times now and every time has been fantastic. sometimes the chef will even come out at the end of the night to chat and check in on customers. for lunch - the roast beef sandwich is the best ive ever had. salads are all quite delicious and fresh as well. a very good alternative to tutto italiano. thank you cafe mangal! read more