I had a craving for a Gyro and was excited to see that this place was so close to the hospital where I was visiting a friend. It is a busy downtown New Brunswick and I walk there so you might have some challenges finding parking. It was a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't very busy. I utilize the takeout which is on the main level, but it does look like there is seating on the upper level. Once I got back to my hotel and started to enjoy the meal, I realized that this was not the traditional Greek Gyro that I have been accustomed to. The flavor of the meat is not the same nor the construction of the sandwich. Overall, I would say it is decent, but if you are looking for the traditional Greek Gyro experience, this is not it. read more

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PRINCETON: Efes Mediterranean Grill is a fantastic downtown spot serving up flavorful Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, and it is BYOB! There are a few outdoor tables where leashed and friendly dogs are welcome, some with umbrellas for shade, making it a perfect place to people-watch. We enjoyed the Ezme appetizer, a spiced tomato dip, and a tasty falafel sandwich. The prompt and friendly service made the experience even better! read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Have always enjoyed the food here, one of the better restaurants in Princeton. Staff is pleasant and helpful.

Ordered chicken kebabs, the chicken was flavorful, but served with uncle Ben rice...it is an insult to the chicken.

Efes Mediterranean Grill in Princeton offers tasty and reasonably-priced entrees, sandwiches and wraps, and salads in a casual sit-down ambiance with both indoor and outdoor seating, but the service (particularly the host's attitude and interactions with the servers) has been a mild disappointment on recent visits. The cozy indoor dining area offers a handful of tables for two or four diners with a view of Nassau Street. On my most recent visit for a late dinner on a weekday night, my dining companion and I were the only customers eating indoors when an elderly couple requiring mobility assistance came in for dinner and asked to be seated at a table for four in the corner of the room so they would have some additional space without interfering with the flow of folks to and from the kitchen and bathroom. Despite the empty dining room, the host insisted upon seating the prospective customers at a table for two diners in the center of the room. When the customers turned to leave, one of the servers intervened on their behalf and an animated discussion ensued between the host and server before the customers were seated at the larger table. My dining companion and I decided to share an appetizer portion of the Emze ($11), a tasty and mildly spicy blend of tomato, green peppers, walnut, lemon, garlic, and olive oil, which was served with a generous basket of store-quality pita bread served at room temperature. It wouldn't have taken much effort to heat up the pita bread before bringing it to the table. As an entrée, I opted for the Lamb Okra Casserole ($19), a generous portion of a hearty tomato-based stew with chunks of lamb meat and okra. My dining companion ordered the Chicken Adana kebab platter ($25) served with rice and a small garden salad. Both of us thought the appetizer and entrées were tasty if not particularly memorable, but the service was definitely lacking. I'm not sure I'll give it another shot. PRO TIP #1: Efes in Princeton doesn't have a private parking lot, but there is plenty of on-street parking off Nassau Street. Bring change or use the proprietary ParkPrinceton app for the meters. Parking meters are active Monday through Thursday from 9am til 8pm; Friday and Saturday from 9am til 9pm, and Sunday from 1pm til 8pm. read more

Didn't end up eating here so this is a review for the experience. They're chaotic, disorganized and rude. There's no host stand but there's a sign that says wait to be seated. The inside is so cramped you can barely stand while waiting for someone that's a waiter and a host to acknowledge you. Any way I turned to wait to speak to someone I was on top of someone's table. The outside has a few tables and they apparently share with another restaurant. The waiter host was rude and when I asked for a table for two outside, he huffed and said they're full. I asked how long of a wait and he looked like he hated me being there and shrugged and said 20 minutes maybe. He was clearly too busy and couldn't be bothered. read more

Food and services were both amazing ! First time dining here and the food was all delicious, flavorful and the server Ece she was so professional and accommodating for our large party. Will dine here again and recommend you stopping by if you are in the area. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - LAMB CHOPS(4 PCS) - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Extremely Disappointing Experience - Won't Be Returning My husband and I like to try different restaurants on our weekly dinner outings, and unfortunately, this place was a major letdown. We arrived last Friday and ordered hummus as a starter, which was served fairly quickly, within five minutes. But that's where the service ended. We waited 45 minutes for our main dishes, while two other tables that arrived after us were served their full meals without delay. One of those tables even came in ten minutes after us and still got their food well before we did. On top of that, my husband ordered a soda that never arrived at all. When we finally asked our server what was going on, she apologized and said our food would be ready "soon", but by then, it was too late. What made it worse? They still charged us $10 for the hummus, despite the complete failure to serve the rest of our order, including the undelivered drink. We left and ended up eating elsewhere. We understand that mistakes happen, but being ignored while others are served around you, not receiving everything you ordered, and then being charged anyway is unacceptable. We live in Princeton, but won't be returning, and we wouldn't recommend this place to anyone expecting even basic service. read more

The food is excellent but the prices have gotten way too high and the portions have gotten smaller. They only brought us scraps of pita for the table -- very weird compared to past visits. It used to be one of our favorite restaurants. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill offers delicious food! Period! I've been perplexed by their 3.5 average rating, so I read through the reviews. Even the most negative reviews (primarily due to service) indicated the food was excellent. And, in fact, the food is excellent and we had absolutely no complaints with our service either. I had dinner with friends here last night. Due to Covid, there are only two indoor tables available for dining, so we were lucky enough to snag one, since it was raining outside. Outdoor dining options are also available, weather permitting. We shared an appetizer, a salad, and entree platters.  Everything we ordered was delicious, fresh and well prepared.  It's this great mediterranean fare at very reasonable prices (especially for Princeton.) Hummus Appetizer:  The hummus appetizer although good, was the least impressive out of all of our items.  However, it tasted very fresh.  It was served alongside warm and fresh pita.   Shepherd Salad (small portion):  The Shepherd salad was so fresh, flavorful and super tasty.  I loved it.  The tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, onions, and shredded feta (we requested that) perfectly melded with the lemon juice and oil.  The salad tasted wonderful and was perfection! Chicken Kebab Platter (small portion):  The chicken kebab platter which was served with rice and a small side salad was also delicious.  The chicken was seasoned well and moist.  The rice was very good too - it's not your typical white rice or even basmati rice - I'm not really sure what type of rice they use.  But, I do know that it was tasty. Falafel Platter: Their falafel is unique as they combine it with zucchini. Restaurant:  The place itself is rather small, with both indoor and outdoor seating.  The inside decor has its own hip, yet quaint appeal with yellow painted walls and very cool lighting fixturesr hanging from the ceiling (I heard they are actually from Greece).  If you do choose to sit outside, keep in mind that it is on Nassau Street, which can be a heavily traveled road during certain times of the day and on weekends. TIP: Park in the free parking lot behind the restaurant to avoid meter parking on the street. The lot is specifically for Efes and the other two restaurant in that building (Thai Village and Ficus). read more

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Had high hopes but was pretty let down. Here's what we got for takeout: - Falaffel (4/5), moist on the inside but very oily on the outside - combination platter appetizer (4/5), good variety of cold samplers - arnavut cigeri liver (4/5), lots of liver taste, wasn't hidden by the deep frying or spices, the onions that came with this dish was better than liver pieces themselves. Never had this before, good to try - chicken kebab yogurt (1/5), what a mess, overcooked bland chicken with dried up yogurt and leftover pita pieces? Just take a look at the pic - lamb kebab over shepherd salad (2/5), salad was decent but lamb kebab pieces were way over cooked and extremely dry. Super tough Maybe eating in person is much better, but I wouldn't do take out again. Also, they never notified in the app our order was ready so the dishes could have sat on the table for a while. They threw in a pack of store bought pita which was nice, but cmon - I expected them to make pita from scratch. read more

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Good lamb kebab wrap, but could have been a little bigger. Might be interested to try some other dishes. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Lamb Kebab Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Exceptional desserts, and Turkish coffee everything was spectacular and taste, and the service was great very clean environment as well

Delicious! Enjoyed a wonderful baklava and a delicious meal. Came in and was packed!. Enjoyed some mussakah and a lamb dish. Lamb was perfectly tender. read more

Great dip sampler, everything was delicious with freshly toasted bread. Chicken Adana was surprisingly tasty, one of our favorites. Lamb Okra casserole was hearty and satisfying. Come here for freshly prepared appetizing food. Service is quick and friendly. We ordered 3 desserts (2 baklavas) for takeout. When we opened the package, one of the baklavas was nearly burnt. A bit disappointed but the first time it happened so hopefully just a mistake. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - a piece of baklaa and a fork - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

I have been coming to Efes in Princeton for the last 15 years, and I even worked at the restaurant when it first opened while I was in high school. Over the years, I've introduced countless family members and friends to this restaurant, especially since it was one of the first Halal establishments in the area that served such high-quality food. My family has been residents of the area for a long time, and we've always helped to spread the word about Efes to our Muslim community. I recently returned from the West Coast after graduating law school, and Efes was one of the first places I wanted to visit. In fact, I've been here three times in the last two weeks because I missed the food so much. However, during my last visit, I had a very disappointing experience. I came in today by myself, asked for one lentil soup to eat at the table, and requested my combination platter to be packed to-go, but mentioned I'd eat half of it there. I understand that the waiters' English isn't perfect, and there may have been some miscommunication, as when the food arrived, the entire platter was packed up. I decided to eat it directly from the to-go box since it wasn't a big deal to me. While I was in the middle of my meal, a waiter who had served me during my previous visits interrupted me. There was no one else in the restaurant at the time. He told me that while it was okay this time, I wouldn't be allowed to eat from a to-go box in the future and that I should ask for a plate. I was confused, so I explained the situation to him, but he insisted that the other waiter said something different. I told him that if there's a policy like this, it should be communicated to the staff, not to the customers. I felt extremely patronized and uncomfortable by the way he handled the situation. His tone was condescending, and it completely ruined the dining experience for me. I ended up asking for the check and left, feeling disrespected. Shortly after I left, a family friend who had only learned about Efes through us came in to grab a to-go order, and I was even more disappointed knowing that we had helped bring them more business. After leaving, I called another Efes location, and the manager there was incredibly kind and reassuring. He promised to handle the situation and make sure it wouldn't happen again, which was appreciated. However, I felt it was important to leave this review to make others aware of the lack of hospitality I experienced. The waiter in question (I didn't catch his name, but he had a tattoo on his right arm) was unnecessarily aggressive and could have waited until after my meal to explain the policy--if it even needed to be addressed at all. As a Muslim person visiting a Halal restaurant, I felt that the experience was completely against the Islamic principles of hospitality and care. I've always loved Efes, but this experience has made me seriously reconsider coming back, and I've already informed my family and friends about the situation. I truly hope that this feedback is taken seriously and that future customers won't experience the same treatment. read more

The food here is absolutely delicious! I came here Saturday with three friends, and we really enjoyed the experience. The waitress was lovely, and the food was so tasty. We shared the hummus and zucchini pancake appetizer - which was plenty for the four of us. I ordered the lamb kebob platter, and it came with a small salad and large amount of french fries. I did not finish it all. The staff here also does a great job of refilling the waters and pita baskets (the pita is complimentary with the dipping sauces!) For dessert we had three turkish coffees and one turkish tea, and shared a baklava. It was nice because it was cut into four small squares. My friend was disappointed they did not give her a turkish delight with her tea, even thought it is shown on the menu and in many of the online photos. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is that it is so ,so, so, small. There are only a handful of tables inside, and they don't take reservations. I guess we got lucky, because when we arrived there was only a 20 minute wait. There was a table of 4, and maybe four other tables of 2. I would probably come back only with one other person because it's easier to get a table. And I would DEFINITELY get take out (their take out counter was rockin!!) If you want to come on the weekend or with a group - be prepared to wait. (Unless it's the warmer seasons, I believe they also have outdoor seating..) read more

This place has really gone down since their pre-pandemic standards. Food, service, and cleanliness were all low quality and everything was a little dirty. Tables were grimey and I heard a microwave on and dinging non-stop in the back. Pita is store bought and served in the original store packaging. Sauces are all watered down. Food portions are half the size they used to be and twice the price. Go to kapadokya instead. read more

Efes is a farily decent place to get some good vegetarian mid-eastern sandwitches. Outdoor dining is very popular here though very hard to maintain a conversation because Nassau street is fairly busy street with truck/bus traffic. Their hot sauce is really, really hot -- so enjoy with caution. Serving is quick and friendly. Very online order friendly and a regular place for many for lunches. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Terrific food! For appetizers we had the falafel and hummus plate plus the shepherd salad and I t was delish. The main entries were lamb, chicken and Adana kebabs. The quality of the meat and taste was second to none. To be honest, this is the first Turkish restaurant out of Brooklyn that I can say it's real authentic quality food. Service was fine - - - had no issues like the other reviewers. I do agree that their bread is a HUGE disappointment and since the Turkish bread is part of the entire experience of eating in this type of restaurants, it took away a star from this review. They give you a freaking type of wonder bread in the shape of a loaf - - really bad! Also, this restaurant is on the pricy side in comparison to other Turkish restaurants in NJ but I don't care to pay more when the food is great. Overall, it was a pleasant experience eating good food with my family . read more

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I came here on a double date on a weekday and we were seated immediately! The outdoor seating of the restaurant is much cuter than the indoor but inside was still cozy. The service was very fast and the servers were attentive to when we needed more water, hot sauce, etc. The food portion sizes were so large which I was happy with but there were some differences between the online and in person menu. I only give the restaurant 3 stars because it says it closes at 9:45pm but at 9pm the waiters were hovering over us practically waiting for us to leave so it felt pretty rude. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Grilled Chicken Chicken Adana Falafel Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came here with my family around thanksgiving time and we all really enjoyed it! We had 10 people and 1 toddler, we called ahead the day before and were able to be seated pretty easily even though the space isn't huge. We ended up getting 2 of the combo platters which basically has every cold dip/sauce/hummus thing on the appetizer menu, it was really good!! We then ordered a bunch of dishes which if I'm being honest I don't even remember what they were (I took some pictures of a few of them) but suffice it to say that everything was tasty, from the meats to the pita to the rice and all the condiments. Also if it matters, they are BYOB which is a nice plus! Good work Efes! read more

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We've dined in and gotten takeout. Both experiences were excellent. The Mediterranean salad was fresh and light. Hummus was tasty. Tried the gyro doner both in the restaurant (small) and as takeout (large), and on both occasions the portions were generous and flavorful. We've also tried grilled salmon, which is fresh and tasty. Service was friendly. We'll be back to try other dishes. read more

Hi i just picked up a take out order and didnt receive any sauces like the hot sauce and tahini at the side , that usually always comes with the food. This is the third time that this has happened at this location and it is the last. Let me just choke on my dry ass falafel sandwich and french fries with no garlic sauce. New Brunswick location never disappoints but this one always does. Best read more

So this review is based on delivered food. My job often orders here. This place is Turkish 1st time I had it - about a year ago. I tried the falafel meal and it was subpar for me. It wasn't until recently that a co-worker convinced to me to try the grilled chicken . She and other co-workers were raving about it the past few months. So I tried the grilled chicken meal for $10. And I have to say that the grilled chicken was EXCELLENT. They give you like 5 pieces. Why am I still at 4 stars? Because the rest was just ok to me. The hot sauce and the tzatziki sauce are eh. I put them together to make it a lil better. Even the pitas they give are store bought instead of fresh made pitas. With that being said - I would order the grilled chicken again if my co-workers order again read more

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The food here is definitely good. Ordered multiple appetizers and platters for a group of 5. Quite expensive compared to a few other Mediterranean restaurants close by. I was extremely disappointed with their service. Didn't feel very welcomed. Both the ladies has some serious attitude issues. I am guessing it's due to lack of customer service skills. It's not like it was super busy either. Apart from us there just 2 other small groups of 2. After appetizers they kept bringing the food without taking away the empty appetizer plates. The table was so small and full of food that we had to keep moving things around to make space to actually eat from our plates. I asked if we can connect 2 tables but the lady declined. None of the staff even had the courtesy to ask once if we were ok. Definitely not going back to dine in. Ok for takeout only if you have extra money to spend. Try Bereket on RT-1. Very small joint but excellent food and service read more

Great service, food, and menu. I love the small shop vibes this business gives off. Highly recommend the soup of the day along with the stuffed grape leaves! read more

Enjoyed my dinner at Efes other than some somewhat minor grievances. The restaurant is located right off of Nassau St. and I was happy to discover that there was a dedicated parking lot for Efes and a couple of other restaurants. We were seated immediately in a small table in the corner of the restaurant, which would have been OK except for two complaints: 1) Most importantly, my seat was directly next to a heating element of some kind. Maybe to keep a tray of food hot? Anyway, it made my dinner experience uncomfortably warm, and I was definitely not a fan. 2) The tables were very close together, so I basically couldn't avoid listening to another table's conversation for my entire meal. The conversation was super boring, too, so I didn't even get to hear anything juicy :) All of that being said, the food was very tasty, but also a little more expensive than I expected. I would think about coming back, but I'd hopefully get to sit in a more comfortable part of the restaurant. read more

Quaint, intimate location in the downtown part of Princeton, but a little farther down Nassau to avoid as much bustle. Authentic menu and style. The best hummus you'll find as well as flavorful lamb and best of all their baklava. Their baklava is so crispy and sweet, honey soaked flakes melting in your mouth. It's BYOB; come take a date out. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - HUMMUS - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Starving tried to get a late lunch at EFES with my family; sadly, we were skipped over multiple times (3x) trying to be seated. Apparently, you have to make sure everyone who works there aware; otherwise, they'll just skip you over. Poor guest management, accommodation, and customer service. I did make 1 waiter and 2 witnesses aware and waited 25+ minutes, giving them the benefit of the doubt before we had to leave. The restaurant appeared to be doing well; however, it left an awful impression. Poor customer service will catch up sooner or later. We expected better for a restaurant with a higher price point. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - the entrance to the restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Delicious food, and kind, polite service. Everything was served up quickly and as advertised. Casual setting, family friendly and BYOB. We grabbed a bottle of wine at the liquor store just across the street. I will get some of these names wrong but had the hummus, tabuli and feta cheese sticks for appetizers. All were tasty. Then had gyro doner, mixed grill, chicken with okra, and garlic chicken. We enjoyed them all. I had the gyro which I would definitely get again. I tasted my daughter's garlic chicken and thought it was so flavorful. My son's mixed grill was a major feast, that was hard to totally finish, but made a good snack/lunch the second day. My husband thought his chicken with okra was good slightly less flavorful compared to the others. He ate every bite though! Very good sized portions. After having appetizers 3/4 had lunch left for the next day. We shared a serving of baklava for dessert. Yum!! Highly recommend!! We will be back! read more

One of my top favorite restaurants in existence! It is definitely a hole in the wall type of joint, but the food is mind blowing. It's located on Nassau street but further down from all the action. Very reasonably priced and a nice size menu. We always order the small sampler platter which features a variety of cold salads such as babaganoush, hummus, eggplant, carrots. Then for the main course I order the lamb gyro platter. They have these red pepper flakes on the table for seasoning which adds extra flavor! The place is small, so seating is limited. They offer takeout, which is clutch. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Food is good. But not good enough for the price, and to deal with the horrible customer service. Would not recommend ever again. We placed the order through Uber eats and the restaurant did not give the driver 2 bags. The order was then cancelled and the restaurant decided to bring us the 2 bags, while the Uber driver still had 1 bag (which we did not know). The restaurant ensured they had all items for delivery. When we did not receive the full order, we called to let them know and to request a partial refund for items not received. They disconnected the call at this request. After calling twice due to the prior issues, we called back again and got hung up on after requesting a full refund. After a fourth call, they agreed to a partial refund which they have not yet processed. This restaurant just lost 5 customers. read more

Amazing food in a very unassuming atmosphere. Will definitely come back for the lamb & okra stew!

I'm gonna start by saying the food here is delicious . I have been a customer for years. The food is great the service is so so.. as far as today...I know Covid has affected us all. I have been actively supporting restaurants for the last six months through this pandemic. If the restaurant will deliver directly, I will choose that option... I chose that option so that the restaurant will get all of my money. If I would've placed my order through door dash or Uber eats they would have gotten less. I'm attaching a photo of a $46 meal before a tip for the driver. Of course I gave the driver a tip and trust me this review is not based off of the $46...it's based off the principle. On the itemized receipt they charged me $7 for delivery. I live 3.9 miles away from the restaurant. If I would've ordered from door Dash, delivery would have been $1.99. Take your patrons loyalty more seriously. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Lamb Kabob, liver and Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

For the price, the portions are really small.thus will vary depending on when you go there. Food is not as good as when they first arrived in princeton. The place is really too small. read more

This is to let the owner of EFES princeton know that I had placed an online order of Efes wrap from Princeton. When we arrived the food was not ready. So we told the waitress that we will eat here as we had to wait anyways. She said okay for that. When the food arrived the wrap was cold. So we requested to warm it up. It was warmed and given back to us but when we started eating the waitress asked us to leave stating that since the order was made online. Asking customers to leave is unacceptable. They should have told at the beginning itself when we said we are going to dine in. This needs to be addressed with your staff. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Efes Wrap: Wrap was not toasted or warmed up Had only lettuce and Hummus Online menu doesn't say what's in the wrap. White sauce-watered - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Efes is an unsafe and undesirable environment for families. I would strongly recommend against visiting with young children. In addition to being unsafe, the service and food is mediocre. My family and I went for dinner recently. The high chair was broken (no buckle) and the waitress repeatedly placed large glasses of water and hot plates directly in front of my one year old, even though we asked her kindly to place the dishes elsewhere. After we accidentally spilled a glass of water, they did not clean it up. There were large puddles of water around our table for the entire dinner. As a result, my older son fell and flipped, landing on on his head. He was significantly hurt, his clothes soaked in dirty water that had been left on the floor. The staff did not ask if he was ok, did not offer any degree of comfort or sympathy, and was extremely apathetic about the entire situation. We have tried to contact the management multiple about our horrible experience and no one has called us back. We are extremely disappointed that this local Princeton business would treat a young family so poorly. read more

I had Efes for the first time today. The Gyro sandwich was ok. The gyro meat at great flavor and the perfect amount of fat in it. The veggies lacked flavor as if they were stored in a fridge and the sauce had very little flavor. I'll try this place one more time to see if I can bump up their rating. read more

We love to come to Efe's ever since they first opened! The food is wonderful, I love the chicken Adana it's crisped up on the outside but tender on the inside. The tabouleh is not what I am used to but still delicious. Good for vegetarian diets too, they have a good variety. Outdoor seating perfect to enjoy the summer weather. read more

Efes Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Adana - Mediterranean Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey