Came to Esnaf to finally try their food after having been enticed by the scent of their foods while walking around after dinner one night. Honestly, so good! We shared three plates and I would agree, it's not going to stuff you full, but the quality is of the dishes were all very good! We began with the complimentary olive oil/balsamic dip with a bread that resembled pita (google says its probably called bazlama). The bread was heavenly! It was fluffy yet chewy and came out piping hot from the house oven. Wish we could get refills on this! The first of our ordered dishes were the stuffed cabbage rolls which were definitely a labor of love. They were chock full of flavorful beef and rice and served over a bed of garlic yogurt. It was hearty and comforting! The second dish was the Sucuklu pide which featured the turkish sausage, cheese, and an egg yolk to spread all over. It was like a breakfast pizza of sorts, delicious! Last but not least, we had the octopus. That was an absolute star! It was tender eand paired perfectly with the mashed potatoes with paprika butter. I would absolutely welcome a return trip to try more of the menu! read more

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Super crowded and noisy. The hallmarks for a place I won't like. And... I loved this restaurant. Just a great vibe with friendly servers, a highly attentive owner, and great food. Everything was executed to perfection. The bread, the octopus, my wife's beef kabobs, a humble roast eggplant bathed in a delicious yogurt mix, and so much more. We will be back. read more

This is an outstanding restaurant. The food is going to be very surprising, even if you're familiar with Turkish cuisine. The flavors are inspiring, the plating is attractive, the service is just the right amount of attention. It is a place that you can come casual, or you can come dressed to attract. We've been here three times now, and I have to say it is always truly excellent. This is one of those spots that you'll be telling others about. read more

We celebrated my friend's birthday here. The three of us went all in on the starters and didn't have any room for entrees. Every starter we shared was fantastic! Especially loved the crispy manti, octopus (ahtapot) and the oven fired eggplant with yogurt (kopoglu). So full of flavor and texture! We also shared the katmer (pistachio cream filled filo pastry with pistachio gelato). The perfect sweet ending to the meal. The bar menu is beer and wine with a couple of cocktails. No mocktails. They did have some beer and wine selection from Turkey, which was cool. Service was prompt, although I was getting a kind of curt vibe. Not sure if she was ticked we didn't order alcohol and only starters to share? Anyway, I would definitely return to try more items. It was quite delicious. read more

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Good food and location in San Carlos. Parking is behind the restaurant. The server was attentive and had good recommendations. Only wish the main dishes were a bit more seasoned - the kunafeh dessert was top notch though, went really well with the traditional icecream it came with! read more

Esnaf - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

Esnaf was quite an enjoyable experience for anyone looking for an affordable meal that uses fresh ingredients. The meat i had was tender and flavorful, and the portions were enough. The salad side was fresh and it goes very well with the pita they serve you on the side. In terms of the ambiance, the decor is relaxed, and welcoming with friendly servers. Esnaf should be a decent meal for any kind of casual experience. read more

Esnaf - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

The staff were friendly and offered helpful suggestions when we couldn't decide what to order. We weren't sure how to eat the Kopoglu appetizer, so we had it with the bread. Dishes arrived hot and the food was good, but I thought it was overpriced for what it is. Items ordered: Kopoglu: Oven-roasted eggplant and peppers on garlic yogurt, topped with tomato sauce V, GF Et Sis: Beef tenderloin skewers, buttered rice, coban salad GF Lahmacun: Thin and crispy flatbread topped with Angus ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and parsley served with sumac onions-tomato salad read more

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Food is tasty but on the pricier side. About $30 for main entrees, $20 for apps and the flatbread. The octopus tentacle is smaller than imagined and the yogurt app we got didn't come with bread so we used the complimentary appetizer bread with it. The complimentary bread came out fresh and is fluffy with a thin crust. 10/10 complimentary apps. Service is fast and attentive. Our water cups never went empty even though we sat outside where it was more inconvenient for servers to reach us. Ambiance inside the restaurant looks lovely but not really a place to chat loudly with friends because it looks like a date spot. Outside seating is good for yappers. Overall, good food and great service but it does hurt the wallet if you're trying to get the most for your dollar. read more

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Lovely ambience. Very cute restaurant. Portions are generous. I had the chicken kebab and the chicken was very juicy. It would have been nice for the chicken to come with a dipping sauce, but it does not. We had ordered the egg plant appetizer (which as tasty!) so the dish came with enough dipping sauce for the chicken. read more

Esnaf is located on a fairly busy street with a variety of restaurants, bars and dessert shops. The restaurant is a bit small, seating a total of maybe 35-40 customers. Highly recommend making reservations ahead of time! What was ordered: + Hatay humus - the pickles cucumbers that were on top made the humus even more delicious! It also came with a warm flatbread that had sesame seeds on top. + Haydari - this reminded me of a tzatziki sauce due to its yogurt base. It was really refreshing and the party seemed to enjoy it a smidge more than we did the humus! This also came with the warm flatbread with sesame seeds on top. + Mantar guvec (oven baked mushrooms) - this was served in a hot dish and it did not disappoint! The mushrooms were cooked extremely well and had a lot of flavor. It was pretty good on its own without being just a side. + Karides guvec (oven baked prawns) - served in a similar fashion to the mushrooms! Instead of giant prawns, they were diced in smaller pieces, which I preferred. It had a great sauce with it as well. + Crispy manti (oven baked beef dumplings) - I wish we had more of these to go around because they were also delicious! I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a small bite with huge flavor! + Lahana sarmasi (stuffed cabbage with rice & ground beef) - this was also surprisingly delicious. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about stuffed cabbage but the flavor profile great and the cabbage didn't have any hints of sourness, as some do. + Ahtapot (grilled octopus) - highly recommend! The octopus was grilled well and was extremely tender, not chewy or rubbery at all. It came on a bed of what seemed like mashed potatoes, though I'm sure it wasn't exactly that. + Tavuk sis (chicken thigh skewers) - the skewers part threw me off a bit as these chicken thigh pieces didn't actually come on a skewer stick but were instead in skewer pieces placed nicely. The chicken thighs were extremely tender and the seasoning they used was great. + Kuzu pirzola (Australian lamb chops) - I'm one of those people who typically doesn't enjoy lamb chops, but I was surprised that this one didn't taste too gamey! I only had a small piece, but everyone else at the table thoroughly enjoyed this. + Levrek (oven baked sea bass) - this was served butterflied, which made it much easier to eat especially as a large group. The fish was tender but the flavors weren't as prominent as they were in the other dishes we had. Honestly, there was nothing we didn't like! Everything was prepared well and tasted amazing. The staff is also extremely friendly and were very attentive in refilling our waters and clearing our plates. HIGHLY recommend giving Esnaf a visit when you can! read more

The food and service here is excellent! My partner and I liked everything we had. I only felt that prices were rather steep. One appetizer, sharing an entree and 2 diet cokes came to $70-80 for lunch. I'd still like to return but as a once in a while treat. I saw a lot of pictures of their crispy manti appetizer so I ordered it and oh my god, so good!! I would come back just for this. Our main entree was delicious as well. Very tender meat, fresh veggies, and buttery rice. read more

Esnaf - Crispy Manti - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

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We walked in on a Saturday for an early dinner without a reservation and were seated right away. The décor is very charming, and the ambiance is great. The service was friendly, though a bit slow. The food was solid. We tried the Kopoglu (eggplant), manti (beef dumplings), mantarli pide (mushroom flatbread), and levrek (sea bass). The manti was our favorite, tender and flavorful. The mushroom flatbread was good, but perhaps unnecessary given the free table bread with refills. The eggplant and sea bass were less impressive: the eggplant was mediocre, and the sea bass felt a bit heavy, with lemon-dill seasoning that didn't have enough brightness. Overall, the restaurant has a charming vibe and is great for a date night, but it's on the pricier side relative to the value. read more

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From the moment I walked into esnaf, I felt welcome and happy to be there. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, the rich aromas of freshly baked bread, and the vibrant décor set the stage for an unforgettable meal. The kebab was perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth tender, while the mezeler (appetizer) platter offered a delightful variety of fresh, flavorful bites. I especially liked the Mercimekli imambayildi (over roasted eggplant stuffed with green lentils and garlic yogurt). The staff were friendly, attentive, and eager to share recommendations, making the experience even more special. We over-ordered, so didn't have room for any desserts. Looking forward to continuing to explore the menu. read more

Esnaf - Oven roasted eggplant with lentils - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

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The food was excellent. Having recently been to Turkey I can say that the food is very authentic. We had a few things: Meze trio Kopoglu Chicken thighs Crispy flatbread Branzino Sucuklu Pide Truly mantarli pide Everything was delicious, I really enjoyed the chicken thighs with the meze trio and any of the Turkish pizzas are solid. Service was excellent, all of the wait staff were very attentive always saying please and thank you. Very courteous, and willing to answer any questions. They have a nice outside seating section which is open and has a divider to hide some of the noise from the street. It also keeps the warmth in as well. Parking might be a bit challenging, especially on the street. We parked in the Caltrain parking and walked over (after hours). The inside of the restaurant is also very nice. read more

Esnaf - Branzino - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I love Esnaf! This place is so fun! The food is amazing and the location is wonderful! It is our go to!

Overall: D // 2 stars Upscale Turkish restaurant in San Carlos where I felt like the only thing that really kept pace with the upscale nature were the elevated price points. Many of the dishes on the menu doesn't speak to me in a way that differs from your local joint serves the same thing at half the price. The service was not better either as I was met a snide "I'm sorry for you" remark when discussing my cheese allergy; I do appreciate the birthday freebie, but that doesn't diminish the unnecessary commentary. Furthermore, when we arrived at our reservation time, there were no tables available for a solid several minutes, which kind of defeats the purpose of a reservation. This visit was several months back, yet the sting is still there. (Crispy Manti: A) - Well thought out appetizer with layers of flavors and textures. Sweetness from the tomato sauce, acidity from the yogurt, and saline from the dumplings; then, there's creaminess, there's crunchiness -- really good dish. (Ahtapot: C) - Elegantly plated, but slightly pricey being over $20 for a small tentacle. Paprika oil adds a lovely flavor to the octopus, but the heavy starch coming from the potatoes doesn't work well with octopus for me. (Lhamacun: C) - Flatbread is really well made, blending ground beef with tomatoes well into a tender and sumptuous item. Not a fan of the side "salad" which is just really large pieces of raw onion and tomato, which seems unpleasant for all -- this would be much better minced along side many more herbs. (Kebap Trio: F) - Some of the meat here is unfortunately borderline dry; luckily, the coban salad is full of moisture and helps masks some of that dryness away. Nevertheless, it's really sad to me that the most expensive item on the menu looks like it came off a buffet line. Food: E Presentation: E Price: -1 Atmosphere: E Service: -2 Menu: E Overall: 2 stars Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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We had a Father's Day lunch and overall enjoyed the food experience . The place is cute and the service was good . As for the food : - they start w bringing you some hot fresh buns and olive oil /balsamic dip which is really nice 1) fried calamari was fresh and nice for a starter . 4/5 2) the hallimi pide was a bit disappointing - small , the cheese did not entirely melt in and the dough seem to not be cooked to crisp like I prefer . We've had better pide in other places . 3/5 3) manti - I was more thinking it will be a classic Turkish manti (small ravioli in yogurt sauce) this one was different - little beef balls in open dough . It was just ok . 3.5/5 4) lachmajun- pretty good ! Fresh and yummy. 4/5 All together it was more of a 3.5 stars establishment . read more

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A lot better than I imagined. My mother took me here over the weekend because she liked this spot a lot. I see why. The chicken was tender and very flavorful, but what surprised me more was the fish. It was served almost whole with what looked like cuscus, and it tasted amazing. They serve as many rounds of fluffy bread as you want, so we ordered the Köpoglu (eggplant and yogurt) to pair along with it. Very delicious. I highly recommend. Definitely a place meant for semi special occasions since it's a bit pricey. But boy was it good. read more

Esnaf - Tavuk sis - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Amazing food and wonderful service. The köfte was outstanding. The mantı was unique and lahmacun was delicious, unlike anywhere else I have tried in the Bay Area. The service was just as great. Ayetullah Bey and our server who was the lady at the entrance were warm, friendly, and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. Highly recommended. Cay after dinner is a must. This is the best Turkish restaurant I have found so far in the SF Bay Area. read more

Esnaf - Mercimek Corbasi and Bread - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

Cozy little Turkish restaurant that does justice to Turkish food! The bread is freshly baked and the appetizers are yummy! Have tried all their kebobs and they are all pretty yummy. The service is also very nice, folks are helpful and respectful. My go to place for Mediterranean food in peninsula! read more

Few restaurants achieve what I consider "magic". By that, I mean that they have achieved a level of excellence by their chefs, quality of ingredients, recipes, wait staff, owner involvement, decor, and overall customer experience. Esnaf in San Carlos is one of those rare restaurants that has achieved magic. Whenever we go there, we are delighted with the food and enchanted by the wait staff and the owner who is a very friendly and welcoming person. We feel like we are visiting family when we go there. This is such a special place. We love Esnaf. It's a magical place. read more

This is currently one of my very favorite restaurants, in beautiful downtown San Carlos. They're located smack dab in the middle of so many good restaurants. I've only been there on Saturdays for lunch and the food and service is spot on as they welcome everyone in immediately with sincere warmth and make you feel right at home. I started this porcine mushrooms Flatbread and its a good starter before the mixed fresh salad greens and the Lamb Chops, are stellar and exceptional. Writing this makes me want to be there now. I give this place 5 STARS! read more

Lunch: crispy manti + lahmacun + kebap trio for 2 with desserts...pistachio gelato, Turkish coffee mousse, Katmer, poppy seed Revani. Every bite is delicious! We will return to explore this intriguing menu. It is tantalizing...we will order pide next. Service is excellent - friendly and efficient, deserving 20% tip plus. read more

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Absolutely loved the Turkish breakfast here! Everything was so fresh and beautifully presented from the cheeses and olives to the warm bread, honey, and tea and Turkish coffee. The flavors reminded me of being in Turkey! The atmosphere was cozy, the service was super friendly, and the portions were generous. Definitely one of my favorite breakfast spots, a must try if you love authentic, flavorful food and good vibes. read more

Esnaf - Turkish breakfast. - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

Absolutely delicious. Cute restaurant with lovely decor. Went by myself on a weekday. The staff was nice and accommodating. I had two appetizers, the lentil soup and their crispy manti. Soup was thick and creamy. The mantis were done with a twist. The flavor combination was all there though, very satisfied. Even the complementary bread and dip was delicious. Would definitely recommend and go again. I've already told two different friends about this place! read more

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Was really excited to try this place since I've recently discovered a love for Turkish food, but unfortunately thought it was overall just okay. Salad portion was a bit small and didn't really stand out. Kebob was mixed - some pieces great and some a bit dry. Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City is much better. read more

Delicious! I love the lentil soup, the salad, and the crispy manti. Service is very attentive, and the decor is well done. It's a small place, so you may want to make a reservation for peak meal times. read more

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It's hard to find Turkish restaurants in the Bay Area. This one is very good and has a warm and inviting atmosphere with Turkish decor. The food taste fresh just like good Turkish food. The kebab trio for two is more than enough for two and was delicious and clean. The Turkish bread comes hot out of the oven and is complementary. The staff are very nice and attentive. read more

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I've been here two times and I think the food is all right. The portions are okay sized but I feel like it's rather pricey here. This place is not my first choice for restaurants. I got a simple dish of chicken thighs, some rice, and a salad and after tax and tip it was like $36 for lunch for one person. I felt like the flavor was okay. The chicken was cooked nicely but I felt like the flavors could pop a bit more. Rice was a little bland. The chicken would have paired well with a nice yogurt sauce! The salad was very finely chopped cucumber and/or green bell peppers, and tomatoes but I actually hate raw cucumbers and bell peppers so it was a little difficult for me to pick them out. The free bread they give for the table is pretty good. It's hot and fresh out of the oven and very fluffy. It pairs well with the olive oil. We've tried a few other dishes in the past like eggplant, flatbread etc. I just don't remember them leaving a lasting impression on me, sorry. Service is okay to good. They were attentive in the beginning but I did feel like service sort of dropped off after the food was served. We were a big party outside though. read more

Came in for lunch at around 12 with a party of two, were seated immediately. It's pretty chill around this time, plenty of tables open. This is definitely my top pick for a delicious meal in San Carlos. Everything from the bread, the soup, the meat, even the rice too, is so delicious! My favorite was the lamb meat from the Kebap Trio for two, and also the crispy flatbread that comes with the combo. Simple, delicious, so incredibly crave-able. I highly recommend getting the lentil soup and pairing it with the free bread for the table. So good! read more

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Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. Made a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking is available on the street or nearby surface lots. Dining is available outdoors or inside the dining room, with a view of the open kitchen. The loo is through the kitchen and shared with the restaurant next door. Started off with the complimentary bread and it was decent. This complemented the meze trio. The crispy manti was good, although I was expecting larger pieces. The manti is like a wonton wrapper wrapped in some ground beef, served over a bed of yogurt and tomato-esque sauce. The Mantar Guvec mushroom caserole was a cheesy version of mushrooms. Flavors were good. This may have been the best dish of the evening. The Karides Guvec was a rather salty casserole of cheesy shrimp. This may have been better with some type of bread. The Trüflü Mantarlı was a miniature cheesy mushroom flatbread. This was good hot. The Ahtapot was tasty. This was octopus served over a bed of mashed potatoes and was quite flavorful. Octopus was cooked to perfection and was soft. The traditional Lahmacun was tasty. It was a crisp flatbread served with some ground beef along with a side of tomatoes and onions/lettuce. Finished off the meal with the katmer which was a phyllo dough with pistacchio cream on the inside. This was a light and refreshing way to finish off dinner. ~$70/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. read more

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I came here twice to try various dishes and form my opinion. As somebody with Turkish origin, I think this restaurant has potential, but currently prices are too high. Interior design of the restaurant is lovely and modern. Staff is super nice as well, although it takes long time for the main dishes to arrive. For the food, I have tried many options in my two visits. - Gavurdag salad was delicious, sour tastes blended perfectly with tomatoes. - "Trüflü" pide or truffle pide did not have any truffle taste at all, still mushroom and cheese combination was good. - Lahmacun tasted good but there was only a single one split in half. At other restaurants you could get two for the same price. - Et şiş was similar to home cooked dish and was not very special. Too much meat and a little overcooked. - Manti appetizer was good, although presentation can be improved. This used to be a main dish not appetizer. read more

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This is truly the best restaurant that I've eaten at in years. Karides guvec: Shrimp in tomato, butter, garlic, and cheese. So savory and juicy, and pairs beautifully with bread. My favorite dish! Ahtapot: Soft, tender grilled octopus with a wonderful and unique lime mashed potato. This was the most delightful, softest octopus I've ever eaten. Crispy manti: Bite-sized baked dumplings in yogurt. A lot of meaty and savory flavor packed into one bite. Somonlu pide: Dill, smoked salmon, and capers on bread. So savory and refreshing! Lahana sarmasi: Cabbage rolls with rice. So soft, and had a lighter flavor. I also loved the decor and cozy ambiance of the place, and the servers were very attentive. Would definitely come back again! read more

Esnaf - karides guvec, lahana sarmasi - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Food is delicious!! Was really surprised to see them empty on a Sunday night. The meat is very well seasoned and well cooked. Highly recommend ordering the Sucuklu Pide. Portion is decent but on the smaller side. The ambience is very cozy yet feels casual. The service could be improved - the staffs attitude was a bit cold? They didn't feel very welcoming or friendly. Despite this, I would come back again. What we ordered: Kebab trio for 2 Crispy mantu Sucuklu Pide read more

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Good Turkish food experience. Both the food and service were very good. The Crispy Manti was excellent as was the Mezze Trio. The Karides Guvec was kind of fishy and didn't meet expectations. read more

Esnaf - Crispy Manti - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

It was our first time at Esnaf, and we loved it! Super cozy and warm spot with that authentic Turkish vibe. The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding--huge shoutout to our server Sinem and Alex. They were quick, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. We ordered the sucuklu pide and the kebab trio for two. The meats were super juicy, the rice was perfectly seasoned, and it all came with a fresh salad. Their house bread served with olive oil was incredibly flavorful too. So glad we stopped in today right before the Super Bowl. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

Esnaf - Turkish Near Me - San Carlos, California

We were looking for a nice place for lunch and walked by Esnaf and were very excited by their menu. My better half ordered stuffed cabbage and I had of course the kofte beef patties. Delicious. We both enjoyed the very tasty and delicate lentil soup. The bread was so airy and light. Ambience was very nice and the wait staff very attentive providing excellent service. Highly recommended! read more

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This place was just OK. I was looking for a new Turkish place to try after having been thoroughly impressed by Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City downtown. This place came up as one of the other Turkish options nearby so I thought that I would give it a shot. I ordered the chicken kebab plate and honestly wasn't very impressed. First they used chicken leg meat which although from a reputable chicken farm and marinated well could not compare to the premium chicken breast meat used at Nomadic Kitchen. Second, they only provided one kind of rice which was just plain white rice without much seasonings. Nomadic gives you two both of which are seasoned and delicious. Third, there wasn't much of a salad which is necessary to complement the grilled meats. Fourth, their bread although fresh baked did not taste nearly anywhere as good and was not as generously provided. Fifth, the pricing was about 75% more expensive. Sixth, there is not the same homey feel that I get at Nomadic such as when the owner comes out to have some Turkish tea with you after your meal. I'm not sure if Redwood City downtown restaurant space rent is that much cheaper or if they are just overcharging here. Either way, I won't be back. read more

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We came here for an early Mother's Day brunch, and Alex was our server. He was super kind, friendly, and provided great service. The atmosphere felt very warm and cultural, the food was fresh, and I especially loved the hot bread straight out of the oven. read more

Food is Amazing, service is best, interior decor is beautiful, decently priced and value for money. Five stars without a doubt, one of the best Turkish Cuisine. Their Fresh Bread with Olive dipping is so yummy couldn't stop eating , I tried Meze Trio, Hatay Humus, Mantarli Pide and they are all excellent. Katmer and Fistikli Dondurma deserts are top class. Will back for sure. read more