Djerdan's bureks were recently recommended to me when I was talking about the great Turkish boreks…read moreI had recently eaten in Brighton Beach at The Nut House. Bureks from the Montenegro side of the Balkans are a bit lighter than their Turkish cousins and just a flavorful. Djerdan is a very small shop located on 23rd Ave near 65th Street with only a couple of tables and a limited menu but if you are coming for their cheese, ground beef or spinach bureks, you are all set! The woman working at Djerdan spoke limited English but she was friendly and heated up my slice of spinach burek ($5.50). While the slice could have been heated up a bit more, I will definitely be back to try the ground beef and cheese ones.

Yes, this place might have some problems with service and freshness of pies, but it's probably…read morereflective of the area this location is in and how much money they are making or not making. The first time I was here, the lady at the counter left me confused because she couldn't explain properly what kind of pies and other similar items they had. However, she wasn't rude or anything. This is a quiet clean place and I love that they sell yoghurt drinks for a more authentic combo. The pies I get to be eaten later are just fine to me, reheated or not.

great service and food is great and you should have some good quality products in the store as you…read moreget older you can always try out some new products

I was charged 25 % tip by waiter by default. He was very disappointed and even became rude when I…read morelowered it to regular 15 %. Food is mediocre (I would say three out of five). Soups around $6, mains $9 in general. Smells like in regular Soviet dining hall. Cash only.

I came here the other day because I had a BAD craving of kunafa that absolutely had to be fulfilled…read moreor it felt like my world was gonna fall apart. I have read a lot of praises for Antepli's made to order kunafa and called ahead of my arrival to go pick up this kunafa. My first thoughts were, wow the exterior is really crispy. This kunafa is really made with care and attention to detail and it shows. However, the flavors left me disappointed. First of all, the dough has excess of butter. When you bite in you get a mouthful of grease which is unpleasant. Secondly, the ratio of cheese to dough is way off. I expected this kunafa to have way more cheese and the cheese they use also tastes like ... nothing? No saltiness to contrast the crunch or the sweetness of the syrup. Speaking of syrup - there is just not enough of it or it is just not sweet enough. When I think of authentic Turkish kunafa I think of the cheesy salty-sweet wonder that is Harfiz Mustafa in Istanbul. This kunafa does not come close and I hate to write this because it truly did make me sad. The baklava on the other hand - very very good. Heavy on the pistachio and not too crazy sweet, but definitely needs a buttier flavor. I think the whole shop would benefit from using a little bit more aromatics like orange blossom in their syrups. I do also wish they had seating so you can enjoy your sweet treat. Despite all these notes, this is still a solid shop to get your dessert fix.

This place was right next door to the Brooklyn Baklava place. It almost seemed like an extension…read morebut it was a totally separate store. We walked in and there were display cases of tiny looking Baklava in front of us. A few minutes loaded and a lady came out of the backroom to help us. I asked if I could sample one of the Baklava before buying. She was kind and gave me one of the traditional ones. It was a bit mushy but tasted good. I ended up buying an assortment of Baklava which was sold by the lb. They also sold the viral Dubai chocolate bars there but I didn't buy any. They also had kunefe but by then I bought the baklava assortment and didn't want to go overboard on the sweets. There's always next time. The lady was patient with me as I decided what I wanted to buy and rang me up. Next time, I'm going to buy some Turkish ice cream as they have various flavors to choose from. The ambiance was nice.

Ok. This is a bit hard. Yes, the food is great...it is fantastic if you are hangover or planning to…read moredrink a lot. You had a tough week and you are in the mood of going heavy alcohol and food wise. Georgian cuisine...is...hangover cuisine. Take a look at the menu and you will understand. The cheese platter is served with no condiments...and it is veeeeery salty...it is just how it is. A side of fruits or some type of confit or even honey would have been amazing, but it is not a thing in Georgia...according to ChatGPT. On the plus side...you won't feel the effects of the alcohol. It will hamper the booze...you won't throw up, guaranteed. The salt and the fat will save you. I was planning on drinking their wine and I'm happy I did. I dont know what I drank, but the fact that I drank a UNESCO designated wine, makes me feel proud of myself. I got the dumplings; they are massive and delicious...but again...no condiments...just straight dumplings. No dipping sauce, nothing. It is not customary in Georgia and that's that. Thick dough, flavorful beef filling, and of course lots of wine to wash it all down...I am happy enough. That's all I was in the mood for really. Yes, if I am in the neighborhood again, I would return... I appreciated that they allowed me in, despite wearing shorts and a sweaty t-shirt, and sneakers. Normally restaurants are finicky about the dress code. Waiter was exquisite, worth the tip. The food is excellent don't get me wrong. And if you have kids, they will love it. What kid doesn't like fatty and salty food! Especially after a day at the beach. Reservations are recommended. The chicken stew....it was great but very bony. They dont debone the chicken, so it is annoying to eat. You have tiny bones to deal with. Just a caveat.

Staying on the G train, but going back a few stops, I find myself eating the food that kickstarted…read morea firestorm of successful restaurants that I was to try. Could that success be replicated again? I really enjoyed everything I ate here. The nice flavor of the Khinkali (nicely filled with a good amount of beef), a generous Khachapuri, and a tasty chicken that comes with an even tastier sauce. There is more I could write here, but I think getting to the point here is better than me droning on and on about a cuisine that I am still fairly new to. The service is friendly as well. I would just be careful as seating is limited and it does get busy, which does mean people agree and think the food is good here. Safe to say I think I am back in the New York Groove.

I've only been to Brick Oven Bread once, and I was Bricking it, because I used to be in the Uzbeki…read moreMafia, and the Georgian Mafia (who run this store) are, let's just say, not too friendly with the Uzbeks. In fact I think we killed several of their 27 children while I was second in command, and they probably killed a few of my boss' kids too, although not the ones she liked best so it was no biggie. Of course once the Kazakh and Latvian Mafia got involved and the majority of our elders had to flee to Moldova, that was the end for me. I got out while I was ahead (sort of) and fled to the United States of Former Soviet Mafia People and never looked back. Okay I did sort of look back a few times but only to make sure I wasn't being followed by former-KGB hit squads. What to get: Khachapuri. What else: Don't go if you're Uzbeki. You will be shot on sight. Unless you're me and know how to dress up like a Moldovan. Brick Oven Bread is a hidden gem in Brighton Beach, way down near Coney Island and all that good stuff. The trouble is that you probably venture down here more often in the summer, and this isn't really summer food, it's winter food. The kind that will fill that little almost-non-existent Hipster tummy of yours in ways that you've never been filled before. What you should order, as I said, is the Khacahapuri which is the Georgian Bread. It's dirt cheap (although dirt is becoming more expensive these days - but not in Georgia), it's enormous (and so am I), and it's indescribably delicious. Which means I'm not even going to start describing it because I wouldn't be able to do it justice. It manages to be charred and doughy and crusty and even a little moist all at the same time. It's big enough for 2 or 3 people to share and the price is shockingly low. I'll be back to try other things one of these days. It's hard when you live 380 miles away from Brighton Beach. If you've never had Georgian food, especially Georgian bread, make the trip down here to Brighton Beach and put some of this in your mouth. Don't worry about the Georgian Mafia. If you come here for their bread, all you've done to wrong Georgian people in your life will be forgiven. So come and break bread with them. But if you Break it: you buy it.

"It's very good", the owner tried to re-assure me as I pointed towards a box of cookies/pastries…read morethat resembled small croissants. She was struggling with the Georgian name (which I later googled as "Baddam Buri") but offered me the descriptor: "pastry with walnut... good with tea". I'm pretty sure if the cardamom had been accentuated more, and the texture had been either crisp or soft (as opposed to neither, perhaps a victim of slow turnover?), it would have been an excellent pastry. But, instead the block of cake that I first pointed at instinctively (Smetannik: sour cream and walnut) turned out to be well worth the $5 price tag (and likely 5,000 calories from the 7 layers of cream!). Located on a residential block in Brighton Beach, hard-to-find, Brick Oven Bread, is perhaps my favorite of the Georgian bakeries in the city -despite the disappointing (with both less crunch and char than at Georgian Bread) long bread (Shotis Puri) and the smaller Khachapuri (that I didn't understand at all - a cross between a Khachapuri Imereli and Penovani - but with no star turn from the vehicle containing the cheese). Beyond the selection of affordable sweets with quality that bests that at other Georgian bakeries (with the possible exception of Taste of Georgia), I really like the warm, Imeruli Khachapuri. Their version of soft white bread contains mozzarella and feta cheeses (again, not the traditional: Sulguni ) but they are blended together in a way not to remind one of the expected taste of either. They too carry a large selection of dips, and salads - Pkhali (spinach) and Lobio (kidney beans) are excellent choices. There's also a lot more to discover here in terms of the selection of sweets. On my next visit, I tried the chocolate cream layer cake - another 12/14 layer cake that seems to be their forte. I really liked the chocolate, which gave a homemade feel to the experience, but unfortunately the succeeding layers of cake were not as soft and moist as I would have preferred. That said, I did have a 5 star experience with the cookie: Nushis Namtskhvari (nut cake) which is made with almonds, and when warm (it was feshly baked on the tray) is the perfect balance of crisp exterior and chewy interior). I will likely be back and hopefully round them up from the current 4.5 stars. Unhappily, the Georgian bread and cheese binge is likely to ensure that I show up at nearby Brighton Beach wearing an exotic outfit in the warm summer months... the male version of a Burqa!!!

Stopped in because I never tried Khachapuri before…read more I gotta admit I was expecting a lot more options on the menu, and I was very disappointed when they only had some pre packaged Russian Potato Salad ("Olive-yeah"), and pastries. The only thing they offered was the cheesy and doughy salty perfection of Khachapuri! This thing was delicious! It was cheesy and salty in the most creamy and perfect way. The fact that this one menu item, is so close to perfection earns this place 4 stars. Let's be real, they really need some more options! However we work with what we got. I hope they offer more in the future! The service was, classically Eastern European. The girl was nice but couldn't speak any English. If I could not speak Russian it would have been difficult to order. Come to think of it, having a single item on the menu might be intended! The place had two simple small tables and a bench to sit on to enjoy your meal. Hardly comfortable for an extended stay. The owners clearly do not want customers sticking around long. I'm inclined to wonder if the location serves as a ghost kitchen or something as I saw a few deliveries go out. Reading this review you may wonder how it has 4 Stars, any sane person would think they are reading a 1 Star review. Try. The. Khachapuri. You'll have your answer.

Although I had just eaten phenomenal falafel down the street, because I am not on Avenue M that…read moreoften, I had to stop in when I saw this clean, modern looking Georgian Bakery. The server behind the counter was very friendly and helpful and because I always seem to have room for a little more food, I ordered a penovani khachapuri that was warm, flaky and filled with delicious Georgian cheese. Will definitely have to go back again!

Amazing food, it never disappoints. The people there are always nice and very warming, makes u feel…read moreat home.

Came here on a whim for the Thai iced tea. I'd like to think of myself as a Thai iced tea…read moreconnoisseur and it was just okay 6/10. I wasn't a fan of the condensed milk they used, it gave it a weird taste that most Thai iced teas have that I've tried. First time having mango coconut sticky rice - 6.5/10. I was glad the mango was sweet, the rice was fresh, sticky (& blue I don't know why, maybe aesthetics?) since my order was to go (even though I wasn't asked if it should be to go or to stay). I had to pour the coconut cream on everything and the fresh mint on top added a nice freshness. Everything was good but I have yet to understand the hype behind this dish. Service was quick and the ambience was nice, pretty dim in there but brightened by the sunlight from outside which is a plus for me. Overall I would return to try something else!

I could make this restaurant a weekly habit. The employees provide excellent customer attention…read more The small footprint of Bayridge Turkish Cafe doesn't compromise cleanliness or comfort. Our minimal menu exploration was adequately rewarding. This restaurant delivers well.

Have you ever seen the misadventures of Nedim Sahin, the guy who went viral with videos at his…read moreBaruthane Pilavcisi restaurants? He claimed to taste the first spoonful of each new batch of food to ensure that it meets his mom's standards. There is a well-known Turkish proverb he quotes from - "pilavdan dönenin kaşığı kırılsın". In literal translation it's "break the cooking spoon of the pilaf maker who falters in its task". It's understood as either "see it though come hell or high water" or "bring your A-game or don't bother showing up". Eh, I wonder if the guy who served me this kofte platter at BayRidge Turkish cafe has ever heard the quote? When it came to Turkish food, certain items are universally loved, like çorba (soup) and kofte (meatballs). Çorba has such an elevated status that a commander of the Ottoman elite military corps (Janassary) is known as a çorbaci (soup man). Even today, the term is used in modern Turkish slang as "boss". There's an old saying in Turkish that the best kofte is made by your mom, but the best çorba is from the local kebab joint. What makes for good Turkish kofte? It's supposed to be fluffy juicy pillows of meat the size of say, a mini Snickers bar, made with ground beef and sometimes lamb, with some diced lamb tail fat whipped into the mixture, seasoned with sweet and savory spices like cumin, mint, coriander, mace and such, then grilled over coals. In Turkey the usual service is with a bowl of buttery Turkish lentil soup (often accompanied by their bread), ice cold Ayran, piyaz (navy bean salad), then kofte fresh off the grill, and maybe some rice pilaf (buttery rice with bits of toasted orzo within) on the side. Who does a good version in Brooklyn? Kofte Piyaz in Sunset Park - it ain't cheap, though. So what is up with this 15 dollar kofte platter I got at Bayridge cafe? Well, the size of the kofte is odd, like breakfast sausages (my wife is much less charitable on the comparison and said it looked like something from a kitty litter box). It tasted dry and shriveled up, with no flavor at all, like it was air fried once too many. The iceberg lettuce and tomato salad that came on the side just bleeds off the mediocrity. The rice is just white rice and not pilaf. The inexplicable part is when they serve up lentil soup and gave us slices of American white bread. Not toasted, not buttered, and certainly not Turkish bread. Me and my wife bursted out laughing. The soup is...serviceable, but it certainly won't make any Ottoman Sultan dance for joy or fuel warriors into battle - it tasted flat (the version that I make has tomato and pepper paste, onions, garlic and dried mint...which this didn't have) and we didn't see the usual shaker of aleppo (pul) peppers for sprinkling onto the soup to give it a kick. The bean stew that we ordered (Kuru Fasulye) was watery and without much distinctive flavors. So, eh, is this place bad per-se? Not really. Despite the disappointing kofte, it comes with a small bit of eggplant salad that was honestly not too bad. The Turkish tea was on-point (well, they used Caykur Tomurcuk, which is a Turkish Earl Grey grade) and they used a double boiler to do the tea, which means that it's legitly brewed in the Turkish fashion with the right flavors. The Tulumba wasn't nearly as good as, say...Safa in Istanbul, but it isn't a disappointingly soggy mess like the ones at Djerdan Borek or coyingly sweet with salad oil stench like the ones at Artion bakery in Astoria. It was like how you imagine a good churro would be - warm, not too oily, sweet but not too much so. Crisp exterior, honeyed interior, goes well with a cup of hot tonic Turkish tea, served strong and fragrant. So yeah, it's not hopeless. But geez, guys, save your wonderbread for the American sandwiches and toss pitas or Turkish bread with your Turkish fares, and talk to your mom about serving up proper kofte. I can excuse the soup but that kofte is a travesty. Köftedan dönenin isgaralar kırılsın - either make something worthwhile or don't bother at all.