Tl;dr Amazing food with large portions. The triple mix platter is a great value and perfect for sharing. The food here is amazing. We shared the triple mix platter for two people, and the portion size was already pretty good. The meat was super flavorful, and I really liked the lamb specifically. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. We sat at the bar and the service was excellent. We asked the server a lot of questions, and they were very friendly and took the time to answer all of them. I would love to come back and try the family plate with more people in the future. The combination of the great service and the generous portions makes this a standout spot for Mediterranean. read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Trio Platter - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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Quick service and great food! I would definitely come back to this spot. It was open later too which was really convient as we arrived around 9pm. read more

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A beloved neighborhood institution and some of the best Turkish food in Boston. It's one of those restaurants that's smaller than it looks from the outside, so if you're coming on a weekend evening, come early or be prepared to wait. We managed to snag one of the last two-tops. Even though it got full, I never had to yell or strain to hear my friend, a blessing for my ears. We tried: 1. The 3-mezze sampler, with the baba ganoush, cretan mash (a blend of broad beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon, all the good stuff), and the yogurt dip. My favorites were the smoked eggplant and cretan mash. The yogurt dip paired perfectly with the meat platter we ordered. Pita bread on the side was also delicious and fluffy. Definitely brought me back to Istanbul. 2. Falafel plate, with hummus and tahini sauce. The falafel was fried expertly, not drenched in oil. It's 3 pieces to an order for almost $10 - the only thing we ordered that I thought was a tad steep for the price. 3. Triple mix grill, with lamb, chicken, and adana (ground beef and lamb) shish kabobs. We wanted to sample all of the different meats; my favorite was the chicken - perfectly tender, so well seasoned, incredible. The platter came with two grilled peppers, two grilled tomatoes, a pile of pita pieces soaked in the sauces, and a bowl of rice. I'd say it's perfect for one person for their entree or for two people if you also order some mezzes/salad. Also got the cold milky baklava as a dessert - I only wish I was less full to enjoy it. Chocolate pistachio baklava topped with a milky syrup, need I say more? Service was super friendly. Another table was waiting for ours as we were finishing up and the hostess moved us over to the bar area and gave us some complimentary Turkish tea. Free, abundant parking in the back, so you don't need to scrounge for street parking. I'll be back! read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Triple mix platter - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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Going there for the first time, I was greeted by a pleasant, knowledgable staff. The lunch menu sample and suggestion was on point!! Highly recommend! Fresh, hot, delicious!!! read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill generously donated to the nearby elementary school for our annual cultural event this year - they are a huge supporter of the local community. The food is delicious - highly recommend the hummus and warm pita! Looking forward to visiting their new location once it is open soon! read more

I am a fan of this restaurant. I have been there a few times and every time the experience has been great. The ambience and the service are good. I am big fan of their halva and coffee. They give you complimentary bread, salad, and other fun dipping sauces. I loved their kebabs. The meat was all perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. I was a fan of the liver kebabs and would go back just for them. All in all, don't sleep on this restaurant. Give them a visit. read more

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My son and I arrived here recently on a Saturday early evening for dinner. We were warmly greeted and seated at the counter. Each staff member that passed by said hello and smiled. We started with a salad appetizer and bread with esme dip. All excellent, tasty and delicious. My son opted for a spicy beef kebab and I chose the chef's lokum kebab. Everything was delicious and hit the hungry spot. Finally we finished with a sampler of three different types of baklava, chocolate, pistachio and walnut. I loved the pistachio so much I took an order to go home. The friendly young woman working behind the counter was kind enough to answer my questions and explain what the dishes coming out of the kitchen were....we have work to do there another time! Many dishes to try! Highly recommend read more

Fun diner style restaurant, great coffee and cheap delicious food; perfect for lunch. Would recommend if you need a quick bite or filling meal in the Watertown area read more

It's so / so food is not that good just like fast food restaurants, and expensive kind of. The style is Turkish but the truth is not equally Turkish just far away. read more

We went for lunch and absolutely loved the food and service. Our server - Jeanette was lovely We got pita bread/hummus, Beyti kabab and Adana kebab. It was the best experience. Definitely highly recommend. read more

great portions, and great food. we ordered pickup and the food was ready before the estimated time. read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Had a celebration of life for my late sister who lived in Athens. We touch base with several places near the venue in Watertown, and Joseph was quick to respond and was extremely helpful with tastings etc. The event was beautiful and the food was great! Everyone raved about how everything was so fresh and wonderful. I highly recommend them for catering. read more

Very interesting menu items. Food was so delicious, with unusual flavors. Steps way above commonplace middle eastern food. Wait staff was very pleasant and kind. Atmosphere is passable. read more

I don't really enjoy eating middle eastern food bút this place definitely has some very good hummus! The chicken kebabs are not dry and their lunch menu definitely hits the spot!! The service was excellent and it is a tiny place. read more

Expensive, small portions, bad customer service. We were there a few days ago and all we heard was the manager or the supervisor yelling at the servers. No wonder why they are hiring all the time. I guess no one wants to work there. read more

Stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad we did. The food was amazing and the service was good. The music was low so it wasn't too quiet but you can have a nice conversation with some background music. I was told most of the staff is Turkish which made sense because the food was very authentic and delicious. We got the Fried Feta rolls, which tasted good and the salad was amazing. We also got the Muhammara and the kibbe. The Muhammara, served with bread, was the perfect balance of moist and spices and the nuts added a nice crunch. Absolutely loved it. For entrees, we got the Special Beyti kebab that came with a yogurt center to dip the meat. And we got the Triple mix grill which is a delicious combination of lamb, chicken shish kebab and adana kebab. The meat was so tender and flavorful. It came with a side of rice and grilled pepper and tomato and bread. Amazing. I also got a turkish orange soda that tasted good as well. If the food wasn't so filling, i would've loved to get dessert because it seems like they have great options. Absolutely loved it. read more

The food is incredible! I would give them 6 stars if I could! After driving past this restaurant a gazillion times, I said, " You know we have to try that restaurant out" and finally we did and at a very busy time around seven . They didn't have any tables available as this restaurant is small and came at peak hour but we managed to get a couple seats at the bar. We had the best baba ghanoush, the lamb, Adana, and chicken kebab..,it was delicious!!!!!! The salad was delicious too! And the pistachio dessert was divine with goat ice cream! The main thing is it was fresh! There were also a lot of takeout orders so I think this restaurant is a no-brainer for me. If I need to entertain people, I will probably order a bunch of kebabs from them and know the quality would be fabulous because it's small, it was a little hectic when I was there since food was being passed along the table with an empty stool next to me at the bar. But I get it. It's busy! I would like to come in when it's a little quieter maybe around five I have a more calming dining experience! read more

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Absolutely obsessed with Halva. Whenever I am visiting family in the area I always request coming here for dinner. The food is extremely fresh, so flavorful, and there is something for everyone. As a Persian girlie its hard to find places where I really like the Kabob, and Halva knocks it out of the park and has become my #1 recommendation for middle eastern food in the area when people ask. Note that the restaurant itself is relatively small so you may need to wait a bit if you come on a busy night, but its very much worth the wait. read more

The service here was awful and we didn't even stay to eat because the waitress refused to seat our party of 4. There were two tables for 2 right next to each other and she refused to seat us and made up an arbitrary 30 minute wait. Probably won't come back here again after being turned away so rudely. read more

I have patiently waited for their opening day since first reading that Halva Kebab would be launching at the long vacant space that once was the former New York Diner in Watertown. I was really excited when they finally set their soft opening date on Thanksgiving 2023 with a breakfast buffet; dinner menu would start about two weeks later. Stopping by on a sleepy Monday night for dinner, I was pleasantly surprised to see almost all tables occupied. I was greeted warmly and promptly seated. Having already studied their paper menu from two weeks ago, I already knew what I wanted to try first. From start to finish, every part of the meal was delightful (with ONE slight exception, the grilled tomato could be charred/cooked a tad bit more). Flavors were great, portions were decent, and the aesthetics/plating was superb. I really was impressed. In fact, they just replaced my once favorite spot in Allston. Thank you for the great food and very warm service. I look forward to being back again soon. Cheers! read more

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We got takeout from here and really liked it! We got the kebab sampler where there was chicken, lamb, and beef kebab along with rice, pita bread and a salad. All the meats were so flavorful and juicy, but my favorite was the spicy lamb kebab. The portion was also large too. The service was really great. Even though we were waiting for takeout, the server offered us Turkish tea on the house that came in beautiful glasses. The interior is also kind of like a diner, which wasn't what I expected from the outside but it does give a nice, casual vibe. Can't wait to come back! read more

Awesome place. Today I watched the driver coming to my house on the map. He almost made it but then I saw him driving all the way back to the restaurant. When he finally got to my house he said the restaurant called him to come back cause they forgot the hummus on the order. I thought this was commendable and the food is amongst the best I've ever had. read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill is a quaint restaurant in Watertown square. It sits on the corner of Mt Auburn St. the food is delicious. Each time I come in, the staff is polite, friendly and responsive. This is a restaurant that I frequent and well worth visiting. My go to meal is the Adana kabobs. read more

Tucked away on Mount Auburn St, this small restaurant offers delicious, flavorful items, made with rich ingredients. The service is great! read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Small restaurant, gets busy Sunday nights with large family groups. Very friendly service, great food. Everything seems very fresh. We love the huge shish kebabs, hummus, salads, and the yummy apps they give you to start. Only thing I didn't love was the baklava. read more

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Place rocks. Not anything bad on the menu and they respond to customer needs-- staying open late for us!! Thank you!!!

My party of 9 had a wonderful experience at Halva. The food was delicious and the service was great. We highly recommend this restaurant that made us all feel at home. read more

Overall it was really good, big fans of the lentil soup which tastes authentic and seems to have clean ingredients. The chicken was fantastic too. The wraps are a bit small. Biggest disappointment was skimping on the rice, rice is relatively so cheap so why cut that corner. The white sauce is also not great. But overall it's a fantastic place with clean food. read more

I've had lunch here quite a few times and am slowly turning into a regular! The Adana kebab wrap is my go-to order but their falafel wrap and lentil soup are really good too. The staff is super friendly and are happy to provide recommendations. Don't leave without trying their pistachio baklava! read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Adana Kebab Wrap - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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Delicious food! Must go Turkish Restaurant in Boston. Definitely order couple different dishes. read more

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Food was great, as well as service. We enjoyed side dishes as well. Beyti kebab and Adana kebab were great. I also would like to extent my kudos to team, salads offered as side dishes were so fresh and tasty! read more

We had a nice meal here. The interior is fairly dingy, but the food is good and reasonably priced. We ordered the Shepherd Salad, Fried Feta Rolls, Falafel Entree and Chocolate Baklava. The salad is fresh and delicious, a bit difficult to eat as all the veggies are cubed, but the flavors are great. We had to ask for pita, which seems like an obvious companion to salad. The feta rolls are so good! They came with a spicy dipping sauce, highly recommend. The falafel entree was good, if a bit underwhelming. Not a lot of flavor in the falafel or the hummus/tahini. Unclear what the green sauce is, tasty, but unremarkable. The rice is really delicious. The grilled veggies are sorely lacking. One small piece of tomato and one small piece of green pepper. One would assume a couple pieces as well as onion based on other yelp photos. We thought we were ordering a regular order of chocolate baklava (to go) but due to a misunderstanding, we got just one piece, a small bite really. It was tasty, but tiny. This is not the place to go if you are vegan and the vegetarian options are limited, but I think if you enjoy grilled meats and fresh salad, it's a good choice. Service is fast and the young women working were very nice. read more

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My family and I were craving Mediterranean food and we stumbled upon halva restaurant and it was truly the best experience!!! Not only the food was fresh but it was absolutely delicious,also customer service was top notch and all the staff were extremely friendly. I would totally recommend this place. read more

Great service and great food large portions reasonable prices large menu friendly staff

My kind of place. Not fancy, for sure, but the food is authentic - meaning that the lentil soup has been slow cooked and deliscious, and the humus is made with skins removed, just like in the old country. Better flavors, and easier to digest. Excellent service. I came in for Dine In Boston Week, and will return. The Baklava is delightful as well. read more

This Turkish restaurant boasts delicious, authentic cuisine that tantalizes the taste buds. The flavors and variety of dishes truly capture the essence of Turkish gastronomy. However, the dining experience was marred by subpar service. The staff seemed disorganized and inattentive, impacting the overall enjoyment of the meal. If the service matched the quality of the food, it could easily earn a higher rating. A mixed experience - great food but room for improvement in service. Here are my genuine recommendations to the staff: 1. It's very apparent wait staff are amateurs. That's OK if they take everyday as an learning experience instead of blaming others. 2. No wait staff should blame kitchen. Restaurant is a single entity and can only excel working as a team. I was disturbed when our server said that their kitchen messed up big time. On the other hand, our table was never cleaned, plates changed, we were never asked if we need anything during our 2 hour experience. 3. You should be able to serve a 6 table in 2 hours but failed. Our food came after 90 minutes of ordering and two entries were forgotten. You need one experienced server and others should shadow for at least a week. You also need someone expericed in the kitchen that can multi-task. Since the food tasted exceptionally well, I am guessing everything prepped by a professional but cooked by someone without experience. I will be visiting this place again to update my review. read more

The food is good and I would love to see this restaurant succeed, but the value just wasn't there for me this time. The Halva Mix platter was about half of what's pictured in Yelp, which was quite a bit less than we expected. The falafel is great, but 3 pieces to the order is very little. The dip appetizer mix is also yummy, but doesn't come with pita, and when you add extra, you only get 4 quarter slices of pita. The deep fried feta rolls were great, though oddly came with an Asian sweet and sour sauce. The Greek salad was good. The fries weren't great. The extra rice portion was minuscule. They really know what they're doing in the kitchen, but it's quite expensive for not a lot of food. read more

This is a great new restaurant in Watertown Square. Halva Mediterranean Grill serves delicious Turkish cuisine, and the service is skilled and attentive. The restaurant is small and the simple decor gives off a nice ethnic vibe. I highly recommend it! I had dinner there with a Turkish friend, and they found all the dishes to be highly authentic and totally delicious. One caution for- they do not serve any alcohol- but they do have some unusual Turkish beverages. Halva Mediterranean Grill is a wonderful addition to Watertown Square's thriving food scene, and I hope that they thrive. read more

Halva Mediterranean Grill - Beyti Kebab: "Ground beef grilled on skewer and served wrapped in lavash bread and topped with tomato sauce and yogurt". Outstanding! - Turkish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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I have been to Halva twice since it has opened. You will not find a better restaurant. The food is out of this world delicious. Scratch, unique offerings and very pleasant service. Ambiance, it's a former diner but they have made the place welcoming. Best wishes for a long, long, run at this location! read more

Food: 10/10 - I've never liked turkish food before eating from Halva. I had it once before as take out and then was so SO impressed that had to go try in person. Obsessed with their yoghurt dip and Beyti Kebab. My husband had the burger which was good too but I'd say go for the Turkish items on the menu! actually some of the best food I've had in Boston! Service: 10/10 really sweet people Ambiance: 7/10 but given the food tbh it didnt matter much read more