We went to Abu Rass for the first time the other day. It is unassuming from the outside, but we…read morewere happy we came in to experience the delicious cuisine. Ambiance was nice with folks smoking shisha. All the food we had was delectable and my Egyptian husband gave his stamp of approval, which is not easily granted. We loved the fresh bread, crispy falafel, mint lemonade, hummus and baba ghanoush. Honestly everything was good. Service was also polite and attentive. We will be back inshallah!

You walk in from a take out area but are seated in a semi outdoor like area. Theres nothing too…read morefancy about the seating but they are family friendly. We got the eggplant appetizer to share. It was amazing, with the blend of sweet molasses, the crunchy nuts, pieces of pita, and the soft eggplant. The portion size was great too. I got the chicken shwarma platter. The chicken was a little dry but luckily they give a side of garlic yogurt. Also I added some hot sauce to up the taste. The size was good too. Oddly they dont offer water, but have bottles for purchase. The server forgot the waters but did help with picking food. I also noticed others doing Hookah with their dinner which was a neat add on for a special occasion.

I am not an expert of Turkish food, but I am very familiar with cheese pide (think Turkish pizza)…read more My family are allium-free vegetarians and the cheese pide fits the bill. We moved and it was finally time to try to find our new go-to place for our pide fix and out of the 10+ restaurants in the area that also serve pide... I chose this one. This place is conveniently located on a very central and busy street. It's mostly street parking (good luck) though they do have 2 dedicated spaces in front if you're lucky. It's a cozy place with maybe 4 tables when you walk in - all were full when we got there around 1 pm on a Monday that happened to be a federal holiday - and we were told that there were more seats around the corner. They built an addition - you will be briefly exposed to the outdoors for a few steps - and it's so much more roomier and brighter with more (and larger) tables. It's climate controlled as well. There was only one man manning the front and everyone else is in the kitchen so expect some wait if it's busy and especially if you're in the separate room, but it honestly wasn't that bad for us. We were all given menus (the two adults AND my two young kids) and given sufficient time to peruse. The menu is fairly simple: they specialize in pide and lahmacun. There's a small salad section and beverages but no dessert. Their pide is different from what I'm used to; they have a super long version that is at least 2 feet long (don't quote that; I didn't bring my tape measure) and a round one that is likely around 12 inches in diameter. I focused on the cheese pide section and the drinks and ordered: Kaşarli Pide (mozzarella pide) - this was for my daughter. It is LONG. I'd venture to say it could even be 2-1/2 feet long as the ends were longer than the board it was on. The dough for this is stretched thin so it comes out almost like boat shaped flatbread with an equally thin, but adequate layer of cheese. It's crisp with a chew and is positively delightful. It says mozzarella, but the cheese used in pide always seems to be more and wonderfully three dimensional. Yuvarlak Kaşarli Yumurtali Pide (2 egg and cheese round pide) - I actually wanted the cheese with tomato long pide but I was also intrigued by a circular one so he added in some sliced tomatoes in this as well! We weren't sure how to eat it as the eggs were still mostly raw but we ended up breaking it up and spreading it everywhere and just cutting it like a pizza. It was AMAZING. The dough on this is thicker than the long pide but not very thick either. Not as crispy but does have crispy edges. The combination I got from this was perfection. I can't pinpoint it but it's definitely juicier - whether that be grease, tomato juices, the egg, or all the above - and that made it nice. Very nice. Ayran - we always order ayran when we get pide. This place doesn't make their own, sadly, but it was nice. It's essentially a salty yogurt drink and still hit the spot. Şalgam (fermented turnip juice) - this is completely new to us. I got this because I noticed that almost every Turkish restaurant in the area also offered this as a beverage and adventurous me got curious. They don't make their own so it's bottled and they only have the spicy version (which is the default). This thing is STRONG. It's got an earthy taste to it like beets (but it's mostly made of purple carrots for color and turnips) but it packs a punch like pickle juice and V8. Salty, spicy, earthy, intense... deep flavors. And I LOVED it at first sip. I chugged the first third. It actually reset my stomach enough that I ate more pide, haha. BUT definitely an acquired taste. My husband thought it was okay and let me have most of it. This drink surprisingly contains wheat, so avoid if there's an allergy. Note: my youngest child has multiple food allergies including to wheat and eggs. They don't have a gluten free alternative, unfortunately. There's a sign saying no outside food allowed, but we brought him his pizza and he was perfectly content with that. We never managed to ask the man if it was okay since he was in and out fast, but he didn't question us when he caught a glimpse of the Pyrex. The pide both came with their own pizza cutter wheel for convenience. They also typically come with pickles on the side but we opted out because their pickles contain garlic. I'm supposed to be trying other pide places to give everyone a fair chance, but I've fallen in love with this place. Even my husband who mostly eats to survive... well, he said it was good (which is huge compared to his usual "it's okay"s). They have good service, the pides are stupendous, it's clean (antibacterial wet wipes at every table), single restroom is tidy, and they introduced me to şalgam. I'm thrilled Pide 28 was my first foray into Turkish food in NJ and am looking forward to trying all the cheese pides on their menu in due time.

Great pides We went two times past month and tried almost half of the menu Love the crunchy crust…read moreand fresh ingredients Staff was quick and nice

Loved the food here -- everything tasted really fresh, and it's so rare to find çag kebab at a…read moreTurkish restaurant in the US. I had it in Istanbul a few months ago and while it wasn't exactly the same, it was pretty similar: really juicy, fatty thin slivers of lamb served with flatbread and raw vegetables. The eggplant appetizer was also delicious, and the lentil soup too. They also had this amazing chili pickle that I genuinely wish I could buy by the jar. The only downside was the service. Our server was unfortunately not very attentive and came across as quite rude. A couple times while we were still in the middle of ordering, she just walked away without saying anything. We also had to repeatedly remind her for basic things like an extra fork or plate because she kept forgetting. The food itself was excellent, but the service definitely took away from the experience a bit.

I was influenced by the turisk Uber driver who eats at the fancy expensive places. I ordered what…read morehe got except the beet juice. Beets are not for me even though it's really healthy. For soups, there are two options. Lentil and not lentil (Antep style kellepaca) which is lamb head soup. I also ordered a Turkish pizza (Antep lahmacum) and the cag kebap. The pizza was alright but every other bite like a sandy but I kept biting into. Its like a grainy spice I'm not used to. I did add the tomato and onions onto the pizza and rolled it up and ate it like a burrito. Maybe the spice was in the salad. The lamb head soup reminds me of of a bone broth with a lot of melted collagen. The bowl portion looked a lot smaller than the influencer's. it could be the different bowl but portion looked smaller. I had to season with salt and pepper because it was bland. The cag kebap was just okay. I think the reason it's supposed to be good it that there's special fat pieces and that it's grill over wood charcoal. The meat was not flavorful. I was expecting it to be seasoned more. there wasn't even salt. Grilling it over wood fired was not enough to elevate the main dish. The whopper hits hard because it's 'flame grilled' AND they season their patties. The food is average. I'm glad I tried but it's not for me.

I absolutely love Toros Restaurant. They offer a fantastic lunch special for $20 that includes a…read moremain dish, your choice of salad or soup, and freshly baked bread with a dip of your choice--an incredible value. When I first moved to Jersey, this place came highly recommended, and it quickly became a bit of a habit. For the first six months, I was going almost weekly--and for good reason. The chicken kebab is juicy and full of flavor, the shepherd's salad is a delight, and the lentil soup is comforting and delicious. My absolute favorite, though, is the homemade bread with labneh--truly to die for. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance and feels like a special treat every time. A wonderful spot for anyone looking for excellent Mediterranean/Turkish cuisine.

This was my first time at Toros and I'm glad I stopped in! The restaurant has a warm, homey and…read moreinviting vibe; I particularly liked the lighting and wall art, it made the space feel very authentic. Toros only serves wine, so plan accordingly (they do have a non-alcoholic lemonade on the menu, which my dinner date loved). Our server was friendly and took time to describe each item on the menu. For my meal, I tried the Bamia, which is a traditional, thick Turkish stew with okra and lamb, served with basmati rice. The stew itself had a sour taste but our server did give me the heads up before ordering. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Toros and I'm looking forward to coming back!

Great spot for authentic Turkish food! The dishes are fresh, flavorful, and everything taste…read morehomemade in well seasoned. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff are super attentive and friendly. It's just the perfect place for a delicious and comforting Turkish meal. I absolutely will be coming back to dine at this wonderful establishment. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that this restaurant is reasonably priced and definitely a bang for your buck! So definitely check out Istanbul Cafe and restaurant. Because you won't be disappointed. I hope you enjoy!

Good ambience, great staff. The food was ok ish. It used to be much better a couple of years ago…read more We got the chicken adana and suc kavurma. Both were average

I have been to slot of Middle Eastern restaurants in nyc and NJ area that are rated very high this…read moreplace is the best place i have ever been to i love it will be back for sure its worth coming from Staten Island just to eat there

The Bosphorus, the 32-kilometer (20-mile)-long north-south strait, has been a waterway of the…read morehighest importance since ancient times in Turkey. Its English name comes from a Greek legend: Zeus had an affair with a beautiful woman named Io. When Hera, his wife, discovered his infidelity, she turned Io into a cow and created a horsefly to sting her on the rump. Io jumped clear across the strait. Thus, "bous" = "cow" and "poros" = "crossing place": Bosphorus = "crossing place of the cow." Located off of busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley, my partner, our friends, and I have decided on our dinner at this family-owned-and-run BYOB establishment, which has been open since 1995. A reservation was made for a party of 4 by calling their restaurant. Upon arrival after three years, we were welcomed by Nora, the owner, and made our way to a table by the piano inside, evoking a cozy, thoughtfully designed, upscale vibe with music playing softly. Their menu features Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. For starters, we decided on the Puffed Rill Pastry and Grape Leaves. Our main meal consisted of all lamb dishes (Lamb Shish Kebab, Beyti Kebab, Lamb Chops, and Lamb Sauté). Our food was fresh, well seasoned, and cooked to perfection, accompanied by a beautifully presented dish. Everything was authentically made with love here. Wish we could have stayed for dessert, as they looked amazing, but some of us were in a rush. It's definitely on the higher end cost but worth the taste. Our visit ended with a hug and a piece of candy.

The pide and lentil soup were really good. The pide had a nice thin crust and great flavor. The…read morelentil soup was on point. Only issue was the pickles, they seemed spoiled. Overall still a good experience.

Kral Pide The world…read moreis fascinated with Pizza. No matter where you go, you will find pizza, and in quite a few places it is considered as a "local food". The local pizza in Argentina (for example) is distinctly Argentinian (and delicious). Likewise, Brazil has its own Brazilian style pizza, which is far more creative than Pizza in New York. Fortunately, in NY / NJ we get Napolitano, New York, South Jersey / Philadelphia (Tomatoes pie), Chicago, Argentinian, Brazilian, Albanian, ... you name it, we have all kinds of pizza. One style that is growing in popularity is Turkish Pide (Pizza) and Lamacun. Just within a few miles from Montclair NJ you find Pide 28, Dervish, Park Pide, Star Pide, and Kral Pide (new kid on the block). On any given day, you cannot go wrong picking one of these joints. First what is the difference between Pide and Lamacun. Lamacun is one of the many traditional signature Pide (perhaps one of the most popular). Lamacun has a paper-thin dough crust (Pide has a thicker New York style crust). Lamacun has an equally thin (thiny thin) layer of tomatoey minced meat (and bell pepper) topping (Pide has the usual Pizza style toppings). Lamacun is round (Pide is a boat or canoe shaped). Lamacun I love (Pide I merely like but you won't have to twist my arm to go out for Pide). My lunch today at the new joint Kral Pide (818 Main St, Paterson, NJ). Lamacun was amazing. Beautiful thin crust with some color, and zero flop. The way it was traditionally eaten, you spread the fresh tomato & onion salad on the Lamacun, squeeze some lemon juice on it, then roll it up and eat it like a wrap. It was traditionally eaten on the go. Don't forget to have some homemade Aryan (slightly salty and sour yogurt drink).

Very good overall…read more Had the steak dish(can't remember name!)portion was a little small, but it was delicious. Good mocktails!

Food is delicious, everything is so flavorful and tasty!!! We got the filet mignon and a salad of…read morethe day! For drinks we tried the hibiscus tea and one drink that I forgot the name ... ambience is cozy and welcoming, the server was attentive and good on recommendations. Just the waiting time is a little longer, so if you go, just relax and enjoy.