Stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for a lunch spot with friends, and it ended up being such a fun experience. The menu is perfect for sharing family-style, and we especially loved the complimentary puffy bread (which is even better with an order of one of their dips!). Our group shared a few appetizers along with the Sultan Plate (large meat platter for 4-6 people), which comes with a dramatic flame presentation and a generous assortment of meats. Everything was flavorful and we all enjoyed trying the different varieties. The adana kebab was one of my personal favorites. We were also pleasantly surprised by how spacious the restaurant is. There are two beautiful private dining rooms near the front that'd be perfect for a party. In general, highly recommend dining here with a group! read more

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This place was very nice. Beautiful inside for a fancy occasion. We went for a date the food was lovely. Portions were generous. Only reminder they don't serve liquor. read more

The food was flavorful, and we appreciated the complimentary bread and figs. Portions were generous, and we left feeling satisfied. Prices felt fair, and the ambiance was pleasant, with friendly service that added to the experience. read more

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Amazing Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine at Sofra! Beautiful floral decor! Dinning area and private rooms available! Everything we ordered was so flavorful! From appetizers, entrees to desserts! Extensive mocktail menu BYOB Service was exceptional! You have to call to make reservations! Parking on site. Highly recommend!! read more

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This fabulous restaurant is located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. You walk in and the decor is breathtaking and takes you back to the Mediterranean. The service was exceptional if I could give them 10 stars I will!! Now the food is out of this world. The flavors and freshness of everything we had was like fireworks in my mouth. We all had different appetizers and entrees and we couldn't stop raving about the service and food. If you are looking for an exceptional experience you need to run here! You will thank me!!! I forgot to mention one more great thing, this place is BYOB read more

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excellent dining experience! I got the Chicken Adana Kebap and the Khachapuri. the chicken was flavorful and filling, paired with rice and salad. the Khachapuri was star of the show, definitely coming back for it! the interior was very impressive with their lavishing dining room and decor. staff was very attentive and provided good service. highly recommend! read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Khachapuri - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

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First, the ambiance is just wonderful. Beautiful decor. The food was excellent. I took off one star because while the service was good, it wasn't as warm and friendly as it could be to make you feel really welcome. My favorite dish was the lamb. Nice flavor and the side of rice was also nicely flavored. Also enjoyed their "pizza" - that's what I'll call it. It was fresh and loaded with wonderful ingredients. The chicken kebab was average - a little dry but it was ok. Overall great meal. Also note they have a couple party areas that are good for groups. Lots and lots of seating in the general dining area. read more

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Recently visited a Mediterranean restaurant in East Brunswick and loved the spacious dine-in area with a great vibe. They seem to have special arrangements for group events as well. The service was excellent. I started with the BABAGANNUSH, which is made from eggplant and served with their special bread. The BABAGANNUSH was just okay, but the bread was exceptional. Next, I tried the Lamb Adana Kebab, which tasted amazing. I also had the lamb pie, which felt like a pizza topped with lamb pieces--the lamb was just okay. Finally, I ordered Knafeh to go, and unfortunately, it tasted very bad. Perhaps it would have been better if we had it hot at the restaurant. Overall, the food was okay, and the dine-in experience was very good. However, the food felt a bit expensive at $80 for two people. Here are some photos from my visit read more

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This hidden gem has a great selection of Turkish and Mediterranean food! We started with the mixed appetizer sampler and I was so surprised that the beet humus ended up being my favorite of the samplers. My family and I love their seafood, we had the rainbow trout, salmon and branzini. This has a beautiful atmosphere for big parties as well! You also can't forget dessert they had so many yummy selections it was hard to decide! I ended up getting the chocolate biscuit cake which was amazing!! I definitely am looking forward to coming back and hopefully will bring a big group to reserve a room. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Mix Appetizers - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

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I have eaten Mediterranean but not necessarily Turkish so I was not sure in the first place. Located in a strip mall that time forgot... I nearly did not go in, but glad I did. Wow. The inside was very nice and immaculate. The staff all professionals and meticulous. The food was amazing. I started with a fantastic eggplant appetiser, served with a delicious hot bread. My entree was the mixed grill which was also excellent and I finished with the in house made baclava. Great meal. read more

As someone with over 25 years of experience in restaurants, the worst service I've ever experienced was the waiter's name: Siyan. He brought half-baked soups, served the main course without taking the empty plates, didn't serve water, didn't clear our plates when we finished our main courses, didn't offer a dessert menu, and didn't ask how our meal or night was. The restaurant was empty. He tried to seat us in the middle of the room, but I refused. I will definitely not be coming back and will convey this to everyone. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - You can see all dirty main course plates we paying our - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

I loved my experience in Sofra! From the outside, this restaurant is part of a strip mall - but when you walk inside you're greeted with such a large beautiful space with lovely decor and many tables! If you go on Fridays or weekends, they actually play live music and people are even dancing when it gets later!! As a vegetarian, I found their menu options are pretty good but there could be more. I have been here two times and they actually upgraded some of the napkins and the menu to include pictures and all which I feel makes it that much easier to know what you're getting!! The service was fast and efficient. This time, we ordered the Mixed Appetizer platter, Falafel, and Khachapuri. All the apps in the platter were SO TASTY and flavorful in their own way, and the little crackers that came with them were so good! They also gave us some small rolls at first and then a big puffy bread which was so so tasty!!! The falafel were well seasoned and crunchy on the outside! The Khachapuri was pretty good, it could have more flavor since it's mainly cheese and the egg in the middle, but it was still very good! Overall, I loved my time at Sofra and will definitely be back - they are a hidden gem in the area!! read more

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Love the interior, apps, and drinks. Food was mediocre. Service was good but divided. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Margarita and hummus platter - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

Despite the appearance on the outside, the inside and atmosphere of Sofra is delightful. We had a fantastic time with great service and delicious food. Turnaround time was a little long, but well worth the wait. Definitely try the Turkish coffee if you have not had it before! read more

I came to this restaurant per a friend's recommendation and expected a lot more than what was offered. Honestly the food is so basic compared to other Turkish restaurants I've tried in North NJ. Sofra is all about the hype and about being Instagram-able. All at, of course, a price $$$$$. All the meats in the Sultan Platter were seasoned lightly and the lamb had a gamey taste and smell. I don't recommend what I tried. I also tried their mojitos, again, very average. The one thing on the menu that I actually enjoyed was the Ezme (spicy turkish salad). It helped spice up the bland meats. Otherwise the atmosphere is nice, the seating area is spacious, the bathrooms are clean. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - The Sultan Plate ( Mix grill ) - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

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Wonderful meal and attentive top rate service. This place would be great for private parties as the have spaces ideal for that. read more

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Sofra is my go to for authentic Turkish and Mediterranean food. I always go for the mixed grill with rice and it's so tasty. Service is outstanding. read more

Great ambiance, deliciously fresh food with fabulous service! Must go if you enjoy Turkish food and the flavors of the Middle East.

After tonight I feel compelled to update my review. I would say that the past few times I've gone this place wasn't what it used to be but tonight what a disaster in service. First the place wasn't all that busy and I now understand why. We went as a table of 19 and were told we could not have separate checks and only 2 credit cards per table. I have never heard of such a thing. We asked if we could order by group to make reconciling the check easier but you guessed it we were also denied what we felt was a basic and customary request. Mind you we knew this system would soon bring on chaos! And it did. From ordering the food to receiving our meals it was in fact chaos. Two plates went back. Those individuals including the birthday guest of honor were delayed because of burnt food and a mix up. We had to practically beg for water over and over again. They never gave us the bottle vs tap and we assumed the water they brought was included but nope...$45 dollars for water. A joke. The food was ok. Not what it used to be. Portions are smaller and prices are higher. When the check came we had to sit, tally and sort like it was a chore. What's more we had to argue to have a platter that was sent back removed from the bill. The waiter said he would comp it then tried to sneak it in then walk back his comments. They gave us 4 complimentary teas. Big deal. They were stubborn, went on about their policies and were absolutely exhausting. I told them review was going up When people go out to eat it's about the entire experience. It should be positive and pleasant. This evening was frustrating and disappointing all thanks to the service here. This place used to be stellar. I'm not sure if the ownership has changed but take note! People who pay $1000 for horrendous service and mediocre food will not be returning. read more

Flavorful varied menu. Pretty decor. Seems like a place one can host parties. Friendly staff, not rushed. read more

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This place has great service, amazing quality food, and a wonderful atmosphere for fine dining. I will definitely be back for this mixed grill dish. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Mixed grill: potato, chicken, beef, pork, pickled veggies, rice, and salad. - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

Best Turkish food I've had in a long time, every dish was excellent. Great service with a smile and Orcan our server really took care of us. Super-clean restaurant with a pleasant ambiance. My family and I will be coming back, thanks for the amazing experience. read more

Vibe is nice. Clean restaurant. Drinks are great. Food is average. Overpriced for serving average quality of food. Can do lot better. Bring authenticity and flavor in food. read more

the waiter Can buyuk was so nice he was playing with my kids and laughing definitely one of the best places I ever went to

We came here as a group of 4 for iftar. Had to reserve table earlier so that we'd have a spot. After being seated, we were the last to have our order taken, even though there were people just coming in (after us) and having their orders taken. Same for food-- those who ordered after us were getting their kababs + other main dishes. Our food took quite a long time, and we had to ask the waiters to check in on our order. After giving our food late, they forgot to give us our appetizer. After bringing it up twice in 10-minute intervals, they finally brought it. We also asked for a second water bottle and they never ended up bringing it so we gave up, especially since we were constantly having to remind the waiters. Food was quite mediocre and bland. There are a lot of better Mediterranean restaurants in the area which have better service and food. I'd recommend checking out another spot over this one. TLDR: Service took way too long, did not serve on first-come basis; food was pretty mediocre; forgot stuff we ordered multiple times; large amount of seating causes compromise in service timing and quality Service: 2/5 Food: 3/5 Ambiance: 4/5 read more

**** VERY HONEST AND FAIR REVIEW OF A BAD RATING FROM A DIETITIAN, PLEASE CONSIDER READING**** Overall: 2.75 We came here for my birthday (today). We definitely could have very much enjoyed the flavors of Turkish cuisine if we didn't experience such terrible and aggressive customer service. They really had a lack of understanding of how to cater to people so I had to use distress management on the owner for him to understand why he was in the wrong. Hakrim (owner), if you are reading this, I accept your apology, but you need to talk to your servers. Food: 4/5 The food was actually pretty great tasting. We ordered the Appetizer platter, the calamari, and the Sultan Plate. The appetizer platter is great! The hummus and dips had great flavors, and the chips that came with them were addicting. They also provided free bread that smelled and tasted like it just came out of the oven. However, this came out 30 minutes after ordering, and we ordered the entree as people usually do after the appetizer (hold on to your seat because this is important). The calamari came in 15 minutes later. Not the best calamari I've had. That was the only reason why it wasn't a perfect 5 for food. It was very oily and rubbery due to being overcooked. 50 minutes AFTER the calamari came out, the Sultan platter came. It was very flamboyant. Definitely a great shareable piece with style for a price of $150. It would have been a fun try. And yes, I did try to have the food even though I lost my appetite because I was looking forward to it. Price: 2/5 Most of the food costs are definitely going into the ambiance and the costs of the actual place. However, it is on par with many turkish/Mediterranean/middle eastern places in the area. So, the prices are fair. Service: 1/5 As Hakrim put it, "we're a fine dining restaurant, not everything is going to come out fast." But Mr. Hakrim, I've been to multiple fine dining restaurants, and not once did I have to wait more than 5 minutes for a server to come up to me to even check up on me. We experienced the tables around us getting checked on every 10 minutes and one server told the table to our left that "it will take a little longer for the food." No one came to us at all and that table sat down 20 minutes after us, so they were checked on twice. We were upset because 1) if we didn't call our server to us, he would've continued to make eye contact with me and look the other way, 2) we would've had to wait more than 20 minutes to get our order, 3) your server literally said "this table is insane, I'm not going to serve them anymore." We asked how long our food was going to be because we were waiting 50 minutes for our food. You told us "it will come out in 30 seconds." Which it did, but after waiting for a while, we wanted to pay for our food and leave. Then your server blatantly said "I don't want to serve them anymore they're annoying." (I emphasize this in ENGLISH) Because your major concern was he said it in English, and you would've been okay with it if he cursed us out in any other language. Then you yelled at us, "if you want to take my money, then go." We wanted to pay for our food as seen in the videos. But you decided to take on aggression and ignore our concerns. Again we wanted to pay for our food. We were giving you the meal + 20% tip. Thank you for taking the time to discuss this matter with us, afterward when you were able to calm yourself down. Again, I accept your apology, but the actions of you and your servers were downright disrespectful. Ambiance: 4/5 It is actually a pretty nice restaurant. Everything is very clean. They have a huge space where you can cater a very large party and definitely enjoy yourself without other people around you. read more

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I tried Sofra for the first time tonight and it was delicious! They give you a nice amount of food with sides for the price and it was so tasty. I will definitely be ordering again! read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Gyro Doner Kebab and Lebnee Dip - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

It was wonderful food and great service. Everything came very quickly and waitstaff were so attentive. Restaurant was very clean and would go again if I ever happen to be in NJ. read more

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YIKES. I hate to give a business such a poor rating, but a takeout order with small portions and flavorless meat served with RANCID yogurt doesn't deserve anything better. I placed a takeout order from Sofra - chicken adana kebab, mixed grill, and babagannush. The serving containers are deceptively large, and yet the contents don't deliver on quantity nor quality. All meats were lacking flavor, and the accompanying yogurt was completely rancid (tasted of mold), discovered only after I of course poured it all over my chicken. Super disappointed. I paid $60 for a meal that under delivered on taste and food safety. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with how beautiful this place is! The outside looks nothing like the inside - so don't judge the book by its cover. The chicken kebab -- delish. the coffee - delish. the tiramisu- delish. So many options to try! I cannot wait to return. read more

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Went for my 25th birthday dinner and I loved the ambience! Food and service were amazing. Would be coming again with family.

Beautiful interior with an amazing menu. The food is very well prepared and very tasty. I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back. We had an eggplant salad and fried calamari for an appetizer. Eggplant salad was absolutely delicious. The calamari was well prepared but my husband was not a big fan of the yogurt-based sauce that came with the calamari. For the main course I had the octopus casserole and both my husband and son had the lamb shish kebabs. I have nothing negative to say about any of these dishes. Well prepared and very delicious. For dessert we had baklava, bird house kataifi and chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream. All of the desserts are make fresh in-house and I gave to say that the baklava was the best that I've ever tasted. read more

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My wife and I ate dinner at Sofra recently. The staff is very nice and accommodating. The appetizers and selections are excellent as well as the abundance of other selections with entrees and desserts. It was my first time eating Turkish cuisine and I would say it was delicious and the display and portions are excellent. Having worked in restaurants in the past, Sofra s chef and cooks are very good. The meats were juicy, flavorful and not over salted like many other restaurants seem to have issues with. Overall, i loves the food and experience and will be returning back to try more selections. Thank you Sofra staff again. read more

Very pleasant experience. We came to Sofia with very large party and were immediately accommodated. Place has nice Turkish themed decor and has open kitchen concept. Service was fast and efficient even though it was very crowded that night. Food was very delicious. Definitely recommended. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Mixed Mix grill. Beautiful presentation and very delicious - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

Honestly, I'm so glad I found a local Turkish spot near me that has such great food. Very beautiful restaurant with authentic Turkish food. Very friendly staff and easy to place online orders. Food was fresh and very clean. First time and not my last. read more

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Great halal food, family-friendly ambience. Plenty of mocktails but BYOB. Our server was Orcan; service was quick and efficient. Portions were generous, plenty of bread and accompanying sauces. The tres leches was incredible, made on premises. read more

Nice atmosphere, delicious food. The chef has beautiful show when he serves to mix grill. read more

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Good food, but prices are a little high. Nice ambiance though. They even have a party room, but they charge a fee to book it.

Great food and service. Food came out hot and portions are generous. We also had the baba ha lush and liver that just melted in your mouth read more

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Great service, excellent food!!!, great ambiance, totally recommend this place, they do not serve alcohol but you can bring your own bottle. read more

Sofra Turkish & Mediterranean cuisine - Dessert at Sofra Turkish Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - East Brunswick, New Jersey

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