EXCELLENT!!! Wow, what a great meal. I honestly read the reviews and thought hmmm maybe some of these are fake, but no this place is 5 stars for sure. Located right next to the Nutley diner in the back parking lot you will find an amazing authentic restaurant with the kindest staff. Service: Upon arrival we were greeted warmly by the lady whom I believe to be the owner. She spoon served the oil and seasoning, for the bread, to us on our plates, which was a lovely touch. Food: Bread was delicious. Warm and soft with a crispy outside. They serve it with oil, balsamic, and a few olives: along with this dry seasoning. We shared the enormous Bosphorus Salad which was tasty and well presented. Now for the REAL YUMS! Gyro Platter. The meat was amazing!!!! At first glance I was scared because the meat appeared to have been coated with a little red sauce (not what I'm used to) but it was superb. The sauce was very light and didn't take away from the real flavor. The rice was done so perfect. OMG the tzatziki sauce was to die for. Under the meat, hiding, were these absolutely delicious steak cut fries. The peas and carrots were weird though, but even that couldn't bring down such a good dish. Atmosphere: Simple, classy, and clean. I think what makes this place so impressive to me is that you can tell how much attention and love they put into their food and service. Overall this place was outstanding and I will be coming back very soon! read more

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I wasn't overly impressed with his place. On a random weekday the place was somewhat busy. Our server who was clearly not of their decent was all business. Their food was just ok. We had their bread which was good and falafel to start. Average. Our meals were a chicken and lamb dish. Not overly large. In fact a little on the smaller side. The rice was ok. The meat was seasoned ok. We were not wowed by any of our experience - service, food and prices. Yeah it's a bit expensive. Overall 2-3 stars but I am feeling generous today. Not sure if we would return. read more

It is with a very heavy heart that I give 3 stars to The Bosphorous. After reading multiple reviews from fellow Yelpers who had wonderful experiences eating here, I was really pulling for this place. First the good points. Pros: The Bosphorous has really great Mediterranean cuisine and a good menu. My BF and I split to appetizers: the falafels and puff pastry with cheese. My man even sad that they were the best falafel he had ever had. They clearly were fresh rather than from a gluey batter as you often receive. Very, very good. For our entrees, we ordered the chicken shish kebab and the "meatballs" (lamb and beef"). Both entrees were very well-seasoned, tender and yummy. We really enjoyed both. The owner was very sweet and greeted us on the way out. Cons: It was a very quiet evening while we were there. At the time, there were only three tables but it took over 10 minutes for us to have a drink order taken or be greeted once we were seated. It turned out that they were training someone that evening. She reminded of us that repeatedly, "It is my first night", which then became a common awkward refrain throughout the night. There were other issues with service. When training someone who clearly has no prior experience, they really should have been providing additional backup and been shadowing her. For example, after removing our appetizer plates, she asked if she could take everything away. We said, yes. She then asked if we wanted dessert menus. We politely explained that we hadn't yet received our entrees yet. [She was the same person who had taken our order; I understand she was nervous] After we finished our meal, we asked our server for the check. She then disappeared. We then asked owner and gave her the credit card. We got the check back but the bill had not been run. [We really just wanted to leave at this point] So, in sum, great food. Our service experience was not as good as others. I imagine that it would be better on another evening. read more

Yummy food. The chicken shish and andana kebab were delicious. It's a must try. The ambiance and cost and it has a homely vibe.

Good Mediterranean food in the heart of downtown Nutley. Lot of authentic food options. Rating it 4 only because their portion sizes are on the smaller side. read more

Had a wonderful experience here. First of all, this place is not visible from the street. You have to turn before the diner from Franklin Avenue and you'll see it. There is metered parking but when we went, the pay stations weren't working but we didn't run into any problems. Went for a Saturday lunch at around 230pm and the place was empty. Thus, we had very friendly and attentive service. We were told it gets busy in the evenings so a reservation was definitely recommended. I loved that this was a family business. The wife waitresses and does the baking and the husband does the cooking. She told us that she uses only Kosher meats and never uses anything frozen. In fact, she said she makes everything from scratch - sauces, desserts, etc. The food was delicious. Loved the cucumber dip (forget the name) and the hummus. Good fried shrimp with yummy dipping sauce. I had the chicken shish - very good. My dad's lamb shish was also awesome - super juicy and tender. The falafel was good but a bit burnt so I wasn't as impressed. Oh and the baklava was excellent. Had a really nice conversation with the owner/waitress. The family is from Bulgaria (Turkish food is big there due to its proximity) and my Dad has done a lot of travel there. So he talked to her for a while. It was a really pleasant lunch but we were the only ones there and my Dad had a lot to talk about with the owner so probably not a typical experience. However, the food was awesome so I'd definitely recommend checking this place out for some great, authentic Turkish cuisine. read more

OMG! This is more like a gallery than restaurant! Every dish is artfully presented. I love food with good presentation and this place is awesome. The owners were very nice. I followed the GPS but could not find the restaurant. Then I called, Nora picked up the phone and gave me detailed instructions to enter through the back of the restaurant. She even called me back twice to make sure I could get there without getting lost. The ambience was really good. The restaurant was detail oriented and even had a changing station with diapers and wipes inside lady's bathroom. Parking lot was huge and parkings were 25 cents per half an hour, so bring your quarters! read more

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This place was super authentic and tasty. The hummus was so creamy and one of the best I tasted! The bread for dipping and the condiments was vey generous and yummy. The waitress was a bit flustered and for two things we ordered she claimed they were out and then ran to the kitchen and would come back and tell us nevermind they still had lamb. Well, we were obviously happy! I had the Iskender and my husband had the lamb shish which I liked way better because it came with tzatziki. Next time I plan to get that! Oh, and BYO! read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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I know Turkish food involves a lot of lamb dishes of which I'm not the biggest fan, however if it's prepared in such a way that subdues the gaminess, then I'm, well, game. We decided to order takeout and selected the meatball platter and the Iskender Kebab. The grilled meatballs are made of beef and lamb and served with 2 types of rice, one appears to be more like bulgur, French fries, plus a couple slivers of grilled green peppers. The meatballs did have more of lamb flavor but I was ok with it. Overall the dish was heavy on the salt and carbs and I could have used more of those grilled peppers. If the rice was plain and unsalted, I could have eaten more. The Iskender Kebab was describes to us as "a very special dish." Essentially it's the thin slices of gyro meat (lamb) served over fried bread and then covered with a tomato sauce, with a side of yogurt. What I liked about the dish was the fried bread that was soaked in the sauce, making it almost like bread pudding. The combination of the thin meat, soaked bread, the sourness of the yogurt was very unique. It took a few bites to understand what I eating. At the end I decided I liked it, but it's not one of those dishes I could devour. Perhaps, I will give this place another chance and dine in. read more

This place is by far the closest thing to tasting real Turkish food. I recommend everything on the menu to be honest. Especially the meat dishes! I get home sick quite often and I don't have my mom to cook me Turkish food, However once I found this place I was soooooo exciteddddd! The owner of the restaurant (Annecim) She is so welcoming and loving it feels great every time to be back:) Çok Teśekkular. (Thank you) read more

The service here was spectacular. I couldnt have asked for friendlier service. As soon as i walked in i was greeted by Nora who took off my coat and seated me. She then began to tell us a little bit about the place. They just opened this place up a few months ago b/c they just came here from Turkey. Her husband is the chef, and her son was also there working. She recommended a few dishes and we were not disappointed. We had the boshphorus sald, the cold appetizer sampler, the bronzini, and a lamb dish. I loved the grape leaves. The lamb was also very flavorful. The bronzini was a whole fish so just be aware of it. I love whole fish b/c i think it has more flavor. The cold appetizers had hummus and some other red dip that was delish with the warm bread that they gave us She also started us with an oil dip with herbs that she actually plated for us. They kept refilling my water which was also great. BYOB BYOB BYOB- always a plus! We tried the turkish coffee which was soooooo goooooooddd YUM and it came in this cute little coffee set made for a queen and king along with a "turkish delight" chewy treat. One of the best i've had. They also gave us some baklava to try just to be nice. Hint- the address is on a main street just park around the corner in the municipal lot near the diner. That is where the entrance to the restaurant is.. Come and give Nora some business. She is super sweet and made me feel like home!! read more

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Didn't know what to eat for dinner and as an after thought on way to diner, how about that Turkish restaurant? Best.After.Thought. Ever. Fresh baked bread served with olive/balsamic oil and roasted dry herb rub provided right after we sat down. Fresh grape leaves and fresh Babaganoush for appetizer. See where I'm going with this? Shrimp Casserole for the main course. It was baby shrimp but perfect size for the vessel served in and they were deveined! Kazan Dibi for dessert. So good, so...Fresh! Bottom line, this place will not be an "after thought" again, it will certainly be on list of Thoughts for dinner! Already thinking when to go and try out the breakfast menu.. read more

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Solid takeout and eat-in spot. Have tried the chicken Adana, bronzini whole fish and filet, the shepherd salad and bosphorous salad. The cold appetizer sampler is amazing too - all are very tasty but standout to us is the sauced eggplant. 4 stars only because this place is quite pricey. read more

I will give it a five-star if everything holds up during busy dinner service. We were one of two tables on a weekday lunch date and the food was great. Service was EXCELLENT. Had a waiter who was very polite and even offered me a blanket because he noticed we were sitting directly below the AC! Spoke with who I believe is the owner, and she is clearly proud of her restaurant and spoke about using only fresh ingredients. At the end as we were walking out she met us at the door with a bowl of candy. You really can't beat the service and we look forward to going for the dinner menu and seeing if this exceptional experience holds up. read more

What a hidden gem in Nutley! The food was fresh, the service was great and as soon as you walk in you're treated like family. I love small details and the presentation for the food was adorable. I had the Calamari as an appetizer followed by a Gyro, I will certainly be there again soon! read more

The Bosphorus - Calamari - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Where do I even begin! I know Mediterranean food and The Bosphorus is THE PLACE to go. Everything from the decor, to the food presentation, to the staff is 5 stars. Extra star for BYOB. They start you off with warm bread with a crunchy crust and they pour some olive oil and balsamic vinegar on your plate along with some spices to dip your bread in. DEELISSHH. I highly recommend the lentil soup to start. They give you three little side dishes with spices and croutons so you can add as little or as much as you want. For entrées you really can't go wrong with anything. When the plates come out all you can say is "wow" to the presentation and it does taste as good as it looks. Finally, the number one reason to come here is for the KANAFEH. It's a sweet cheese pastry with crumbled pistachios. I'm lactose intolerant and I risk it every time because IT'S THAT GOOD. If I could describe it in one word I would choose "orgasmic". Please try the dessert. You will not regret it. I just finished my food and I'm salivating just writing about it. read more

The Bosphorus - KANAFEH at bosphorus. The most delicious dessert ever. - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Have had lunch here twice... and food has been great. Both times i've ordered the lunch special (regular adana kebab the 1st time and the chicken adana the 2nd time). Getting There: It took me a while to find this place..as the main door is off the parking lot, and it doesn't have a presence on the main street. The Decor: The outside is painted blue and white, much like you would find on a greek island. Inside is also nicely decorated.. simple and elegant... but comfortable. The Food: The lunch special starts with the lintel soup.. where you get a side of croutons, spice mix, and some mint/oregano. the soup is good as is, but is so much better with your own level of spice and herbs. The soup also comes with a side of their bread, which is light, warm and fluffy. Next is the salad... a mixture of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, olives, avocado and cucumber. Salad is like a meal in itself... however, i have made the same mistake twice... it has too much dressing for me. I always ask for dressing on the side, as i don't like too much.. but i've forgotten to ask. Finally comes the main plate... the kebab, a vegetable (chili the 1st time, and broccoli the 2nd time), and some potato wedges. It also comes with a side of tatziki sauce... which was amazing... i liked it so much i had to ask for more sauce both times. The regular adana kebab was good... but the chicken one was great! The Service: Friendly staff, and owner was there both times i dined. They seem like they are still working out the kinks on the service end, so it can take some time to get through the meal.. but as i said, they are very friendly and caring in their treatment of the customers. A definite must if you are in the area. read more

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If I died this morning, it would be okay because the last meal I had was dinner at the Bosphorus. The lady who served us (I'm thinking an owner) was SUPER nice and helpful. You can tell that the owners care have their priorities in order and really focus on giving their customers a wonderful experience. Dinner was great. I got the sliced lamb which was amazing. My boyfriend got the dumplings, which ended up being more like a pasta dish with yogurt as dressing, but was also really tasty. Be aware that your GPS might take you to the address (in front of a sushi place) and it not be there. We sat there super confused for a few minutes. I called and they told me to go to the closest light, make a left and another left. The restaurant is actually behind the building it took me to. read more

The Bosphorus - dumplings - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Last minute dinner with my wife and the host sat us although reserve signs were in every table. The staff was so curtious, kind and warm. Service was excellent and fast. Food was absolutely delicious as we had the lamb kabobs and the bronzino. Oh can can I say the bobaganosh was fabulous. We will definitely be going back and telling friends read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Food is delicious; hospitality was wonderful I highly recommend trying this place . I had the gyro and Bosphorus salad both were amazing read more

The food here is delicious. We had the ezme which is a spicy vegetable dip that went really well with the bread, sauced eggplant, and mixed grill platter. Everything on the mixed grill platter was tasty and very flavorful. I took off one star due to the service. What we ordered was more than enough for two hungry people, but the waitress was questioning us if our order was enough. Later when my fiancé made a passing comment about how they charged us for the additional bread she got kind of defensive and told us that it's really good bread and very expensive bread. Then brought out a plastic container (we had not asked for one) and told us to take the bread home because it's such good bread... Awkward... read more

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I truly cannot say enough good things about this place. This is my second time here and will certainly not be my last. This place can easily go overlooked as it is tucked away behind the nutley diner, but it's most definitely worth your time. The ambience is charming and the staff is so nice ! Every response from one of the staff was "my pleasure" which is such a nice touch! Service was prompt and warm. This place is the real deal. We got the mixed cold appetizer sampler and were blown away. The sauced eggplant was some of the best I've ever had. We split the mixed grill for dinner and demolished it. Everything was so fresh and tasty, there was truly no room for improvement. On the way out not only did we have the door opened for us, but they made sure to offer us a mint. Again, just a nice touch. Worth me writing a glowing review and recommending this place to anyone that wants some authentic Turkish cuisine! I will absolutely be back to the bosphorous ASAP. read more

The Bosphorus - Mixed grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Bosphorus is a great BYOB that has good prices and high quality food. Everything is very fresh and light; Bosphorus isn't a place you leave feeling bloated and sluggish. The chef puts a lot of effort in plate presentation which adds to the overall enjoyment of the food. With great food, beautiful presentation, low prices and a friendly staff, Bosphorus is an excellent place for fans of Mediterranean fare. Recommend: The Bosphorus Salad Hummus Mixed Grill read more

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Took the rents out on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Thanks to Yelp for letting me know about their location. Paid the 24/7 meter and walked in to find a very cleanly designed restaurant. Lots of space and a piano in the corner. Service was excellent. Waited until we all folded up our menu to ask for our order. The menu doesn't do well in terms of explaining the 3 different chicken and 3 different lamb/gyro entrees, but the waitress was patient enough to explain the differences. They also leave all the plates on the table until the last person is done. Some folks like that. Some don't. Just an FYI. I've been to a few Turkish restaurants, and I always enjoy the bread. The Bosphorus is no different. Crusty, flavorful and toasted warm. For appetizers, we went with the mozzarella sticks and onion rings (to satisfy my stepdad - a notoriously picky eater). Wet batter for both. Fried to a dark golden brown. Their mozzarella stick game is on point. For the entree, I went with the gyro in a traditional style. Slices of vertical spit roasted gyro served on top of pita topped with tomato sauce. White sauce on the side. I think I would have liked the gyro without tomato sauce on top. Overall, the dish was good, but getting the lamb fat and flavor would have given me a better impression. Their grilled chicken platter is something I have to go back for. Served with rice, cracked wheat and fries - not to mention the chicken was marinated and very juicy. The baklava was a good combo of ooey gooey and a flaky pastry. It was better than most in that the top wasn't greasy. Overall, a very pleasant experience with a staff that ensures you enjoy your dining experience. read more

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Don't understand why this place gets almost 5 stars. Had an octopus special there that was ok. I've had better elsewhere for half the price. $27 For an appetizer portion of octopus. Not worth it! read more

Excellent date night spot! My husband and I had such a lovely evening here. While other reviewers noted slow service, we appreciated not feeling rushed or interrupted constantly throughout dinner. We get enough of that home with the kids lol. Nora was lovely and seemed to take pride in every plate she brought to the table. We really felt like we were invited into someone's (beautifully decorated) home for dinner. The food was awesome and the plating was done with so much care and attention to detail. I am normally sheepish about pulling out my phone to take pics, but I couldnt resist. I got the Chicken Shish which was well above expecations. The chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned. My husband had the Branzini and even though I dont like fish I wanted to take a bite so badly! This is a "dont miss" in the area, we will definitely be going back. read more

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Me and my mom went here for a Christmas dinner. I've been looking for a place to go, but on Christmas day we weren't feeling going anywhere far so we stayed local. I opened Yelp and the first thing that it recommended was this restaurant--The Bosphorus. A reservation for two was easy peasy, really hassle-free. The place is kind of small, but really elegant looking. The food as well as how it is presented is very pleasing to the eye. One thing that I probably love in this place is the Turkish coffee they have. It's really something else! read more

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I go here 3 times already, food is excellent with the best service. The first time here, I ordered bronzini. It was so great, fish prfectly grilled and salad was really fresh and crunchy. My second I did order mix kebab, it was nice and today I'm ordering chicken wrap and shepherd's salad, so gooood!! read more

The Bosphorus - Give you fresh with Turkish after exam. #happysaintpatrick's day #startwithexamfinishwithfood - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Delicious food. You are treated like family even if you've never been here before. Always satisfied when we leave.

I had the great fortune to eat at The Bosphorus today after looking for a new restaurant. The great reviews did not disappoint. I thought the restaurant was on Franklin Avenue, but it is actually behind the street in the parking lot. I called to find it because all I could see was a Sushi restaurant at the address on Franklin Ave, the hostess (who also happens to be the chef's mother) came around the building and guided me to the restaurant. I had the calamari, which was fresh and fried perfectly served on a beautiful plate with two sauces. I also ordered the mixed grill plate and the meat was cooked perfectly. The chef introduced himself and took the order himself. They waited on me attentively without being too intrusive. I finished it off with a Turkish coffee recommended by the chef - a perfect topper to a great meal served in a beautiful way. I don't write many reviews, but people should have a chance to experience this treat. I can't wait to go back with friends and family. read more

Very nice Turkish Restaurant! Great Turkish Breakfast/brunch. The food and variety were excellent. The Bread was hot and fresh. The Turkish Coffee made us feel we were back in Istanbul! Must order the Menimem too, so flavorful. A nice place to go with friends and family. The owner is lovely read more

The Bosphorus - The Bosphorus platter makes a great Turkish Breakfast to share! - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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How is it that I did not know about this place sooner???? Making it a permanent go to place from now on. Service amazing, quality of food, amazing, presentation of food, amazing. Everything about this place . . . AMAZING!!! read more

Amazing food and service!! They have good veggie options. Do try their veggie kabab entree and not to forget the delicious lentil soup. There is a huge parking lot at the back so that's sorted! I am surely coming back here.. read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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This is the best Turkish restaurant in NJ! The staff there are very friendly and if there is 6 stars for the service I wouldn't hesitate to select it. The food is also great and the price is affordable. I really liked the presentation of food in this place, their Bosphorus salad is so yummy and the chicken shish is awesome . read more

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The best Mediterranean food i ever had. The ambience was mesmerizing. But what stands out is the friendly and home like sevice they provide. I tried their chicken Adana and Chicken shish and the taste will haunt me till i go back there. Actually on my way there... read more

The Bosphorus - Fried Shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Came here for the first time and will definitely be coming back. My friend and I started with the Falafel and they also bring out complementary pita bread. The tzatziki sauce was the best I've had. I had the Iskender Kebab (see attached), and it was so satisfying. The food alone was enough for me to drive back up from 45 minutes away, but what really stood out as well was the service we received. The kind lady was very caring to ensure we had the best experience knowing it was my first time. In addition, on our way out she was holding a bowl of candy for us to take and unexpectedly gave me a hug. Staff was great as well. I highly recommend! read more

The Bosphorus - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

This place is def 5 stars! The owner Noura goes above and beyond to make you feel like you're eating with family. She's very friendly. The Resturant has a great atmosphere. The food was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. We will host our business dinner here because of how much we appreciated the service, taste, and freshness of this place. read more

The Bosphorus - salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Thank you YELP for helping me find this amazing place. We are visiting from CA and the recommended place was closed. Thank goodness! Nora (the owner?), really took care of us the minute we walked in and the food was amazing! Started with delicious hummus & I had the special, grilled octopus, Hubby had the lamb shish , Auntie had chicken kabab and Sister had lamp chops. All super tasty & tender. Presentation was beautiful and service was delightful. Hubby also loved his Turkish coffee and I enjoyed the warmed baklava. It was the perfect ending to a delicious dinner. Nora made us feel like we were having super at my favorite Auntie's house and we didn't want to leave. We even got a hug before we left. Perfect Monday evening. read more

Some of the best turkish food in all of Jersey. The owners treat you like family and will always check in on you. The Bosphorous Steak is sublime. read more

Today I celebrated my baby shower there and I have to say that I was blown away by the beautiful atmosphere and the food. The food was so fresh and tasty that I couldn't have enough from it. It was so worth it to wait 20-30 min for a fresh organic meal. I have to say that many times I was disappointed when the food was served quickly but wasn't fresh in other restaurants/ diners.. During the whole time I felt I was in a different country with a different environment . This restaurant is now my Nr. 1 to go place I can strongly recommend this place if you enjoy good quality organic food !! The service was also great! Thank you so much! I will definitely come back !!! read more