I have got to say we thoroughly enjoyed Urfa Bistro and am thankful that Los Altos Downtown just won itself an authentic mediterranean food spot. It wasn't really known for great eateries up until this point! Hopefully it'll be a trend. We ordered the URFA KABOB PLATE and URFA COMBO PLATE both of which deserve 5/5. The choice of meats were extremely tender and well seasoned. The seasoning did not take away or cover any of the natural meat flavor which I appreciated. I loved how the combo plate came with different types of meats, lamb, beef, chicken all of which were grilled to perfection. It came with two types of rice which I equally appreciated. The tomato was nicely done, not overly grilled to char and definitely was juicy. All in all I'd come back in a heartbeat. read more

When I first starting coming a year or so back I thought the food and service was great but the last couple of times I've come here the service has been really slow and I have run into problems with staff knowing the ingredients in their dishes. One of my favorite dishes they used to serve here is the stuffed eggplant. It was kind of pricey but it was totally flavorful with marinara sauce on top. It comes with rice but you could sub out a salad. For whatever reason they dropped the dish off the lunch menu which is a bummer. The other veggie oriented dishes are the falafel wrap and a veggie wrap. I used to ask to get this wrap with both veggies and falafel mixed and they would not charge to put the two together in the same sized wrap. The last time I was there they added like 4-5 dollars to mix the two so I decided it was not worth it to combine them even though it tasted good. Salads are pretty good here but it would be nice if they offered all of them for Lunch. Instead they only offer only one vegetarian greek salad for $12. They actually have 3 vegetarian salads for dinner for between $7-9 which is odd to me considering lunch should have the more simple dishes. But that's how they role around here...:( One of the big issues I have with this restaurant is they don't clearly list what is in their dishes. The wraps in particular, if you ask if the wrap is dairy free they say yes. When you get the dish the Tahini sauce in them tastes like it has yogurt sauce and sure enough they had to confirm from the cook that was the case. So after a couple of bites they offered to make another wrap with no sauce which obviously is ok tasting but lets say it's kind of unexciting. Last time I ordered the veggie wrap without tahini and after taking some bites I saw some brown white sauce coming out of the wrap and I asked the waitress what it was and she said she thought it was totally dairy free but I insisted she ask those great cooks outback and she came back a couple minutes later apologizing that it had eggplant sauce with yogurt. Again she offered to make a new wrap which was nice but.... Meanwhile it disrupted the whole lunch with my guest as they remade the wrap. They should at least list the ingredients of their dishes on the menu so people can modify if they choose. Lastly the service here is really really slow and spotty. If you come they are suppose to give you a bread basket with some spread. Half the time I've been here during lunch they have served other tables bread but not ours. I'm sure I can ask for some but I try to avoid eating too much bread so I don't say anything. They are usually good to take your order but then by the time you get your dish that is when they are more interested to take orders and deliver food. They definitely need more staff to handle everyone. It's over an hour to get out of here for lunch which is unacceptable when I'm suppose to be back at work. Overall the food is not bad so if you can deal with the slow service and not picky what's in your food then It is a fun place to check out. read more

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We were looking for a restaurant we haven't tried before for family of four, including a toddler and baby. When we walked in around 6pm on Sunday, the restaurant was pretty empty with only two tables of elderly couples. I was worried that they would not like having younger children in the restaurant, given the price is on the more expensive side, but the server was very welcoming and immediately set up a table with space for stroller. They also provided straw cup for the toddler. We ordered the eggplant dip ($8), hot appetizer combo ($22), and iskender ($21). The eggplant dip was richer and more creamy than I expected. The hot appetizer combo had a good mix of different dishes. Iskender is a lamb dish with tomato sauce and yogurt. All the dishes were ok, but not spectacular. I was expecting a bit more for the price, but maybe that's what you get in downtown Los Altos. As dinner progressed, both the indoor and outdoor sitting area filled up - clearly popular. Worth trying - you might enjoy it more than I did. read more

One of our family regular dining restaurants that we have been going for years. Food, service and ambiance are excellent. Quality is the same. read more

This is a clean, well maintained, polite staffed bistro serving delicious Mediterranean food We ordered the grilled veggie wrap.. Chicken plate.. falafel.. They bring fresh baked delicious delicate bread with olive and herb infused olive oil... The falafel was one of the lightest most delicate ones i have ever tasted.. It needed a tad bit more seasoning but it was delicious paired with the sauces.. But a little more seasoning would have made this a knock out of the park.. The wrap was good but nothing out of the ordinary... Deliciously grilled veggies in a lavash bread... My wife enjoyed her chicken plate as well... I would go here for a cozy lunch with my wife or friends... This place definitely deserves a try read more

Came back to celebrate my birthday, and was again super impressed. Ordered the hummus, and hot apps combo, game hen, lamb chops, moussaka grilled kebab combo and the lamb ribs appetizer as a meal for my daughter. Hummus and Hot apps were consistent with my last visit, both great. My brother ordered the lamb chops were very good, and portion size was big (and I'm a big eater so that means something). It was my forst time eating moussaka so didnt have anything to measure up against, but it was very tasty - pretty much lasagna but with eggplant instead of noodles. My wife and mom split the game hen and still had leftovers. The sauce was a sweet balsamic reduction and really made the dish. My mom actually told me not to order the hummus next time as it was so good she filled up on that and the bread and couldn't properly enjoy the entree. Mixed grill was ok, nothing super special. There was a mixup and the order for lamb ribs for my daughter somehow didn't get to the kitchen, we tried to cancel since we all had a lot of food and she could have shared with everyone else, but the waitress insisted to bring the ribs to the table (it was very fast - apparently they cook them for 5-6 hours, so playing them is quick) and they comped the ribs as an apology!!! That kind of customer service is why I wish I could give 6 stars, it is now added as one of the goto restaurants for our family!!! read more

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Had the pleasure of eating here last night . Don't know really where to start loved the warm bread served in a little bag with olive oil . Atmosphere was good too with cute mood lites. The service was excellent and food delivered in timely matter. I ordered the Moussaka it was excellent. I never had it before. My friend had the lamb dish which also looked and tasted amazing. Finished the meal with poached pear for dessert. You must order it . Definitely recommend coming here again on my " favorite list." read more

Went here with some friends and the quality of the food was excellent. Had the shrimp bbq and then lamb and the beef. Overall all the food had good unique Turkish flavors and of good quality. Service was good and the food arrived quickly. I would try them again this time without friends to enjoy the food more. read more

I've eaten here now about 5 times and it's definitely a reliably good place to eat. The lunch menu is easy -- there are a lot of nice lunch items but my favorite is the wraps -- they meat is good, vegetables are fresh, and the wrap is always soft and nicely toasted. They always have some nice lunch specials too. Some unique and usually good to try. Dinner, I often enjoy the lamb or the fish. They're both cooked perfect. Service is always consistently great! read more

I went there to have a nice dinner to celebrate a birthday. Mediocre food, over-priced. Branzino was awful. The fish and the accompaniments (Brussel sprouts and potatoes) were very dry with no taste. The US$35 for the fish was perhaps for the presentation - total fish. The Spicy Paella, for another US$35, was a heap of over-buttered rice than seafood. It was a complete waste of time and money. I do not recommend the restaurant at all. read more

Searching for a place with outdoor seating, we came upon Urfa, which has a few outside tables and cute planter boxes to add to the intimate ambience. The server and owner are very friendly and gracious. Service was impeccable. I ordered the branzini fish which was perfectly grilled, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. My son's eggplant dish was a very generous serving size. In fact, portions of all the food including appetizers were generous. Please support this small, family restaurant. We will definitely return. read more

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My family and I had a wonderful meal here. The outdoor space is very nice and spacious enough to feel comfortable. They even had planters as partitions with plexiglass to separate spaces. The neighborhood is adorable and there are plenty of shops to walkabout. The food was the best part! I had the Branzino. It was cooked perfectly and served with a couscous that I didn't want to stop eating. My husband had lamb kabob and my daughter had the chicken meatballs. Each was delicious. We left very happy read more

Good lunch! I tried the seafood meatballs with ravioli, branzino, lamb, and grilled octopus salad. Portions were reasonable and the food was delicious! Very fresh and well seasoned. The service was pleasant and quick. It's on the pricey side, $15+ per lunch entree. I would go back. read more

Good food, attentive/friendly staff, large portions, and convenient location. The flaky spinach and cheese empanada looking appetizers were awesome. Loved them so much. read more

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Went here for dinner on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the service. We ordered the hummus appetizer and split the burrata salad before digging in on our entrees - chicken shish and beef shish. Everything was delicious, though my one suggestion would be that they provide pita or similar bread for the hummus. We had to ask for more of the bread they bring out to start your meal but I feel that it was a bit too heavy for the hummus. Otherwise, everything was great and all of the staff were super attentive. I don't think I've ever had a chicken kebab as tender as I had here. I'll definitely be back! read more

One of the best places to eat in downtown Los Altos. Meat is quality and cooked well and usually perfectly. Deserts are very tasty and change from time to time. Very good teas and also nice to have a wine sometimes. Salmon is better than ASA without the waitlist or exaggerated price. Would and do recommend to friends. read more

We celebrated our wedding here; It was our reception dinner! The owner blocked off about half the restaurant and accommodated us on short notice. We were stressed due to the date change last minute but all the employees and the owner here were amazing. He created a great menu for all of our guests and even let us stay past closing time. The food was delicious and all our guests were happy. I am greatly appreciative for the owner's services and his hospitality -- as well as all the other employees for being so attentive. They even helped cut and serve our wedding cakes. This restaurant will have a special place in our heart forever. Initially I was going to go with a mainstream restaurant due to the venue services but I am so glad I didn't. Couldn't have been any better here. Thank you Urfa Bistro!! read more

Eaten at Urfa many times, and the food is consistently tasty. The servers are friendly. Both kids and adults enjoy the food. read more

Such a hidden gem! Lunch wrap was delicious, fresh, and authentic. Pricing is very fair. Highly recommend.

They served wonderful dishes such as chicken shish, beef shish and kebab. My family and I are very impressed with their dishes and we would like to recommend their foods to my friends, and we want to visit there again to try to eat the other dishes soon. read more

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Another Los Altos place to try. I got the chicken kabob plate and it is all yummy. I liked the two rices that came with it along with the salad. I wish I had the option of choosing a beef stick and chicken stick cuz it comes with two but oh well. It is quite expensive for lunch (15 or 16) so be warned. read more

Urfa Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Los Altos, California

Unfortunately I did not manage to have the same pleasant experience other reviewers seem to have had. Service was excellent but the food was just mediocre. Perhaps I should have tried one of the more popular dishes, but I came in because I had a falafel craving, so I went with a falafel wrap. The falafel balls were mostly tasteless. Veggies and wrap were fresh, but it all didn't add up to something I could write home about. Also had the daily special appetizer which was gazpacho soup. It had traces of canned tomato flavors, instead of strong fresh tomato taste. read more

Urfa Bistro - Gazpacho - Mediterranean Near Me - Los Altos, California

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I REALLY want to like this place. The service is excellent and the menu looks good but I haven't found anything here that I love. I usually order one of the specials, the last time I was there, I had the lobster ravioli and while it was edible, it wasn't great. I'll definitely return and give it another shot. My friends always order the chicken skewer/salad and they seem to love it. The one thing I have tried here that I found to be good was the hummus. read more

After all of the times I've eaten here, I realized I need to write a 5 star review today after lunch with a friend! Having said that, this lovely bistro has maintained consistency in friendliness, great food, service & cleanliness. The owner is on the floor every time I've visited, doing the extra work: greeting, touching tables, running food, bussing and processing checks. As a former wine bar owner, having been in the restaurant / bar / hotel business for 30 years, I appreciate the support he offers his staff. When it's nice out the front outside seating is pleasant and there is a nice cozy covered back patio as well. Thanks Urfa Bistro! read more

Urfa is probably by far my newest favorite restaurant in Los Altos/Palo Alto, and one that I have frequently many times this year with my family. For those who are unfamiliar with downtown Los Altos, there are not a whole lot of ethnic cuisine options. Many that were good have also come and gone (Muracci's being one them, sadly). That being said, Urfa was a really welcome addition to our hometown because they serve authentic, flavorful turkish cuisine, without the overcharged price of many nicer restaurants in Los Altos. I would even go far as saying that Urfa is best Mediterranean from Los Altos to Mountain View! I recently learned at the end of last year that Urfa was awarded a spot in the Michelin Guide! Props! The decor is simple, with quick and kind service. It is welcomely, friendly family-owned restaurant, which is something I appreciate considering how commercial the Peninsula can sometimes feel. The bread basket always coming piping hot with delicious olive-olive oil-citrus dressing to go with. The waiters always fill out water glasses just in time. Now onto the food! Seriously, you can't go wrong with the food here. Prices are lower during lunch, with the menu being pretty much the same between lunch and dinner. The dinner portions are larger, of course. For lunch, my favorite choice has been their wraps. I've had the lamb shieh, kofte and grilled lamb wraps. The meats are excellently cooked, and the flavors of each ingredient stand out individually, pairing well together. The entrees, while delicious, are a bit heavier than I would like for lunch, personally. However, it is delicious if you would like a more filling meal for lunch. The Mediterranean appetizer plater is delicious. I really enjoy their moussaka, which is a bit different from other restaurants. Their tomato sauce is more pure, and does no carry the texture or sweetness that a lot of other places serve. There is cheese, but not too much, just enough for the palate. I also enjoy the grilled meat plates for dinner. Again, the meats are tender, juicy, charred to perfection and extremely flavorful. I love the simplicity of the salad and grilled vegetables that are served with it. Every night, they have 2-3 entree specials. I have enjoyed nearly all of them, except for one pasta dish that was a bit sweeter than I would like. The lamb saute is interesting and delicious, although sometimes inconsistent. There was one time when the lamb saute was too salty. Lastly, dessert anyone? Try their baklava! Made in the house and succulent! Another favorite of mine for dessert is the Kunefe. It's very unique and not always made well at other places! A bit hard to describe...think of it as a sweet baklava with a different texture, and shape, filled with a soft cheese that has been melted. It is soaked in rose syrup, and a wonderful way to end the meal. Don't hesitate give Urfa a try! It will not disappoint! read more

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While downtown Los Altos is walking distance from my house, I haven't been able to find a restaurant that I want to go back. This one, however, is a hidden gem, and I would definitely go back especially for its desserts. Dolma ($6): 4stars. I personally prefer Dish N Dash's dolma, but this one is fresh and flavorful too. Urfa combo with no rice but more salad ($25): 4stars. Every meat were juicy and tender, as well as the veggies. I won't order it next time though because it is an easy-to-make dish at home. Baklava: 5 stars. loved it Bread pudding: 5 stars read more

Urfa Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Los Altos, California

I've been here more than a few times for lunch now, and it's a great little restaurant and welcome addition to Los Altos downtown! There is plenty of parking in the area and while the restaurant is typically busy, I always manage to get a table. They also have some outside seating which can be nice when you're stuck in the office all day. The bread and olive tapenade are delicious!!! The special chicken lunch special when they have it is amazing. Their wraps are fresh, filling, and a reasonable price. ($10 and includes either salad or fries) Their octopus salad is also delicious. I would dock this place a little bit only because sometimes the service can be slow, but I'll keep coming back. read more

I have been to this restaurant since it has opened and its rare to see a restaurant actually get better over time and this is one of them. It was a very cold rainy day when i stopped in and the host kindly offered me the back area which is relatively open with heating. Unfortunately the heating was not working but it didnt bother me really as I was snug in my jacket. I had soup and the salad special and being a foodie wanted to taste the vegetable moussaka but wasnt hungry for the full size. The host offered me a half portion and that was not on the menu so appreciated that. Everything was very flavorful and presented well. The ambience inside the main part of the restaurant is actually very good as well. Cant wait to go again. read more

We just had dinner at Urfa and highly recommend trying it. The place is small, cozy and warm. The food is pretty good. We got the artichoke soup, kizartma and veggie moussaka and all three were good. The chef was kind enough to come speak with us and even share the soup recipe. read more

My husbands and I went here for our Valentines lunch. It was the first time and I'm so glad I made reservations as the place is small and it was full. We had very good service and the food was amazing. We started with the Grilled Octopus. The flavors of the arugula, melon and olive tapenade work so well together. Our main dishes were the Ufka Kebab Platter and the Veggie Moussaka. Both very flavorful and attractive on the plate. Save room for dessert as their Baklava and Kunefe were amazing. We look forward to trying more items on their menu in the future. read more

My husband and I had lunch here with his manager and everything about our experience was top notch. The space is lovely, the staff are attentive and polite, and the food... ah the food... Delicious... Magnificent... Perfect! We started with the hot appetizer plate; spanikopita, lamb ribs, shrimp, feta cheese and mushroom rolls all served with two delicious dips. The food arrived piping hot and each morsel was heavenly. I could make a meal out of that plate alone. I ordered the chicken shish kabab, which was perfectly tender, juicy and delectable. The bulgar and rice were tasty and I chose salad instead of fries. The salad was fresh and dressed deliciously. As for dessert, I should not have been too shy to order... I'll bet it was amazing. My husband, who is fond of spicy food ordered the spicy wrap. He also asked for some chili sauce, which they happily provided. When it arrived, again piping hot, he tried it first before adding the chili sauce. It was spicy and satisfying, so he skipped the chili sauce! He was completely pleased with his meal. When we were looking over the menu, it all sounded so good. There's lots of variety. It was difficult to choose. And the specials of the day also sounded delectable. As we left, I made it clear to my husband that I want to come back here - SOON! And I would definitely entertain friends and family here. Our experience was completely lovely! Lastly, I will point out that we had lunch on a rainy Friday. The place was quite busy... full actually. And still the service was perfect. read more

Was looking for a light lunch in Los altos and came across this newly opened spot. Delicious food, fair prices, and wonderful service. I had he chicken wrap which was very good and want to come back to try the appetizers. It's always a treat when a place that cares about its food opens in the area. I look forward to returning to try more of their menu! read more

This is the best Mediterranean restaurant I've been. The Food is mouth watering amazing You should try everything in the Menu. The place is also great for family gatherings. You will never regret your dining experience read more

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Decent atmosphere, total bland food. Went there for dinner with the family. It's a comfortable restaurant, but the food was totally unremarkable: sour tasting "artichoke soup", which couldn't possibly have included any living artichoke (zero flavor), moussaka that was decent, but without texture or nuance. We also had spanakopita and other appetizers, but nothing had any interest. Since we live in town, I was hoping this place would be good. Cannot recommend it. Take your money elsewhere for better results. read more

OMFG. This place is freakin amazing. I got: Eggplant dip appetizer (SO GOOD!) Urfa kebab entree (SO GOOD!) Kunefe for dessert (SOOOOO GOOD!) Go here please. read more

The best chicken we've had in years; it was cooked just right and had a touch of great spices on the outside. Also, most likely the best kofti too (could taste the lamb and it was cooked just right too). Extremely good falafel, great hot tea, amazing lamb chop & lamb ribs. Oh, and the spanikopita was superb, buttery and crisp outside but creamy inside. I highly recommend the hot appetizer platter and the Urfa combo. The cold appetizer platter was fine, but isn't as inspired...go to Oren's hummus if that's what you're looking for. The atmosphere is nice, and there were still open tables when we left about 6:30pm. Unfortunately, the service was a bit spotty...very friendly but by the time we got our refill of bread we had finished the meal and had moved to dessert. Oh, and the two desserts were amazing. Fresh quince with ice cream, pomegranate seeds, and pistachio. And Kunefe. Both were extremely good, though the fresh quince was our favorite. They do a lot of take-out business, and I think that sounds like a delicious idea. read more

I'm a fan. Small mom & pap with indoor & outdoor seating. Not too many places have that to offer so this is a huge plus for me. For a Turkish restaurant I was impressed with the vegetarian options and the creative touch to the menu. Some times restaurants like this could be a bit straight forward & boring with their menu... But they have plenty of great options from the apps to the desserts! Very good food, very nice waiter, and prices are extremely reasonable. No clue why one of the reviewers said it cost a lot. I was confused! read more

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Pricey, small portions, slow service, mediocre meat. Not sure how it got 4.5 stars, I was expecting something much better. The bread and rice were good (rice was like a small ice cream scoop portion), but the meat was not juicy and tender. The restaurant was 20% full and it still took almost half an hour before our dishes came out ... ON A SATURDAY for lunch. I guess there's not many options in Los Altos? Come out to Santa Clara/San Jose! The portions are twice as big for the same price or cheaper, plus meats are wonderfully seasoned and cooked to juicy perfection. read more

I have been to Urfa a few times for lunch and always loved it. I went in for dinner last night for my friends birthday and it was perfect. We started off with their Hummus and warm bread!! Amazing! I had the Chicken kabob and Gina had the Lamb kabob. The meat was juicy and had the perfect amount of seasoning. The wine list is good. Wines from Turkey, Italy, CA etc. The waitress was very attentive but not intrusive. She brought over a beautiful baklava with fruit coulis to celebrate Gina's birthday. They are all around wonderful at Urfa! read more

This place is amazing! The falafel was probably the best I've had in years, and the spanakopita was so fluffy and delicious! I ordered the vegetable moussaka (I had never heard of this dish, and wanted to be adventurous) and I was not disappointed! It was an amazing meal, and I would recommend this to anyone who will listen! As a vegetarian, this place is perfect. 10/10 would recommend read more