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Turkish Kitchen
Master Critic Reviews (2 Lists)
Turkish Kitchen
8.3
Turkish Kitchen is a classic sit-down Turkish restaurant that’s been drawing Midtown and Kips Bay diners for years with a sprawling menu of meze, grilled meats, and slow-cooked stews. High review volume across platforms reflects a dependable option for both business lunches and lingering dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Iskender Kebab, Manti Dumplings, Shepherd Salad
Scores:
Value: 7.9
Service: 7.6
Consistency: 8.5
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 6.4
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: Large-format Turkish menu with decades of steady neighborhood demand.
Who should go: Diners wanting a classic Turkish sit-down meal.
When to visit: Weeknights for easier reservations and unhurried courses.
What to order: Iskender kebab, manti, mixed meze sampler.
Insider tip: Use the meze section to build a shareable starter spread before mains arrive.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking is limited and competitive, especially after 6pm; nearby paid garages are the most reliable option.
Dress code: Smart casual to business casual—jeans are fine, but many diners come straight from work or dress up for date night.
Noise level: Moderate—lively dining room energy but still easy to hold a conversation.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation during peak hours
Weekday lunch: Usually no wait or under 10 minutes
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—strong selection of vegetable meze, salads, and cheese-based dishes.
Vegan options: Limited—several olive oil-based meze and vegetable dishes, but many items contain dairy or yogurt.
Gluten-free options: Moderate—many grilled meats and salads work, but cross-contamination is possible with breads and shared grills.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—it's upscale without being intimidating, with a warm vibe, shareable starters, and enough buzz to keep things from feeling stiff.
Can I get a table without a reservation? At lunch and early weeknight dinners, often yes, but weekend evenings and prime dinner hours are much smoother with a reservation.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes for older kids with adventurous appetites, but the atmosphere leans adult and isn’t designed for toddlers or stroller traffic.
Best For
Better for: Refined sit-down Turkish meals, business lunches, and classic plated presentations with full service.
Skip if: You want a cheaper, ultra-casual kebab counter or a high-energy, party-style Turkish dining room.
Turkish Kitchen
8.4
Turkish Kitchen is a classic sit-down restaurant where an extensive menu of meze, grilled meats, and stews fills a multi-level space suited to both business dinners and leisurely nights out. Years of steady reviews point to dependable execution and a more formal experience than most neighborhood Turkish spots.
Must-Try Dishes:
Iskender kebab with yogurt and tomato butter, Manti (Turkish dumplings) with garlic yogurt, Mixed meze sampler
Scores:
Value: 6.5
Service: 8
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 8.3
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: A sprawling, old-school Turkish dining room with a deep, traditional menu.
Who should go: Guests wanting a full-service Turkish dinner with classics.
When to visit: Weeknights and early weekends for smoother, unhurried service.
What to order: Mixed meze, Iskender kebab, manti to share.
Insider tip: Ask for guidance on raki and kebab pairings if you’re new to Turkish dining.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: No on-site parking; street parking is limited and difficult after 6pm. Several paid garages within 1–2 blocks are the most reliable option.
Dress code: Smart casual to business casual — jeans are fine with a polished top, but many diners dress up for dinner and business meals.
Noise level: Moderate to lively — easy to converse at lunch and early dinner, louder during peak weekend service.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation, longer for prime-time groups
Weekday lunch: Little to no wait outside of the 12:30–1:30pm business rush
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — extensive meze, salads, vegetable stews, and cheese-based dishes make this very vegetarian-friendly.
Vegan options: Moderate — many cold meze and vegetable plates work, but you’ll need to avoid dairy-heavy dishes.
Gluten-free options: Limited but workable — grilled meats, some salads, and rice-based dishes are naturally gluten-free, but no dedicated prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes, especially if you want something more polished and traditional — the room feels grown-up and intimate enough for conversation without being too quiet.
Can I get a table without a reservation? At lunch and early weekday dinners, usually yes. For weekend nights or groups of four or more, a reservation is strongly recommended.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes for well-behaved kids — the menu works for younger eaters and groups, but the upscale setting is better suited to older children than toddlers.
Best For
Better for: Formal Turkish dining, business meals, and classic presentations with full table service — this is a more refined experience than most fast-casual or smaller Turkish spots nearby.
Skip if: You’re looking for a quick, inexpensive bite, a late-night casual hang, or an ultra-trendy, high-energy scene.