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Ay Kitchen - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Turkish Turkish [Edit]
115 Lexington Ave(between 27th St & 28th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Kips Bay, Flatiron
(212) 213-0200
- Nearest Transit:
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28 St (4, 6, 6X)
33 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Ay Kitchen
Review Highlights
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"But the Chicken Adana is perfectly seasoned and cooked." In 4 reviews -
"...adana kebab, yogurtlu and iskender kebab, all very tasty." In 2 reviews -
"This place just opened and the baby lamb chops are great." In 8 reviews
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff S.
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
We discovered this place when we tried to go back to the restaurant "Rice" which is now closed. The menu looked good and Yelp had an overall 4 star rating, so we decided to give it a try.
We got a few plates to share; the Coban salad which had tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, green peppers and olives with olive oil and vinegar and the char-grilled chicken shish kebab which came with rice and a simple salad.
I'm not sure what it was, but the Coban salad was awesome. I think the olive oil they used was really high quality, because we couldn't stop saying how delicious the flavor was...and honestly I usually never think twice about any salad I get.
Also, the kebab was terrific; juicy, well seasoned, perfectly cooked, and actually, a massive portion. Even though it was supposedly for 1, it was more than enough for me and my girl.
The one minor downside of the night pertains to service. The waiter had a really crap attitude, which was clear in the way he carried himself and spoke. It was obvious he didn't want to be there, and getting an answer to even the most basic question was like pulling teeth.
That aside, I have to recommend AY Kitchen. The food is great and the price (just over $20 for 2 including tip) was awesome. -
Review from Olena P.
5/14/2011
I think this place is good! Is it the best Turkish place I've been to.. no!
They didn't have my favorite manti on the menu, which was a downer.
We ordered the spinach burek, shepard salad, grape leaves, kofte, and a chicken kebab.
Everything was very good, except the chicken was a lil weird. The burek and grape leaves were very good!
Good but not great, but the price is right not expensive. -
Review from Gregory C.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2010
Making my way across town, on the way to another Turkish restaurant, my toy compass malfunctioned and it ended up taking me to this place, with a similar red awning and last name Kitchen (only writing this review did I realize my mistake). Oops. : ) Fortunately, everything turned out alright and it was meant to be. Ay Kitchen was excellent.
Taking the advice of a younger sibling (thinking I was in the other place) I ordered the Tarama (a red caviar spread or pate) with pita bread. So good, I had to run a few miles this morning to prep for another day of eating.
For the main course, I order the Etli Bamya. Turkish okra baked with tomatoes and chunks of tender juicy lamb. A hearty meal that was really well prepared. A soulful dish with lots of flavor.
The server staff was very friendly and showed a passion for their cuisine. They even convinced me that I should try Efes (Ephesus) beer. How could I resist if it comes from such a historically significant city.
With a belly stuffed to max capacity I wobbled back to the subway, and eventually to my hotel.
4.25 stars -
Review from Dave C.
Manhattan, NY
10/18/2011
This place is closed and now The Three Hens
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Review from Karin G.
7/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I dont know why this place isnt packed every night. Please go because I really want this resto to survive and prosper!
This is the only place I have ever had good Turkish food. Not only does it beat out any place else I know of for Turkish, but it rocks on any of the nearby Indian places.
I had a huge meat of lamb croquette things with almonds(not sure what they are called), lamb kebab perfectly done, a pile of crispy flavorful bread, an unusual and delish sweet flower water dessert and wine. All was elegantly but unpretentiously served by a great staff.
Place is slightly upscale but not at all expensive(very reasonable)/
Definitely a date night place, but fun for a small party as well -
Review from Alice C.
New York, NY
Updated - 8/6/2010
I found a new favorite!
Today for lunch I tried the Chicken Adana. I think it is my new fave dish here now. Wow it was sooo delicious. Deeelicious. I had to write another review. I was addicted to the smoked eggplant and lamb yogurtlu before.
But the Chicken Adana is perfectly seasoned and cooked. And the rice. I forgot to mention the rice. Also perfectly seasoned and cooked. But they make it special. They serve the white rice with bulgur wheat. It's fragrant and delicious. And a lovely extra special treat that sets Ay Kitchen apart.
I like Ay Kitchen better than Turkish Kitchen! Which for awhile used to be the only decent Turkish food around here. However it's a little too pricey for what you get.
Ay Kitchen is excellent quality food and atmosphere. All their food is made with careful attention. And the portions are also really generous. All for very reasonable prices.
Karin G. said it best - I don't know why the place isn't packed every night. I highly recommend this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/14/2010
SOOOO good! I tried:
Kozleme Patlican (smoked grilled eggplan smothered in yogurt)
Octopus Salad… Read more »
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Review from Meredith M.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011
I've ordered lunch from here, and they delivered on time and the food was warm. Their hummus is great, pitas soft and warm. Thier Tzatziki wasn't the best, but it was still good. I think the prices are a little expensive for what you get. Maybe if I was dining in, I wouldn't feel so bad paying the prices they are asking.
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Review from Uygar D.
New York, NY
6/22/2011
Ay Kitchen is a gem for those who love Alexandrian (Iskender) Kebab. It tastes just like it does at home.
Service is nice, and the rest of the menu is also good. But for me to give 5 stars to a place, it has to be exceptional. Hence the 4 stars. I'm going here again tonight, because I'm craving for Iskender Kebab. -
Review from Lina A.
New York, NY
Best Turkish food in manhattan. Great service. Affordable. Nice-decent ambiance. Great neighborhood gem!
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Review from Kevin C.
6/8/2011
I was quite impressed with the meal that I had here. It was a Friday night, but there was no wait for a table. Now, I know what you're thinking, a restaurant without a wait on a Friday night must be terrible. I was initially wary as well, but during the course of the meal, a steady stream of patrons filled the restaurant, many of them appearing to be of Middle Eastern descent. To me, the hallmark of a good ethnic restaurant is if it is frequented by members of its own ethnicity, so this was a good omen. (Is this a generalization? Perhaps, but I've found that it is true most of the time, so I'll continue to stick with it.) My order of the Mixed Kebab, which included Doner, Beef, Chicken, and Kofte, was really delicious. The chicken was not dry at all, and the beef and lamb were flavorful. You really can't go wrong with grilled meats. My friend said that she enjoyed her Chicken Adana Kebab and Red Lentil Soup. For dessert, we split the Kadayif, which is basically shredded wheat stuffed with pistachios and topped with honey. It was sweet, but not sickeningly so, and I really enjoyed it.
With such good food at reasonable prices, I look forward to making return trips here in the future. -
Review from Reshma B.
2/28/2010
Decent turkish food - had the lamb kebab and phyllo scroll (doughy cheese rolls). The lamb was moist. Phyllo scroll was kind of dry and not too heavy, with just a little bit of cheese. Could have been a bit more fried. Restaurant could use better ambiance. Average prices. Menus printed on regular paper.
Not as good as Turkish Kitchen but much more affordable. In the space that was formerly occupied by Rice. -
Review from A. H.
New York, NY
3/27/2011
We stumbled on this place by accident while looking for Indian food, and were really happy that we did! I have eaten at a lot of Turkish places in the city and this one beats them all.
We ordered Turkish wine, the cold eggplant (Patlican Salad), Sigara Borek (pastry stuffed with feta cheese), Chicken Adana and almond pudding and tea for dessert. There were no bad spots in the meal, and everything was so excellent that is hard to find anything that was even better than the rest. The service was also very considerate and prompt--friendly without being overbearing.
Bottom line is, this is definitely the best Turkish, and certainly some of the best food period in the city. I highly recommend a visit here. -
Review from Neal W.
Manhattan, NY
9/11/2010
Food is excellent. Eaten here three times when it opened. They had not received a liqour license so you were able to bring your own bottle of wine with no cork fee. I don' t know if this has changed. Had one bad experience when the a/c broke and there were bugs everywhere, took a star away for that.
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Review from Ingo D.
Phillipsburg, NJ
9/13/2011
Closed. Phone disconnected.
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Review from Norman S.
New York, NY
5/6/2010
pretty decent salads. octopus salad is a little tough though. baby okra stew is really soft. lavash is ok. overall decent ok food. dont order kabobs if you are kosher, they marinate all the meats in yogurt sauce.
best thing about it is the wait staff and service. really excellent, friendly and they know food. ask them anything about turkish food and they will have an answer. prices are also very reasonable.
really wish they had raki though and the turkish coffee could be a little richer. -
Review from Pamela S.
6/27/2010
The servers were very accommodating, even though half of our 6-person party weren't eating. I had the trout, and it was a deliciously cooked whole fish, filleted, with a simple tomato, lettuce, and red onion salad on the side. Rounded out by the warm, soft bread brought to the table, and a crisp white wine, it was a nice summer meal.
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Review from Ted M.
Manhattan, NY
3/20/2010
great food, huge portions, very affordable price, and fast, friendly delivery.
we ordered hummus, falafel, chicken adana, kofte kebab, mixed kebab and another lamb dish with yogurt that i can't recall the name of. everyone was incredibly satisfied with just the appetizers, but still had no problem finishing off their dinners, either.
everything was spiced absolutely perfectly - hummus was not overly garlic-y or oily, as it can often be. falafel was crisp and delicious, with a perfect little kick towards the end. kofte kebab had a great amount of spice, but certainly not at the expense of the smoky lamb flavor - pouring just a little bit of yogurt over the whole plate makes the whole thing almost perfect. accompanying salad and rice were also huge portions, and excellent as well.
i only had a bite of the other main courses, but they were all delicious as well.
the delivery guy was super quick (he arrived in about 25-30 minutes - the walk takes about 15 minutes) and quite friendly, despite a bit of a language barrier. unfortunately, he shared that business was "not great" as of yet... if i lived in the neighborhood, i'd probably eat here 2+ times a week, so let's hope others feel the same way. -
Review from Yasha M.
New York, NY
Updated - 4/18/2010
I like most of the food, but the okras felt like they came from a can.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2010
I ordered takeout 2 times. So far it was great. I wish them good luck and I am coming again for… Read more »
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Review from George C.
Boston, MA
8/15/2011
Place is closed. Don't bother.
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Review from Lynda G.
New York, NY
6/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
I usually order delivery from here but the restaurant is nice too. I finally convinced my husband that he actually enjoys Turkish food by getting food from here. They have all the basics here but they do them really well. The portions are waay too large and the price can't be beat. This is one our go to places now!
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Review from Emily K.
New York, NY
2/24/2011
just nothing was very good. it's not horrible, it's fine, but i wouldn't eat from them again.
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Review from Elie C.
New York, NY
5/5/2011
We ordered a chicken kabob & lamb kabob. The chicken was tender, juicy & flavored nicely. My husband claims the lamb was made perfectly and one of the best he has had. Both came with a nicely dressed salad & rice. Service was on point and not overbearing. Surprised that the place was so empty. Recommended!
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Review from John O.
New York, NY
6/19/2010
The best Turkish food I had in NYC! Try it, you won't be dissatisfied.
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Review from Faizon F.
New York, NY
3/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place just opened and the baby lamb chops are great! ANNND it wasn't open long :(
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Review from Iron C.
New York, NY
4/20/2010 1 photo
Excellent food, very reasonable prices.
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Review from Whitney A.
Manhattan, NY
5/13/2011
This place has great Turkish food in a neighborhood of great Indian restaurants. My husband and I often get the food delivered. We've also eaten in the restaurant a few times and never been disappointed. I definitely recommend it.
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Review from james h.
New York, NY
10/29/2010
We couldnt get into the Turkish Kitchen at 8 on a Friday nite after the movies, so we headed west and passed Ay Kitchen. Service and food were both excellent; we had large and fresh chopped salads to start, plus really good patlican and icli kofte. For mains we had adana kebab, yogurtlu and iskender kebab, all very tasty. Dessert was one baklava and three turkish coffees. Relatively inexpensive, relatively uncrowded, very good place.
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Review from Jennifer T.
Rego Park, NY
3/27/2010
My coworkers and I went to Ay's for lunch this Thursday. First impression, it has a nice, clean, simple design. It's a corner restaurant with lots of windows which allows natural light to pour in. Although, it would be a bit chilly by the windows if it was a cold day, which happened to be the case. Nevertheless, the food and service was great. Before the appetizer/entrees, we were served some tasty pita breads. Then, we all shared and gobbled up the fried calamari. For entree, I had the tasty tilapia and recommend it. The portions were a little more than expected, but we all definitely enjoyed our meals. After filling our bellies and paying off the check, the owner came out to present us baklava on the house. It was definitely a sweet ending to top it off. The only downside was I would have like that all dishes arrived at the same time, so that other people's food did not get cold.
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Review from MoJo I.
New York, NY
3/21/2010
This is a terrific new restaurant. We love Turkish food and this restaurant ranks among the best! The menu is extensive and the portions are huge. The tasty Kofte entree came with a side of salad and rice. the Doner kebap was yummy. the staff is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. This is place is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I highly recommend it.
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Review from b k.
Whitestone, NY
1/24/2011
monday night the restaurant was not crowded.
there were several couples and a group having a birthday party.
we ordered chicken soup, 4 appetizers, chicken adana and yoghurtlu.
overall food was very good, much better than ali baba of today (not as good as ali baba was before they became too popular, raised prices, reduced portions and lowered quality)
ay kitchen chicken soup, though tasty, was very thin and had barely any meat or vegetables. for a small $5 portion, it was mostly broth. homemade yoghurt, eggplant and red caviar appetizers were as good as expected. the best dish was chicken adana kebab. delicious, generous portion with rice and salad.
the ambiance is more upscale then most indian restaurants around. service was very attentive and helpful, though slow at times.
overall a good dining experience. nice for a date or a special occasion or when craving good turkish food.
hope ay kitchen stays in business for years to come.
