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Ephesus Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Turkish Turkish
5245 California Ave SWSeattle, WA 98136
Neighborhood: West Seattle
(206) 937-3302
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Suzy K. said: "This is a great little food/wine/brew spot. Both husband and I had the field roast vegetarian sandwich - delicious. We have already decided that the next time we go we need to try the kale chips and a couple of other appetizers. The…" read more »
79 reviews for Ephesus Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The pita bread is made fresh so be sure to order early."
(in 9 reviews)
"the lamb was tender with the right spice rub."
(in 32 reviews)
"Have the lamb patty kabobs, they are delicious."
(in 17 reviews)
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Ziyad A.
Portland, OR
11/30/2011
I don't know from where to start. The first time I ate at this restaurant was last summer, and I like their food "big time". But I decided not to write to a review till a give it a second shot. I went there last week, and guess what? The food was better than the first time, so here I am writing the review. If you are going to this restaurant make sure that you will 100% like their food no matter what even if you are a pessimist or a picky person. Plus, customer service is outstanding (no complains). My recommendations (and believe me you wont regret following my taste!). For appetizers order Ezme and Adana Kabob for main course. If it was my choice I would give this restaurant six or even seven stars.
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Review from Jgirl S.
Seattle, WA
2/9/2012
Hubby and I have been eating here for years. The food is consistently good.
For an appetizer we always get their hummus and pita. It truly is the BEST in Seattle. There is no way we could ever go and not order it...truly delicious.
They have a nice reasonable wine selection....nothing too fancy or too expensive.
You always have a choice of either the house or caesar salad before dinner. This is always appreciated when restaurants offer this. Hubby always gets the house and I love the caesar.
For dinner, hubby usually gets the lamb kabob. He says it is always perfectly cooked. I guess most places overcook lamb, but not here. I usually get a seafood kabob or the spinach borek. Both are always yummy.
We have not tried their desserts. With all I mentioned above, we are usually stuffed when leaving and one of us usually has leftovers. Hubby has tried the Turkish coffee and says it is really good. I tried it and thought it was "too thick", but I guess it is supposed to be like that. I guess I just do not like Turkish coffee and will stick with my Uptown Espresso.
The only negative about this place is that the servers can be a little strange. We have had good and not so good service here. We always go back even if we have had a not so great experience because the food and prices make up the difference. And, we know that the next time we go back, the service will probably be fine again.
We are always surprised that we do not see more young people here because the food is always good. There seems to be an older customer base that goes here, but...whatever, that does not really matter.
The owner (I think it is the owner) is always in the kitchen and greets us. He recognizes us and always has a smiling face for us.
Overall, we really like this place and will continue going. You should try it! -
Review from Robert B.
Seattle, WA
12/9/2011
Best lamb in town? Quite possibly.
Ephesus has been around for 16 years, which is an eternity in the restaurant business. After our first visit, I can see why. Ephesus is one of very few restaurants in Seattle that serve Turkish cuisine. The dining room is a delight; large and spacious, and wonderfully quiet; you can carry on a conversation without speaking in battlefield tones (are you paying attention, Spring HIll?). The staff is professional, pleasant, and courteous, and very attractive as well.
The food is why you're here, and you will want to come back. The pita bread is made in-house, and is quite good. I ordered the night's special, an assortment of lamb cuts (chop, loin, and ground kebab). I was concerned when it came medium, but it was still remarkably moist, tender, and VERY flavorful! Note: on future visits, if you want more rare than medium, you should probably ask for it.
They pay careful attention to the accompanying dishes as well; the pilaf served with the dish was absolutely delicious, and darned if I can figure out how it was seasoned!
They have a very nice wine list, with a little note at the bottom to "ask about their Turkish wines". By all means ask! If you're enjoying Turkish cuisine, you should have Turkish wine, yes? We asked for a recommendation, and absolutely loved a Turkish red wine that complimented the excellent lamb to a 'T'.
So why only 4 stars? Just two niggling things, and no reason why you shouldn't go. (1) Presentation of the dishes was pretty standard, nothing special, and (2) for the most expensive entree in the house, I think they could've been just a teensy bit more generous with the lamb (but then again, I AM a bit of a trencherman; I suspect normal appetites would've been quite satisfied.).
It is a real delight to live in a neighborhood that has so many superb examples of Mediterranean cuisine; Italian (La Rustica), Lebanese (Phoenicia), Greek (Kokora's), and Turkish (Ephesus). By all means come and check this place out! -
Review from Paul B.
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had high expectations when first walking in. The ambiance was pretty awesome. They basically refurbished an old house to look like a rich Turkish person's mansion - complete with gaudy mural of Mediterranean beaches and a random painting of Jesus splashed in it. Sadly, looks can only get you so far.
We ordered some grape leaf appetizer, and this was the only thing that blew my mind here. We also ordered lackluster kebabs which took forever to come out of the kitchen (try an hour and a half). You'd figure it'd taste like heaven, but nay, they were just like any other typical kebabs, except for the ridiculous $20 price tag on it. The pita was good I guess... but hardly worth giving increasing my rating.
Overall, what's so great about this place? There's really no reason to come back. -
Review from Joshua C.
Seattle, WA
1/27/2012
The food was excellent. The ambiance was very nice. But the service was not up to par with the price. Very nice people with great suggestions, but the waits were a bit long.
We had the beef kabob and the chicken toprak. The toprak was very good. The kabob was EXCELLENT.
We would totally go here again. -
Review from Jen M.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Ephesus is my go to dinner place in West Seattle, simply for the amazing Ephesus Plate and Seafood Toprak. My partner and I share the two (instead of each ordering an entree) and a couple glasses of wine and always leave full and happy. We've been going to this restaurant for years and have never once had a bad experience. I even hosted my birthday dinner there on two separate occasions in the upstairs area, and both times also had a lovely experience. My friends all LOVED the food as well. If you're looking for a high end or hipster restaurant experience, this won't be your kind of place. Ephesus is low key, with an intimate vibe, great service and absolutely spectacular food!
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Review from Arun K.
Mercer Island, WA
7/23/2011
I went here quite late with friends and had started off with the platter with variety of dips and some pretty crispy and fresh pita / naan. My friend has the spinach and feta cheese in phyllo thingie which was delicious. I just had a ceasar salad (I know that's lame after going to a turkish restaurant), and it was good too.
Definitely be going back there sometime to try the other stuff on their menu - the kebabs looked nice... -
Review from Noelley B.
Seattle, WA
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here with three other adults and a toddler for my birthday on a Thursday night. We ordered 5 appetizers: esme, grilled eggplant, hummus, mantar, and the difficult to pronounce eggplant dip with the initials P.S., and two entrees: angel hair pasta with chicken, and Tas Chicken. All the appetizers come with the house pita, which is more like a sourdough naan than the pita you would buy from a grocery. The mild sour flavor really compliments the flavor of these various dips.
The esme is like salsa, but with an amazing flavor unlike anything I've ever tasted. It's sort of.. like mustard and parsley? I have no idea but it's great.
The grilled eggplant is mild, with tomato and yogurt on top, and as I love eggplant, I found it delicious.
The hummus was great, much less tart than the hummus we usually buy, but it worked out really well with the sourdough pita.
The mantar is a sauteed mushroom dish that reminds me of the sort of buttery garlic sauce you'd find on clams. Very good, mellow and salty.
The PS was not my favorite, as I'm not a huge fan of dairy. It seemed to be mostly yogurt and melted cheese to me, but my sister loved it.
The tas chicken was reported to be okay, and the rice it comes with was very buttery.
The angel hair pasta with chicken was also reported to be quite good.
I guess the message to take from all this is that I have no idea if the kebabs are good, the other entrees are decent, and the appetizers are amazing. Everything is very buttery. -
Review from Sarah R.
2/7/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Walking into Ephesus, I feel instantly welcome. It's warm and inviting. The floor plan is well laid out and everything is decorated just enough. Though the treat for my eyes, is nothing like the treat for my nose. It smells AMAZING.
We were immediately greeted by a server who asked if we had a reservation. We said we didn't, and he said it was not a problem and asked if we could have a seat and wait a few minutes. No problem!
Once seated, we ended up ordering the bruschetta as an appetizer. It was delicious! The best I have ever had. Every bite felt like a grand indulgance. My husband and I ate every morsal aside from the olive pits! Mmm.
There were tons of vegetarian appetizers that I was dying to try.. but I opted for an entree that our server suggested. I wish I could remember the name.. it was a spinach and feta stuffed flakey bread. It was definitely good, but I'd love to try something else next time.
My husband had the lamb kabobs. He said the meat was seasoned very well. He also wanted to try several other things as well. So I think on our next visit, we'll branch out further.
The overall experience was fantastic. The staff was all friendly and professional, the bathrooms were clean, the atmosphere was very cozy, and we're ready for another visit.
Definitely recommended!Listed in: Favorite Seattle area eats
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Review from Becky M.
Seattle, WA
4/23/2011
I want to try this place again. Reading other reviews, I can see where we maybe went wrong. We didn't order any appetizers, and it sounds like that's where this restaurant can really sing.
I was happy to get seated right away and the views are breathtaking on a gorgeous day. The ambiance is certainly done well. The salads were tasty.
My husband liked his IPA but I paid $8!!! for a bottle of dry cider that wasn't local or very tasty. Our food was good, but nothing mind-blowing. My man had steak kebabs, my friend got chicken, and I got phyllo-spinach rolls. We'll try again for appetizers sometime. -
Review from Dokdo K.
Seattle, WA
4/11/2011
Maybe I expected too much about this place, but I really wanted to like Ephesus. I never tried Turkish food, so I was excited to try this place.
As other reviews have said, the environment is very nice, and the staff is very friendly. Service was generally very good.
Now the food, I'm not too sure. The menu was mainly broken into appetizers, salad, kabab, and toprak..., so as far as main dishes are concerned, just choice is either kabab or toprak (sort of like soup). As my wife said, the appetizer ended up being the best dish we tried. We ordered Ephesus platter, which included very warm toasty pita bread along with 4 different dips. Pita bread was the best I've ever tasted. The dips were top notch.
The main dishes, however, were a bit disappointing. The kabab was pretty standard, not much different than other places for less. The portions were pretty meager. Not having tried toprak before, we ordered the combination seafood toprak, and wasn't too impressed. The rice that's served with main dishes had overpowering buttery taste. The bottle of traditional Turkish wine that was recommended to us was disappointing as well, it was very bitter.
With lack of menu items, most likely I won't be going back any time soon. -
Review from Krista M.
Updated - 9/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Is this still my favorite restaurant in the city? In the state? On the planet? YES!!! Even though we live at the edge of the earth (the East side) we still plan for our special occasion dinners to be at Ephesus. My birthday is coming up soon. I don't care about presents and cake, I want a kebab and baklava!
If you have been living in West Seattle and continuously driving right on by the pink house, I am truly sorry. One day you will step inside, have a seat in one of those big comfy chairs and enjoy some of the tastiest food you've ever had. Then you will throw your hands up towards the heavens and cry out "what have I been missing all this time?!!"
I'll tell you what you have been missing out on. The juicy chicken, the scrumptious lamb, the delectable shrimp, the addictive bruschetta and the most flavorful and well cooked pasta you can find in all of West Seattle! Oh and the wine, the wonderful wine!
Seriously, don't prolong the wait to try these dishes out, you will only hate yourself more later. Stop by, have dinner on the deck overlooking the water at sunset. You'll be sorry, but only that you didn't come here sooner :)Listed in: My Favorites
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/19/2009
This is absolutely my favorite restaurant. . . possibly ever. My fiance and I used to live across… Read more »
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Review from Dawn G.
Goodyear, AZ
3/23/2011
My boyfriend and I had dinner here last night. Very, very tasty!
We shared the Ephesus platter which is 4 different dips for your pita bread - hummus, an eggplant salad type thing, a red pepper/pomegranite/walnut thing, and a cucumber sauce (cacik) - VERY YUMMY. The pita was great - warm and crispy and soft all at the same time.
For dinner my boyfriend had the this chicken dish that was in a yummy and very flavorful tomato broth/sauce (wish I could remember what it was called). The sauce was incredible and the chicken was cooked very well. I had the lamb kabob which was cooked to perfection - juicy and moist with a lot of flavor.
Unlike others, I would say that our service wasn't the best - it certainly wasn't horrible but I had expected a bit better after everything I read here. We just waited a bit longer for things than I would've expected - like having our drink order taken. The only reason I gave it 4 stars intead of 5 though is that there isn't a ton to choose from on the menu, I found the prices a bit steep and the decor was comfortable but a bit on the "old" side. None of these things would keep me from coming here again, they would just keep me from coming here frequently. We felt like it would be a great place for a special occasion but not somewhere we would go on a regular basis.
All in all a positive experience though!! -
Review from Murat S.
Seattle, WA
10/23/2010
Great Turkish food. Definetly try the lamb platter. Lamb shish and Adana kebap (ground lamb kebap) are really good.
Must try the eggplant salad.Listed in: Recommendations
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Review from Samantha K.
Centennial, CO
5/1/2010
Friend: "Do you want to go out with us for Turkish food?"
Me: "What is Turkish food?"
Friend: "I don't know. Kabobs?"
"Me: "Okay!"
I'm glad we decided to be adventurous, because dinner here was great! The restaurant is in a cute renovated house. Service was good and friendly. We had the pita appetizer with hummus and other dip options-- definitely the best pita bread I've ever had! I didn't know it could be THAT much better than the grocery store. I had the lamb kabob for my entree, and it was delicious. Perfectly cooked and excellent flavor. My friend had the meatball special and loved it. We also ordered a chocolate cake slice and it was tasty, but not big enough to share between four people as promised.
Ephesus was definitely on the expensive side, but worth it for the quality of food and something a little bit different. Worth the trip out to West Seattle.Listed in: Pretending to be a…
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Review from Alan N.
8/28/2010
Excellent place! I would recommend this place to most anyone I know in a heartbeat. The food was excellent. It came out fast and promptly almost immediately after we finished our salad appetizers.
The waiter provided excellent service as he was consistently checking on my friend and I and he recommended some very tasty dishes that went well with our drinks.
The atmosphere had a very family appeal to it and yet intimate setting.
The best place I have ever been in West Seattle. -
Review from David A.
Portland, OR
3/21/2010
Delicious escape in the heart of West Seattle
Have you ever walked by a restaurant time and time again without giving it a second thought? Ephesus was that restaurant for me. For some reason the gently decorated house on California avenue didn't lure me until one day I decided to find them on Yelp to see what it was all about.
The reviews were rather positive and the comments made me want to try the comfy confines of the small house. I invited a friend over for dinner and we made our way to Ephesus. Upon entering the doorway I was pleasantly surprised. The interior was quaint and inviting. The open kitchen right in front of us and the cheerful greeting from 3 of the staff members started to set a positive mood. The air was filled with the delicious aroma of grilling meats and spices captivating our senses.
Within a few minutes we were seated in a booth against the back and the waiter immediately stopped by to take our drink order. I had a Turkish beer and my dinner date enjoyed a glass of wine.
Our dinner started out sharing a plate of hummus. A silky blend of chick peas, garlic, olive oil and spices married perfectly with the warm pita bread that tasted like it was right from the oven.
After the appetizer, our dinners arrived. We both decided to try out the kebobs. I went for chicken and my partner in crime went for the lamb. Both dishes came out of the kitchen piping hot on top of a bed of rice.
The portions were plentiful and the flavors were excellent. The white meat of the chicken was tender and juicy. The lamb had crispy edges and a warm pink center that was mouthwatering with each bite.
The bed of rice went extremely well with the dish catching the drippings and enhancing each bit. My one criticism of the entire dinner would be the amount of oil/butter on the rice. It was a bit too rich for my taste and I would have liked plain white rice instead.
Overall my impression of this little place is excellent. I will definitely return and take a larger group of friends to share the experience with. I definitely recommend Ephesus for an enjoyable night out. -
Review from Me H.
Seattle, WA
4/24/2008 3 photos
This really is one of those places I don't want to yelp about. I don't want to share it with just any old body on the internet but than I realized it is in West Seattle and most people are too frightened to come ALL the way to West Seattle for some Turkish food so I decided it's ok to review.
I've tried numerous dishes on their menu and I've never been disappointed with any of them. Their hummus and the bread they serve with it is currently my favorite hummus of anywhere, it was so smooth. The bread they serve it with is awesome it's like a cross between naan and pita but crispy and soft all at the same time.
Some of my other favorites are the sauteed mushrooms, the Ephesus salad (sans cucumbers), the shrimp scampi and the kebabs, I usually go for the mixed as it gives me a sample of the lamb, chicken and shrimp all served over some of the fluffiest rice I've ever shoved in my mouth. The lamb is cooked perfectly and the chicken is still moist and delicious.
If you like wine they have a very nice wine list and while dinning there a while back I discoverer a Dono Paulo which is a Shiraz and Melbac blend from Argentina and it was divine, it's now the wine I always order when I'm eating here. And that and the hummus and an Ephesus salad make for a lovely dinner. -
Review from Alyson L.
Seattle, WA
7/27/2007
My love story with Ephesus began back in the cold wet month of December '06, when the company I work for decided to throw the annual holiday party there. I was somewhat concerned when I pulled up to a big pink house, right next to Rite-Aid....My fears disappeared once the waiter complimented my boots on my way up to our reserved area (I am a total sucker for compliments from strangers).
Once upstairs and seated, my wine glass would be refilled as soon as I took a SIP, the food was amazing and the staff was just absolutely wonderful.
If I could eat there every day and not be a total blob, I would.
Ever want to impress a date? Grab some kebabs to go and fresh pitas with cacik and ezme for a living room picnic and prepare to have your date be amazed and impressed - trust me, it worked when I did it.
They're totally low tech, so don't try to get them to fax a menu or make a copy, your best bet is to go and wait (and watch the staff at work while they offer you something to drink 8 times) or know exactly what you want when you call an order in.
OR just eat there! The ambiance is pleasant and generally mellow and like I mentioned, the staff is accommodating and friendly. Even if they sucked I would go back for the rockin' food.
P.S. They open pretty late in the afternoon, so don't be expecting lunch or anything. -
Review from Sara F.
Seattle, WA
5/25/2011
The design/atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice. We sat on a large dining table and i felt like we were having dinner with friends at our own house. The food is good, but i have tasted better Mediterranean food. It is a nice place to go to, but don't expect a wow food or as opera says an AHA moment.
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Review from Josh F.
Seattle, WA
4/15/2007
I joined two friends for dinner at Ephesus on Saturday evening. It wasn't crowded, and a reservation wasn't necessary (even at 7 PM). We were seated at a large, dark wooden table with enormous chairs, and we looked out at what without an intervening house would have been a great view of the sound and Olympics.
They have a reasonably good wine selection, but it took a couple or reminders to get the glass that I ordered. The food was quite good, not great. The meats were a bit overcooked and dry, particularly the chicken. They do make a terrific baklava.
This is not an inexpensive place to eat. Wine, meal, and dessert can easily set you back $35-$40 per person. At this price, we should have had much better service. Our server was rather curt when answering reasonable questions, and service was less than attentive. We were basically forgotten, and it felt like we were making trouble when asking them to break a $20. -
Review from Harold T.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2010
This is a perfect date restaurant: high ceilings, beautiful wood furniture, welcoming and personable wait staff.
My wife and I adore the ezme, which is a puree of eggplant, tomato, walnuts, and pomegranate juice. It's the perfect complement/appetizer with pita bread. The toprak (sp?), a stew over rice, was tasty and hearty. The kebabs are, of course, wonderful. Ephesus is a tad pricey but well worth it. -
Review from Quinn R.
7/12/2007
The best food here are the appetizers...loaded with oil (olive oil mind you) I'd say they are worth enjoying even if it means an early death (but isn't olive oil good for you?)
at any rate I loved the atmosphere and was thrilled with the food and believe me I dont throw down 'thrilled' unless I really mean it.
Would have been a 5 star but took away one cuz I'm spiteful. Go to a Turkish restaurant with a group of Turks you'd think the Turkish owner would at least come out and say hello to some of his countrymen and women...but no..nada word. (as I said I'm spiteful...oh and petty too) -
Review from Jodi S.
Seattle, WA
2/26/2009
My boyfriend and I decided to give this place a try instead of our usual fallback of sushi. I was impressed by the healthy plants (yeah yeah, me and my green thumbs notice these sorts of things), and I really liked the look of the old wine barrel chairs they had around the fireplace.
It seemed reasonably busy for a Thursday evening. The hostess was a little on the indifferent side. The waitress, however, was very friendly and attentive. We got an appetizer of hummus, which was most excellent! It was the perfect consistency, which for me really makes a hummus edible or not. We got a bottle of the Turkish red wine, which was dry with a hint of fruit. For dinner David got the lamb kabobs and I got the lamb special. The kabobs came on a frickin' mini sword on a bed of rice (awesome), and the lamb special was three different cuts of lamb on rice. It was all so tender and cooked to perfection. It went well with the wine and was the perfect amount to be full but not stuffed.
I got a cup of Turkish coffee after the meal. It was brought out on a neat hanging tray. The waitress humored me while I told her about my friend from Turkey who made me Turkish coffee and read my fortune from the coffee grounds in the bottom of my cup. It really brought back some fond memories of my friend. Not to mention it was really tasty! Don't drink down to the very bottom because it's a little sludgy, unless you like that sort of thing. ;) -
Review from Mark J.
Seattle, WA
7/16/2008
This place is wonderful, in spite of what the vegan said.
First of all, there is NO VEGAN FOOD at all...I used to wait tables there part time and I know for certain that ALL OF THE RICE IS BUTTERED. They also sneak feta cheese into everything. So...why a person went to a Kabab house looking for vegan food....is beyond me.
Anyway....Everything is good, everything is exotic....the chef will not divulge his secret spice (fenugreek), and you will not leave hungry.
The wine list is carefully chosen to compliment the savory food.
The decor is fancier than it has to be, but as a former server there...I PROMISE that there is no expected dress code....just be dressed in something more than underwear...and you are good to go.
The deck is fabulous.
The food takes time, because in Turkey people relax and enjoy their meals. Do not go there if you are in a hurry....I think the chef will purpose to actually cook your food slower.
It would get five stars if the menu were expanded to include a few more entrees. -
Review from O. Bilal O.
Kirkland, WA
4/27/2010 1 photo
I am pretty disappointed with this restaurant. The size of the dinner portions were small with a sloppy plating. We ordered mixed grill that came with 8 pieces of meat half of them being chicken, uncooked half onion & tomato on top of some barely warm rice. The tasty portion of meat should have been much better with some grilled veggies.
As for the appetizers; eggplant salad had raw onions in it (which dominated the eggplant taste), ezme salad was made more like salsa with tomato paste in it (its like a cheat), humus was actually good (finally a humus without tahini), the warm bread was the only thing worth ordering the appetizer plater. -
Review from Karen J.
Seattle, WA
9/14/2008
I almost hate to write this as it seems so many people don't know that Ephesus is even there, or here-as the case may be.
The ambiance of the place is so wonderful, summer has outside dining but fall & winter ..ah the fire will warm you.
I can make it easy for you. Order the house salad & house red, get any appetizer, they are all good, and the dinner special or mixed kabob.
Then, relax, savor, unwind and bon appetit! -
Review from Matt C.
Seattle, WA
10/7/2007
Shut the menu and just get the lamb kabobs already, ok?
The mushroom appetizer (Mutar?) was amazing and the pita bread was something between a pita and a crispy naan.
The only downside seemed to be the service which was slow on a Saturday night - the place was about half full and it was taking them a very long time to service the tables. Still, when you could get their attention, they were friendly and attentive.
Dress is typical Seattle for a nice place: more than casual, less than dress. Guys: put on a shirt with a collar and nice slacks. I was there in a sweater and jeans, which was OK but I felt vaugely underdressed.
Great little place. Don't be put off by the Rite-Aid next door. :) -
Review from Rick M.
Seattle, WA
6/27/2008
I'll start by saying that Ephesus has the best Ezme - ever!
I'm sad to say, though, that tonight was the second worst service I've ever had at a restaurant. Clearly, this is a place one should feel privileged to eat - at least according to the personnel.
We got there and, having been before, we realize that this is not one of those places where you can say you're vegan and they'll come up with something magical just for you (like they do at Phoeneica on Alki) - not that we expect that. So, we make it very easy for the waitstaff by choosing the items that we know are vegan or at least can easily be made vegan. We don't even insist on "no butter".
So, we ordered the Ezme (my fave), the dolmas (which we learned were vegan), and the penne pasta sans cheese and add veggies (they have a vegetable medley side). How easy is that? Oh, and a glass of Cabernet each.
The waiter seemed new so we reiterated several times that we're vegan and explained "no meat, no cheese". He was kind enough to confirm with the cooks that they could do this. Bear in mind now that several people know that we don't want cheese.
A short while later a waiter that we've seen there before came by (he remembered us - vegan last time, too) and asked if we wanted a salad. No, we already ordered what we want. Then, he asked if we wanted feta on the dolmas. Uh, No. We asked if he understood "vegan". Sure, he assured us.
Right after him came our new waiter with our white wine. Doesn't look like a Cab to me! Oops!
Finally, our appetizers come - very good. Great, in fact. I love the food here.
We finish the apps and our wine and it seems like a long time before our entree comes - the veggie penne. The seasoned waiter came and ensured us it was coming soon.
The penne arrived and we saw that they clearly had dumped Parmesan cheese all over it, scraped some off, then tried to hide the rest of it. My partner marched into the kitchen with the plate in hand and the old-timer cook snapped it out of his hand without a word. The waiter said sorry.
We waited, and waited, and waited. A good fifteen minutes passed and that was it. I walked up to our waiter and said we were ready for our check. He said the penne would be ready in 30 seconds. Nope. We're done.
They charged my card minus the penne, packed it up and sent us on our way.
Wow. Leaving there I felt like I had insulted them by the way they treated us. What's wrong with that picture? Even without the charge for the penne it was still $31. -
Review from Roselle K.
Seattle, WA
2/15/2008
What great restaurant. All the staff is friendly and all the food is good.
I had the special of the night, lambchops. They were the perfect doneness, well seasoned, with a nice little crust on the outside without being tough at all. We enjoyed the two dips we had for starters as well, eggplant and walnut. The pita were also great: soft and also crispy (how do they do that?!?) even after they'd cooled off.
We got an enthusiastic recommendation for dessert from our attentive and super cute bus-girl. Both of the desserts were good, but I was a little disappointed that neither seemed to be house-made. This is probably a good thing though, because it allows the small kitchen to focus on the delicious savory items.
In general the menu is pretty simple, but everything is good. This is a nice restaurant for a relaxed, simple, and delicious meal. -
Review from Kelly M.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2010
I love Ephesus! The restaurant looks like it was made from a large converted house. The interior is generally very open in the main dining area with very high ceilings in the center.
The wait staff are friendly and engaging as well as generally pretty attentive.
The food though is great. I loved their lamb kabobs. Tender and cooked with just the right combination of spices. Their baklava was also outstanding. I think if you're looking for a romantic night out or a good place to impress your friends, you can't really go wrong with Ephesus. -
Review from Alanna M.
8/30/2009
My first time here was for an appreciation dinner with former clients. Try the eggplant from the list of appetizers and this other red puree dish -- I think it's got pomegranate in it, but I can't think of the name. Anyway both DELI SH with the homemade pita. Nice, soft and fresh.
Various kabobs to choose from. My favorite has to be the lamb. The kabob dinners come with rice. You also have a choice between a house salad (with vinaigrette) or caesar salad. The seafood tupek is awesome for a cold night.
Room for dessert? Get the baklava because it's made onsite. The other desserts are good too but not made "fresh" at the restaurant (insider tip).
The menu is not extensive in length, but I see it as a positive because this allows the chef/cooks to focus on a few good dishes. Also, for a small restaurant such as this, a limited menu allows them to deliver a fresh product.
The staff is also friendly and honest. -
Review from Erin W.
Seattle, WA
7/30/2007
Hands down the best meal I have had in a long time. Just as good as Lola without the Tom Douglas price tag. Had the mushroom appetizer on the recommendation of other Yelpers and we were not disappointed. The pita was warm, fresh and soft. Hubbie had the lamb special and I had the Seafood Tupek. Both were amazingly flavorful and a good value too. The hubbie asked, "can we eat here every meal?"
The service was friendly but the place seemed severely understaffed for a Saturday night. One waiter was working the entire dining room and patio. We waited a very long time for our check, but otherwise had a perfect experience. -
Review from Michael B.
Seattle, WA
7/15/2009
Upgrade the slow as sap service and you will have that fifth star, my friends.
Your food is good.....really good! The roasted eggplant salad ("patlican"- something or other) is AMAZING!! I could eat a big bowl of that with your fresh and crisp pita and be totally satisfied. Can you give me the super sized version of that plzzzzzzzz?!?! Your kabobs are super yummy, specially the lamb ones, and even the jasmine rice is perfectly cooked. Your wine list is well chosen, reasonable and descriptive. My shiraz/malbec was possibly the best $7 glass of wine I ever had at a restaurant.
But GAWD.....the waiting.....even on the lovely back patio on a gorgeous summer evening.....was bordering on excruciating. If I was any hungrier, I would have started eating the linens. And for god's sake, stop by and ask how things are going once in a while. Don't just drop the food and hang out in the kitchen. You were a nice Turkish girl, very pleasant personality, but it was a good 20-30 mins between appetizer and salad. And there were maybe 3 tables besides us, so I know your kitchen wasn't backed up. Gawd.....again....maybe I"m spoiled at my work. I guess not everyone is concerned about other people's lives and how much time they have to spend at a restaurant.
And even after that, you still get four stars. Your Patlican salad is just THAT good. *drool* -
Review from Michael L.
Seattle, WA
9/26/2008
This place is awesome! I have never had a bad meal here and the people who work always go out of their way to make sure you get a good meal and have a enjoyable visit.
If you get here on a nice day, they have new outdoor seating on a deck out back that has a gorgeous view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
As far as the food, you get generous portions, very affordable prices, and everything I've tried was presented well and tasted great. I even tried the lamb kabobs here (not usually one to go for lamb) but it was delicious.
Anyway, if you are in West Seattle and would like a great sit down meal, please give this place a try. -
Review from Steve P.
Seattle, WA
7/21/2009
Ephesus is a nice little place with I have to say the best hummus I've had to date. The rest of the food is passable, but nothing to write home about. The mains are priced a bit high for what you get. They do, however make a nice cup of Turkish coffee. If you're in the neighborhood and feeling like kabobs and such, give it a try. Otherwise, it's not really worth seeking out.
Bottom line:
Am I going back? Sure.
Will it make the list of regular haunts? Not so much. -
Review from Jerrod S.
Burien, WA
11/22/2009
We had a truly memorable evening last week at Ephesus in West Seattle. Talk about a diamond in the rough. I never would have dreamed it was a great inside as it is with such caring staff from what I noticed all the times I have driven by it.
We had 3 people in town visiting for some training and wanted a place that would be comfortable for a nice long yet healthy meal.
Duygu (Dee) was wonderful as she cared for us from the moment we walked in the door. We opted for a family style "just serve us" approach. Dee recommended a Turkish wine that was wonderful and worked through our limitations in terms of our diet preferences. From there, we just sat back, enjoyed the company and a great meal.
In terms of cost, we spent about $40/person including appetizers, wine, meal, dessert and tip. You can have a great evening and meal for much less if you pick and choose but we really wanted to focus on our time together as just let the staff at Ephesus take care of us.
Thank you Dee and the rest of the staff at Ephesus. A trip with our kids is in the plans soon. -
Review from Stacy M.
Seattle, WA
8/10/2010
Lovely atmosphere and extremely good food! Dined there last Friday for the first time. Was with a group of mostly vegans. The wait staff were very friendly and the chefs were very accommodating and adjusted some dishes slightly for our vegan requirements (although I'm not vegan, I was for the night).
The ezme was scrumptious and the hummus is the best I've ever had. The bread served with these is great. I also quite liked the dolmas.
We also had a couple of non-vegans with us who shared a seafood kebab, and I was told that it also was exceptionally good.
I've lived 1 mile away from this gem of a restaurant for 16 years, and wish I'd known sooner how great the food is. I'll be back again and again! -
Review from Robert L.
Renton, WA
2/8/2010
There seems be a massive trend, every restaurant that I go to that used to be a house, I fall in love with! This place has a lot more open space than most other restaurant/houses, it's dimly lit, has a very friendly staff that know the geography of Turkey incredibly well, and most importantly, the food is amazing.
My friends and I ordered a few items and just ate family style (we're asian, it's what we do). We started with their hummus plate, which was really good, it was a lot smoother and lighter than store bought, I'm not too experienced with "good" hummus, so I'm just gonna say the plate we got was an A+. Then for the entrees we got the mixed kebab plate that had lamb, beef and chicken, and one of their specials, something stuffed in eggplant. Let's start with the kebabs, out of this world!! But I think next time, I think I would X out the chicken from the equation and just stick with the stuff that blew my mind away. The lamb and the beef were insanely tender, juicy, and flavorful. The eggplant special was really good too...so yea...just stick with the kebabs. They also have Turkish beer too! They ran out of the light stuff, so we all got dark, and it was pretty good, very smooth.
The only downer is that this place is kinda pricey, average price for an entree is about $18. But the price/quantity ratio is pretty equal at this place. The portions are big AND entrees come with a decently sized salad. 2.5 dishes between 4 people did us pretty well, granted that all of us were just partially hungry. -
Review from Guy N.
King, WA
2/14/2010
Ephesus is an excellent choice for Mediterranean food in Seattle. Its atmosphere is warm and inviting, while its menu is excellent and reasonably priced.
They are magicians with eggplants and I highly recommend ordering anything off their menu that has eggplants as an ingredient.
My only gripe about them is that they don't post their menu online so you can think about what you want to order in advance.
Otherwise, it's a great place that we've been to twice now, and will definitely be going back to again.
