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Categories: Greek, Turkish, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: TriBeCaCanal-Varick Sts (1)
Canal-Church Sts (A, C, E)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"I hadn't had greek food since I was in Greece so I was looking forward to some deliciousness and Pylos was fantastic. Great service. Great…" read more »
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I'm a big fan of Turkish food. What I love about Turks and Frogs is that it's a Turkish restaurant that kicks it up a notch. It's one of the more sophisticated Turkish restaurants you can pick from.
The food is excellent. The wine list is extensive. The decor is ornate, cozy. Outdoor dining too in warmer weather. And easy parking! Where else do you get that in Manhattan?
5 stars, hands down. No doubt in my mind... and not too often can I say that. Fantastic food, great service, and the decor is awesome to boot. I was impressed from the moment I stepped in and watched the bartender meticulously prepare a Manhattan for me. A waiter even spent 5 minutes discussing all of his favorite dishes with me while I waited for my friends to arrive...
But I didn't even get a chance to use the information because a friend ordered -- in Turkish -- everything for our table of 6 and I thoroughly enjoyed everything. All the small appetizers were solid, and we shared all of them. Some of the best apppetizers were the homemade yogurt sauce (Cacik) chopped tomato/cucumber salad, the cubed eggplant (Soslu Patlican), and the calamari (Kalamar Izgara). All of our chicken and lamb entrees were just great. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole sea bass (Levrek Izgara), but it was tasty and I think I just don't love the issue to dealing with an entire fish/bones.
Lots of traditional Turkish booze (Raki?) was consumed -- it's a must if you are eating Turkish. We were all completely stuffed by the end of the meal, which only came out to $250, including tip, for all 6 of us. In my opinion that price truly cannot be beat if you hope to walk out of a top quality restaurant full of both food and alcohol.
I can't wait to return here, and in my opinion this would be the perfect place to go on a date (3rd/4th date?) as long as your companion isn't afraid to try some different food.
We had dinner here before a party (a party that turned out to be serving food (D'oh!)) and want to come back and explore the menu. French and Turkish food fused together: Yum.
Perfect midweek spot -- if the Spotted Pig is too crowded, Turks & Frogs is the perfect alternative. Great for a date, quiet conversation, or just some good food and wine. Service is gracious and the low lighting and cozy atmosphere make for a great winter spot. Coming from the subway station on 7th Ave and walking down 11th Street alone is a townhouse-lined treat. Plus, the water is just a stones throw away too...great bar, great area.
My husband took me to this place for my B-Day!
it is delicious, elegant and fairly priced.
We love this place so much, you find real original dishes, the service is very good and their wine list is playful and appropriate for the menu.
highly recommend it.
Enjoy! speially with a wife or hubby.
Solid, delicious, unique food, friendly (if not sometimes a little too relaxed/slow) service...I really enjoy this place. Also, the lunch specials are actually a pretty good deal if you're in the neighborhood and can stop by for lunch.
The atmosphere is nice. The appetizers are superior to the entrees --
the icli kibbe is soggy on the outside, but the ground lamb is good, . They do not serve traditional pita, rather something closer to french/italian. The lamb entrees are overcooked and salty. The baklavah is excellent.
I've been to Turks & Frogs twice and it is quickly climbing my list of favorite restaurants. Eating here is such a lovely experience. First, the space itself has so much character. The dark red walls, formal wood dining tables, and dim lighting create this atmosphere that is resplendent yet inviting and cozy. Second, the staff here could not be any more genuine, welcoming, and helpful. My waiter was adorably earnest giving my party recommendations on what to order and each of his suggestions was absolutely spot on. And the food is sublime. I love the sword fish skewers, the lamb dish with pureed eggplant is a revelation, and don't space out when they tell you the specials because chances are you'll be missing out on the best dishes of the night. All of this adds up to one of those rare, magically perfect meals that the city always promises but never delivers, only this place definitely delivers.
This is a little gem. Such a cute interior with dark red walls, cool chandeliers, and a great ambiance. Our waiter was very friendly and accomodating, and the food was excellent. The mushrooms were tastey, as was the lamb shish kabobs. The beet and yogurt dip appetizer was really interesting. Overall, the portion sizes were generous, and the food had great flavour. I will definitely be coming back!
I simply love this place.
We were having a wine-y evening and had just finished Frenching out at Paris Commune (more on that situation later.)
This was the perfect place to continue bottles of wine and fluffy conversation... Dark red walls, leather seats and very very low lighting.
This seems like a wonderful place to go when one does not want to be found out.
I went last night for the first time in a while and it was more delicious than I remember.
We ordered the caviar puree and celery root from the cold appetizer tray that they bring around and we got the zucchini pancakes from the hot apps on the menu. I would have licked the plate clean if I wasn't such a lady. The Turkish bread they offer is soft and yummy too.
Since we ordered heavy on the apps, we shared an entrée of the lamb shish kabobs. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My boyfriend said he thinks it was the best he's ever had, and he doesn't hand out those comments lightly.
Even with the food that is off the charts, this place didn't even fill up. I know it is a little bit of a hike, but it is sooooo worth it.
The service here is excellent.
Great place for a date! First, last and every one in between.
I discovered this gem a couple of years ago with a foodie friend.
It is romantic and the servers are…
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Great service and never too crowded, this place is a find. I lived in Turkey for some time before moving to NYC, and am happy to say that these guys, and their food, are the real thing.. The bread with the tahini and carob syrup (pekmez in Turkish) at the begging of the meal are an authentic treat that I've never seen at another Turkish place in New York. The mezes are served traditionally - presented on a large platter and customers point out their selections. All the lamb dishes are perfectly cooked and the mushroom casserole is to-die-for. The waiters are extremely attentive and the service never fails to please.
Turkey's standard wine, Cankaya, is on the menu, along with several other reasonably-priced selections.
I love this place.
I went with three girlfriends at 9pm on a Saturday night. It had an eclectic and comfortable vibe, and the food and service were wonderful. The icli kofte (cracked wheat patties) and mucver (zucchini pancakes) were great, and the variety of cold meze they presented on a platter to choose from was impressive. I had the hunkar begendi (lamb with pureed baby eggplant) for my entree, and I am still dreaming about the baby eggplant almost three months later. My group was too full for dessert, but the selection looked great, as well.
This was a totally relaxing dining experience (we were the last ones in the restaurant at midnight, and they were not kicking us out), and it is reasonably priced. The staff is totally gracious and is a definite must-try for anyone who is new to or familiar with Turkish food.
Great for date nights, out-of-town guests, or a relaxing dinner with friends.
With tables spaced far enough apart to afford a little romance and privacy, and food that is to-die for (seriously, there was only one thing on the huge menu that I didn't want), what's not to love? We ordered a TON of food--definitely ask your server to show you the huge tray of cold appetizers before you do any ordering off the menu itself. And for gods sake, order the lamb. You will not be sorry.
A sextet of us dined at T & F on Saturday night at 7:30. Secured a reservation just an hour or so earlier, but it didn't appear it was entirely necessary, as the joint was about two-thirds full (or a third empty, if you're that kind of gal/guy).
Shortly after being seated and ordering our first bottle of wine (a decent variety begins at about $32), we spied one of the servers displaying a tray full of approximately two dozen small plates of cold appetizers -- Soguk Mezeler, the first item(s) on the menu. Ranging from $6-9, each individual dish was described swiftly but quite specifically by the server. We opted for three dishes of the dipping variety. In order of deliciousness (most to least), these were: Muhammara (spicy red pepper paste, walnuts, breadcrumbs); Lebni (thick cream of yogurt, walnuts, fresh dill); and a somewhat disappointing pureed fava bean dish. The bread portion of the dipping equation was very good.
We also got the Sigara Boregi (phyllo scrolls stuffed with Turkish feta), which are quite fittingly listed on the Hot Appetizers list. These things were tasty enough but nearly ruined the rest of the meal for two of us who immediately had our tongues and roofs blistered by the lava-like cheese. A warning might've been nice.
Several of us were enticed, intrigued and ultimately slightly underwhelmed by the Manti -- tender dumplings, stuffed with ground lamb, fresh mint in light garlic sauce. There was some suspicion at the table that we were simply suckered in by the word 'tender' in the description. The dumplings were unarguably tender, and though seemingly well conceived and executed, there just seemed to be something missing.
So with half of our crew going the tender route, the others partook in:
Icli Kofte (Cracked wheat patties, stuffed with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts and walnuts); a lamb special (cubes of lamb with bell pepper and pickled red cabbage and onion served in lavash -- think lamb stew served in a purse made of pita, or, perhaps more accurately, tortilla); and Hunkar Begendi (chunks of lamb, cooked in light tomato sauce, served over herb pureed baby eggplant), which the eater reports was "quite good but sauce on lamb was like a bbq sauce."
All in all, it was a perfectly enjoyable experience. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, the atmosphere was relaxed and charming and the food options were plentiful, generally flavorful and moderately priced. Definitely a solid option in the otherwise not so fertile Tribeca area.
My neighborhood Greek spot.
Reiterating what has been said so far: great place for a calm, quiet setting to enjoy drinks and sample the menu.
Never disappointed with the food or service.
Price is nice for Tribeca.
Why is Turks & Frogs Tribeca not perpetually crowded? This place is one of my low-key neighborhood favorites and everyone I've brought has loved it too. The food is really fresh--great, simple dishes. The definite standout dish is the zucchini pancakes, but I've yet to have a dish I didn't like. I generally order off the salads/appetizers menu to make a sort of Turkish tapas meal--the chickpea salad and the cucumber salad are both great (+ seemingly healthy). They also have a nice, well-priced wine list.
Another reason to love Turks & Frogs: the service here wonderful.
It's just a relaxed, pretty, place--very comfortable.
Normally when I eat here it's take out/delivery but either way, the food is great. Classic Greek but with a modern twist. Always a good go to when you're in the mood for something Mediterranean.
It's nice for a date or low key night with a friend - great for picking small plates and sharing an entree. Hummus is awesome.
Turks and Frogs is one of those NYC rarities where the ambience is uber-cozy and yet you're not bumping into a neighbor's elbow or having a waiter's butt shoved into your face (ahem, Bourgeois Pig). The Turkish staff is helpful and friendly, and I love that they serve the cold appetizers "Istanbul-style" - show you a tray full of all the delicious dips to choose from...because who doesn't love food show-and-tell? The Turkish wine the waiter suggested was great and reasonably priced ($40). Not the best Turkish food I've ever had, but pretty darn good and the ambience will definitely bring me back.
In what world do three cold falafel balls and a few wilted lettuce leaves constitute an acceptable $8.00 falafel order. This place is overpriced and treats corporate delivery customers (via SeamlessWeb) very poorly.
Great for drinks.
Romantic, off the beaten path. Quiet and cozy but still busy enough that you don't feel like you're in no-man's land.
[This is actually a 4.5 star rating]
Honestly I get nervous writing positive reviews for places like this, as it is one of the few cool, romantic places in the city for where I never have to worry about a crowd. Alas, it is my civic duty to spread the good word...
This place is fabulous. The wine list is very decent, and the food is quite tasty. I ordered the Chianti Classico (delicious) and of course I feel all meals (where available) should be ended with a port. Be aware, however, the menu is very lamb-heavy (a particular favorite of mine). The cold appetizers are very good as well. I recommend that you ask your server to match two or three for you to optimize their synergies.
The ambiance is very nice as well, and because Turks and Frogs is never crowed you have a plethora of seating options. My only takeaway from this place is that I thought it was just a little too dark. I'm a huge fan of being able to clearly see my food, and with the lighting that just wasn't possible.
Overall, the staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. A good place for a family, group, or a romantic date.
Arrghh... my secrets....
Good wine list, and very good zucchini pancakes. We had one of the cold appetizers (baby eggplant) and thought it was tasty. Lamb dumplings are awful, however. Smothered in creamy plain yogurt and oil, there is nothing delicate about this dish. It was like eating a bowl of yogurt sprinkled with dumplings rather than the other way around.
Good ambiance and not crowded on a Thursday. Good place to meet a friend and have a quiet, unhurried meal.
And oh yeah, very cute maitre d'.
It's a misnomer-
No frogs here, only princes
It's Turkish delight
Delicious, delicious, delicious!!!
I'm super-snobby, and I loved this place.
Have the chicken with yogurt. the salmon in grape leaves is also excellent.
had lunch here with coworker today. we started with the mixed plate appetizer with the hummus, smoked eggplant and piyaz (white beans mixed with tomatoes, olives and onions). all spreads paired nicely with the freshly baked bread.
i had the kofte (meatballs). the salad was dressed with a tart vinaigrette and the rice was bit over buttered. the kofte was a bit over salted. i still finished everything despite the kinks in seasoning.
the service was a bit inattentive as we closed the meal, but overall fair.
might go back for apps and light fare.
Middle Eastern restaurant that's always nearly empty for lunch, oddly. The decor is bland and uninteresting but serviceable and sparkly new.
The hummus is very good, as is the dipping sauce (tahini and honey, I believe). In addition, the lamb dishes - like the Tandir ("thinly sliced roasted lamb with fresh oregano served with traditional rice") are pretty amazing. Tender, juicy, oh so flavorful, and with vegetables and rice on the side. I've had hummus and tandir here a dozen times, at least, and I've never regretted it.
The place is a bit pricey, but not terrible. Lunches tend to be about $25 per person, although I think dinners are the same price. Lunch specials are 3 courses for $19.95 with a limited selection of apps and entrees and a small dessert and cup of tea or coffee.
Oh tandir, my tandir... hmm, I'm gettin' hungry.
delicious dinner at turks & frogs...the cornish hen was a delight (stuffed with pine nuts and spices and wild rice accompanied by a zucchini cake), though after stuffing myself with hummus, sigara boregi and cacik I was surprised I could still eat. didn't get to try dessert, although the rest of my party enjoyed rice pudding and baklava.
comfortable setting for a dinner party ;)
I tried the yogurt based cold appetizer which was different and I really enjoyed. For an entree, I ordered the lamb dumplings which were very good. The only problem was that the dumplings were covered with yogurt...having a yogurt based appetizer followed by an entree that is coated in yogurt can cause a yogurt overload. I would recommend either separately but not together. I also agree with all the raves about the Cornish hens. If you want a quieter atmosphere, come before 8:00, otherwise it gets a little loud. It's a great place for a leisurely dinner.
Love the Far West bar, but unfortunately, don't love the restaurant. The appetizers were good - particularly the cold appetizers - small and flavorful. Try the hummus, artichoke, and smokey eggplant salad. However, the main courses were lackluster - overly simple and unexciting and often tasteless. Despite the boring mains, the ambiance was decent and the waitstaff was attentive, friendly, and informative.
I have eaten here several times and never been disappointed. there are several delish eggplant appetizers and I love the mante (tiny dumplings). it's elegant but affordable, and usually not busy.
Very good, lots of room. The cold appetizer selection is good and the meats and mains has a wide variety of dishes and flavors and vegetarian options as well.
Turks & Frogs delivers with a lively atmosphere, memorable Mediterranean cuisine, and a nice variety of reasonably priced wines. There's a wide selection of Turkish spreads and savory fresh bread to start with. Your server will start off by coming by your table with samples of the different spreads, which is especially helpful if you're not familiar with Turkish food or can't remember the names of your favorite dips. A warning - the appetizers are so good it's easy to forget to pace yourself and wind up being unable to finish your entree. The crispy, cheese filled boreks are particularly tasty. For a main course, I'd recommend the stuffed Cornish game hen. I found myself surprised when the check finally arrived - the total was very reasonable - a lot less than I'd expected given the quality of the food and wine. My only gripe is that if the restaurant is full, it can get a bit loud for conversation. A slight complaint, though, given how much I enjoyed myself otherwise.
I am giving it 3 stars (not based entirely on quality of food) but on size of the entrees, service, ambience, price! and the fact thats its still relatively unknown and hidden away. i def recommend it to anyone who wants a nice, long dinner with wholesome, filling food that is tasty and affordable, and in a nice environment.
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