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Categories: Turkish, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
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Stopped in here on our Friday Date Night as we continue to explore our new neighborhood of North Center! The place was quite crowded, so we were led to a downstairs area that we didn't even know existed - we were the first table to be seated down there, but the area was full within another half hour. A very busy restaurant, to be sure!
We passed on drinks, so the first thing we tasted was the bread. Obviously fresh-baked, steam came pouring out when we cracked it up. It was truly amazing - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with such a delicious flavor of toasted sesame. We devoured nearly the entire basket, and today I'm wishing we had asked for more and heated it up in the oven for breakfast....
For our appetizers, we got the Mujver (zucchini pancakes) and the caprese pesto. The mujver were wonderful - also hot and crispy, with a wonderful flavor of all the vegetables within. They were great with the yogurt sauce that surrounded the plate. The caprese pesto - well, maybe it was our mistake for ordering it, but it wasn't very creative or special. It was much like a caprese salad you'd get anywhere else, though there was a sort of tomato-jam atop the cheese that was unique and probably the best part of the dish. Otherwise, unless you love caprese, save it for an Italian restaurant and try something more special here.
When our entrees arrived, we were nearly full from apps and bread, which is a shame because they were amazing. We got the Onion Kebap, which was huge pieces of well-seasoned lamb, pearl onions, roasted garlic, and pomegranate seeds covered in a deliciously rich sauce. We also had the Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragu - the gnocchi were like little heavenly pillows filled with cheese, but the meat....oh sweet lord. It reminded me of a real bolognese sauce, the way it was seasoned. The flavors of the meat were incredibly rich and absolutely succulent, the kind that you hate to swallow because it's so good. The presentation was lovely as well, throughout the whole meal.
Service was a bit slow, mainly because there seemed to be one waitress and one busboy in the whole restaurant. They almost had zero busboys after I scared him to death - he reached for the bread basket to take it away and I pounced on it like Gollum and the ring, murmuring something like "noooooI'MNOTDONE." He will not try to take my bread again.
This place was really just so cool. I've never seen such a unique menu before, and nearly everything we had was really special. A little off on the caprese, but I'm guessing it's just one of those "safe" dishes they have to thrown on the menu and we should've known better for ordering it. I'm sure we'll be back to try other dishes (and mostly to steal 40 baskets of bread)....
I have dated a couple of Turks in the past month so when I got hungry for lunch yesterday Heather suggested this place. (She's such a smart ass) Anyway, no wonder Turks are so yummy, they've been fed with this stuff their whole lives.
I was especially looking forward to the fresh baked bread they post signs about. They bake it there. It's amazing.
I ordered the creamy lentil soup. It's blended but doesn't have all that fattening cream in it so I still felt good about my choice. Warm and a tiny bit minty. Delicious.
Salada are big for the money, affordable lovely wine and so many wonderful plates to try. I will be back.
I hope to find me another Turk as well. ;)
People thought this was:
Our dinner here was sooooo good! Really, the food is very tasty, atmosphere is nice/comfortable, and the service was good.
The kabobs were seasoned and cooked to perfection... seriously. The bread and hummus was delish. Our group left here very full and very content.
The only thing that I found a little off was that the tables were a little too close together. I am all for being friendly but they are nearly at the point where you say why not just have one big communal table if we are going to sit that close? This is not that uncommon in the city and it didn't hinder from us being able to have a wonderful evening.
We will definitely go back and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place.
3.5 years had passed between my visits to Turquoise, but the things that I liked about the place seems to have remained intact. The restaurant is cozy, and we were lucky to snag the final table at 7:30 on a Wednesday. A note about the menu: one side seems to feature Western fare like filet mignon and ossobuco, while the other side has more traditional Mediterranean dishes. If you've made the decision to come here, I strongly suggest that you try something on the latter side.
To start, we ordered the hummus platter and the zucchini cakes. The hummus was delicious, especially with the warm bread. Zucchini cakes were also tasty and I could not get enough of that yogurt sauce. For my main course, I ordered the imam bayildi -- literally translated as "priest fainted." My Turkish friend told me that legend has it that this dish was so good that the imam fainted when he tasted it. I definitely enjoyed the stuffed baby eggplants, but managed to stay conscious. The rice pilaf was a little bland, but I soaked it in the juices from the dish to add some flavor. This would be a good choice for those looking for a vegetarian meal.
We waited an abnormally long time for our food to come out. Remember how we snagged the last available table at 7:30? Our food did not come out until we were one of maybe four tables still occupied. We asked our server about it, and the food came out maybe 5 to 10 minutes after that. We received these little almond cakes (it was really a cross between a cookie and a cake -- too moist to be a cookie, but not quite cake-like either...) on the house at the end of our meal, ostensibly as an apology for the delay. They were just the right amount of sweet to end the meal.
I tried this place a week ago. We were meeting some friends (from France) for lunch and we decided to give it a shot. We were there on a Sunday for brunch.
First, we were welcomed with glasses of champagne and a big smile. They accommodated 4 adults, 2 toddlers and 1 baby with no problem.
Food was extraordinarily good. The buffet was small, but had awesome dishes. Fruit, Mediterraenan food, cheeses, some cold cuts, some little rolls of feta cheese and grape leaves. Some guy making omelettes with whatever you wanted. I had spinach, feta cheese and some spicy sausage. Yum! Coffee was really good too. They kept it coming --and the champagne!-- until we said stop. Baklava was delicious.
I love the fact that they never rushed us out --they brought the check until we actually asked for it. This was such a pleasant surprise. And again, service was impeccable.
I walked there, so I had no parking issues. Very clean, very friendly. This is one of my favorite places in Roscoe Village now.
This will be quick:
Came here on Friday to meet some friends at 3pm. Had the lentil soup and split an order of
LAHMACUN $ 4.00
Seasoned ground beef and seasoned vegetables, homemade fresh dough, parsley leaves and lemon wedges .
SOOOOOO good. The fresh baked bread was just a little bit of heaven.
Will come back for dinner and/or lunch.
People thought this was:
This joint was a random walk-in when the place across the street was closed (what's up with mondays being closed restaurant day?). We got a table outside on a very pleasant summer evening, so that was great.
The service was painfully slow, although it was a bit busy and they were understaffed. I'm not sure if they always do this, but they brought us complimentary flan that was delicious - maybe as an apology? but i'm not sure if that's the case.
I got the Endive salad to start - along with tons of that good bread - and it was a good summer evening starter. Just the right amount of mustard-flavor in the dressing and not overloaded with cheese.
the wine selection seemed extensive with some decently priced glasses in the $6 range, which I thought was reasonable. I opted for a Stella, though.
For my entree (which the waitress did not even realize we were ordering...for some reason...which prolonged the whole experience even more) I went with the risotto presidente (or some such name) - basically seafood rissoto. Large portions, fresh tasting shrimp and scallops left me satisfied. I had plenty of leftovers too. Sarah had the salmon gnocci, and I tasted it - the sauce was a bit strong for me. So I'm glad I didn't order that, although I didn't taste the fish.
So, while the food was excellent, the bill was a bit high - not that ou shouldn't expect to pay a bit more for quality food, I just was taken aback - and the service was really really slow, and not necessarily friendly or saavy. regardless, I would probably go again.
People thought this was:
WOW.
Came here just post brunch hours and I was majorly impressed...
The outdoor seating is nice but with out a recommendation I may not have stopped in... But I am most def. glad that I did.
First off Like most people have been saying.. the bread is just great! they had a dipping sauce with carrots and that was super good.
I got the Seared salmon with calamari cous cous and curry.. the cous cous and calamari was perfect the salmon was good as well but we all agreed that we could have had gone with out it and have been just as happy with the dish.
We started with the mussels and they were perfect. The sauce underneath was AMAZING! ...
The waitress was very pleasant and remembered what my dining partners had last time they were there... how nice is that... she def. made sure we were well taken care of. I will def. be back.
People thought this was:
This place is really great. The bread and dip they give you is AMAZING. I've had a few of the apps (eggplant and another veggie one, I was with some non-meat eaters) and they were fantastic...hope to try some more soon.
I've had the lemon chicken (really good, but be warned, it is heavily flavord...still awesome though), the seafood ravioli (very good) and the escalar. Oh my god the escalar is amazing. It tasted like steak. Steak fish. So meaty and mmmmmmmmmmmmm. I don't usually like fish that much!
It's a cute place, but they get pretty crowded on weekends, and the tables are a bit small. Don't opt for the basement seating that they say is "lovely" to try to cram more people in, in kinda wierd down there. And it is pricey, but not too bad. Good place to take your parents!
I am not sure why, but even though I live around the corner from this place, I haven't been super eager to come eat here. How foolish I have been.
My dish was very good but my man's dish was seriously hot stuff. He got the yogurt kebab and it was truly fantastic. I have had yogurt and lamb dishes at other restaurants, but this was outstanding. It is served with a super spicy pepper on top that you can choose to cut up and eat a little bit with each bite of lamb. This one little added affect made this delicious yogurty, juicy piece of lamb even more delectable.
In addition to the two dishes we ordered, the menu at this place looks fantastic and worth going back to explore. There were many items I wanted to try and had to do some serious contemplating to narrow it down. But I anticipate that I will go back to explore the menu further and be lured to order that ridiculously delicious yogurt kebab again. So be it.
People thought this was:
mmm. I'm tempted to write just that and be done with this review. Where to start?
$20 bottles of wine
*bread and dip that comes with it (I tried sooo hard not to fill up on it)
eggplant dip
veggie platter w/ hummus
lamb yogurt kebab
All amazing! I can't wait to go back!
Usually I don't think of myself as a fan mediterrean type cuisine but Turquoise, which serves Turkish food is really good. The bread is fresh baked and plentiful and comes with a carrot/olive oil/ garlic/yogurt dip. It was delicious. For my meal I order the Ossobucco short ribs. The meat was tender and juicy and was served over polenta. There was also fresh asparagus and cook carrots on the side.
My boyfriend had the veal rigatoni. I tried his and it was also really good. Everything was just fresh tasting. The service was slightly slow for my boyfriend's taste but it didn't bother me. The waitress came around enough to make sure we didn't need anything.
THIS PLACE SUCKS BIG TIME!!!!!!! DO NOT EAT HERE!!!!!!
just wanna make sure I get a seat next time I eat here. this place is so fantastic that i want it to be my own special place. yeah, i'm selfish like that sometimes for extra great places.
People thought this was:
I love this place!!! i have to go back here! I had the turkish equivalent of baba ghanoush.. to die for.. I'm drooling as I type this. Delicious bread and chicken. I am going back there this week for sure.
This is not your late night drunken European greasy Doner-kebap Turkish food. It's amazing even stone-cold sober.
The lahmacun (flat bread with ground beef and yummy spices) was perfectly seasoned and the Su Boregi (Turkish lasagna?) wasn't soggy or over-cooked like some of the Greek versions of layered pasta. While you may be momentarily dismayed that the sandwiches come with 'potatoes' instead of fries (as I often am when I encounter the dreaded tatertot substitution) don't despair. The potatoes are salty and crispy and you will not be sad. The pickles are also, strangely, amazing. I mean, I've had good pickles and bad pickles, but most pickles don't merit the three brain cells needed to think about them. But, um, these were really good. Must find Turkish pickles and start an import business. I can't concentrate anymore. Pickles.
People thought this was:
Best eats I've had (so far...) in Roscoe Village. This is the best Turkish food I've had. Granted, I haven't been to Turkey or eaten at any other Turkish restaurants (Mediterranean, yes, but Turkish - no). If this is Turkish food, take me to Turkey on a one-way ticket.
I've eaten here maybe four times with my girlfriend and we always enjoy the free Turkish bread, dipping sauce and the Turkish pizza appetizer. The Turkish pizza is big enough to share as an entree, practically... The only worry you should have about coming here is that maybe you will be full from delicious bread by the time you entree arrives. Entrees include kabob/kefta style meat and hummus, pasta, seafood and more. Can't beat it, there is something for everyone here!
Oh did I mention they have buffet lunch?!?
An obvious neighborhood fav...by the time we rolled out at 7pm (we were dining early bird style) almost every table was occupied. On a Wednesday evening...
Turquoise has been on my list for many years...yet I never had the push to make it in until last night. Luckily at the suggestion of a colleague, we ended up here for a cozy respite from the winter chill...
Appetizer: Caprese. Healthy portions, fresh...well presented. Beautiful plate.
Bread and sauce I can only imagine had beets in it due to the color: However, it did not taste like beets and was quite delicious. Warm, fluffy bread. Mmmm.
Glass of pinot noir (California) recommend by the server: smoooooth.
My only glitch of the evening was my entree: Chicken Gorgonzola. By the description I was ready for something quite fresh and lovely. What I got was 3 strips (a good portion) of semi-breaded chicken SMOTHERED in gorgonzola cream sauce, covered with mushy tomatoes. It looked like soup! It was just too heavy, and was not what I had expected. Messy, gloppy sad dish.
However, I do think my friends dish looked quite spunky (Turkish Delight), and the fliet that arrived to the table next to me caused me to salivate as I looked mournfully at my swampy cheese chicken. So, there are fabulous dishes to be had, most definitely.
Coffee and a complimentary honey cake (small, but perfect) ended the meal...and obviously, my only regret was the errant entree that made its way to my table. Yes, I know I ordered it :)
I'd be back for brunch...absolutely. I hear it's quite stellar, and I'm going to give it another chance.
People thought this was:
Thanks Isaac for reminding mommy of this place! :)
We had the following:
1)Adana Kebap-so good
2)Stuffed Gnocchi- I liked it the boys not so much
3)Lahmacun-the boys loved this one!
We def. liked this place:)
People thought this was:
After reading BladerunrAA T's review we finally decided to give this place a try. It had been personally recommended to me, but some of the earlier reviews spooked me. We went there at 10:00 pm on a Friday night.
First good impression; a list of five $20 bottles of wine. The one we had was quite acceptable. A second good impression is the spicy red cole slaw that is complementary. The third good (no, let me say GREAT) impression is their home-baked bread they serve. Fourth good impression is the appetizer we chose- Patlican Salatasi, a very tasty Eggplant based dish. Could have used a couple more zucchini slices to use for scooping it up.
My wife ordered the Onion Kebap which was tasty, but could have used more lamb in it. The highlight of the entree's was definitely the Rack of Lamb. One of the best racks in recent memory, but not the best ever.
The ambiance is friendly and cozy, but very loud, especially if crowded. Service was attentive and helpful with suggestions.
We will definitely return.
People thought this was:
We have lived in Roscoe Village for several years now, and we love this place. It is one of our favorite go to restaurants. One bite of the fresh baked bread with dip and you'll see why! The portion size and $20 bottles of wine make this place a really good value. The owner is very friendly and has given us dessert and once even shots on the house!
Sometimes it can be really crowded and a few times the speed of services has been spotty... but overall, we LOVE this place and will keep coming back.
People thought this was:
My wife and I have visited Turquoise twice for dinner...we went fairly early on both occasions, and therefore the restaurant wasn't very busy. On the first visit, we sat outside and enjoyed people-watching on Roscoe. For our second visit, we sat indoors in the comfortable dining room.
Being big fans of mediterranean cuisine (and particularly Greek food), my wife and I both enjoy restaurants that offer very fresh ingredients in traditional dishes, and I beleve Turquoise readily fits the bill. From the yummy cream soups, to the terrific mediterranean style salads, to the generous Turkish entrees, this restaurant will satisfy those looking for something unique in their Roscoe Village dining experience.
A couple aspects of the menu I'd recommend as being particularly good:
1) The salads are large enough that I'd recommend sharing them between two people; or, consider a salad instead of an entree. They are very flavorful, and constructed of an abundance of high-quality fresh vegetables.
2) The portion size of the rack of lamb is gigantic for the price, and the meat itself was cooked to perfect temperature...it was unbelievably tasty and rewardingly tender, with terrific seasoning. The vegetable pairings were, again, very fresh and delicious. I would have to rate this dish a perfect 5 of 5...which is almost unheard of in my rating system. This was, flat out, the best lamb dinner I've had outside of Greece...better than anywhere in Greektown (and I LOVE Greektown). Throughout the meal, I kept commenting to my wife on the outstanding value of this dish (at around $24)...the number and flavor of the chops could certainly warrant doubly-high prices at other restaurants in my opinion.
I noticed a lot of negative comments on service at Turquoise. Since we went when the restaurant was relatively empty, our service was what I would call unremarkable (not terrific, but not bad). To be fair, I do in fact remember that the first time we went the 'manager'-type guy that is referred to in many reviews below waited on us...he was a little slow, but not terribly so. This type of laid-back (read: slow) service is common in Greece, where dinner is taken to be an event, rather than popping in and out, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is common of mediterranean restaurants in general. That being said, it doesn't really translate well to the quicker American style of dining, and so I can certainly understand the frustration of other reviewers.
I believe Turquoise offers very good value, and I strongly disagree with a couple of the reviewers who commented that the restaurant is 'a bit pricey'...I mean, seriously, I had the most expensive entree on the menu (the rack of lamb at $24) and it was absolutely gigantic. The salads are priced typically for most restaurants in this dining range, and yet are larger and more flavorful in my opinion. Most of the entrees are in the $15 to $19 range, so it beats me why folks are complaining...my wife and I dine out regularly, and I don't know of many restaurants that offer comparable value. It would be a different story if the offerings were proportionally small, but this simply isn't the case.
Overall, based on two trips, I think this is a terrific restaurant and we will certainly come back again. I would highly recommend Turquoise to people seeking mediterranean style fare in Roscoe Village.
People thought this was:
I didn't really have the greatest experience here at Turquoise, but maybe I was just expecting more for the price. The chicken kabob was delicious, but it was like only 4 or 5 chunks of chicken for the price of a full meal. The bread was okay, but I was expecting something spectacular from the way everyone else was talking about it. The wait was also very long for us to finally get our food, and it just didn't seem like a very friendly place. This is not the place that pops into my mind when I want to get some middle eastern food, I prefer other places farther from Roscoe.
My expectations were too high, and therefore I was disappointed in Turquoise. My wallet was also much lighter.
Excellent food, wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented. Creative, extensive menu. Inexpensive. Charming host, but service is slow. Ambience, both inside and on outdoor patio, makes wait pass quickly. Even the background classical music is suitable and quite pleasant. My favorite place to dine when off the beaten path in lovely, quaint Roscoe Village. Great for Sunday brunch and each and every day for lunch and dinner.
I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant on Wednesday! Although I have lived in RV for almost 3 years, I have been reluctant to try Turquoise because I was worried about the prices. Come to find out, they have some AMAZING lunch deals that are not only affordable, but extremely appetizing! I had the steak kabobs which were fantastic! The steak was mouthwatering tender and delicious, accompanied by a yogurt sauce, rice, and a veggie slaw. My only complaints would be that the staff was not very engaging, although very friendly and attentive. I would have liked to learn more about the food and possible suggestions from the staff. Also, they start you off with some delicious freshly baked bread, but serve it with some sort of orange dipping stuff that wasn't given an explanation. It tasted OK, kind of tangy, but I would have LOVED to know what I was eating! All in all, this is a little gem of a restaurant located in Roscoe Village, and they now have a new customer!!
3.5 Stars.
We went to Turquoise as a family last night and had great meal. We started with two appetizers, the Lahmagun & the grilled calamari with potato. Both were delicious. The lahmagun was appropriately spicy, just the way I like it, and the calamari was like any other grilled calamari dish or grilled octopus but the potatoes were Delicious.
I had the Duck with Lentils, excellent preparation on the duck, the sauce was great and priced well at $16.95 for a duck entree. My father and Brother #1 had the Grouper - it was served grilled with spinach, I had a bite from their entree and the fish was delicate, fresh and very tasty.
Fried eggplant
Brother #1's girlfriend had Arugula salad with wine soaked poached pears and toasted walnuts and pomegranate molasses. And Brother #2 had the Iskender - lamb doner & ground lamb kofte kabob with yogurt on garlic bread. He loved his entree, I found it to be a bit too meat heavy for me but I'm more of a fish and foul gal.
Then the chef prepared a dessert medley that was wonderful.
Poached Quince with creme fraishe, Baklava, Kazan dibi - thick pudding with a burned bottom and another pudding or custard served on a spoon.
Everything was very tasty, the pricing was right on. The ambiance is adequate for a neighborhood restaurant. However, I have noticed people commenting on the service, I didn't have a bad experience but we went on a Sunday night. The room was crowded for a Sunday night dinner, I must add.
People thought this was:
I didn't like our waiter ... he was condescending in telling me what to order. There is a line between recommending and pretty much refuse taking the order unless I order what he suggested. I was with a group of friends so couldn't make a big deal out of it at the time. I still had a great time because of the group I was with but I'm not going back there any time soon.
Took a friend here for her birthday. LOVED IT! Our waitress was so kind and friendly. She was helpful is selecting our meal. We went on a Monday night and they had a pre fixed menue for $20.00. Great deal! Choice of soup or salad, appetizer, dinner and dessert. The fancy martinis were fun. I had a Pink Lady thingy. They were all yummy!
As we were leaving the people at the next table were just being served. I really wish I had ordered what they had because it smelled wonderful. Found out it was the seafood stew. Must remember to order that next time.
People thought this was:
As much as I hate to do this, it seems inevitable.
I just came back from a very distressing dinner at Turquoise.
Having had a handful of very enjoyable meals at Turquoise in the past, I brought a friend for a laidback midweek dinner date.
The bread was fluffy and warm, the hummus smooth and mellow, the entrees generous and tasty. The hostess accomodated our request for a table in the back, the server made an excellent recommedation for wine, and the mood was convivial and relaxed.
Then, about 3/4 through the dinner -- I shit you not - - A BUG CRAWLED OUT OF MY FRIENDS'S FOOD. This insect was winged, alive, and fucking disgusting!
The waiter comped the meal, which was appreciated, but had I been the one to make that decision I would have comped her entire meal, appetizer, wine, etc.
Unfortunately, this is the end of my relationship with Turquoise for reasons I feel by now are obvious.
Buyer beware!
People thought this was:
One of my absolute favorite restaurants to take people to. I've been here maybe a dozen times after a chef friend of mine told me this was one of his favorite restaurants.
The bread and dip that comes out piping hot as you sit down is the best. I can easily eat this as a meal, and often eat so much that I can barely eat the real food. The appetizer Lamagun (i think) is a pizza like dish with sauteed ground lamb that you eat on flatbread with onions and parsley with a splash of lemon. Again, I can eat this as a meal in itself. It's seasoned so perfectly and is the right combinations of spice, tang, sweet, and saltiness. I order it every time I come here and no one has said a bad thing about it. I've tried other appetizers, but get the Lamagun and the complimentary bread (i always ask for more to eat with my meal) and you're good til the meal comes out.
Entrees that I've tried that are always good: Onion Kebab (order it was rice or else it's too flavorful by itself), Filet Mignon, Leg of Lamb, and Beef Kebab. Everything is always seasoned perfectly and the meat is always tender. In my opinion, the meat here is better than most expensive steakhouses.
Everytime but once when we actually ordered dessert, they have sent out complimentary chocolate cake to us, not quite sure why- no complaints! It's a great way to end a meal.
Food- The best
Price- Decently priced
Ambiance- Great, dim and cozy
Service- great
Don't forget to go to http://restaurant.com for a $25 certificate!
People thought this was:
went here for a late dinner on labor day. the restaurant itself has a nice feel. got there just after nine and they close at ten so we ordered quick. the bread took a bit to get out and i was anxious because i had read that it was good. it came out warm and freshly baked, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, so i was pleased.
had lahmacun and pretty standard hummus for an appetizer. the lahmacun was different and good. like a turkish pizza of sorts. they chef made a small eggplant salad dish for us as well as some extra hummus which was a nice touch.
we ate family style - beef kebap, onion kebap, yogurt kebap, gnocchi braised oxtail ragu, seafood risotto and imam bayildi. the beef and yogurt kebaps were good, not great and i was expecting more from the yogurt kebap after reading previous reviews. the gnocchi was good but a little salty and my portion of onion kebap was almost like licking a pile of salt. maybe in their rush, it didn't get mixed well cuz everyone else seemed to think it was fine. the seafood risotto and imam bayildi were probably my favorite dishes.
overall, good but not great, an extra half star for the bread and the nice space.
Like a couple of others, I too had been a part of the fantastic fez dinner last Friday, and if it weren't for the company, I would not have had as pleasant a memory of Turquoise as I do.
My dish was pretty good: the braised lamb shank being very tender in a bit of broth with assorted vegetables, a very clean-dish and satisfying, but I agree with John B., not the type of flavor I expected for this type of cuisine. Just mild. The vegetables in the preparation, I thought, were also unexpected and strange for this type of dish: baby bok choy and brussels sprouts? I still enjoyed them as I love those veggies, but strange nonetheless.
The bread (probably the best thing about the experience other than the company) was made fresh and truly delicious. I could have eaten that all night for my meal.
As far as service goes, I seem to remember every so often I would lean back in my chair and nearly be blinded by the dishes that were being brought in or cleared right past my head. I suppose with 6 people, servicing the table MAY be tricky (although a simple "Pardon me," helps tremendously), but I didn't feel that we were so tightly squeezed that service would have spacial issues. It just so happened that they didn't seem to care about personal space, and eyeballs or other body parts be damned while they were moving in and out.
I understand, when a party of 12 becomes 6, that a server may be disappointed in the prospect of losing out on additional revenue, but wouldn't that be more incentive to work the table you've got? And while we felt like we were being rushed out, when we finally had the bill ready to go, Daniel T. held it up in the air long enough to get a cramp in his arm before the server took it up. Do you want us in or out?
The worst disappointment, I think, was Chaviva being told there were no specialty coffees, being served regular coffee, and then finding out later on the dessert menu that they did, indeed, have specialty coffee. If someone asked specifically about it, why would you tell her all you had was regular coffee? Not to mention the fact that I don't think her coffee was ever refilled, and I got a refill myself after about 45 minutes. Perhaps they are still unaware of the magnitude of Yelp!
Over all, I had a fantastic time with friends, and I think Daniel T. enjoyed his meal very much, so that counts greatly in the brotherhood of the fez. I'm just not certain I'd be rushing back to Turquoise any time soon. My eye balls are way too important.
People thought this was:
One of my favorite summertime activities is rolling down Roscoe Street and getting brunch. I love laughing at the chumps standing in line at KITSCH'N, ORANGE, and VICTORY'S BANNER on my way to TURQUOISE CAFE.
Don't get me wrong. There are Sundays when I don't mind waiting an hour or more for the opportunity to sit in a restaurant crammed full of crying babies. But some Sundays I am so badly hungover that I just need sustenance. And the Sunday brunch at TURQUOISE is just what the doctor ordered for that difficult day-after.
The brunch isn't cheap - it's somewhere around 13-15 dollars. HOWEVER, for that price you get a glass of bubbly and SEVERAL delicious platters of food.
The food is brought out family style. First comes the champagne, then a delicious fresh-baked bread basket with butter and honey. Then the barrage begins: salad, two egg dishes, crepes, spinach pie, and a plate of fruit. Everything tastes amazing. I usually stick to a vegetarian diet, but TURQUOISE is my special indulgence: one of the dishes is eggs over hard sprinkled with paprika and served with sliced red sausage. Since it's part of the buffet and I don't like food to go to waste, I make the sacrifice.
The sausage is fucking amazing.
I have been here for dinner a couple times as well and it is also excellent.
Complaints: they bring everything out all at once, and it's so much food that inevitably something gets cold before you can try it. Patrons can't seem to figure out how to close the front door, so if you're sitting by the door during cold weather, expect to get up and latch the door unless a waitron passes by. Sometimes they end the brunch early, and so I weep and beat my chest and then retreat sheepishly down Roscoe, returning to the hordes that I was mocking moments ago.
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*Scroll down and read Stephanie S's review*
I'm the one who was enjoying her dinner when a black bug crawled out of my stuffed eggplant.
It crawled across my plate and died somewhere on the middle of our table. I really liked this place up until that point.
My family has owned and operated a restaurant for the last 20+ years, so I understand that bugs are inevitable and I probably would not be writing this review had the Manager taken care of our check. Instead, he charged us for everything except my entree and the bug.
I will never go back. In fact, I would really like to erase my entire memory of Turquoise Cafe and having ate two stuffed halves of an eggplant before a black bug crawled out of the third one. If you know of someone that makes a pill for select memory loss, please contact me. I'm willing to take something not approved by the FDA.
People thought this was:
If you are needing a quick lunch, don't go here. However if you have some time to leisurely enjoy a warm day, some good deep conversation, very good food and lovely company, meander over here.
I got to try this place with the lovely Xtie G. We had some time and some serious conversation to dish out and I suggested this place. I had a little drool factor going on and she was all for trying it. I will start off, the service is slow. Don't fool yourself. However it was fine by us, I think there was only one server for several tables and a large group of soccer fans in the back. I got there first and decided to chance the stormy clouds and sit outside. As I looked over the interesting menu, full of Turkish/Middle Eastern delights and Italian, I wished I could peruse a selection from the wine list... but alas..darn evening clients.
Xtie strolled up to the table, we sat down and took a mere few minutes to decide our meals. They started us off with some warm and tasty bread, (think soft, crispy, chewy), and a dish that resembled tzatziki sauce except with red cabbage instead of cucumbers and it still was quite good. We also went with the zucchini patties, fried into tender, crispy, brown patties, they were filled with zucchini, carrots, and I think potatoes. Served with a yogurt sauce the dish was quite delish. Then my gnocchi came out in the vodka, basil, tomato cream sauce and hers was the frittata that came with a size able side salad. My potato pillows were a little heavy, but not too heavy enough for me to almost finish the entire bowl. The frittata was crispy and savory goodness.
After our good long conversation, we got the bill. Honestly, for what we got, I was pleasantly surprised at the smallness of our bill. Very, very reasonable. I know the service will be slow, but I will be back, perhaps to enjoy the lovely outdoor seating, the tip top tasty food and some lovely company. Perhaps this time I can also enjoy a little wine too...
People thought this was:
Great date spot. My date happens to be Turkish making it that much more fun! We ordered three appetizers to share. The smoked eggplant, groundbeef 'pizza', and the wasabi scallops. The scallops were incredible-I haven't eaten scallops cooked that well in a long time. I also have a very inexpensive chenin blanc. They also have Effes of course. We had to wait only a short bit for a table outdoors, but the spot was very comfortable with a great atmosphere.
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I'd come here way more often if I lived closer, but I still make the trip every once in awhile because it's very good. One of my favorite things on the menu is the "smoked salmon carpaccio," which isn't really accurately described on the menu but it was soo good. It was basically an arugula salad with smoked salmon, capers, and a poached egg on top. The onion kebap is another favorite - lamb with carmelized shallots in a sweet pomegranate sauce. Yum. The prices are pretty reasonable I think (especially for the large portions). I can't wait to go back when it gets warm and sit outside!
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i've been to turquoise twice now.. and both times i had lamb kebaps.. last week i tried the yogurt lamb kebap and it was amazing! the bread is amazing... the wait staff is not rude, but to the point.. we'll say..
I had the pleasure of honoring the great and holy FEZ at Turquoise Cafe yester-evening, and I have to say that if the company hadn't of been as wonderful as it was, I probably would have dwelled more on the poor service and the not-that-fantastic food.
Now, don't get me wrong. It was a good meal. I ordered the Chicken Kabap, which I had assumed would be chicken on a skewer but when it arrived merely looked like it was on a skewer but was actually just laying on the plate in a misleading pattern. There was a weird bean side and some rice, as well as a delicious yogurt sauce. The chicken was well cooked and paired with the sauce was delicious. The bean side was sort of strange, having a sort of cheesy flavor. I'd hoped that there would be some type of special Turkish coffee, but the guy insisted that there was only regular coffee, so that's what I had with my meal. Also, for an appetizer we got the Caprese, which featured exotic buffalo's milk mozzarella as well as some other adornments (tomatoes, green olives, and some indiscernible sauce), and though I was hoping to be totally jazzed, the cheese merely had a sort of bland, dry taste.
The waiter was incredibly impatient with us, since we'd had reservations for 12 but only six had shown up. He seemed in a horrible rush to get us out, and he wasn't very patient or attentive.
The company, though, and the power of the fez allowed the evening to be outstanding. So, I'm going to have to give Turquoise three stars for now, and perhaps I'll go back and try out some of their desserts and hope for a better, more pleasant server.
Until then ... praise be to the fez!
People thought this was:
Good food, not as authentic as I would like but pretty close. A bit pricey with the servers trying to slide as many things as they can onto your check.
People thought this was:
What a cute little neighborhood gem! Kudos to Rob L. for picking the place otherwise it probably would've remained totally off my radar.
I'm not a huge fan of al-fresco dining on the street (au de bus-fumes doesn't make a good accompaniment to many things) but luckily Roscoe is more like a side-street - not terribly busy. The sidewalk cafe set-up is well thought-out and lovely...lots of hanging plants, well-arranged and spacious. Only went inside briefly but it has the cozy-little-bistro vibe with a nice small bar.
The food is great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mediterranean cuisine from all this ocean's coastal countries and Turquoise successfully incorporates the best of them: Greek, Turkish, Italian. Lots of fresh, healthy ingredients well-concocted into delicious dishes. I see this place filling the gaping niche in my world for Mediterranean food.
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Lots of Great Specials
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
$20 gift card with $100 gift…
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Turkish
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Italian
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