Bistro Turkuaz
1114 34th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122
Bistro Turkuaz Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Seattle for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1114 34th Ave
Seattle, WA, 98122 - Phone (206) 324-3039
- Website https://www.bistroturkuaz.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual, Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jennifer D.
Really good food. Although I haven't tried any real Turkish food before, the owner was kind enough to walk us through their dishes and have a pleasant conversation with us. We had gone there for the manti, a type of dumpling filled with cheese but sadly the chef who makes it was out of town. The other food we ordered was delicious and we had such a great time there. With such a wonderful experience and missing out on the manti, I am definitely going to come back.
(5)Preet S.
Absolutely loved the lamb plate!! Staff was extremely friendly and made sure we were taken care of even as they were in the middle of preparing a large order.
(5)Daj O.
Coming here is like coming to a good friends house whose a great cook. Wonderful food, wonderful wait staff-you'll have a wonderful experience. Come and enjoy.
(5)Kyrstin S.
Went here yesterday with my boyfriend for a date night and it was amazing! The service was exceptional, it was our first time at a Turkish restaurant and the server was patient and willing to describe everything on the menu. And she recommended an amazing bottle of wine as well. The food was also amazing, I had the Balik and my boyfriend had the Turkuaz Special and we both thought it tasted great. We will definitely be going back, and I recommend definitely trying this place out!
(5)Natalie G.
Overpriced, poor ambience, disappointing food. Went looking forward too a good Mediterranean dinner left feeling very disappointed. I ordered what was described on the menu as a casserole that ended up being a soup. The chicken was dry and flavor bland, rice tasted old, the only good thing on the plate was the salad. I couldn't even finish half of it. My husband got the ravioli, for about $15 it had five ravioli?? He said it tasted ok, but for that price it should have been amazing and a bigger portion. We will not be back, go to Petra for really amazing food.
(1)Maki S.
My boyfriend has been talking about this restaurant for years, and last week he finally told me. The waitress is so friendly and her presence is calming. The service was fast. I tried Turkish tea for the first time (would recommend). The food is delicious, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. If you're into eavesdropping, this place is great for that as well!
(4)Phil C.
Treat yourself and start things off with an order of flavor-popping tabouli. Treat yourself some more and splurge for the perfectly cooked and seasoned pirzola (lamb chops). Treat yourself a final time with some crisp, delicious baklava. You could really order anything here and be more than pleased, and the service quickly reminds you of professionalism and sincerity.
(5)Jerrica K.
This restaurant is a beautiful, little gem! Although small, it is very quaint and you feel transported to a foreign country. The service was extremely friendly and genuine. The dinner was amazing! It felt like a home-cooked meal by "mom"...which if she were my mom, I would probably get really fat from all the amazing food. The flavors and spices were warm, rich and absolutely delicious! A must try is the Turkish coffee- dark, rich with sweet notes. It will certainly keep you on your toes. I also had the marinated tiger shrimp and had no complaints on how perfect the shrimp were cooked. My boyfriend tried the meat patties and loved it too. Definitely looking forward to going back to try more!
(5)Catherine L.
On a recent evening when the temperature outside hovered around 30 degrees, we stopped in at Bistro Turkuaz for dinner. Instead of finding a warm and welcoming space, we found ourselves in a room so cold that we asked for the heat be turned up, only to be told that it already was on at maximum and that, because the building was old, the heater was inefficient. So cold was it that we and everyone else in the place ate dinner in our coats. What kind of hospitality is it when your guests are required to shiver through the meal? The space is tiny, a couple of space heaters could have provided enough heat for comfort. I wish I could say that the food made up for it, but that was not the case. The somewhat high prices were not justified by the quantity, the quality or the skill of preparation of the food. Cold dishes arrived ice-cold and the hot ones were tepid by the time they made it to the table, a hazard of serving hot food on gelid dinnerware. The portions were small and the freshness of the ingredients and dishes was questionable.
(1)gray a.
Really delicious chicken kebabs, but for $20, I expected a little more food. It was about the size of a large appetizer. And the $9 dolmas are also delicious, but each one is small, and you only get 3. So, delicious, but you don't get a lot for your money.
(3)Medina V.
I was driving around Leschi and Madrona looking for a place to eat since my girlfriend and I moved to Seattle not too long ago. We saw this cute little restaurant. We didn't have to make a reservation or wait for a table, the server (I believe the owner)offered us the table right away. She recommended the turkish red wine we both loved it. Then we started with babaganush and the pancar babaganush was my favorite,not so much garlic or lemon juice in it and warm pita came on the side. Pancar was just amazing the combination is just brilliant. I just loved how they design the plate. My girlfriend had the Manti she loved it and I had the Turkuaz Special. They were both amazing. The chef is doing a great job, very nice young man. We loved this place very cozy and great service we will definitely be back soon...
(5)Hana P.
WOW! I was just driving around Leschi and Madrona looking for a place to eat, then I thought to check Yelp for a place nearby. Bistro Turkuaz was one of the first results so I immediately headed their way. First, the atmosphere of the restaurant is lovely, dim lighting and cute glassy babys on each table. I ordered the Chicken Kebab with a side of tabouli. Chicken was tender and very flavorful. My dinner mate had the Lamb Shank, which was probably the most delicious dish I have had in a while. It was like a comforting stew with the lamb falling off the bone, I truly recommend it. We finished with the rice pudding which was creamy and topped with chopped walnuts! A perfect finish to our meal. Service was a bit slow but the food was prepared with lots of love and care and all of the wonderful flavors made up for it. Also, the prices were on the expensive side, but the portions were large and plentiful! Thanks Yelp for helping me find this place, my favorite new find!
(5)Lisa B.
Something different in Seattle! I was missing middle eastern food and this hit the spot. Very nice hummus, manti, and baklava. Attentive service, cozy space (only 9 or so tables, so make a reservation if it's Friday or Saturday night). My only complaint was that the restaurant was a little chilly... would have been a perfect experience if they'd just turn up the heat a little on these chilly January nights!
(4)Angela R.
One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle! The owner is great- Her homemade raviolis are to dye for-
(5)Angela B.
5 stars based on the taste and quality of the food!! I had the ravioli and my meal was sumptuous and melt in your mouth delicious. But only 1 star for the amount of food they give you. I think there were about 9 very small raviolis on my plate, which I consumed in about 5 seconds flat. And that was it. No rice or salad or veggies or sides. For a meal that costs $17 I would have expected more. My dinner companion had the lamb kebab $19. Again same thing. Chunk of meat (which he thoroughly enjoyed!) and he did get some rice, but only able 4 tablespoons worth. Service was great. Everyone in the restaurant was friendly and talkative. The bathroom is just one unisex bathroom and there seemed to be a line for it all night long. Loads of great photos on the wall and the ambiance is very nice. Has a nice "Madrona" feel to it. It's a small place, so I recommend getting a reservation or arriving early. Also recommend having a snack before going since portions are so small. We ended up going out for Sushi after our dinner here.
(4)Gabriela S.
Yum! We have been looking for a place like this and we have finally found Bistro Turkuaz! The food is awesome and the service is friendly and knowledgeable. Luckily I don't live too far away from Madrona so I can come by fairly often. It is tucked away on 34th which has a few good restaurants. I would recommend getting smaller plates and sharing. That way you can try a little of a few different things and not only have one thing. You really can't go wrong with anything you order here though.
(4)riika C.
Yum! Went here for a catered private event for the first time. Could not have been more pleased. Everything was amazing! We had the lamb and chicken kebab. Both were cooked to perfection. The food was so tasty and comforting. I can't wait to go back. Only wish they had prices on their website.
(5)Maple C.
Amazing service - everyone was so nice, from our server to the people in the kitchen. I couldn't figure out where the light switch for the bathroom was for the life of me, and one of the guys in the kitchen came out and told me it was right outside the door (and not inside the actual bathroom) He probably took pity on me seeing as how I probably looked like an idiot going in, coming out, looking around, and then going back in only to come right back out again... haha. oh well, he told me nicely! =) Great food - Turkuaz plate, lentil soup and baklava were my favorites. That's three out of the four things we ordered (the fourth was the mixed kebab)! Nevermind the fact that there really should only be one favorite, it was all just so darn good! Another huge plus for me is that since this place is in Madrona, there was the opportunity to pop over to Molly Moon's and get an ice cream sandwich for a second dessert! puahaha =D
(4)Adrian V.
Were there a lady deserving the honor of decorating my presence and augmenting my crushing handsomeness with fine, feminine grace, the crowning achievement of her life would take place here. Never, never, and, I repeat in the stentorian tones of deepest authority- NEVER have I had a meal here that did not essentially elevate my mood, well being, and palate and lead me to conquer and, figuratively speaking, secure power for my caliphate. Try the Turkuaz Special- I defy you to beat back the onslaught of a sublimely delicious alliance of eggplant, pita bread, lamb, hummus, tomatoes...the fruits of the world all laid in front of you in their many colors...
(5)Shelly W.
I was planning a dinner for my best friend's birthday and found out that this was her favorite restaurant I called for reservations for 6 for the next evening at 7and was told that they needed a credit card to hold the reservation in case we didn't show. I complied. The next morning the birthday girl woke up and was really sick. I called right away to cancel, but of course they weren't open, so left a message. No one called me back so I kept calling, finally fetting a hold of someone a little after 2. She told me that they would have to charge my card $60 for canceling. I told her I was told that it was in case we didn't show and I had given 8 hours notice we would not be coming. She said yes. I told her that wasn't right and called the charge bullshit as they would make more than that on the people that did show. She said it was their policy and said thank you. Good bye. They will not be getting any of my money in the future. $60! What a rip.
(1)Tyler L.
Fantastic Turkish food in an unassuming, quiet neighborhood. Best humus I've had and they'll actually bring you more pita bread. Service was super friendly and felt like our grandma was helping us. The Turkuaz special was phenomenal, nice and garlicky and the lamb was super tender and delectable. The pasta dish was also quite good and a bit lighter. The little dumplings were also muy good.
(4)Shari H.
The food is great, and the ambiance is lovely. We've had several lovely meals there in the past. HOWEVER, the server was completely rude to us when we attempted to use an Open Table Dining Cheque. She refused to accept it, and got very defensive. She didn't like the fact that the other members of my party were questioning her refusal to accept the check, so she essentially kicked us out. Needless to say, we will never return.
(1)Melissa W.
Wonderful, authentic Turkish cuisine! I has the Izmar Kofte, the parties were cooked perfectly seared on the outside, tender and juicy inside. The yogurt sauce was a perfect complement, lots of flavor but not over powering. My husband had the tas kebab, which was in a fantastic tomato based sauce. Highly recommend and will definitely be going back again soon!
(5)Richard U.
I am addicted to lamb..... Its the truth! Came to this place looking to have more tasty lamb dishes. The location is very cute and feels like your in someones house. It is pretty tiny and fills up pretty quickly so reservations might be a good idea unless you don't mind wandering around Madrona I went with the Lamb shank which was good but a bit pricey at $25. They also can be a bit stingy with the pita bread but the food was good. A good place ot hit up for turkish food.
(4)Gizem C.
I was looking for a good Turkish restaurant to take my friends to. I think this is it! Lovely authentic Turkish food. Izmir Kofte was one of the best Turkish food I tried in the states. The restaurant itself is really cute. Totally recommend it.
(5)Ken Q.
I had booked a 10pm reservation on 28 December for dinner after the symphony. We arrived on time to find the restaurant locked up, the lights out and no one there. We went home to find an email sent at 9:15pm, 15 minutes prior to the end of the symphony, and only 45 minutes prior to the reservation simply saying that the reservation was cancelled. No phone call, just an email while we were en route. Bistro Turkuaz is not a Capitol Hill turn-and-burn that has a high throughput based on a desirable location, or a downtown tourist trap, one has to put in effort to get to Turkuaz making a memorable experience paramount to getting repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations. In an industry the makes or breaks its reputation on customer service this type of inattention to detail is inexcusable.
(1)Brian A.
My girlfriend and I found this place online and it looked really authentic. We were not disappointed. We traveled through Turkey together and know good Turkish food when we taste it. Not only was the food great, but so was the service. Our waitress was friendly and talked to us about making home cooked Turkish food. We had the Chicken Kebab, Baba Ghanoush and Chicken Güveç. Our meal was flavorful, healthy, and the yogurt dipping sauce was amazing. I highly recommend Bistro Turkuaz.
(5)Linda K.
Lovely Turkish food and wine.
(5)Adam B.
Had the shrimp skewers. The shrimp didn't taste fresh. The lettuce and veggies that came with it were very fresh.
(3)k w.
I hear its great if you can get in. Possibly the worst customer service I have ever had. Tried to make a reservation, no reservations. Then arrived at 8 and was told it would be an hour, they took our phone number and said they would call when the table was ready, we went to a pub to wait. Over an hour later they called to tell us the kitchen was closed. Never had that happen to me before.
(1)Ton Y.
Since I am Turkish (and a decent cook), I usually stay away from Turkish restaurants. They can never capture the essence of the food and worse, they streamline things for the American tastes. Well, the dinner I had at Bistro Turkuaz on 34th Ave in Madrona was actually quite good. Bistro Turkuaz is a small, quaint Turkish restaurant that's been quietly serving the Madrona community for quite some time. We live in walking distance from the restaurant but I haven't been there for a while (We sampled it 3-4 years ago and didn't like it all that much). This time around, the food was really decent. Yes, there was some streamlining going on but for the most part, the essence of the flavors were there, given that they do not have access to naturally and/or organically-grown vegetables (back in Turkey and yes, it makes a huge difference). My friend Ben and I had shared the olives appetizer (good), some Acuka (a red pepper paste appetizer... great), some Patlican Sote (eggplants saute with yogurt... just OK) and then I had some lamb shank, slow cooked with vegetables (perfect). We even sampled the baklava (decent) and the rice pudding (bad), despite my restrictions on certain foods. The wine selection is fairly pedestrian but appropriate for the food selection as well as for the price points they are going for. The prices ($7-$12 for appetizers, $17-$30 for entrees) are good and the service was great. The ambiance is just right for Madrona. I'd recommend it to those who are looking for a different (but not that different) taste or something distinctly Mediterranean. If you do go and like red wine, try a bottle of Kavaklidere Yakut, a red blend from Turkey. It is an amazing young (uncomplicated, unsophisticated but good) wine that complements the lamb dishes really well.
(4)Eric M.
This is a wonderful little neighborhood gem tucked away in a corner of Madrona. It's run by a mother/daughter team. The daughter runs the front of the house and the mom cooks. Once in a awhile the Mom comes out to visit the tables and she gives some great insights on the food, ingredients and teases her very formal daughter. The food is wonderful with lot's of Mediterranean influences. I love the mixed plate of appetizers to start. The zucchini dumplings are very tasty especially with the yogurt sauce. The chicken or shrimp kabobs are my favorites with the homemade tabbouleh instead of rice. In response to some of the negative comments, yes the service can get spotty when they get busy and yes the prices are on the high side, however, this is a family operation and I think that often adds to the charm. The flavors and the portions of the food make up for the pricing in my opinion.
(4)Shannon P.
My favorite place in the neighborhood hands down. Great food (the acuka is to die for, zucchini pancakes are amazing). I like the lamb kebobs, though high ratings for the ravioli and lamb shank too from fellow diners. Lovely, warm ambience. Good vibes all around. Incredibly friendly mother daughter owner and staff.
(4)Jens J.
You better eat everything on your plate. If you don't, you're gonna get a visit to your table from the owner/cook! After watching "Food" at the Egyptian Theatre, we were, well, hungry. We decided to go someplace along the way to home in Mount Baker. So we drove through Madrona to check out options. We spied Bistro Turkuaz and thought, "What's this? We never saw a restaurant here before. Let's try it." We entered into an inviting environment, warmly decorated and with Mediterranean music played at just-the-right volume. There were other customers, but Turkuaz was not packed. Greeted by an attractive young woman, she indicated that we could sit anywhere we liked. We began with a bottle of Mark West '07 Pinot Noir. Turkuaz has an exhaustive list of appetizers, about half made with eggplant. We ordered the eggplant Baba Ghanoush. The Baba Ghanoush came chilled on a plate (it looks like oatmeal), drizzled with olive oil and a dried green herb and served with slices of warm pita bread. It was decent, but I can't say I swooned. For our entrees we got the Lamb Shank and the Tas Kebob with beef. The Lamb Shank is bomb!! Again I say, the Lamb Shank is bomb! It comes with little boiled potatoes and a to-die-for tomato-based sauce. Despite the name, the Tas Kebob is not served on a skewer, but is cubes of beef sauced up and served on a bed of a really nice rice. The beef was low-key in flavor, but good. Curiously, the green salad that comes with the Lamb Shank is served as a starter before the entrée. The very same salad is served with the Tas Kebob, but in the case of the Tas Kebob, the salad comes on the same plate as the entrée. After our meal, our waitress served us complementary baklava. I may have had baklava before, but I don't recall. JP raved about it and said he liked it so much because it wasn't too sweet. I can take or leave it. The waitress explained that they make baklava without honey, which is the more typical recipe. JP had his leftover lamb boxed up and I had left a little salad and rice on my plate. So while we were noshing on the baklava, a Rhea Perlman lookalike came out and asked if there was anything that was wrong with our food. We assured her everything was more than fine. After Rhea was placated, our waitress who was folding napkins at a table next to us said in a whisper, "That's my mother. She does that all the time. It's embarrassing". We laughed.
(4)Charles G.
One of my top 3 restaurants in Seattle. When eating this food you know that you enjoying the type of recipes that were perfected over years of authentic family meals. You're in great company whether you dine with friends or alone - the family & staff are awesome. The baklava is not to be missed.
(5)Omar S.
This place is a real gem. Just ask the waitress what to get for appetizers and she will not disappoint. Each dish was quite amazing. For the main course we all had lamb, and each dish was perfect. I had the full rack of lamb chops, my wife the lamb shank. I've never tasted lamb like this.
(5)C A.
My wife and I wanted to celebrate our evening of freedom from our 3 yr old when grandma picked her up; a rare date night for us so, we were intent on dining somewhere "non- kid friendly". Turkuaz was perfect; small, intimate, casually romantic (that's when fiery romance in couples has turned into warm embers of comforting domestic love; anyway, I digress...) and fit the budget. The waitstaff were warm and friendly yet very professional in carrying on their duties. We had the spicy shrimp in tomato sauce for appetizers and for entrees, I had the kofte kebab and my wife had the lamb kebabs. The dishes were very good. The shrimp had the right level of spiciness; my wife's lamb was grilled medium rare yet juicy; my kebabs, however, were a bit on the dry side and didn't seem to have as much flavor. We had the rice pudding and baklava for dessert, both were good. Overall, I think it's fair value $-wise, not the best Mediterranean food I've had but solid enough that we would come back. The ambiance is nice, unpretentious, and service was polite, prompt, and pleasantly executed. So, for you parents of young ones (especially in Madrona), get a babysitter and have a brief and affordable romantic escape here!
(4)Morgan R.
I love the flavors at this intimate Madrona bistro - the middle eastern food is good, and owners are friendly. It's small - no room for a crowd here. I give it 3-stars rather than 4-stars because it isn't that good a value -- the food is good, but it's really to pricey for what it is. It's worth a trip, but not a place you'll go back to again and again.
(3)James P.
Look, in Turkey we pay nearly 1/4th the price we pay here and the food is 1000 times better! Not sure why all of the pretentious attitude and over-pricing. They are obviously using the cheapest of American ingredients to make Turkish dishes and it really shows. This place hurt the pocket book but more so hurt the nostalgia I was seeking. Hosçakal Bistro Turkuaz. Bu lokanta sevmiyorum.
(2)Guy N.
If you've been here and given this place a high rating, the odds are it's because you haven't eaten at another Seattle Turkish restaurant called Ephesus which is much better and more reasonably priced. My girlfriend & I love Mediterranean food and came here with an open mind, but walked away very disappointed and unsatisfied. We tried a number of their appetizers and a couple different entrees which were recommended to us as "must try" by the waitress. Frankly, none of it was extraordinary or even memorable, with the notable exception of their Acuka appetizer. That one dish was actually good enough that I would come back to get that for take out. Otherwise, I'd recommend dining at Ephesus for about half the cost and at least twice the enjoyment.
(2)Food C.
This restaurant is just ok. If you crave authentic spicy Turkish food with garlic, then look elsewhere. Fairly bland, catering primarily to americans, turkish like food. Slow service. Wine brought with dinner, although wine order placed prior to dinner order . This was about 20 minutes or so after the request. Oh, I guess my partner's wine was brought and mine was brought 20 minutes later. Stale baklava. Very stale baklava. Cold food. Need I say more? Yes, I guess, tables are too close together.
(2)Murat S.
Try Manti (Turkish ravioli) or the Turkuaz Special
(4)Jackie M.
As someone who grew up eating Turkish food, this was phenomenal!!! I got the mixed grill, the Turkuaz sampler appetizer, and my dad had the rice pudding. It was very similar to what my grandma used to make. The flavors were great! I want to go back on a Wednesday to try their Manti. The owner was very friendly and we had a great dinner here. My only complaint is that they charged $1 for every extra pita bread we asked for. It made me mad, because the place is pretty overpriced, and it was kind of insulting to be charged for extra pita bread. They gave one pita for the entire Turkuaz sampler that was being shared by 4 people. You'd think that after paying $25 for each dish that contained 6 little pieces of meat (Kebob sized), they could spare an extra pita free of charge.
(5)Nathan W.
I had dinner here with two friends last week. Never knew this restaurant existed near me. I've passed by it many times but never paid attention. Food was excellent! Atmosphere was outstanding in a small dining space. The Owner was very helpful in recommending a Turkish wine with our meals and kept checking in with us to make sure everything was ok. The Baklava was amazing, along with the super strong Turkish coffee. I'll certainly be back again.
(4)Lisa S.
Turkuaz is a humble space with an impressive menu. Everything is exceptional with their hummus being the best in the city. The oven-baked feta will make you cry it's so good! All of the different kebab plates make a perfect meal. This is a great value for the quality of food served and a family owned business that makes me happy to support. Yum.
(5)Joe L.
Surprisingly light and very good. I could eat the Manti all day.
(4)Lara K.
I dream about this restaurant regularly. The food is always delicious and the atmosphere is warm and romantic and service is lovely. If you havent gone, DO, you will thank yourself and possibly end up dreaming about it too!
(5)Darcy H.
I love it here so much, the food is really REALLY good, very authentic and the owner and her daughter are honest to goodness great people. Not overly smiley or anything like that-----just natural. The small setting immediately gives the sense that food cognoscenti are the clientelle. The dolmas are wonderful, salad too. I'm not Turkish, but I can tell this is Turkish food done well. Somehow I've never had to wait, which I suppose is a reality on a busy night because the place is tiny. You'll be glad you went.
(4)Aidana L.
The waitress was very rude! The food was okay,but would not pay $20 for one entree. We will not come back
(2)Amy G.
I LOVE Bistro Turkuaz!!! Always delicious food, always great, friendly service, paired with a nice quiet neighborhood atmosphere. Just the place to go with good friends or date when you want fantastic food and a place you can talk to your dining companions. The Turkuaz Plate has amazing Baba Ghanoush and Cacik full of Dill. The kabob dishes are a perfect proportional blend of protein, grain, and salad. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed- and always finish everything on our plate no matter how full we are because everything is so wonderfully tasty! Bistro Turkuaz has found the ever elusive perfect combination of fantastic food, service, and atmosphere. Its one of the rare restaurants that achieves this trifecta, and makes you so happy that they have, because you have the luck to experience it. Thank You Bistro Turkuaz!
(5)Kate J.
I am sad to see all the negative reviews! We were thoroughly impressed. I'd never had Turkish food before, although I have had all other varieties of Mediterranean food and really like it. The service was wonderful, the food was fantastic, and there were lots of veggie options. The Mucver was so good, my husband and I ended up ordering two of them! We actually got take out from them again the following night when we had some vegetarian friends over - that's how impressed we were. Hope they can correct the issues that have bothered others, because for us it was 5 stars all the way. Yum!
(5)Michelle Z.
This place came highly recommended to me by a friend from Greece. Needless to say I was excited to dine here, and entered with high expectations. My initial first impressions: lovely little bistro. Located on a quiet block in Madrona, pleasant interior, and a friendly server who was working the front of the house solo, but did a superb job in making every table feel welcome and attended to. Hence, my expectations of the food were, I guess...high. Maybe it was an off-day in the kitchen, but I wasn't wowed, and given the rave reviews I heard I was expecting to depart Bistro Turkuaz amazed. The downer was my entree of borek (a.k.a. spanakopita). Let me first explain something, on the menu borek was listed as an entree, with "Greek salad" as somewhat of an afterthought, listed after borek (an obvious runner-up to the entree, if you will). Well when the plate arrived, my borek was dwarfed by a massive Greek salad, which was well and good, but my intention in ordering this plate was definitely not for the salad. In addition, my borek was alas... soggy. The dinner was slightly redeemed by an excellent baklava, but I'm afraid the damage had been done. My boyfriend had the same ho-hum experience over his beef kabobs, however, I feel like I can't give this place less than 3 stars, because I feel it really does have potential.
(3)Kenneth S.
this one my favorite places in Seattle. The service is wonderful with very nice people. You just can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Portions are plentiful, the ambiance is intimate. This is a hidden gem!
(5)Heather E.
Last night, my husband and I were introduced to this tiny, positively charming little bistro by two very culinary-savvy friends, and we have a new favorite place to share with others! Walking into the place feels as welcoming as walking into the staff's home - but much smaller. I am a psuedo-vegetarian (dairy and seafood are ok - I consider myself a "sustainabilitarian") and between the extensive appetizer and entree list I had more than enough mouthwatering options. The group started strong sharing some uniquely-spiced dolma for an appetizer, though we were tempted by the beet dish with an orange dressing. The waitress even tossed on an extra dolma (4 instead of the typical 3) so we could each have a taste for no additional charge! Everyone at the table had a different entree: one cioppino-like seafood stew, one chicken skewer of a certain seasoning, one lamb & eggplant skewer of a different seasoning, and a ravioli dish. Though not the most exciting sounding when read on the menu, the crowd favorite was by far the ravioli! These little cheese and spinach-filled pillows melt in your mouth, and the indescribable sauce was so delicious it put expressions of "Yum" on my companions' faces like I had never seen before! Finishing out the meal we had a chocolate baklava and Turkish coffee, which were the perfect endings to a lovely, completely reasonably-priced meal. Also of note, our waitress was so funny and helpful that you couldn't help but instantly want to be friends with her. I also loved asking her about Turkey as I have never been and she describes it so passionately. Go! Try this one for yourself!
(5)David S.
Ate there last night for my birthday - just before 8 on a Tuesday night. It was pretty empty. Street parking was easy and it felt cozy inside. Nice photos of Turkey on the walls. The hostess/waitress was very nice, efficient and not in our face. The menu is relatively small compared to say A La Turka in San Francisco but everything was tasty. We had Turkuaz Plate mixed appetizer, the Borek and the Mixed Kebab. The baba ganoush in particular was very good in the appetizer. I enjoyed my mixed kebab, which was served with rice, a large salad and some tasty yoghurt. My wife enjoyed the borek, though rightly or wrongly, she expected the filo pastry to be crispy on the outside. We didn't stay for desert, but hope to try it next time. All in all, a good experience, though I felt it was somewhat expensive. However, I feel that prices in Seattle for dining out are expensive for what you get in general.
(4)garrett b.
Hit this place up for my birthday last year. That was almost a year ago and I can still taste it when I think about it lol. The Turkuaz Special was quite possibly one of the best dishes I've ever had, ever. I can't even describe how great the meat was. And Cupcake Royale is right down the street? Birthday's in a couple weeks, hope I go again ;)
(5)seattlelinnea F.
Fabulous - that's really all there is to say. Everything was delicious in that you-can-really-taste-the-flavors sort of way. I can't even explain. Just go there. Trust me!
(5)Jeffrey C.
My partner and I went to this quaint place on the recommendation of some coworkers. It was so good and each dish we had was fixed superbly and the taste of everything we had from appetizer to desert was delicious. Each course had something special about it and the food was all prepared in the Turkuaz kitchen from scratch. This is one of those places you have to return to and try everything on the menu at least once, but more than likely many times. We took an early reservation and were very lucky to find the owner was there so we told her how much we liked the food and she introduced us to her family who worked in the restaurant. This was truly a place to remember and return to with a warm cozy atmosphere and fragrances from fine homemade food. I could only wish there were bigger portions to have leftovers to bring home.
(5)O. Bilal O.
Great turkish food, tasty and well prepared. I tried the appetizer plater and mix grill and as a finishing touch their great baklava. The tables were small and close to each other, it felt like we are all eating in the same table. Its kind of an expensive place but I cant wait to go back on Wednesday to try their Manti (kind of a meat ravioli)
(4)Scott S.
This was the first Turkish restaurant I've ever eaten at. The food was delicious! All of the food was freshly prepared. We had a group of thee families including kids (tweens). While probably not suitable for younger children, older kids will enjoy the food as much as the adults do. Food was served family style which made it easy for everyone to experiment, yet get just what they wanted. The service was excellent. Though busy, our waitress patiently answered all of our questions and constantly checked on us. This is a family owned restaurant. The owner and her children clearly take great pride in what they do. We'll definitely be going back. We had the following dishes, all of which were excellent: Turkuaz Plate, Turkuaz Salad, Chicken Kabab, Beef Kabab, Lamb Kabab, Turlu Guvec. For desert we had Sutlac and Baklava which provided a great conclusion to the meal.
(5)Doug I.
My wife and I enjoyed everything about Bistro Turkuaz. We started off with the zucchini pancakes and dolmas which both tasted fantastic. For dinner, I had the ravioli which were unlike any other ravioli I had ever had and looked a bit like a tortellini with no hole in the center and thicker shell and it was delicious. My wife had a the Turkuaz special which was also tasty. The ambiance was just as advertised, small and on the intimate side and the service was perfect. We will definitely go back.
(5)Ms T.
Probably one of the worst experiences I have had The food is average, especially the main course. and the service is really really bad. The waitress ignored us completely, the food was brought out of order with the appetizers coming in after the entrees.
(1)Ryan c.
Over-priced, tiny portions, RUDE service, and not authentic. Having lived many years in Turkey, I was eager to try Bistro Turkuaz' "Turkish home cooking." First, I ordered an eggplant appetizer, priced at $9. In Turkey a typical meze appetizer fills the small serving plate, and is enough for several people to share, usually in combination with other mezes. What I received at Bistro Turkuaz was about 1/6 the serving size I expected, barely enough eggplant to decorate the middle of the tiny plate in a single layer, with pita bread arranged around the sides. There was not enough to share. The eggplant was extremely bland, which is something I've never once encountered in Turkey. And this should have been served with regular bread, not pita. For a main course I ordered manti, at $16 -- Turkish "ravioli." A serving of manti should fill a large, shallow bowl, and should be well-covered with yogurt sauce, usually decorated with sumac and a drizzle of butter. Instead, I got a tiny, shallow bowl, containing about 12 of the tiny manti, which appeared to be still swimming in the water they boiled in. There was only a miserly dollop of yogurt sauce across the top, with no discernable butter or sumac. The meat filling was over-spiced, and the yogurt sauce was bland. The music they were playing was in French. When I tried to joke with the waitress about it, she became highly defensive, asserting that the vocalist was not French, but Algerian. And what has that got to do with today's Turkey? I would have loved to hear familiar music, or new Turkish pop. For me, the French music ruined the atmosphere. My Turkish used to be fluent, but I rarely get a chance to practice anymore. When I spoke to the waitress in good, clear Turkish she made a face, said, "hmph," spun on her heel and walked away. She utterly refused to acknowledge any word I said to her in Turkish, though I know she spoke it, as I heard her speaking in a friendly manner with some Turks at a nearby table. Likewise, she seemed offended when I inquired about the availability of a Turkish soft drink, asking for it by name. This was by far and away the most overtly hostile table service I have ever encountered anywhere, in my life. And of the many, many people with whom I've struck up conversations in Turkish -- in Turkish restaurants at home and abroad, in passing when I hear Turkish being spoken in stores, or busy streets -- I have NEVER had anyone react so strangely, or with such hostility. My bill was $28, and I left hungry. Not only hungry for food, but hungry for the flavors of home I had been craving. Hungry for a little Turkish music, Turkish hospitality, all those things I went into Bistro Turkuaz hoping to find. This was possibly the worst restaurant experience I've ever had.
(1)Michael L.
My wife and I have been here twice within the past year or so. The ambience is very romantic (in the heart of Madrona) and the place is clean. The food is amazing and the pricing is decent. The service is good, although the second time I had to ask for a water refill. Try there either of their appetizer plates and also try their baklava dessert with chocolate. I don't recommend their Turkish coffee, unless you like very strong coffee...make sure to mix it well before you drink. Overall, we will definitely go back again and again.
(4)Lila K.
I really wanted to like this place more. The servers were lovely and the food quite decent, but way overpriced for what it was. Go for the atmosphere and a glass of wine, maybe an app. A whole meal not so much.
(3)Rey M.
Valentines evening. We couldn't have found a better way to have spent it then at Turkuaz Bistro. We had such a splendid time here that I actually thought of coming back the next day. I've eaten plenty of Mediterranean cuisines and Persian cuisine but have not had Turkish until this evening. This was a first. It still surprises me as to why it has taken us so long to finally eat this cuisine. We've had Moroccan, Lebanese, Israeli, Iranian (Persian) so many times and somehow always find a way to bypass this. The restaurant had a very nice feel about it. From the dim lighting to the elegant decor that surrounds you, it was the perfect setting for a nice romantic evening. Great hospitality accompanied with a simple menu with a good wine selection made the experience so much more. What else can you ask for. You as guest are also greeted by the owner herself. Making sure you feel very welcomed and enjoying your meal. It was nice. Now for the food. Basically I only had one thing targeted, the Kebabs. Everyone claims that Turkish Cuisine is known for having the best Kebabs in the world. Though some may argue, I was finally avail to find out for myself. I've had many different versions of Kebab and so my expectations where high. I found it splendidly good. But it wasn't the best I've had. None the less, still very good! This evening they had a special to cater Valentines. It was a combination of Lamb, Chicken and Beef along with a ground patty on the side complementing a nice helping of a vinaigrette tossed salad. Each bite was very gratifying. Expectations close to being met. The highlight of the dish was the chicken. Wow! It was simply amazing. The tenderness, juiciness, flavorful meat was a delight at every bite. Kind of wished I just ordered the Chicken Kebab dish. As far as the lamb and beef goes, it was really good tender, wonderfully spiced but I have had better. Also we ordered a nice appetizer platter that featured Ganoush, Hummus and Yogurt sauce drench in olive oil. With it came a nice helping of pita bread. Delicious. We had to stop our selves from snacking at it as the waiter continued to resupply us with more of there fresh Pita. At the end of the meal, we would have hoped to sample there desert but since the generous helpings in which we where served prevented our stomach to take any more, maybe our next visit we will be much prepared. Meaning we will definitely be back. Looking for a nice romantic evening and not worried about dishing out some cash this nice little restaurant in the Madison area should provide an elegant and wonderful meal. A dinner for two cost us about a 100$ but then again we did order the dinner special which coast us a little more. The average dish seemed to be about 15-18$ while the appetizers where about 8-15$. On top of that that there is a great wine selection available and an after dinner Turkish Coffee ( Espresso ) which should definitely cap your evening. Either with or without having desert. Your choice to dining here shouldn't disappoint. Enjoy!
(4)Jennifer S.
Small, intimate cafe in quaint Madrona neighborhood. Short menu of perfected specialties. Unfortunately for me these don't include my favorites like cabbage rolls and other items closely resembling the best of Turkmen food.
(4)Allison A.
This place is delicious! Good prices for the very high quality and flavors. Very nice atmosphere and the daughter-waitress has a great sense of humor. Be prepared to take...your...time with dinner here, which is perfect if you're in the mood for a social, easy evening with no rush out the door. Lovely.
(4)tom h.
Turkuaz is a hidden gem. This place was a great surprise to me as it is a neighborhood restaurant that is fairly hidden from the street, with a great surprise inside. The service could not be better. The beautiful owner's daughter who has served me several times, knows the menu, the flavors, the wines, and knows ho w to treat you right. I try many restarurants in Seattle of all variaties. This is one placeI go back to often as the food is consistently great, the servcie is great, the wine is great and I love the fact that it is authentic and in a neighborhood setting. I would recommend this restaraunt for any occaison, including the special one where you dont know where to go.
(5)M H.
Enjoyed a wonderful meal with friends in an intimate setting with great service. The server was warm and informative. She allowed us time to enjoy our food and conversation. I can't wait to return for the ravioli which we learned will now be served every Wednesday evening. I will return to this delicious neighborhood restaurant.
(4)Jon N.
We have visited Bistro Turkuaz several times. The food tastes home-made and the service is good. Also, we had them cater a party for 50+ people. Here is the letter we sent on that occasion: EVERYONE LOVED YOUR FOOD. The praise was heard repeatedly at the party and afterwards. Everything was absolutely delicious and wonderful. I have no shortage of people who want to come over for the leftovers. My deepest appreciation to you for making my birthday so special and memorable. You were a pleasure through the whole process and I could see your kindness and devotion to the culinary presentation - every step of the way.
(5)Joe O.
Neither my wife or I had ever eaten Turkish food that we can recall so this was a first and boy were we impressed! The cozy atmosphere and overall setup of the place reminded us of the restaurants we used to frequent in Brooklyn so some nostalgia is being blended in with this review. That said, the food was amazing - we started with Acuka, which, if you've never tried it - blew our minds. The blend of walnuts, olive oil and the red pepper puree was outstanding! From there we shared the beef kebab and the Turkuaz Special (Chopped pita with patlican sote, sliced char grilled lamb dressed with tomato sauce) - from people that don't dig on lamb, this combo was perfect in that the meat pieces were fairly small but the combo of eggplant and tomatoes with the meat was delicious. Finish with a traditional Turkish coffee and rice pudding and you have very, very happy customers. We'll be visiting this place again for sure, so happy that it's walking distance!
(4)Justin B.
Came here with my girlfriend last night and the food was amazing. You walk in and you are impressed because it is such a small restaurant. There is only room for about 25 people tops and more like 20. The decor is very turkish but there was french music playing while we were there. We started with the Turkuaz Sampler and I have to say I was just blown away. The hummas was great, it is easy to get it with a little too much garlic (and I like garlic) but this one they had the right amount of lemon juice to bring out all of the flavor. While you do have to pay an extra $1 for some extra pita, and you probably will, such is a small price to pay for delicious food. We then moved onto dinner, I had the grilled lamb chops and my girlfriend had the Turkuaz Special which was essentially the lamb kebab with patlican sote and a nice tomato sauce. The lamb was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. To finish the night the server recommended we have the baklava because it was especially good this week. She was right. We will certainly be coming back again and again.
(5)P L.
We live in the neighborhood and couldn't have been happier when Turquaz opened, as we're huge fans of Mediterranean cuisine. It's since become one of our favorite places and we eat there at least once a week. The owner and her daughter are great and the food is amazing. What people need to know is that this place is very small--10 tables. They didn't take reservations for a long time and only recently started taking phone numbers and calling people. Because it's so small, there's very little room for people to hang out and wait for a table. If people linger at their tables, as is easy to do, since the food and atmosphere is so great, I can see how it could happen that a table might not open up. It's part of the place's hospitality that they don't rush you out the door. So if you didn't get a table after waiting, that's unfortunate, but short of the owner kicking people out, there's not much they can do without angering other customers. It's worth the wait, so just chill out and, if you're in a big rush and it looks like it's going to be a while, go somewhere else. More for the rest of us. : )
(5)Jason W.
A true gem! Stumbled upon this quaint restaurant last night with a group of friends (yes, one was Turkish)! Everything from the ambiance to the food, even the wine and Turkish Coffee were amazing. I have had a lot of Turkish food in my days....this was simply wonderful. Other reviews about this not being authentic or as good as other Turkish restaurants in the area...simply not true. They must be used to dining at the Cheesecake Factory! The owner took time to come out and greet us, the waitress was very nice and inviting. We will absolutely be coming back for more!
(5)Reed A.
I lived in Turkey for a year about six years ago, and found that Turkuaz has the best Turkish food I've had since coming back to the states. The menu isn't all that extensive and didn't include some of my favorites, but what I had was delicious: carefully prepared dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) with fresh ingredients (i can spot the canned ones easily, and these were not those), baba ganouj, Mediterranean salad and kebabs. The service was excellent and the atmosphere reminiscent of dining in someone's very cozy home. It was a treat to eat at Turkuaz and I am definitely coming back the next time I'm in Seattle.
(5)Matt G.
I hate to write this as I don't want anyone else to know about this place, but I also want to ensure that it stays open for my future enjoyment. Only open for the past 2 months, but I hope it will become an institution. I'm from the East Coast and grew up eating Dolmas, Hummus, Baba Gannoush, and other staples of ME food, thanks to all the ME restaurants in the area. This is the first restaurant in Seattle that I've eaten at since I moved here 8 years ago that actually knows how to prepare ME food correctly. We had the Turkuaz Plate, a sample of Hummus, Babe Gannoush, Dolma, and Cacik (yogurt-based dip). It was wonderful, served with warm pita, each dip had a distinct and wonderful flavor. The perfect amount of food for 2 people to share as an appetizer. Then, we had the feta: two pieces of feta, baked with pine nuts, tomatoes, olive oil, and served with pita - just delicious. For those who care about such things, the atmosphere, wait staff, etc., were all perfect complements to the food. But, the food is the star here and you should experience it yourself - quickly, before this place becomes as popular as it should be. Simple, affordable wine list - reds and whites for $20 - $35; a few beers; some non-alcoholic drinks as well. I'll be returning shortly and bringing more people to ensure that we can sample everything on the menu.
(5)Thomas J.
The food was quite excellent. Madrona has another gem.
(4)Samara L.
Everything we had was great, and the service was excellent. The homey, cozy atmosphere was the best part.
(5)Tia S.
Wonderful discovery! Turkuaz is a tiny little place nicely tucked away. The service was excellent, the food was excellent, the price was perfectly decent. Also, I love Turkish food and I haven't come across too many authentic Turkish restaurants around here! The lady- owner and waitress-daughter make a perfect team! The owner came out at one point and made sure to greet everyone. We struck up a conversation and her and her daughter ended up joining us at our table (it was closing time). We discussed a few issues, and then it came to my attention that I could possibly get a recipe from her. My husband had eaten an eggplant dish in Istanbul a year ago and we were completely unable to find it since. The owner played a guessing game with us until she figured which of the thousands of eggplant dishes we were talking about. She gave me a pen and paper and the whole recipe! She also gave me some very useful websites. Oh yes, and the food was great! We had two appetizers: mixed appetizers including dolmas, hummus and baba ghannoush. I know my mezze really well -- and these were excellent. I'm particularly picky about dolmas and these were a little spicy which was a wonderful twist. I also discovered a new appetizer: Acuka. It is roasted red peppers, walnuts, lemon juice and olive oil made into a paste -- wow! I was a little less enthused over the entree i picked: a marinated shrimp dish, but that is only because I am not crazy about shrimp in the first place. Last but not least we discussed bringing our own meat for the cook to prepare (as we have strict halal dietary guidelines). She was completely open to the idea and we discussed the logistics. I'm not sure we would do this unless we had a party of +10, but its great to now how accommodating some people are willing to be. Authetic Turkish food, authentic people. Greeat place to visit every once in a while when you need to remember what good food/great service tastes/feels like :)
(5)Amikam R.
Bistro Turkuaz is one long, not large, room and kitchen up a few stairs, in Madrona. The menu is not large but has many good choices. The wine list is short. Prices are very reasonable. We were two for dinner on a Wednesday. The baba ghanoush was very good. It was the real thing, not the lumpy, expensive paste you find in the supermarket. The saksuka - eggplant cubes, peppers and tomatoes was good. The pita slices were crisp but not brittle. For entrees we had the stuffed vegetables - zucchini and green pepper stuffed with meat speckled rice with tomatoes. These were very good. The chicken kebab was moist and tasty on a bed of tabouli. Both entrees came with yogurt sauce on the side. The baklava we shared for dessert was not too sweet but a little on the soggy side. The service was good and efficient. The noise level was OK. To sum: This is a nice place with good food and service. It's an introduction to eastern mediterranean food and might even make you consider why some maven said "There are four great cuisines - French, Italian, Chinese and Turkish".
(3)Lowell S.
Three of us had dinner at Bistro Turkuaz on September 23 and were impressed with the quality of the food and the service. The appetizers, baked feta and tabouli, were really tasty and different than the run of the mill. We each had a different entree, beef and lamb kabobs and the Turkuaz Special. The entrees and accompanying sides were super. The waitress, the owner's daughter, was charming and provided excellent service. The owner/chef came out an inquired about how we liked our meals and seemed to be truly appreciative of our rave reviews. Certainly an encore visit in the future.
(5)Ebru Y.
Cozy atmosphere and delicious Turkish/Mediterrenean food. They have great appetizers such as hummus and babaganoush served with warm pita bread. Good selection of wines and beautiful music in the background. Love it! What else can you ask for...
(5)Amy H.
I was part of the group that attempted to eat at Bistro Turkuaz, but ended up being ignored and leaving (see review by Julie A.). We were very disappointed because we had heard positive reviews of the food and the atmosphere. We really wanted to like the place, after waiting around for about 40 minutes and not being seated we decided to take our business elsewhere. When I had called I was told that they did not take reservations for parties smaller than six. That evening we stood around staring at an open four top which was eventually filled by people who were not on the waiting list, but who had a reservation. The reservation policy does not appear to be very consistent. We were told that they had reservations because they were "regulars." Well, if Bistro Turkuaz wants other regulars, then they might want to treat potential guests with more tact. While we were waiting, and the four top remained open, neither the owner nor the server said anything to us to explain why we weren't being seated. We ended up going down the street to Cafe Soleil and had an excellent dinner with amazing service!
(1)