Food: Â Fantastic!
Service: Â Horrific!
I passed through Indianapolis and decided on a late lunch (around 2pm). Â I love mediterranean food, so I found this place via Yelp and mapped out my directions. Â Upon my arrival, I hunted for the hostess for 5 minutes. Â When she saw me, at first she didn't acknowledge me and continued her personal phone conversation for a few more minutes. Â Strike 1.
After I was finally seated, I told her what I wanted and asked for recommendations for how to get that. Â Her recommendations ended up being substantially more expensive and way too much food, and I realized I could have gotten what I wanted without the extra orders. Â Strike 2.
Finally, I asked for the check. Â 20 minutes later, the check arrived even though I was one of two tables in the whole restaurant. Â Strike 3.
I will definitely not be returning.
Pros: Very authentic, charming and cozy atmosphere
Cons: Â None have stood out on my visits
How have I not reviewed this place? Â This is an awesome stop to satisfy your Turkish food cravings (you don't have those? Â You will after you come here)! Â This place is tasty and reminds me of my travels to Turkey and the many nights I had sitting around the dinner table of Turkish friends. Â
My go-to app is always hummus and warm pita. Â I judge a mediterranean place by its hummus, and this place passed my test. Â I also enjoy the chicken shish (I like to layer the pita with some hummus, seasoned rice and a piece of tender chicken) every time I come. I can't personally speak for other items on the menu, because unfortunately I'm one of those people who seems to always order the same thing. Â
I'd recommend this place for a great date night or a small group gathering.
Great restaurant, that's an excellent pitstop if you're passing through Indy, nothing fancy about the neighborhood, but a quick, charming restaurant with tons of tempting options. Â The service was solid, and fast enough to get us in and out and back on the road without much of a loss of time. Â If you've got an extra 30 minutes, pop in, enjoy a delicious meal, it was all delicious.
Review Source:This was the food highlight of our trip to Indianapolis! We ate here on our last night, otherwise I would have been back for seconds.
The restaurant looks to be in a little, old house. Completely adorable. It is cozy and is a fantastic place to be able to sit and chat while enjoying amazing food. The service was wonderful and the food was spectacular. Thinking about it now makes my mouth water. And the prices are extremely reasonable. There is nothing not to love.
This restaurant had at least 4 Vegan meals to chose from. For appetizer I had the Pepper Delight which was a combination of chopped roasted bell & banana peppers mixed with tomatoes garlic, parsley & roasted walnuts. My entree was Stuffed Eggplant served over rice. This was delicious and the ambiance/setting also mirrored Turkish style cafe/paintings etc. I would have given 5 star but no one sat us, we had to a couple of mins before getting someone's attention & my entree was topped with yogurt which was not stated in the ingredients so they made another one for me. Otherwise my meal was delicious and will return when next i visit Indy.
Review Source:We've been here twice and it's been awesome both times! Â The atmosphere is cozy and warm, the service is always quick and the servers are helpful with recommendations. Â We got the baba ganoush and tzatziki as appetizers and both were delicious. Â I had the beef kabobs, another person in our party had a sort of sampler dinner, and a couple gyro meat dinners were ordered too. Â Everything was so good, the meat is flavored so nicely and everything is fresh and delicious! Â We'll be going back for sure.
Review Source:Next time you feast at The Bosphorus Istanbul Café, leave room for dessert.
This can be difficult, no doubt. Â When I arrive hungry, there is no resisting the appetizers: falafel, boreks, a feta plate: regional favorites all! Â Tonight, Mike and I sated our rumbling bellies on a platter of hummus and two baskets of grilled pita. Â The hummus is, frankly, the best I've ever tasted; it's creamy and mildly seasoned with olive oil, lemon, and paprika.
I love that about Bosphorus.  That's what keeps me coming back; it's genuine, like the owner, who tried without success to teach Mike to say "table for two" in Turkish and strolled around the renovated, turn-of-the-century Fletcher Place home jostling a chunky-cheeked baby while his parents and grandparents were engrossed in their meal.  There is no need to whack me upside the head with cliché Mediterranean flavors or kitsch; I want something authentic and delicious.
My favorite dish, the shish kebob, is plenty for two. Â The tender, juicy lamb is the star of plate, as it should be, and all the other components--rice, a lightly-dressed salad, and fresh vegetables cooked al dente--are happy to act its compliment. Â Bosphorus also offers Turkish wines that pair well with the many meat and vegetarian dishes, especially for $30 a bottle. Â
For dessert, we had tiramisu and Turkish coffee. Â The tiramisu is delicate, and the coffee is thick and rich with a hint of sweet. Â We left feeling warm and happy, a box of baklava tucked under one arm. Â Bravo, Bosphorus! Â Thanks for a beautiful evening, a veritable tapestry of flavor.
It's been a few months but, you know, playing catch-up. Â I've had the pleasure of eating here several times and everything I've had has been amazing! Â The pita is something I may slap outta my momma's hand if she tried to take the last piece. Â It goes without saying I'd steal it from my kids! Â The hummus is the most silky I've ever tasted. Â I have no clue how they do it. Â I've been to culinary school...I've spent time working in great restaurants...I CAN"T replicate this hummus. Â It's beyond tasty and this from a person that's not the biggest fan. Â Try for an early lunch or dinner. Â There may be a wait otherwise. Â In fact, if I hadn't waited 25 minutes to be seated for lunch once this place may have garnered 5 stars. Â Good for them...well liked and busy!!!
Review Source:Ate here a few weeks ago and had such a bad experience I still feel compelled to write this review. The food was not bad, though dishes with broccoli included the woody stem, so we were spitting out parts of our dinner. But the service was the worst part. They forgot our order, waited 45 min, no bread, no explanations, no apologies. Â 2nd time in my life I haven't left a tip. Â Lots of potential, but also lots of room to improve.
Review Source:We tried this restaurant because it had really good reviews. Â I must say that the food is properly seasoned & not dumbed down for western taste buds. Â It is pleasantly appointed inside with a very nice stenciled floor design.
My wife & I had the appetizer platter & the Bosphorus special which is the meat sampler. Â The appetizers were good overall. Â We were starving & polished that off pretty quick. Â The pita was good also, & we had two baskets of those. Â
The grilled meat platter on the other hand was somewhat disappointing. Â For $22(according to a previous reviewer, it was $18 in May) it was not exactly substantial. Â We are not quantity eaters by any stretch of the imagination, but this dish should be priced at $17 for what was on it. Â The shaved meat was flavourful, but tasted like it was a day or two past it's peak, as was the lamb. Â The cubed chicken breast was cooked properly, meaning that it was nice & moist. Â The ground meats were good, but again, tasted like they should have been cooked yesterday. Â The rice was terrible, soft & greasy. Â The vegetables were from frozen & were a soggy mess. Â The table next to us asked about them & the waitress said that by the end of the week, they sometimes run out of fresh vegetables. Â Well, go to the market & buy more! Â There's no excuse for putting frozen vegetables(with chunks of broccoli stems) on a restaurant plate. Â
Our dinner with a soda & yoghurt drink, came to about $45 before tipping. Â I honestly don't think it was worth it, considering the quantity, quality & location. Â The waitress was pleasant but yes, the service is pretty slow, as others have mentioned. Â There was only two tables going at the time as well.
I would not bother going back & I wouldn't recommend it to anyone visiting the area.
Went for lunch. Â Food was good. Â Air conditioning left something to be desired, but it was quite warm outside the day we went. Â The proprietor tries very hard to please. Â While we were there, a group of six ladies came in. Â He offered to bring six different appetizers to get them started and provide refills if one of them proved popular. Â This was contingent on all of them odering from the lunch menu.
He brought them the appetizers and then took their entree orderes. Â Of course, by then, there was the one obligatory person who decided they wanted something else. Â Other than teasing the lady for "breaking the law" he still gave them all the appetizers and got the one lady what she wanted. Â Class act on his part.
Delicious food. Â My dish in particular was really good, I got their baked eggplant topped with ground beef and tomatoes covered in a cream sauce. Â Everything was baked wonderfully, making it soft, and extremely flavorful. Â It came with a serving of steamed veggies, rice, and salad (they could have gone light on the dressing, the salad was too oily).
The hummus was just OK, just ordinary hummus like I've had elsewhere. Â I also got their rice pudding which was also just OK. Â I'm not sure how their other dishes taste, and I gambled on the eggplant, and I was not disappointed.
Quite a tasty restaurant. Â The wife and I are big fans of Mediterranean food, and this is a flavor of Mediterranean food we hadn't tried yet. Â Plenty of veggie options for those so inclined. Â I have to agree that the pita bread and hummus are amazing. Â The falafels are tasty, but different than I've had so far (Greek, Israeli, Lebanese). Â The lamb is very succulent, and I liked their take on baklava (warm with whipped cream on top). Â The Turkish red wine was also delish.
It was all very good, but not blow-my-mind delicious, which is why I'm withholding the last star.
We walked here from our hotel (fairly long walk, but doable) and we got harassed by some idiots driving by. Â Shame. Â Not a knock against the restaurant, though. Â Just something to be aware of.
I'm a local and this is one of my favorite local restaurants. Been here many times and always order the Doner with hummus lunch special, which also comes with garden salad. All for under 8 bucks. It's so good that I've never felt like getting anything else on the menu, although I'm sure they are good as well. As someone mentioned, the atmosphere is COZY. It's like you are going to a good friend's house for a delicious meal. I've always been greeted with a smile.
Review Source:I have not been to Bosphorus and left disappointed!  On my last visit I discovered the magic of the Babaganoush.  If  you aren't familiar it's an eggplant based dip similar to hummus but with eggplant.  It's amazing! Magical! You'll dream of it!   Some other fav appetizers include the Tziki and the hummus.  Can you tell I like dips?  Thank goodness that doesn't extend into my selection of men ;-)
Not sure what you like? Â Try the Bosphorus special which is a sampling of various meats (gyro meat, Chicken, lamb, ect). Â Two people can share and I'll tell you, this is how I learned they make the juiciest, most succulent chicken! Â The shrimp casserole is another solid choice and for the frugal with you, they have wraps that come with a side for 7 or 8 bucks. Â quite a steal
Why not 5 stars? Â The service is . . . . Â . . relaxed. Â Also, this establishment doesn't have AC. Â With the 100+ degree heat lately, it's a must!
I'll start by saying this was the BEST baba I have ever had. I will go back for this alone. The service however was so bad that 3 stars is really generous. I took my teenage daughter on a Monday night, the place was just about full, always a good sign. We were sat down fast, then the waiting begin... we waited 15 mins before offered even a glass of water. I insisted on ordering our food then, which is a good thing as it took 50 mins for it to be served. Keep in mind only 2 of us. Kebabs and beef hummus are pretty easy and fast dishes, this was just unacceptable especially when the server offered no apology when she served us. The food was served at room temp. which leads me to believe it had been sitting awhile. It was however still good. The decor is groovy and fun. I am hoping this was just an off night, and I will give it one more try.... Just because the baba was so dang good.
Review Source:Simply put this is one of the 5 best restaurants in Indy and surrounding areas PERIOD! Â If you love international/ethnic food that is perfectly spiced and DELISH this hidden Gem is for you (and friends/fam).
The pita/hummus is best in town, ALL of the meats i've had (great $18 meat platter that's good to share for 2 as a sampler) are the best combinations of meat I've had anywhere ever. Â The diff types of lamb/chicken are ALWAYS juicy (been here about 10 times), perfectly spiced, and never chewey. Â
Recommended:
Pita/Hummus (best i've had)
BEYTI KEBAB is phenomnal (seasoned lamb and beef patties mixed with parsley, onions, and grilled on flat skewers rolled with lavish bread and served with tomato sauce)
BOSPHORUS SPECIAL is that great $18 platter of different chickens/lamb (kebabs, patties, etc)
DONER (lunch special) is awesome (basically a gyro) and at lunch can be combined with your choice of app (i get pita and hummus which is redic).
Everyone I've brought here has thought it was FIRE aka delicious. Â
If this is not in your top 10 Indy restaurants after you have it 2-3 times, we agree to disagree then.
Boshphorus, Shalimar, Wild Ginger Sushi, Moe's A Place for Steaks,Shaprios (downtown which is killing Carmel location as I grew up on 86th and township location), Oceanaire, Bazbeaux Pizza, Goodfella's Pizza, and St Elmos/Harry & Izzys are my personal top 10 ndy restaurants for those wondering what else I like
I love this place. I love the complimentary bread, the lentil soup, the sampler that we ordered. If  you don't like lamb, there's still chicken and fish on the sampler. The sampler costs like $18.95 and it can easily fill up two peoples' stomachs. It was a pity they don't have lamb shank on their menu tho but I'm glad that made me try out other dishes orelse I always stick with the same thing wherever I go! Not very adventurous, I know.
Oh, and they have raspberry iced tea. That's always a plus for me. The waiter was very attentive and helpful with the menu too. I'd love to come back for more lamb. Yum!
p/s: Sunday opening hours starts from 4pm now.
This is the one time that yelp reviews are not deceiving u.. Really! This ain't a joke..
The food here is divine.. My fiancé had to remind me that I has eaten it all..
Eat the babaganush , chicken meditarrenean and Do not
Miss the Tiramisu.. After u are done licking your fingers.. We can talk :)
We went here with some friends and we ordered many items and shared them family style. Â We got the app sampler and it was all good. Â I eat at a lot of greek restaurants and this place was absolutely fantastic. Â Maybe the best I have ever eaten at. Â
The atmosphere is very cozy because the restaurant is a converted house. Â You would be well served taking somebody to this place because the food is as good as it gets and the atmosphere is unique. Â This is as far from a chain restaurant as you can get.
What a gem! Â Service was fantastic, food was even fantastickier, and atmosphere was top notch. Â It's affordable and the lamb....my god the lamb...
My hubby had the Beef Hummus, I had the Lamb Mediterranean, and our starter was the feta plate....we both loved everything. Â After our fantastic dinner we checked out the hooka house next door, it was equally as fantastic, perfect place to relax after a nice big Turkish meal.
We will definitely return!
They gave me a meat log and I gave them my heart. I went to Bosphorous with about 10 friends. I got what was essentialy a log of minced up lamb and beef covered in a creamy tomato sauce with some vegetables on the side.
Dear GOD, MAN! you can take different meats, mince them together and then bypass loaf formation and go straight to LOG! in the name of all that is holy, sign me up!
Sign me up indeeeeeed. That meat log was one of the most savory, delectable and well-flavored concoctions I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. I also had an appetizer sampler to share with some of my sweet homies. Their pita tasted fresh and homemade and the feta and hummus were both outstanding. If the chance arises, I will be back in a heartbeat.
It's so delish! Â My husband and I stumbled across this gem a couple of years ago and we can't get enough. Â We have taken several friends and everyone loves it. Â On weekends, be sure to make a reservation. Â A group went out for my birthday this year and they kindly squeezed us in but just barely.
When my 4yr old and 2 yr old nephews joined us for dinner one night, the owner came and talked to the boys and gave them suckers and little toys. Â He is so very kind and welcoming! Â I always order the cabbage rolls and can't talk myself into anything else because once you find perfection, it's hard to change it up but my husband swears by the Donner Kabaabs. Â Go! Â You will not be disappointed!
We're here in Indy for work and tired of the same ol downtown bar and grille action. Didn't really feel like going to a high end place either.
This place ROCKS!
Chicken Med and Lamb/Beef Combo were delicious. Would have preferred a small portion of the appetizer and dinner at lower price... The dinner, service and ambiance were great. It's a casual place for any type of dinner and even has a romantic flare to it if you're looking for a little culture to add to your date.
I'd go out of my way here to eat here.
This is a great restaurant I've been to many times, generally for lunch. It is located in an old building that clearly used to be a house. The owner is an extremely warm and friendly guy from Turkey. They have a nice lunch deal where you can get an entree and an appetizer (hummus, tabbouleh, grape leaves, or salad) for around $8. My favorite entree is the adana kebab. (My spelling may be off a bit, as I don't have a menu in front of me.) It is made of minced lamb and beef and has a slightly spicy flavor. My friends often get the lamb kabobs and kofta, and rave about them.
I haven't been there for dinner too many times, but I've always enjoyed my meals. Dinner prices are higher than lunch, obviously. They also sell beer and wine.
Only two things kept me from giving it 5 stars. On extremely hot days the restaurant can get really warm. Also, the quality of the wait staff can be a little hit and miss. But if it is less than 90 degrees (F) out, you won't regret visiting the Bosphorus!
Super quick update: 10 friends and I held court here last night at the hookah lounge for a couple of hours. We had an exceptionally good time. Our waitress was outstanding, the food was great, and we had wonderful hookah.
It's a great place to take a group and just relax. We had been there a couple of hours and likely could have stayed for a couple more if we didn't have somewhere else to be.
We decided to try this place on a whim after eating a lot of Turkish food in London last month. Â Our greeting was great and they had a table ready in minutes for us at the front window, very nice (view of Lilly).
The decor is kind of interesting but still very nice. Â The tables were the first thing that were a little strange. Â They are regular tables with a type of woven throw over them. Â But to keep them nice, they put a paper tablecloth over them. Â It makes the table top very unstable for drinks (as our waitress learned). Â I think the throw is very nice but not functional as a table covering and the paper kind of cheapens the experience
Our waitress was very nice and sociable but it was extremely obvious that she was new and didn't have waiting experience. Â This was obvious from the slow refills, and empty plates on our table.
We ordered the Zucchini pancake appetizer, and the Feta Cheese Plate. Â Both were excellent, the pancakes had the perfect texture. Â The cheese plate needed more than one slice of tomato but other than that it was a generous portion. Â We also ordered salads, my wife had the green salad and I had the shepherds salad. Â She enjoyed her salad and I also enjoyed mine as the portion was generous and the light dressing they use had a great flavor. Â For the main course I got the chicken kabob and my wife got the chicken couscous. Â We enjoyed both, the kabob portion was a little small but tasted great. Â The chicken was moist and the rice was cooked perfectly. Â My wife's dish had a much bigger portion. Â She said it tasted great and the couscous was perfectly cooked. Â If presentation matters to you, her dish didn't look "pretty."
Overall, the food was excellent, this chef knows his Turkish food. Â The waitress really needs to get a little OJT, but she was nice, and that does count for something. Â The atmosphere was ok, there was a loud group in the back and I had to ask my wife to speak up so I could hear her.
So 5 stars for the food quality, 3 stars for the service, averages to 4 stars. Â I'd go back here!
Special thank you to Indy Yelpers. Â I was coming in from CA and looking for a place to have a staff dinner (with co-workers who were all coming in from CA) and you steered me in the right direction. Â Thank you!
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Â A delicious Turkish meal in the middle of Indianapolis. Â The staff is welcoming, friendly and eager to talk about all of the dishes with you. Â I had my first Turkish (white) wine here - it was really good - it reminded me of a Riesling. Â Â The portions are large - definitely enough for you to take home leftovers. Â Don't skip out on the appetizers - they're wonderful (every single one). Â If you're looking for a place to eat downtown, skip the meat-and-potato centric restaurants (do you really need to go to Palomino, again?) and check out Bosphorus, instead. Â (technically, it's not downtown, but it's less than 2 miles from downtown.)
I brought an out-of-town friend to Bosphorus for some good Turkish food (both of us had spent a good amount of time in Turkey), and I was not disappointed. I agree with Carey that Turkish food is nothing to be intimidated by--in fact, there are plenty of dishes that we think of as "Greek" (baklava springs to mind!) that the Turks absolutely insist are Turkish. I won't insert myself into that battle, but either way, the food at Bosphorus is fantastic.
We started out with the Borek, and they were filled with that special kind of "beyaz penir" (cheese) that I had not had since Istanbul. For dinner proper, I had the Iskender, which is basically chunks of meat in a scrumptious tomato-y kind of sauce. Mmmm. I think we were too stuffed for dessert, unfortunately, but I'm sure they have some good ones. They did not, sadly, have my favorite Turkish dessert, which is kunefe for anyone in the know.
Give Bosphorus a try when you're looking for something delicious and different.
I recently went to the Bosphorus for dinner for the first time. I went a few years ago for lunch and was impressed with the vegetarian dish and Turkish coffee, so I was excited to finally go for dinner! My boyfriend and I headed there on a Friday night and were impressed. He had never ate Turkish food before, but loves Greek food, so it was easy to convince him to give it a try. If you have friends who are squeamish eaters, let them know that Turkish cuisine isn't too unusual...some people seem to think it is more exotic than it is! The spices (garlic, mint, oregano) and other ingredients (lamb, feta, olive oil, pita) are pretty similar to Greek cuisine.
We had the Borek as an appetizer. Based on it's menu description (Flaky pastry filled with feta cheese and parsley), I thought it would be just like Greek Tyropita (cheese pies). I was wrong - Borek is actually shaped more like a small eggroll than the typical triangular Tyropita. It is delicious! The restaurant serves it on a platter with hummus, olives, tomatoes and lettuce (kind of a mini salad). Their hummus is excellent - not too garlicky and with a great texture. I highly recommend getting the Borek appetizer - it was my favorite part of the meal!
We also had the Bosphorus Salad, which was big enough for us to share. It's actually served with a couple of dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) right in it, which is a nice surprise! I like the dolmades at the Bosphorus better than those at Santorini... another good item to try here!
I had the Lamb Mediterranean for dinner - it was good, but next time I think I will try something else. The lamb is served with the usual mix of tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices. It was good, but the meat (I'm not sure what cut it was), wasn't quite as tender as leg of lamb. My boyfriend had the Shrimp Casserole, which he really liked (but advised to look out for pieces of the shell occasionally). We took the Baklava home for dessert, and it was probably my least favorite part of the meal - the filling didn't have enough nuts in it to seem like a real Baklava should.
This is a great place to sample Turkish food in Indy (the website declares it to be the first Turkish restaurant in the state)-- the portions are generous and the food is delish! Two last tips: you can save money here by getting coupons at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Coupons4Indy.com&s=122450f7c4bbf50a098fb83d7cd3568e8eed3151a1cd7ff3b78847fbc061d364" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.Coupons4Indy.…</a> or by a gift certificate at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Restaurant.com&s=74d1b8d71a10ede4ab02b84422371a1f95a453b7370a69fd338559d7418ae791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.Restaurant.com</a>.
I was really impressed with Bosphorus. Â I LOVE Mediterranean/middle eastern food and I grew up near a Greek family, so I am very picky.
The food was phenomenal. Â Our group shared hommus, dolmas and calamari for appetizers. Â Everything was delicious. Â For the entree I tried the Chicken Couscous. Â Normally, I don't like couscous but it was delicious. Â Just the right amount of spicy.
The staff was more than accomodating with our large group. Â They don't split checks for parties of 6 or more, so bring cash if you're going with a group of people.
The only drawback is that there isn't really a parking lot for the restaurant, but we were able to park on the street with no problems.
Had a great time, I'll DEFINITELY eat there again.
i love the AMBIANCE!! it's even more colorful than before, we went tonight!!!
Then the FABULOUS FOOD came out
we LOVE Everything about this restr
the Entire Staff is so friendly & helpful
i'm excited that they have  LUNCH sandwiches
i'm craving their Lamb dishes
& OMG THE TURKISH COFFEE
it will WAKE you UP!!
GET THE BIG APPETIZERS PLATTER!!! we swap out the grape leaves for Feta Cheese
OMG the Pita Bread is to Die for & just keeps coming!!
we love the Mediterranean dishes I like the Lamb, my friends like the beef or chicken
small outdoor seating but it's Beautiful Inside
we love the Tabouli
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bosphorusca&s=be42de14f8992f3d037f5d2744240be068af9b8ede9862e2ed1afb0bd59dc37b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.bosphorusca</a>...
from Start to Finish, it's a Treat!!
Look for the Purple House
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