05/16/09

Only Efes about this place is the beer

by LuvTRfood

Having lived and worked in Turkey we went to Efes expecting authentic Turkish food and service. We did look up the menu online and without reading the deep details ( several items have tandouri) decided to make the trip to Tempe. Expecting real Turkish food we ordered Turkish beer, several appitizers and Iskender. Nothing other than the Efes beer was authentic. All the food had a an off taste of a spice we never tasted in Turkey. Reading the other reviews here ( which we did not do before we went) we now undestand why. We have eated at the place on Mill street where the original owner ( a Turk) has a small place that has real Turkish food.Please go there if you want a meal that is prepared in an authentic manner. Very disapointed.

• Pros: Real Turkish beer
• Cons: Food is not Turkish

02/08/09

Efes Turkish Cuisine

by 11diamonds

Took a friend there, she recommended based on a meal several years ago.

Now, we inquired about the owners, two Iraqi?s, Mexican cook, waitress chewed her nails as she took our order - food was inedible -

The decor was pleasant and inviting although the tables were too high to sit on the floor and too low for pillowed couches where you had to genuflect to get to your food.

I found that by lying down on the couch and eating left handed blocked the nausea and one hand clapping.

• Pros: decor was pleasant
• Cons: everything else

07/13/08

What they call "iskender" is not "the real Turkish iskender"

by FromTurkey

I went to this restaurant once. As a Turkish person living in USA for a while, I had great expectations. I ordered hummus and iskender. Hummus was not that bad, but it was not as thick as it supposed to be. I would not recommend eating hummus there.

I love eating iskender, but I cannot call the dish they are serving is "iskender". I guess due to their Mexican chiefs, the meat was full of different spices and it didn't taste as "iskender" at all. It was something else. I don't want other country's citizens to know "iskender" as they make it in Efes Turkish Cuisine. For Turkish people, sakin orada iskender yemeyin, buyuk bir hayal kirikligi...

I recommend the owners to change the name of the restaurant. Nothing there is "Turkish". Even not the music...

11/17/07

Worst place ever. Do not go there if you want good food or good service

by gisela_m

The restaurant was owned by a Turkish family. They were very friendly and served excellent Turkish food. Since Iraqis took over, the food changed. They use can dolma and can hummus. The Mexican cook puts in everything some kind of Mexican hot sauce, which makes everything taste the same. Even in lentil soup, which is usually not supposed to be hot.

However the worst experience I had in this restaurant was, when the waitress dropped the steak knife on the floor. Instead of giving me another one, she just picked the knife up from the floor, put it back on the plate, walked over to my table and put it in front of me. When I told her that this was unacceptable, she insured me that the floor was clean. Without touching the food I left. I will never go there anymore. Instead of calling the restaurant "Efes Turkish cuisine, they should rename it "Efes, watered down Turkish cuisine".

• Pros: The live music on the weekends is good
• Cons: The food is not even close to turkish cuisine.

01/22/07

Good food, environment, bad owner.

by evaniax

First, the food and environment are very nice. It's a relaxing Turkish setting that's hard to find -- except in Turkey.

I used to be a regular customer and have heavily recommended the place in the past. However, the ownership changed. The woman owner is in the completely wrong business. She is quite frankly unpleasant, rude and blunt. She never smiles or engages in conversation as you would expect from an owner. If you can go sometime she's not there, Efes might be a pleasant experience.

What's worst is their current policy on tea. They charge $3.50 for a (normal-slightly small sized) kettle. They provide no refills after that - despite the fact that the tea is already made and easily available from a dispenser in the room. Recently, I bought two pots of tea and afterwards asked for a small amount more. The woman owner bluntly and rudely refused with a scowl on her face and said that she would charge me for another full kettle of tea. What kind of owner wouldn't even offer a complimentary cup after someone had already paid $7 for tea??

I honestly don't know if I'll ever go back. I do know that I will never eat there again if she's there.

If you don't care about service or hospitality, Efes is the place for you.

• Pros: Food and environment is very good and authentic.
• Cons: Most unpleasant restaurant owner I've ever met.

10/02/06

Disappointed

by zeynep7

Dolma from a can and traditional Turkish tea from Lipton... It was very dissapointed experience as a Turkish person. I have been in many Turkish restaurants in different cities in States and obviously in Turkey. This place can not represent traditional Turkish cuisine and I can say the place can be rated below average. Main interest might be having belly dancer and live music (eventually it is not Turkish music) but these are not helpful to eat quality food.

04/18/06

Too meager with the food

by firefly_serenity

I must be fair and state this is based on one item. Maybe the other stuff is good. I ordered a falafel sandwich. I asked if they could put hummice in it. They said the sandwich doesn't normally have hummice in it, but I asked for it anyway. When I got the sandwich it was really small. Each bite simply tasted like I was eating pita bread. There was so little filling. And, it's not like they were trying to save money by not using too much meat, it's vegetables! Load it with vegetables! As for the hummice, they did technically put some in, put it was about a tablespoons worth spread over the entire area of a pita bread and rolled up. This was not a pleasant meal, and at $7, definitely not a good deal. Like I said, I will not be back.

• Pros: interior comfortable, good service
• Cons: bad food, relatively pricey

10/27/05

Find former chef at a new location!

by starlightjulian

I haven't been back since my first review 2 years ago (see below). Partly because of the terrible service I had experienced there, and partly because a coworker's cousin of mine has opened a new restaurant on Mill Ave. and 5th that employs the former chef that made excellent food at Efe's Turkish Cuisine (note the earlier great reviews of others). I did dine there a week ago and had the combo plate of marinated chicken and beef with salad, pickled veggies, tabouli, creamy garlic dip, rice, and pita. What a great meal!

The ambience is definitely not like Efe's, but if you're looking for a satisfying and tasty meal, look no further than Med Fresh on Mill and 5th!

• Pros: Fresh and tasty meals, Clean kitchen
• Cons: Cafeteria setting

12/12/04

Excellent for vegetarians!

by the-new-wave

I have been vegetarian for almost 5 years now and have been living in the valley my whole life. Efes has proven to be one of my favorite dining destinations since I discovered it with my friends a few months ago. They have, quite possibly, the greatest free appetizer - warm freshly sliced pita served with two excellent sauces. The green bean entree is so tasty and the spinach bareka is even better. The staff are laid back - sometimes a bit too much so. Give this restaurant a try. You won't regret it.

• Pros: Ambience, Excellent food, Great portion Size

Authentic Turkish kitchen tempts Tempe with a unique experience saturated with color, taste and ambience.

by Contributor

In Short
The aromas of garlic and mint draw hipsters and in-the-know locals to simple tables amid images of the Ottoman Empire. Across the bar, handcrafted cushions and rugs adorn the "sark" room, encouraging intimate chat and reflecting the rich colors of Turkish holy places. Whet your palate with Yaprak Sarma (stuffed grapeleaves) before devouring Iskender, a masterpiece of sinfully tender beef, gently spiced tomatoes and yogurt sauce. Finish with Chef Orhan's citrus rice pudding.