Anatolian Kitchen

We visited Anatolian Kitchen in Palo Alto for a team dinner, and it turned out to be a great evening all around. A big plus right off the bat was that there’s a public parking lot less than a minute’s walk away, which makes visiting very convenient.Levant was an amazing host who took excellent care of our table throughout the night being attentive, friendly, and always on top of things. Everyone at the table had a wonderful time. We started by ordering a mix of appetizers for the table, and they set the tone perfectly: 3-combo appetizer platter – an absolute standout; fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. Everybody enjoyed the contents with the bread that was served. Falafel – crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and very satisfying Pan-fried calamari – tender and well seasoned Beet salad and Anatolian salad – fresh, vibrant, and refreshing Every appetizer was excellent, but the combo platter clearly stole the show. The main course spread was impressive, with something for everyone: Iskender – rich, comforting, and full of flavor Chicken Adana – bold, juicy, and well spiced Vegetable moussaka – hearty and comforting Grilled chicken shish – tender and flavorful Grilled salmon – perfectly cooked and fresh Grilled lamb shish – juicy and delicious Whole Branzino – absolutely amazing; this was my order and I loved every bite. Vegetarian turlu – (Stewed tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, and carrot served with rice pilaf) well-balanced and satisfying We ended the evening with three orders of family-style desserts, and the desserts were truly standout, rounding off the meal on a high note. I also placed a separate to-go order that included a mixed grilled platter and grilled lamb shish. While the food itself was excellent and tasted just as good at home, the only downside was being charged a large party fee, even though this was a separate personal to-go order. That aside, the quality and flavor were still top-notch, with clear 5-star food written all over it. Overall, Anatolian Kitchen delivers exceptional Turkish cuisine, generous portions, and great service. Minor billing hiccup aside (for the to go order which ideally should have been separate from the table), this was a wonderful experience, and it’s a place I’d happily recommend and return to.

A large group of folks from our workplace decided to visit a Turkish Middle eastern restaurant as we were coming to the end of an event. It was decided to gather at the Anatolian Kitchen at 5 pm. I was able to find the parking within 2 minutes walking distance which was a huge plus considering I was not local and drove my own car. The server was patient enough as all of us arrived, gathered and decided to order or drinks. Once we were all in, we were helped with the selection of starters followed by the main course. Everything tasted delicious and there wasn't one person in the group of 12 that had anything bad to say. As we getting done, we were told about the family style platter of desserts. We ordered a few for the table and it made the evening close nicely. Delicious food with great service and perfect music that we could lightly listen to but wasn't too loud to not let us talk.

Anatolian Kitchen is such a warm and welcoming place! The service is always friendly and attentive, which immediately makes you feel at home. The food is incredibly fresh and flavorful — you can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The manti are absolutely delicious, perfectly prepared and full of flavor. I also loved their fresh vegetable salads — simple, vibrant, and full of taste. It’s a great spot for anyone who appreciates authentic, well-made food and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend!

The problem with Anatolian Kitchen is that nothing is memorable. It wasn't like we had terribly bad food or the atmosphere was noisy, or the server was negligent. In many ways, everything at Anatolian Kitchen was just middle of the line. But I think that is the problem, especially when you are situated on California Ave where culinary competition increases by the year. The food is standard mediterranean. You get your healthy mix of pitas, cucumber and yogurt based dips, hummus, and lamb or beef. Standard presentation. Standard mixture. Everything is bland but not enough to complain. They're cooked well, but nothing is memorable. And the last thing you want is bland beef or lamb kebabs that have no personality whatsoever. This is common across many mediterranean joints and again, this isn't detrimental for Anatolian for my never vowing to return again. But you're not going to go there for food. That much I can say. Fortunately, I had great company and we had a wonderful time. Perhaps that's the only reason why I've left it at 3 stars. And as a slap i the face, the dessert - a coconut rice pudding - came cold from the fridge. Perhaps that is how it was meant to be served but coldness and rice just doesn't go well together. Anatolian Kitchen has a lot to be desired but I don't want to just write it off. They have potential. They have the right intent. They just need to bring in the attitude into the food.

I had a great dining experience at Anatolian Kitchen! We started with the eggplant purée, which was decent, and the lentil soup, which was flavorful and comforting. The octopus salad wasn’t my favorite, but the truffle fries were absolutely delicious—highly recommended. For the main course, the shish kebab was unfortunately quite tough and hard to chew, but the Adana kebab was full of flavor and cooked perfectly. The real highlight of the meal was the branzino fish—fresh, tender, and beautifully prepared. We ended the night with baklava and künefe paired with Turkish tea, and they were both amazing—perfectly sweet and satisfying. The hospitality really stood out; our server was attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. Overall, I had a good time and will definitely be coming back!

New favorite restaurant. The food is so delicious and the service is impeccable. My younger brother is scared of bugs so we asked them to turn on the heaters next to us and then eventually asked to move inside and they were accommodating with all. They always replenished our waters and bread. Best service I have ever gotten.

Had the mixed appetizer platter, veggie moussaka, falafel plate and truffle fries — all solid picks. The place is definitely on the pricier side, and I expected the service to match that. We went during a slow time with only one other group there, but the staff seemed pretty disengaged, mostly on their phones, and it took a few tries to get their attention. Great food, but the service definitely needs a little work to match the vibe and price.

Definitely not my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. Their Muhamarra lacked flavor and they didn't serve flat bread with it which was odd to me. I ordered Manti. It was good but not great. Three in my group ordered veggie Mousakka. Two said it was very good, one didn't care for it. The Baklava was the biggest disappointment to me. It was not sweet at all. Just filo and pistachio with a tiny bit of honey drizzled on top. Good thing we also ordered something with ice cream because with the ice cream, it was somewhat sweet and enjoyable. Without it, it was very bland. I was also disappointed in the menu. There wasn't a lot I wanted to order. But that's me. I did like the ambience which was a bit on the casual side instead of fancy which we wanted, and our waiter was so nice and caring. Together, that made the entire atmosphere very nice. Do check the menu ahead of time and if there is enough to choose from to delight your palate, go for it.

Brought my mom this time for a spontaneous dinner. She loves lamb, but I have never had a good lamb experience. We ordered the lamb shish kebab (which I had my reservations about, but she really wanted it), manti (because I loved it so much last time), red lentil soup, truffle fries, pistachios baklava, and Turkish tea. The lamb shish kebab was actually amazing!!! I won't say I've converted to a lamb fan, but rather a California-Ave's-Anatolian-Kitchen-lamb-fan! Each time an item came out, we were pleasantly surprised by the portion size--honestly, you get more than what you pay for. It's decent portion sizes for the price! We ate more than our fill, and we had leftovers to take home. Sat outside on the patio with our dog, love the table lamps, love the heat lamps, really clean drinking glasses, clear and clean flat water, and kind servers (ALL of them!).

As a Turkish person, I approve this restaurant :) Book it and order iskender if you like to taste a real Turkish döner without visiting Turkey. Additionally, I tried almost everything in the menu and they were all outstanding. The service and ambiance are also exceptional. Their meze's are perfect for a nice rakı night also. I particularly like muhammara and the feta cheese platter with my rakı. Cheers.

First time dining here. Restaurant is cozy and our wait person was very personable. Service was great. We ordered a couple of appetizers to start - hummus and muhamurra. Hummus was a little too 'beany' for me but tasted great. The muhamurrah was delicious and the dipping oil that came with it was delicious. I think it was a sumac infused oil. Tasted great with the muhamurrah. Our waiter kept the bread coming! Bread was more of a focaccia bread than a lavoosh, so it was a little heavier but we totally enjoyed it. Thank you! We also had a lychee martini and a smoky old fashioned. Both were excellent. For our entree, we ordered chicken Adana kebab, Adana kebab (lamb), chicken shish and the octopus salad. The kebab entrees came with grilled vegetables and rice pilaf. The person who ordered the octopus salad commented that there were a lot of octopus in the salad and said it was delicious. We were too stuffed to have any dessert! Would definitely come back again. Food and service were excellent. Note: lighting was a little dim so it was difficult to get great pictures of the menu. Rating: 4.5

Delicious food! Very good service. Amazing desserts. Very cozy inside. Definitely will go back again.

We had a super experience here. The sidewalk cafes are really pleasant on California Ave, and they have terrific happy hour specials here. We got a platter of vegetarian appetizers for only $16. There was mummahara, two kinds of eggplant, yogurt with cucumber, and hummus. And great bread. We did not take a chance on the house wine, but got Albarinos from the regular menu for 14. They were just OK. Service was a bit inconsistent, very friendly, but sometimes a bit slow. But our entrées were fabulous. I got vegetarian moussaka from the regular menu, and my friend got the happy hour special for salmon. All in all, it was exceptionally reasonable for a ton of delicious food and a fabulous patio. I would come here again!!

Not good. The food was terrible and the service was really pushy. Opened a bunch of water we didn't ask for and pushed wines on us when there were perfectly good cheaper options. Smarmy vibes. Skip it.

Returning customer. The fish is the best. I like its beef tongue, but it does not have it any more. The foods are generally delicious. Good tea, too.

My wife and I have been searching for a nice little date spot and I came across Anatolian. This restaurant is nice and spacious which you wouldn't imagine by the size of the exterior. We went during lunch so they weren't that busy. They have patio dining which was pretty full and we were one of two tables inside. Everything we ordered was amazing. From the appetizers, which we ate before we could take a picture of, to the dessert everything was incredible. The whole meal was absolutely perfect and we can't wait to come back for a dinner. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the service left a little to be desired. Otherwise, it was a great dining experience in a beautiful part of Palo Alto that we'll be back to visit.

We were greeted by a charming lady at the door and were served by a friendly and helpful server. The food was delicious at a reasonable price for a nice sit down dinner in Palo Alto. Bread was fresh and warm. Even before we finished the bread, we were offered another basket. Chicken Adana Kebab and Lamb Shish Kebab were well seasoned. Moussaka was juicy and more delicious than some served at the expensive restaurant downtown PA. Dessert was awesome, Pistachio Baklava and specially the Kunefe. It was our first time here and I was impressed by the quality of food and service here, this place is underrated. We will come back for sure.

This is my first review since they moved to the relatively new location on California Avenue a few years ago. Unfortunately, the place lost a lot of its charm in the process and inside feels more like a wine bar converted into a Turkish restaurant than anything else. It's also quite crowded in the interior, crowded enough that I won't be back. (They say the rain last night forced them to move a few tables inside,) So, the ambiance is modern, neutral, non-descript. The food however remains very good and the service is great. We had the dolma (just ok) and the fried cheese cigars (very good) to start and then the adana kebab (excellent) and the chicken shish kebab (excellent) for the main courses. The food was great, the portions were perfect -- not too big. We shared profiteroles for dessert and they were very, very good. Net: food is very good, interior is tight, the outside tables look nice, and the service is friendly. I probably won't be back because I can stay in Los Altos for a similar experience at Urfa. I'm sure the move has made this place more profitable, but it's lost a bit too much charm in the process.

The best thing about this place was the service. Everyone was so gracious, and just acted as if us enjoying our meal was the most important thing to us! Our waiter, and the rest of the staff were all so sweet and warm, and made us feel like family. Cute, narrow space with an upscale/romantic vibe. Both indoor and outdoor seating, with heat lamps. These days I have to have a glass of wine with dinner, and they had a nice selection and I enjoyed the red that was recommended. We ordered the following: Girit- a thick cheese dip perfect for dipping with their complimentary bread Branzino- in general, I prefer thicker juicy fish, but I'd say this was pretty standard for branzino. The fish was thin, but it was a ample portion, not particularly tender but flavor was good. Chicken Kebab- well flavored, I felt it wasn't that tender, but my husband felt that it was as tender as chicken breast kebabs can be. They offered us a refill of the complimentary bread, freshly baked to-go. I told him we were in a hurry so didn't have time for dessert, and the waiter said we just had to try their sweets and gave us a complimentary pieces to go! BEST service!!!

Came on Sunday evening after work and had a great time - food was great, service is amazing. Located right on California ave in Palo Alto with plenty of parking near by (California street is bike and pedestrian friendly, no cars allowed). Definitely will be back

Pretty empty for weekday lunch so we had the patio to ourselves. Everything was seasoned really well and had great flavor, but the lamb kebab I ordered was a bit tough and dry rather than succulent and juicy, so it was probably overcooked. The bulgur beef balls also weren't juicy and were dry-ish balls that crumbled, so not the most satisfying. The bread with spiced oil was delicious though and the presentation was great.

This restaurant has great options for indoor and outdoor seating. I've been here a few times and I almost always get the Adana kabob. It's super juicy and tender. All times I came I had a reservation so seating was quick. Service is also in general pretty quick and waiters were all fun and friendly My only reason to knock off a star is because I don't feel like the pricing matches the portion size. Portions are pretty small and you can probably for the same price get double portions at comparable Turkish restaurants.

Been here multiple times with friends. This place never disappoints. We enjoyed the outdoor seating during lunch hours. The service is good; the food is great; but best of all is the authentic Turkish coffee.

We ordered a selection of dishes for lunch, including the mix appetizer platter, calamari, shepherd's salad, mixed grill, grilled salmon, moussaka, and Alexander's favorite. All of the dishes were fresh and well prepared -- and topped off the meal with a delightful Turkish coffee. Will be back!

Anatolian Kitchen is quite close to my office, so have a business lunch or two there most weeks. The food is always delicious. The service is world class. A great addition to Cal Ave!

Such a beautiful lunch! It's so nice sitting outside and enjoy a delicious Turkish and Mediterranean meal. Mix appetizer platter (4/5): 6 samplings of their appetizer served with pita. This is great to share with a group. Grilled octopus salad (5/5): the octopus was grilled perfectly and had so much flavor. Next time I would ask for the dressing on the side since there was a lot in ours. Branzino (5/5): Branzino is delicious and this one is too. Such a large portion and served with salad and some potatoes. We would definitely come back just for this. Manti (3/5): these tiny beef dumplings were interesting. It was served brown herb butter and garlic yogurt sauce so quite a heavy dish. We also found it to be bland and wished the meat filling had more seasoning. Alexander's favorite (3.75/5): this was almost like a deconstructed gyro but baked in sauce so the bread underneath was soft. We liked it but not what we had expected and probably not something we would order again. Ambiance and service (5/5): the restaurant is modern inside and we enjoyed the outdoor space. Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Wonderful food and service! I was pleasantly surprised by what a good meal we had. Stopped by for a late lunch on Sunday afternoon and was seated right away. Our order was taken right away and we were checked on and had our waters filled up several times throughout the meal. The food was flavorful and presentation was spot on as well. I'd suggest doing family style so that you can try a few different dishes. I'd highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Had the chance to try Anatolian Kitchen this past weekend and really glad I did! I had seen this pop up in the Palo Alto area and the food looked delicious! This is a great spot for date night or hanging out with friends - the ambiance is super cozy and the service is amazing. Once we got here we were served with bread and some olive oil sauce which was looked yummy but a little on the blander side. For the food we ordered: * eggplant with bell peppers in a tomato sauce - this was cold (which it's supposed to be) and went well with the bread. Definitely flavorful *chicken kabobs - this was really yummy - the chciken was juicy, the rice was delicious and the salad was refreshing. The veggies on the side were well roasted. Overall fantastic food and service was great. I am knocking off one star only because I felt that the prices were on the higher side compared to the portions that were served. Definitely check this spot out though!

This place exceeded our expectations! We didn't have rezzies, but they accepted a walk-in for two at 5:45 on a Saturday evening. We sat outside and thankfully there were heat lamps! Ambiance: they did a great job with the ambiance. The music, lights, and exposed brick wall indoors really adds to the experience. Super random but their bathroom is really nice lol. Service: They really nailed this. The hostess was friendly and engaging and the waiter was from Turkey and reminded my husband and me of people in Italy (probably would have reminded us of people from Turkey ... but we've never been there lol); the waiter would say things like "I will make that for you. You will love this dish." If you're indecisive, it can be really helpful lol. We ended up not loving the feta dish (the hot one that looked like cigars, and they were fine with taking it off of our bill). Food: Flavors are excellent. We got the mixed appetizer dish, and everything was incredible. Each part of it was so flavorful and unique. Loved the fresh bread they brought out and liked those over the pita chips. The house salad was refreshing - especially with the pickled cabbage and citrus. We got the baklava with the Turkish coffee and tea. Definitely recommend having a bit of the strawberry, whipped cream, and pistachio baklava all at once, rather than eating them separately. My husband thought it could have more syrup, but I thought it was perfectly sweet. Turkish tea was a tad bit oversteeped, but I liked it overall. We didn't end up ordering a main entree but could have if we were a bit more hungry, but loved sharing a big appetizer and dessert. We were happily surprised with this place and will definitely be back!

Had not been here in a couple of years - and did not realize that it had moved from its previous location. I love the new location - very cozy and nicely set up. The food is extremely good - just as good as I remembered it from the pre-COVID days - vegetarian choices are limited, but nothing to complain about. Everything is seasoned just right - and the carry out held its own very well the next day. Service is extremely attentive and we had a great evening. Will definitely go back.

Really good, authentic taste, Turkish! I had Iskender kebab and my wife had Adana kebab.My Iskender was fabulous and authentic. The Adana was also very good but...small with only one kebab and difficult to eat on the presentation of a wooden plate. And the salad bowl was too small making it difficult to eat. The complimentary bread wasn't good. Bummer, we love real Turkish eck meck. I had low expectations of food taste. I'm so glad my expectations were wrong. This is the best Turkish I've eaten in California.

It was my first time to meet with friends at Anatolian Kitchen restaurant and I came at lunch time. I love it and will come again. The special "feature" here is how they serve your food. It's just a piece of art! The portions at first seem small but they are indeed full-filling. The wrap was served with the fries. The meat went with rice. My favorite baklava came with whipped cream and oranges. Delicious! The menu is not big but there are different option from vegetarian to sea food and delicious desserts. The prices are average for this kind of restaurant, $$. The staff is friendly and do their best to serve the customers. The place is not cozy and rather big with the outdoor area.

Anatolian Kitchen offers a delightful dining experience with a mix of well-prepared dishes. For appetizers, we tried the calamari fries and falafel, both of which were satisfying and well-executed. The main course featured a grilled Branzino that was perfectly cooked, and the chicken Adana kebab, which was flavorful and tender. While the food quality was impressive, the portions were smaller than expected, which is the only reason for the 4-star rating. Despite this, the overall experience was enjoyable, and the flavors were on point.

Booked my team holiday lunch here and they were lovely to work with. So accommodating and easy! Lots of nearby street and lot parking options, even on a busy day. The staff was very attentive and helpful, and pretty humorous which our group appreciated. They were good about drink refills and keeping our many orders straight, and also making recommendations. The food was really delicious- I blew it and got a salad bcs I'm trying to be good for the holidays, and it was delicious but I had serious fomo looking at everything everyone else got. Next time I'm going for the kabobs which everyone declared as juicy and delicious. Yum! De

- The best chicken shish! 12/10 - Falafel hot appetizer - delicious, flavorful and a decent portion size that is enough to share. - Mixed grill is a great dish to get familiar with all the proteins.

Had a dinner for about 12 plus people and they accommodated very well! The space had minimal seating inside but more seating outside but the food was spectacular! Had great service from staff as well!

We had an absolutely unforgettable experience at Anatolian Kitchen! Our group of 11 was celebrating two birthdays, From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was exceptional. The staff made sure every detail was perfect, and the attention to our needs was remarkable. The food was outstanding--authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Each dish was a delight, and the ambiance added to the celebratory mood. Levent and Ata made us feel like family, and their warmth and professionalism truly stood out. If you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy an amazing meal, Anatolian Kitchen is the place to go. We can't recommend it highly enough!

I always love coming here! The vibes are so nice sitting outside! The service is always amazing, and the food is always so nicely presented and so fresh!

This food is so so good! The service is fabulous and I particularly like going for lunch because it's so pleasant to sit on the patio.

3.5 STARS Inflation. It makes your wallet cry but what can you do? It is what it is. But, when the food doesn't taste the same as before... *Heart sinks* Especially when food is your love language! I was SO happy to see Anatolian Kitchen re-open in DTPA because their Alexander's Favorite (Iskender Kebab) was my fav in the Bay Area. They took over The Port of Peri Peri space and are open for takeout, delivery, indoor dining, and dog-friendly outdoor dining. M E N U Turkish cuisine: Cold + Hot Apps ($14-$36), Soups + Salads ($12-$23), Entrees ($24.95-$34.95). Full bar! F O O D * Complimentary Pide w/ olive oil, balsamic, garlic dip: https://tinyurl.com/395p6yvf When some restaurants are charging $5-$8 for bread, Anatolian Kitchen continues to provide free pide! The housemade pide was served hot - it's crunchy on the outside light + fluffy on the inside. The accompanying dip was punchy and flavorful. * Pan-Fried Calf Liver w/ house salad ($16): https://tinyurl.com/2p9avua3 The liver was tasty with warming spices (reminds me of shaokao skewers) but overcooked so it was on the tough, grainy side. Served with spiced sliced red onions for refreshing sharp bite. * Alexander's Favorite aka İskender kebab: Layered ground lamb+beef, pita bread cubes, tomato sauce, yogurt, sizzling butter ($28.95): https://tinyurl.com/49dz974e Aside from the now steep pricing, I was disappointed that the recipe changed. At the old location, the döner kebab was rich, juicy slices of ground lamb + beef that held its shape (like a gyro). Now, the slices have the texture of pot roast. Others may prefer the latter but I miss how it used to be. The buttered hot tomato sauce over crunchy "croutons" with a side of cold tangy yogurt were on-point tho! * Special of the Night: Lamb Chops w/ asparagus, salad, fries ($40): https://tinyurl.com/5dnbzvm6 Not what we expected; there were no Turkish (or Mediterranean) elements. I thought the lamb chops would be marinated but they were just lightly seasoned with s&p and cooked to a medium (requested medium rare). Tender but prefer more char. Served with mixed greens + tomatoes with a vinaigrette and a basket of fries. It was fine but had we known it would be served American style, we wouldn't have ordered it. S E R V I C E Friendly and prompt; one of two tables for early Sunday dinner. A M B I A N C E Cozy date night vibes with exposed brick walls and opulent chandeliers. Purple LED lightening at the bar (like at their previous location that's now Naschmarkt Restaurant, same owners). Pleasant outdoor seating with heat lamps. California street is closed to traffic. P A R K I N G Street and lot parking. Rarely have issues. Overall, the food was fine at Anatolian Kitchen's new location. Just bummed that the İskender kebab doesn't taste the same.

Amazing food and customer service. We ordered catering from here and from start to finish I was blown away by the amazing service. I worked with Levemt and I told him my guest count and budget and he took care of the rest, creating the perfect menu. Our guest loved the food! Highly recommend this place for catering for your next event l!

Noelle's Yelp Notebook 2023 Post Pandemic Chronicles At one glance I loved you With a thousand hearts They can hold against me No sin except my love for you Come to me Don't go away Let the zealots think Loving is sinful Never mind Let me burn in the hellfire Of that sin -Mihri Hatun Dear Anatolian Kitchen, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I love your undeniably romantic ambiance, the sleek hardwood floors, marble tables, sparkling chandeliers that make everything feel beautiful and magical beyond words. I love your delectable and most delicious food- I crave the doner kebab, the cold eggplant appetizer, the steak dish, and most especially the Branzino. Every bite is beyond amazing. So satisfying. The fries. Oh, the fries- they are the best I've ever had. I love your kunefe, pumpkin dessert with the tahini. The Turkish coffee. The Turkish tea. Every bite is bliss. I love how I can come here by myself and have the most amazing meal. Or come with my family. Or come with my husband for date night. You make my heart so happy in so many ways. I love how there are too many reasons why I love you... I love how this is the most romantic place on California, Avenue :) xoxo, noelle p.s. ily Seni seviyorum

I would like to give special credit to Levent for exceptional service. The food was just out of this world, every thing was delicious. I would definitely recommend trying the veggie platter it was just awesome. Levent was kind enough to go out of his way and make me a mocktail. I can't wait to visit again.

Ate dinner here last night with some friends. We started out with the dolmas and the sigara boregi. Perhaps the dolmas could have been stuffed a bit more but it was probably the best tasting that I've had. This was the first time trying the sigara boregi and it was delicious. It's like a shanghai lumpia but long and filled with feta and parsley. Nice crunch and good wrapper to filling ratio. I could easily have these two appetizers again but there are other apps that I'll have to try next time. For the main we got a branzino, the Iskender (Alexander's Favorite), and the lamb shank special. Everything was delicious. I was going to cut up the branzino for serving only to find that they already removed the bones! It was a nice surprise. It was cooked perfectly and was seasoned well. There was a also a small side of arugula salad to accompany the fish. The Iskender had an interesting texture with the pita bread in the sauce. I can see it getting overly soggy, say if taken for left-overs but as it was served fresh on the table, it gave you a extra squish of the delicious sauce. The lamb shank came on top of a bed of risotto. The lamb was so tender and the risotto was tasty. They accompanied each other very well. This is definitely a place that has to be revisited as there are many more good sounding items on the menu that need to be tasted! So the one thing I will mention is that our server was a bit aggressive and/or pushy with regards to ordering. There's a difference between being helpful and over the top and from ordering appetizers to dessert, it was clear our server wanted us to order more (wine, additional food, appetizers). Instead, we opted to walk a bit and find another venue for dessert. Giving Anatolian Kitchen 4 stars but I would give them 4.5 if I could.

Amazing food, amazing service and amazing ambience. Levent the GM there is amazing with his service and hospitality. It has become my go to spot!

Love the fact that Anatolian Kitchen is back - it was one of our regular go to spots. We tried it this week as take out, which makes it harder to judge since most restaurant food is best fresh. Overall it was very good. The Adana kebabs were as good as we remembered and the rice was moist and tasty. The mixed vegetables turned out to be a small half grilled tomato and a grilled pepper - both good, but rather small. The lentil soup was disappointingly bland. No real flavor. I was also disappointed that the tabouleh which was on the online menu was no longer available, and instead we were given a Muhammara appetizer. My husband loved it but I did not. Not that it mattered, but I could swear their falafel is lighter in color than it used to be -- happily it tasted as good. No tzatziki which I missed. (Plain yogurt doesn't do it for me.) Overall, a good meal and we will be back.

Tasty food and generous portions. My favorite were the Muhammara and the beef moussaka. The service was fine as well.

Stopped by for a dinner after work with coworkers, 6 of us. Paid about $40-$45 per person. Had very unpleasant experience with our waiter. From the moment we sat he was rude. Took a menu straight from someone at the table when she was not yet done looking. Was very combative when she looked a bit taken a back so we stayed quiet to avoid conflict. He never stopped by to checked back in throughout the entire stay of our dinner. At the end another coworker had left a tomato and he said "what? you didn't like it?" & we said yes & again combative he replied "what? I am just asking". Not sure if he was new or just had a problem with our table but horrible service from the waiter. The server and other people at the restaurant were kind but the food was nothing great. Would recommend Dish Dash in downtown Sunnyvale for better Mediterranean food and service. Won't ever come back here again.

I was in here for lunch over the holidays and enjoyed my meal. The employees are very friendly and helpful. I had the kofte which came with rice and a small salad. The kofte (meatballs) were very flavorful and good-sized. I'll definitely come back for another meal when I'm in the area. Teşekkürler!

Food was delicious. Service was amazing. Great ambience. As an appetizer, we had the feta cheese dip with pistachios. The creamy tangy dip paired well with the carrot crudities. As mains, we had the chicken Adana, which was perfectly spiced and very tender. The salmon was cooked perfectly. Nice and crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. Delicious! We had the rice pudding which we didn't care too much for. Overall we will be going back to try the other dishes on the menu. Lovely restaurant with very friendly service. Thanks!

Came with a group of 7 and we were seated inside. The decor and the ambiance was super clean and nice, and the service was also very good, especially since the restaurant wasn't terrifically busy on the Saturday night. Food was very good, and fairly authentic according to my Turkish friend who brought us to this place. We ordered several different dishes across the table and a few appetizers, including the Sigara Boregi (a table favorite), a few of the kebab platters, the Manti, the Iskander, and the Moussaka. We also tried to order the Kunefe but they were out. In terms of taste, we had no complaints. Everything tasted great and was seasoned well. The main gripe a some at our table had were the portion sizes, as some of the portions felt extremely small for the price tag. The kebab platters were among the worst, with only about one skewer worth of meat and a small amount of rice given. I did not take any myself, but some of the pictures already on Yelp were pretty true to the size. The Iskander and the Manti felt a lot better size wise, and my Moussaka, while it had initially felt very small, ended up being fairly heavy and so was satisfying but not filling. All in all, I wouldn't recommend Anatolian Kitchen if you are looking for a filling meal, especially for the price tag, but if you're looking to try some high quality Turkish food, I would go for the Iskander or the Manti.

1 star for service 3 stars for food considering the price point Averaging it out to 2 stars 1 staff doesn't mean every employee acts this way but it completely killed the ambience of our dinner party. Our waiter interrupted our conversation multiple times, rushed us to select our food, and kept pushing dishes on each person when ordering. We ordered 4 appetizers for the table, but during that exchange he kept recommending a particular salad even though we made our selection. He would repeat our order then add the salad back in, which we did not want. When each individual ordered, those who picked smaller meals would get a followup comment about adding a soup. It was really I comfortable being pushed to order more. While eating our waiter checked in on the food. Awkwardly he asked each individual in our party how their meal was going 1 by 1 (we had a larger party). Appetizers were good, the salmon was okay, I'd pass on the desserts.

We went there to celebrate Mother's Day . This restaurant came recommended but when we went there we realized that they only have couple of vegetarian items ( main course) on the menu . We ordered both . Vegetarian Moussaka was just ok . But the other dish was some kida of veggies with tomato curry/ sauce didn't have much flavors. Both dishes seemed so over priced . For appetizers , we had ordered Muhamarra which was tasty. Other appetizer was Sigara boregi . It looked like sprig rolls .We didn't like the taste . Baklava we ordered for dessert was the only saving grace. It was one of best baklavas I have had . Both the waiters were good but the first person who greeted us seemed to rush us with ordering . First with Appetizers , drinks ( our wine never arrived btw) and when we were ordering appetizers he was in rush to know what we wanted for main course. Not a very pleasant experience. For the service , food taste and portion size this restaurant offers it is totally overpriced.

Incredible service, even more incredible food. Everything about this restaurant feels warm and welcoming. I came here with my boyfriend and his family and had such a nice time. Levent was our server, so friendly and treated us like we were family. Such a unique place in Palo Alto. An absolute must if you're visiting.

Love the place. Super friendly excellent service. Food is solid and they have a full bar. Always a plus.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff! Delicious food. We will definitely come back. Thank you Levent!

The lunch I received here was five stars and then some. Everything absolutely exceeded my expectations and was so incredibly delicious. The service was great, everything was hot and tasted so fresh, the quality of the food was amazing and I left incredibly satisfied. We ordered the Sigara boregi, it was warm, salty, fresh, and absolutely a wonderful way to start the meal. We also had the cacik which I ate with the bread they provided us at the start of the meal which was absolutely delicious. The complimentary bread was very well presented, warm, and had a lovely oil dip. For our main we ordered the salmon with rice pilaf instead of the potato chips and it was phenomenal. The salmon was perfectly cooked and everything was well seasoned. The meal was exactly what we were craving and we didn't leave feeling too heavy! The dessert was honestly the true star, we ordered the kunefe and I truly wish I had a photo because it was stunning on top of being delicious. We dug in and ate it too quickly but it was probably one of the top three most delicious desserts I've ever had. We will be back many, many times and very much look forward to out next visit!