Ephesus Bistro & Grill

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Phenomenal experience! The atmosphere is elegant and the staff was excellent—attentive and friendly without being overbearing. The hummus and fresh bread were a perfect start, followed by the best vegetable plate I’ve ever had. Both the Branzino and hangar steak kabobs were tender and flavorful, and the falafels are next-level. Finished with the chocolate mousse cake—another winner! High-quality food at reasonable prices. We’ll definitely be back!

I’ve sampled my share of veggie plates across DFW—some merely forgettable, and others tasting like a punishment for not ordering meat. But Ephesus has THEE best veggie plate I’ve ever had. Hands down. Everything on the dish was delicious but I have to give a very special shoutout to the zucchini pancake. Perfectly crispy and that tomato sauce tzatziki sauce combo on top was to die for! OMG!!! 🤤 The Turkish flan deserves its own paragraph. Imagine, if you will, flan meeting tiramisu at some chic crossroads: rich and silken with whispers of coffee, balanced by a delicate crown of whipped cream. The perfect ending to an already perfect meal. Each plate arrived like a small work of art. Five-star presentation without the pretense; the sort of attention to detail that makes you pause and think: someone in there really loves what they do. Oh and my server, Ozzy! Beautiful, warm, and impossibly gracious! She made me feel genuinely welcome, not just accommodated. Best of all, when something looks this exquisite and tastes this divine, you expect an expensive bill. But it was so reasonably priced I felt like I stumbled upon a secret! I look forward to returning. Highly recommend!

Ephesus bistro in Rowlett is an amazing dining experience, the lamb was superb, plenty of food, excellent presentation excellent experience beautiful restaurant. They know how to serve and cook. Pictures will help you plan your next vacation. Highly recommend. We will return thank you.

Food was delicious! Everything we ordered was tasty. Ozzy gave use some great recommendations. Baklava we had at the end of the meal hit the spot! Highly recommend!

First time here and it was a fantastic experience. Came around 2pm for a late lunch on a Friday and there was only 1 other patron so a slow time before the weekend rush I am sure. The tables had white linens on them and pretty flowers; the decor was very inviting. For apps we got the deep fried feta which was 10/10, very crispy and came with a refreshing salad and sauce for dipping. We also got the deep fried cauliflower which was a 9/10, the reason being is was not crispy nor fully cooking IMO, it was toothsome and crunch like that raw cauliflower taste. The spices and sauce was delicious but not what I expected when I read “deep fried.” Lastly, we split the mix grill to try a little bit of everything and as you can tell from the picture it was a lot of food especially meat! The chicken shish was dry but otherwise the meat was juicy and flavorful. Would recommend if you are undecided and want to try a bunch of stuff. 9/10

Great high quality food. Highly recommend visiting if you want an authentic Turkish experience. We've been here more than 10 times and it is good every time. We tried multiple things and they are all good. The lahmacun, pide, beyti kebap, Ali nazik and their cheese rolls to name a few.

Food was excellent, loved the atmosphere great service! Literally the best service we’ve had at a restaurant in a long time!! So glad we Stopped by here and tried this restaurant out, because it did not disappoint!!! Even if we came pretty late they did an excellent job still serving us with fresh bread and food! 🥹

Some friends invited us to join them here for dinner. We did not even know it existed. Now we know, and we are most certainly planning to return. My wife and I couldn't make up our minds what to have, so since there were four of us, we ordered the Ephesus special. It came on a large platter with a variety of the meat dishes, along with all the necessary sides. It was fantastic and more than plenty for 4 diners. We shared a couple of bottles of a Turkish wine that was recommended by our server (and was quite good). And we finished the evening with dessert and Turkish coffee. Both the Baklava and the Tiramisu were very good. The space is very comfortable and the service was excellent. Thank you, Gentlemen.

12-23-2024 Holiday shoppers, and a lot of people in line at fast food places... Then I see charming dining room of Ephesus, three tables of smiling diners, one table doing a toast of wine. Happy! Okay, I can get takeout from Ephesus, but not the wine ha ha! The staff is warm & welcoming, and professional. I get the Greek Salad, it is big enough for 2, or 3 persons. All ingredients chopped fresh this day. It is old country style, no lettuce, all veggies cut bite-size, pieces of Feta are generous, and a Mediterranean dressing. I added grilled chicken breast, cooked & cut like kebab, and you get warm Pita cut into triangle pieces. Would have loved to dine-in, but I had to give somebody a ride home. Thank you Ephesus, Best Wishes for the Season.

We visited on a weekday evening and it was raining HARD. We were recommended this restaurant by a friend from Fort Worth, so we finally made the time to stop by. The service is top-notch with a casual, laid back atmosphere. Our waiter was attentive and took thorough care of us by conversing and offering his recommendations to us. If there is something I know when visiting any restaurant is to try their recommendations first. They know what's best. We tried their "Sucuklu Kasarli Pide" and "Humus" for starters. Both are fresh and not over-seasoned. For entrees I had dabbled in some lamb kabobs and the beef sauté. The meat from both dishes are incredibly tender, well-seasoned, and they gave you PLENTY of food. Definitely had some leftovers, and the accompaniments paired beautifully. "Baklava" was one of the best we have had, you could tell it was fresh with the crisp phyllo dough and warm syrup. Excited to go back soon!

Great Find near our home! Turkish/Med style- This is a family operated business and we received very personalized service. Our waiter was awesome, we had a relatively large party from church and he did wonderfully. He never wrote anything down and all orders were perfect. All appetizers were authentic and paired nicely with the large flatbread that is complimentary. Service was efficient, but never rushed. Beverages were kept full and we were well cared for. My wife had the vegetable plate and I had the chicken shish- we shared. Chicken was awesome, cooked perfectly and juicy. Hummus was thick and rich- zucchini fritters are tremendous. Everyone at our table enjoyed! Chocolate mousse cake was decadent- We can't wait to return.

This is a super cute place that is worth the drive to Rowlett! We had great service and the food was made fresh and flavorful. The lavash bread and hummus are a must try. My husband had the steak kabob which was delicious. I had the shrimp sauté which was also delicious and is so much food!

Friendly staff and great food options. Check this place out!! Also has fine dine in options that are intimate for personal experience.

Since most people aren't familiar with the items on the menu, the staff goes over everything with you in great detail. The food is fantastic, it's cooked with passion. The desserts aren't great, but they give you so much food that you usually don't even have room for dessert.

Thank you so much for your hospitality and food ; Specially Adana Kebab ! Everything was perfect!! thank you so much again

My goodness. Authentic Turkish cuisine. I say cuisine not food on purpose. They can help new comers dial in what fits their palate. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Family owned and operated (I love these places), and an exceptional dining experience. Take out is very good, stick to kebab, tabouleh, falafel. Dining in is what I would promote. The home baked bread and the specialty dishes come in hot crockery plates. Insanely delicious.

One of the most authentic Turkish restaurants in DFW I've been to! Such a gem, Rowlett is lucky to have. Service is great, and food is brought out so fast/efficiently and fresh! Bathrooms clean. I've been watching Hell's Kitchen a ton lately, and this place should be an example on how to run a restaurant! First off you get complimentary fresh baked bread with a side of cacik (Turkish tzatziki essentially). There's sesame seeds on the bread which I loved. We tried the pide (cheesy bread/flatbread) with Turkish sausage! Was super good. Then my husband and I shared the Chef's special beef sauté. He loved it so much he said it was his top 5 best dishes of his life haha. It reminded us of Korean galbi Jim with the cheese on top! Loved the eggplant in it as well. Everything came out piping hot! For dessert I got my favorite Turkish dessert, kazandibi! It's like a burnt crust milk pudding/flan. Nothing else quite like it. So tasty and hard to find, as not a lot of places make it! Overall great experience, and we will be back to try all the other cool dishes! Every time something came out we were like oooh we need to try that next haha

Visited with the entire family this weekend. We had gotten takeout before and the food was amazing so we decided to step out and visit Saturday evening As we walked in, we were greeted by smiling faces and sat immediately. They were pretty busy but accommodated my large family. Restaurant was clean with great lighting My younger two kids can be extremely rambunctious, however the wait staff kept them entertained as they walked by Everything we ordered was extremely delicious and came out within 15 - 20 minutes of ordering This spot will be going onto the regular rotation for us as it's a quick drive from our home

This place is great! My wife had the salmon plate and I had the Beef Shish. We both opted for the mashed potatoes instead of rice pilaf and wow, we made the right decision! They were light, fluffy, easily the best mashed potatoes we had ever tried. The meat was cooked perfectly and the mixed vegetables were seasoned and prepared well. I would rate this place a 5 however, we almost walked out as we stood at the host stand, watching the guy prepare every salad with his bare hands... Bare hands to grab the ingredients, bare hands to sprinkle everything into the salad and not only toss the salads with his bare hands but then wipe off his hands on his ass pockets. It reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where he doesn't want to try Papi's pizza because Papi left the restroom without washing his hands... So salad eaters be ware! Everything else was top notch.

Love love love a good Mediterranean lunch!!! I discovered Ephesus on Yelp and after seeing SO many five stars, I knew I had to pay them a visit. Okay, this restaurant is gorgeous in the middle of a grocery shopping center in Rowlett. The starters are an absolute YES. We ordered the fried feta rolls (first time trying anything like that), the hummus, and the falafel. Wowzers I want it again. The feta rolls came with light simple salad and even that was delectable! I would order these appetizers as full course meals it's that good. The pita was chef's kiss hot and fresh, pairing the hummus perfectly. The falafel was delicious as well. Will order all three again. I then ordered the "chicken shish" kabob plate that came with rice embedded with chick peas and a side of roasted veggies. The chicken was a little dry BUT it was everything I was craving and more. We couldn't finish our plates because we were so stuffed from the appetizer goodies. I have no regrets and the leftovers today were just as good. I honestly don't think I realized how tasty the rice was until today! Can't wait to go back. You've got a regular, Ephesus.

We have been going to Ephesus for around 2 years now. Staff is very warm and welcoming. Food is the Best you can find... authentic and delicious!! The owner is always there to enhance the overall experience, quality and works well and hard with his Team. Unlike many other restaurants, he is very involved to ensure customers receive the best experience and consistent food. Ambiance is great, family friendly. the kids menu is a life saver for the picky little ones!

Food is so fresh, the service is top notch, and it's a very quaint restaurant. I can't wait to come back for dinner to try more.

This would be the first place I come across that serves calf livers and onions. I am not a fan of calf liver, but I apparently eat them for health reasons. However, this place made me a believer; their calf liver and onions were so delicious. I actually wanted to finish every bite. I also had the chicken fajita, lentil soup with rice, everything was delicious down to the pita bread. I highly recommend this place and I most definitely will make this my go to place when I am on this side of town.

Pretty good, portions for everything were fair. My aunt ordered the baba ganoush and the Greek salad as appetizers, which we all enjoyed alongside the nice and chewy Lavas. My fiancée ordered the chicken dish (I can't recall which one) and the pieces were inconsistent between dry and juicy. I ordered the Lamb Ali Nazik which was a satisfying combination of flavors. The Lamb was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the yogurt was well-spiced and garlicky. However, I wish I could've had more meat, especially given how much yogurt it came with. Authentic or not, the ratio could have been better. I had the Kunafe for dessert per the waiter's recommendation and it was alright.

This place is a hidden gem! Great Mediterranean/Turkish food in a relaxed atmosphere. We tried a little bit of everything! Fried halloumi cheese with red pepper paste? Amazing. Feta rolls? Heavenly. And don't even get me started on the ridiculous bread they serve when you sit down! For entrees, highly recommend the kebabs and the beef shish. The meats came with a creamy dipping sauce, sautéed veggies, and rice. In addition to the amazing food, the waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. You can't go wrong eating here.

I thoroughly enjoyed eating hear even came back and brought a friend. She took enjoyed the same vegan option I had.

We had the Ali Nazi - lamb over garlic yogurt eggplant puree. This was very good and something we have never had before. The lamb was nicely prepared and the puree was amazing! Also had the dolma stuffed grape leaves. Smaller than regular grocer style TX fair, which allowed a better ratio of rice to herbs. Decided to try the baklava. Also good. Softer than ordinary. Not too sweet. Also very good. Apparently, the restaurant is already a newer iteration than very early comments. The new owners did not change the name when they purchased just a few months ago. The co-owner was also our server. Very cordial.

Went here a few months ago with one of my friends - she ordered the Chicken Shish Kebab and I ordered the Pan Seared Salmon. My friend enjoyed the dish she ordered and said that the portion size was good & that it didn't feel too heavy. She also mentioned that on the menu, it said the chicken breast cubes would come on a skewer, but it didn't come that way. She preferred this and said it was easier to eat since it was not on a skewer. The pan seared salmon was decent, but I probably wouldn't get it again. It tasted a bit bland and I would have definitely enjoyed it more if it had more flavor to it. It was a filling meal though. All dishes are served with pilaf and a side salad. Once you're seated, they bring you fresh, warm pita bread and I thought it tasted great!

I really enjoyed our second visit here. The service was great. It is clean! I love the booth seating. I enjoyed the fresh vegetables with the hummus especially the carrots. Special lamb shish was great! Thank you

Kind service and amazing food! The bread is to die for and the beef sauté has coming back!

5/5 in food,service, and atmosphere. Everything is freshly prepared like your grandma made it. Forget ALL the other Mediterranean restaurants( the restaurants that start with letter Y/Z/O) in Rockwall because their food is not delicious like Ephesus.

Wow! A hidden gem. Under new mgmt, apparently. Super fresh food. Thoughtful, efficient servers. I found my new favorite lunch spot!

Ambience, delicious food and service is superb. Our family enjoyed our visit here while we visited from Los Angeles. We will definitely return on our next time visiting family in nearby Rockwall

If you are looking for good authentic Mediterranean food, run to this place. Seriously it's so good. I didn't take pictures of everything because I couldn't wait to eat the food. Also the staff is so nice. We got the beef sauté and kofte kebab

I've been that place, everything is taste fresh. Server was so friendly. I'll come back for sure. Give a chance that place ASAP.

Mother's day lunch, was extremely good! Although they were slammed with customers, the staff hustled to take and deliver orders. Cudos! The appetizers of hummus, pita bread (which comes to the table hot and fresh), feta rolls, and zucchini pancakes all had amazing flavor. We had a little bit of multiple dishes. Hunkar Begendi, Hanger Steak Kebab, Chicken Roulade, and Gyro (pronounced YERO) sandwich. All which tasted delicious. And of course, we finished the meal with some of thier amazing desserts and strong Turkish coffee. We will definitely be back again!

Last night we were in Rowlett which is unfamiliar territory to us. Hungry, I googled restaurants and this was one of many that came up. It had good reviews, was close and recently we have been exploring Mediterranean food due to my wife's latest whacko diet so we decided to give it a try. Walking in I got a good 1st impression as I saw 15-20 tables, white cloth tablecloths and most of the tables full. We were greeted quickly and escorted to a booth, handed menus, given water and asked if we'd like a drink. We were then asked if this was our 1st time there, which made me think we were talking with the owner. My wife ordered something and he suggested something similar with their special sauce, telling her he wants to be sure we really enjoy our 1st visit. I ordered the Lamb Sish and he suggested I have the Lamb skewers w/ the sauce for only $1 more and if I didn't like it there would be no charge. I agreed. The presentation was great. Both entree's were very good. We were both very happy. After leaving we were in the car for a few minutes and Ozzy, the owner, knocked on my window. I had walked off without my Visa card and he had it in his hand. As busy as they were he took a chance we hadn't driven off yet and returned it. How many businesses would do that? Thank you Ozzy for the good value we received.

Me and my family love this place it feels home made from the kitchen till the service

Incredible Turkish Mediterranean food!!! Cozy atmosphere and very friendly and polite stuff!!! I got order of Hunkar Begendi with falafel. And the dish was really delicious. Highly recommend this place

Yummy. Food was fresh and tasty.My lamb was juicy and not overdone and the eggplant purée was delicious. The service was good. The waiter didn't rush us through our meal. The restaurant was nicely decorated and clean. Nothing fancy. It's in a strip mall. Ephesus is a nice addition to the restaurants in Rowlett, adding some variety and delicious Turkish food.

AMAZING FOOD!!! We also loved the Turkish wine. Our server was super helpful in helping us decide on which dishes to get. We will be back with friends!

We ate dinner here last night and we really enjoyed it! The food is mostly Turkish. The appetizers are awesome! We tried the halloumi cheese, dolmas, and the sucuklu kasarli pide, and they were all delicious! The entrees were all beautifully prepared. The lamb and chicken shish were excellent. We saw other diners' food and it looked great, too. Service was very friendly, and the waitstaff was able to make menu suggestions too. Ambiance was not fancy, but they did have linen tablecloths and nice dishes. I will gladly go back!

New owner/mgt! Excellent service. Awesome food. You can't go wrong with any of the options here. We loved everything from the fried feta to the lamb special!! We will be returning.

Delicious! We tried this place last night. We ordered the lahmacun for an appetizer. I would be happy eating this alone. It is a thin crust Turkish pizza with ground meat and spices. It is served with onion, tomatoes and red cabbage on the side. It's is perfect with or without the veggies on top. For entrees we shared lamb and beef shish (served with rice with chickpeas, veggies and yogurt sauce. We also ordered chicken Ali Nazik which was the most flavorful chicken on top of egg plant infused yogurt sauce. There were also a few roasted veggies and you can serve in their amazing flatbread. I cannot wait to go back. Support local small businesses!

My husband and I went here and the food was awesome. We had the hummus and puff bread, Sucuklu Kasarli Pide, chicken sauté and chocolate mousse for desert. Amazing food, such depth of flavor, great service. 10/10 highly recommend.

Great customer service! I enjoyed my wrap. It wasn't on the menu. It was close to another Turkish dish that I enjoyed. I really appreciated that

Authentic delicious Turkish cuisine.... New ownership excellent service and quality. Highly recommended...

Family restaurant and we have eaten here 3 times since learning about it a couple of months ago. Not sure everything we have ordered, but everything we have had was very good. One thing that I found quite refreshing was that the owner was very helpful with recommendations and was spot on. This is one of the restaurants in our monthly lineup of go to places.

The food here is really really good. The zucchini pancakes were my absolute favorite! Wish the salad had more of a flavorful dressing on it. I couldn't taste the vinaigrette at all. Very friendly staff and clean restaurant.

I almost swallowed my tongue. How is this place real? First of all, it's a very tastefully decorated dining room with an open grill where the chefs are working their magic. The staff are quick, friendly and knowledgeable. And then there's the food. EVERY SINGLE ITEM was flawless in execution, perfectly seasoned and generous in portions. The house bread is a fluffy pillow of the fresh bread aroma that you can't stop munching on. There are several lamb preparations (we ordered 4 varieties), all of which deserve a medal. And then there was the liver. It was, hands down, the best liver dish I've tasted outside of my kitchen. I will come back just for the liver. And the house bread. I'm addicted. Thank you, Ephesus.

Man this place gives Rowlett some culture! Who knew a great Turkish spot was tucked away in a little shopping center. The restaurant is small and was packed full at late hour on the weekend so I imagine it stays pretty busy all the time. The service was excellent, food was pricey but very very good so I guess it is you get what you pay for. I'll work some extra overtime so I can afford to go here more often!

Food was amazing. Service was outstanding. Seems it's under new ownership and management and while I didn't see the old owner/manager I can tell you this team has done a great job.

I came in for a quick bite and was so impressed. Will definitely be coming back often. Food is some of the best I have had globally and the service was super personable.

We came for my MIL birthday lunch. Very clean but cozy bistro atmosphere. Service was so friendly and attentive. The food was AMAZING! We had two of the warm appetizers and then got the main course sampler. It was amazing and fresh! My 5 year old loved it too! We will definitely be back!

First time at Ephesus and it was easy to rate the restaurant 5 stars. I started with the humus, and the freshly made pita is probably the best I ever had. Next was the chicken shish and everything on the plate (chicken, rice pilaf, and vegetables) was cooked to perfection. I think I can make a meal of the rice alone. Ended with the baklava, and they brought out hot tea with it and was a perfect balance. The baklava was flaky, very flavorful, was enough for 2 and the perfect ending of a great meal.

My brother and I ordered take out from this place as it is close by his home. He mentioned a lot of people have been talking highly of this new Mediterranean restaurant in Rowlett. Our order was made fairly quickly within 15 minutes. Which was great, but assumed it wasn't busy since I called around 11am and it wasn't busy. Gyro Sandwich - I wish I got a chance to finish my food but I had to throw it away due to being disgusted by the cleanliness of the restaurant and entree. I eat a few fries that came with the Gyro sandwich. The fries tasted like McDonald's fries in all honesty, which isn't bad. But was slightly cold... no way fresh made food got cold in less then 10 mins. However, I found a piece hair in the side of fries. I am not the type of person to make a scene about a hair. I moved the hair out and just didnt eat the fries. Then I continued to the sandwich. After a few bites of into the Gyro sandwich..... I find another hair on top of the spinach.. at this point, I threw away my food because I had lost my appetite. 2 hairs and it was only 11:35am... the business had just opened. This was a males hair as well, and when I arrived at the restaurant there were 2 males in the kitchen. Hanger Shish Kebab - I did not get a chance to try this. But my brother said it was quite flavorful and seasoned well. However, I was not wanting to try it after experiencing multiple hairs in my food. The sauce was water down as well. After that experience, I would not come back here. I rather drive to Richardson and get better Mediterranean food for a better price than here.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!! Add the feta rolls. I've never had an experience so good through DOORDASH that I felt compelled to call the store directly and sing their praises. The food was incredible. Fresh. Great portions. Insane seasoning. 500/10