Esnaf

Really impressed by the ambience (interior deco + restaurant layout), food, and service. Price is very reasonable, which in today’s SF Bay Area is increasingly rare. Portions are good — 2 big appetizers + 1 salad + 1 main course were more than sufficient for the two of us. And the waitresses would tell us not to order more so when we placed the order.

I usually don't like eating bread at the restaurant because it is too filling. However, I couldn't stop eating their bread.. it was so fresh and tasty. All of the dishes we ordered were top notch and the service was beyond my expectation. This place deserves 5 stars. Since we moved to the bay area, this restaurant is one of the best I have been to. There are many great places in Melbourne, Australia which makes me always picky with food. I am now planning to take all my friends and families who visit us from overseas to Esnaf. Thank you for the marvellous experience!

Wow, what a great local find! Great location, excellent food, and attentive service. Nice selection of wine. The Turkish Sauvignon Blanc paired well with our dinner. The bread was amazing. We had the hummus, crispy manti, and Kebab Trio which came with a lamachan as well. Everything we ordered was delicious. I’d highly recommend this restaurant. Don’t forget to save room for dessert.

Our visit to Esnaf on May 24, 2025, was a truly enjoyable experience. Despite the limited seating space, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the food made up for any minor inconvenience. We savored a variety of dishes, including the Meze Trio, Crispy Manti, Gavurdagi, and the Branzino, along with a few other selections. Each dish was a testament to delicious flavors and quality preparation. To cap off the meal, the Turkish Coffee Mousse was a delightful treat. We also enjoyed a selection of wines that complemented our meal perfectly. Overall, Esnaf provided a really good dining experience, and we would highly recommend it for its excellent food.

I came here for lunch and it was very good! The vibes were chill and the service was great! We started with bread and olive oil before we ordered. We tried the Kebap Trio for Two to share with two other appetizers I did not photograph. The Kofte was my favorite kebap. It was so tasty. For the appetizers we tried the Kopoglu (eggplant and yogurt) and a flat bread. The Kopoglu was very tasty. I highly recommend and would return!

What an amazing spot! Had dinner tonight with my friends here, I had a 7:30 reservation, and the staff here were super! Fast service, delicious food, everything came fresh: lamb chops, chicken shish, kofta, manti, and hallumi pide. We didn’t get a chance to try dessert and tea/ coffee since they were about to close, next time :) absolutely a spot I’d love to dine at once again!! Thanks to the amazing stuff who were super fast and nice!

What makes this place stand out is that it focuses purely on Turkish cuisine without blending in other styles. The ambiance was beautifully decorated with warm lighting and thoughtful details. The staff were very kind and helpful. I came across cabbage dolma with meat here for the first time in the Bay Area — for those who love Turkish or Greek-style dolmas, this one is a must-try! The lahmacun was also incredibly crispy and flavorful — think of it as a Turkish-style thin meat-topped flatbread. We had the crispy manti and the meat trio as well, and loved every bite. For dessert, I highly recommend the katmer with melted cheese inside and pistachio ice cream on top. Everything was perfect! 💯

My husband and I loved this Turkish restaurant for a date night, super cute, great food, and great service. Being from Türkiye, this is authentic Turkish food and we will be returning! They also serve Turkish tea after dinner, just like they do in Türkiye.

The staff were friendly and offered helpful suggestions when we couldn't decide what to order. We weren't sure how to eat the Kopoglu appetizer, so we had it with the bread. Dishes arrived hot and the food was good, but I thought it was overpriced for what it is. Items ordered: Kopoglu: Oven-roasted eggplant and peppers on garlic yogurt, topped with tomato sauce V, GF Et Sis: Beef tenderloin skewers, buttered rice, coban salad GF Lahmacun: Thin and crispy flatbread topped with Angus ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and parsley served with sumac onions-tomato salad

Esnaf was quite an enjoyable experience for anyone looking for an affordable meal that uses fresh ingredients. The meat i had was tender and flavorful, and the portions were enough. The salad side was fresh and it goes very well with the pita they serve you on the side. In terms of the ambiance, the decor is relaxed, and welcoming with friendly servers. Esnaf should be a decent meal for any kind of casual experience.

Food is tasty but on the pricier side. About $30 for main entrees, $20 for apps and the flatbread. The octopus tentacle is smaller than imagined and the yogurt app we got didn't come with bread so we used the complimentary appetizer bread with it. The complimentary bread came out fresh and is fluffy with a thin crust. 10/10 complimentary apps. Service is fast and attentive. Our water cups never went empty even though we sat outside where it was more inconvenient for servers to reach us. Ambiance inside the restaurant looks lovely but not really a place to chat loudly with friends because it looks like a date spot. Outside seating is good for yappers. Overall, good food and great service but it does hurt the wallet if you're trying to get the most for your dollar.

This is currently one of my very favorite restaurants, in beautiful downtown San Carlos. They're located smack dab in the middle of so many good restaurants. I've only been there on Saturdays for lunch and the food and service is spot on as they welcome everyone in immediately with sincere warmth and make you feel right at home. I started this porcine mushrooms Flatbread and its a good starter before the mixed fresh salad greens and the Lamb Chops, are stellar and exceptional. Writing this makes me want to be there now. I give this place 5 STARS!

The food and service here is excellent! My partner and I liked everything we had. I only felt that prices were rather steep. One appetizer, sharing an entree and 2 diet cokes came to $70-80 for lunch. I'd still like to return but as a once in a while treat. I saw a lot of pictures of their crispy manti appetizer so I ordered it and oh my god, so good!! I would come back just for this. Our main entree was delicious as well. Very tender meat, fresh veggies, and buttery rice.

We walked in on a Saturday for an early dinner without a reservation and were seated right away. The décor is very charming, and the ambiance is great. The service was friendly, though a bit slow. The food was solid. We tried the Kopoglu (eggplant), manti (beef dumplings), mantarli pide (mushroom flatbread), and levrek (sea bass). The manti was our favorite, tender and flavorful. The mushroom flatbread was good, but perhaps unnecessary given the free table bread with refills. The eggplant and sea bass were less impressive: the eggplant was mediocre, and the sea bass felt a bit heavy, with lemon-dill seasoning that didn't have enough brightness. Overall, the restaurant has a charming vibe and is great for a date night, but it's on the pricier side relative to the value.

From the moment I walked into esnaf, I felt welcome and happy to be there. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, the rich aromas of freshly baked bread, and the vibrant décor set the stage for an unforgettable meal. The kebab was perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth tender, while the mezeler (appetizer) platter offered a delightful variety of fresh, flavorful bites. I especially liked the Mercimekli imambayildi (over roasted eggplant stuffed with green lentils and garlic yogurt). The staff were friendly, attentive, and eager to share recommendations, making the experience even more special. We over-ordered, so didn't have room for any desserts. Looking forward to continuing to explore the menu.

The food was excellent. Having recently been to Turkey I can say that the food is very authentic. We had a few things: Meze trio Kopoglu Chicken thighs Crispy flatbread Branzino Sucuklu Pide Truly mantarli pide Everything was delicious, I really enjoyed the chicken thighs with the meze trio and any of the Turkish pizzas are solid. Service was excellent, all of the wait staff were very attentive always saying please and thank you. Very courteous, and willing to answer any questions. They have a nice outside seating section which is open and has a divider to hide some of the noise from the street. It also keeps the warmth in as well. Parking might be a bit challenging, especially on the street. We parked in the Caltrain parking and walked over (after hours). The inside of the restaurant is also very nice.

Overall: D // 2 stars Upscale Turkish restaurant in San Carlos where I felt like the only thing that really kept pace with the upscale nature were the elevated price points. Many of the dishes on the menu doesn't speak to me in a way that differs from your local joint serves the same thing at half the price. The service was not better either as I was met a snide "I'm sorry for you" remark when discussing my cheese allergy; I do appreciate the birthday freebie, but that doesn't diminish the unnecessary commentary. Furthermore, when we arrived at our reservation time, there were no tables available for a solid several minutes, which kind of defeats the purpose of a reservation. This visit was several months back, yet the sting is still there. (Crispy Manti: A) - Well thought out appetizer with layers of flavors and textures. Sweetness from the tomato sauce, acidity from the yogurt, and saline from the dumplings; then, there's creaminess, there's crunchiness -- really good dish. (Ahtapot: C) - Elegantly plated, but slightly pricey being over $20 for a small tentacle. Paprika oil adds a lovely flavor to the octopus, but the heavy starch coming from the potatoes doesn't work well with octopus for me. (Lhamacun: C) - Flatbread is really well made, blending ground beef with tomatoes well into a tender and sumptuous item. Not a fan of the side "salad" which is just really large pieces of raw onion and tomato, which seems unpleasant for all -- this would be much better minced along side many more herbs. (Kebap Trio: F) - Some of the meat here is unfortunately borderline dry; luckily, the coban salad is full of moisture and helps masks some of that dryness away. Nevertheless, it's really sad to me that the most expensive item on the menu looks like it came off a buffet line. Food: E Presentation: E Price: -1 Atmosphere: E Service: -2 Menu: E Overall: 2 stars Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

The food was okay, but it didn't satisfy me. The flavors were pretty bland and nothing really stood out. On top of that, the service was disappointing. We waited a long time, and the staff didn't seem attentive or welcoming. Overall, the experience wasn't worth it. I won't recommend here at all. Take ur business somewhere else.

We had a Father's Day lunch and overall enjoyed the food experience . The place is cute and the service was good . As for the food : - they start w bringing you some hot fresh buns and olive oil /balsamic dip which is really nice 1) fried calamari was fresh and nice for a starter . 4/5 2) the hallimi pide was a bit disappointing - small , the cheese did not entirely melt in and the dough seem to not be cooked to crisp like I prefer . We've had better pide in other places . 3/5 3) manti - I was more thinking it will be a classic Turkish manti (small ravioli in yogurt sauce) this one was different - little beef balls in open dough . It was just ok . 3.5/5 4) lachmajun- pretty good ! Fresh and yummy. 4/5 All together it was more of a 3.5 stars establishment .

A lot better than I imagined. My mother took me here over the weekend because she liked this spot a lot. I see why. The chicken was tender and very flavorful, but what surprised me more was the fish. It was served almost whole with what looked like cuscus, and it tasted amazing. They serve as many rounds of fluffy bread as you want, so we ordered the Köpoglu (eggplant and yogurt) to pair along with it. Very delicious. I highly recommend. Definitely a place meant for semi special occasions since it's a bit pricey. But boy was it good.

Was really excited to try this place since I've recently discovered a love for Turkish food, but unfortunately thought it was overall just okay. Salad portion was a bit small and didn't really stand out. Kebob was mixed - some pieces great and some a bit dry. Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City is much better.

Delicious! I love the lentil soup, the salad, and the crispy manti. Service is very attentive, and the decor is well done. It's a small place, so you may want to make a reservation for peak meal times.

The food is great, but the service left a bad aftertaste when we were asked to leave while still in the middle of dessert, exactly 1hr 23min later (so, not like we were lingering for too long by any stretch). We were a party of 7 with a 6:30pm reservation on a Friday evening. While the food was enjoyable, and the service was acceptable at first, the treatment we received at the end was completely unprofessional. First, the server brought us the check without first checking if we wanted dessert. We love their baklava, so had to ask them to take the check back, and bring us dessert instead. While we were still in the middle of enjoying our desserts, another staff member came by saying they needed the table for another group, and could we please leave. I'm like, huh, I'm still eating my dessert, spoon in hand! We had only been there for 83 minutes at this point (yeah I looked at my watch). While this was going on, we noticed there were other tables right next to us who had been there before we arrived that had not been asked to leave. When I asked the server why they weren't being asked to leave, rather than us, he said "they are still eating". WTF did it look like I was doing, then‽ No one else seemed to be rushed, which made it clear that the focus was less on providing a quality dining experience and more on turning tables as quickly as possible. If you can't handle that many reservations, just don't accept as many as you did. But don't rush patrons who are trying to enjoy their evening out. This poor handling of reservations and the lack of respect for our time and enjoyment left us with a very negative impression. While the food was enjoyable, this experience was enough for us to decide we will likely not be returning.

Lunch: crispy manti + lahmacun + kebap trio for 2 with desserts...pistachio gelato, Turkish coffee mousse, Katmer, poppy seed Revani. Every bite is delicious! We will return to explore this intriguing menu. It is tantalizing...we will order pide next. Service is excellent - friendly and efficient, deserving 20% tip plus.

It's hard to find Turkish restaurants in the Bay Area. This one is very good and has a warm and inviting atmosphere with Turkish decor. The food taste fresh just like good Turkish food. The kebab trio for two is more than enough for two and was delicious and clean. The Turkish bread comes hot out of the oven and is complementary. The staff are very nice and attentive.

I've been here two times and I think the food is all right. The portions are okay sized but I feel like it's rather pricey here. This place is not my first choice for restaurants. I got a simple dish of chicken thighs, some rice, and a salad and after tax and tip it was like $36 for lunch for one person. I felt like the flavor was okay. The chicken was cooked nicely but I felt like the flavors could pop a bit more. Rice was a little bland. The chicken would have paired well with a nice yogurt sauce! The salad was very finely chopped cucumber and/or green bell peppers, and tomatoes but I actually hate raw cucumbers and bell peppers so it was a little difficult for me to pick them out. The free bread they give for the table is pretty good. It's hot and fresh out of the oven and very fluffy. It pairs well with the olive oil. We've tried a few other dishes in the past like eggplant, flatbread etc. I just don't remember them leaving a lasting impression on me, sorry. Service is okay to good. They were attentive in the beginning but I did feel like service sort of dropped off after the food was served. We were a big party outside though.

Absolutely delicious. Cute restaurant with lovely decor. Went by myself on a weekday. The staff was nice and accommodating. I had two appetizers, the lentil soup and their crispy manti. Soup was thick and creamy. The mantis were done with a twist. The flavor combination was all there though, very satisfied. Even the complementary bread and dip was delicious. Would definitely recommend and go again. I've already told two different friends about this place!

I couldn't believe the reasonable prices!!! Had Thanksgiving dinner there last night. What a cultural treat! I've never had Turkish food, and while I was a bit worried about the spiciness, the food was indeed rich and spicy but not overly so. Tea with aroma of cloves, salad with heat that slowly dissipated, and ice cream that never melted! Staff was so kind and patient with my ignorance of Turkish fare. The music was a bit loud, but the subtle lighting is romantic and overall ambience was festive. A San Carlos gem! Definitely coming back for lunch.

Came in for lunch at around 12 with a party of two, were seated immediately. It's pretty chill around this time, plenty of tables open. This is definitely my top pick for a delicious meal in San Carlos. Everything from the bread, the soup, the meat, even the rice too, is so delicious! My favorite was the lamb meat from the Kebap Trio for two, and also the crispy flatbread that comes with the combo. Simple, delicious, so incredibly crave-able. I highly recommend getting the lentil soup and pairing it with the free bread for the table. So good!

Everything was amazing service 10/10 foods was delicious. Musics in side was perfect they will help you for everting thank you for all of this

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. Made a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking is available on the street or nearby surface lots. Dining is available outdoors or inside the dining room, with a view of the open kitchen. The loo is through the kitchen and shared with the restaurant next door. Started off with the complimentary bread and it was decent. This complemented the meze trio. The crispy manti was good, although I was expecting larger pieces. The manti is like a wonton wrapper wrapped in some ground beef, served over a bed of yogurt and tomato-esque sauce. The Mantar Guvec mushroom caserole was a cheesy version of mushrooms. Flavors were good. This may have been the best dish of the evening. The Karides Guvec was a rather salty casserole of cheesy shrimp. This may have been better with some type of bread. The Trüflü Mantarlı was a miniature cheesy mushroom flatbread. This was good hot. The Ahtapot was tasty. This was octopus served over a bed of mashed potatoes and was quite flavorful. Octopus was cooked to perfection and was soft. The traditional Lahmacun was tasty. It was a crisp flatbread served with some ground beef along with a side of tomatoes and onions/lettuce. Finished off the meal with the katmer which was a phyllo dough with pistacchio cream on the inside. This was a light and refreshing way to finish off dinner. ~$70/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Good Turkish food experience. Both the food and service were very good. The Crispy Manti was excellent as was the Mezze Trio. The Karides Guvec was kind of fishy and didn't meet expectations.

I came here twice to try various dishes and form my opinion. As somebody with Turkish origin, I think this restaurant has potential, but currently prices are too high. Interior design of the restaurant is lovely and modern. Staff is super nice as well, although it takes long time for the main dishes to arrive. For the food, I have tried many options in my two visits. - Gavurdag salad was delicious, sour tastes blended perfectly with tomatoes. - "Trüflü" pide or truffle pide did not have any truffle taste at all, still mushroom and cheese combination was good. - Lahmacun tasted good but there was only a single one split in half. At other restaurants you could get two for the same price. - Et şiş was similar to home cooked dish and was not very special. Too much meat and a little overcooked. - Manti appetizer was good, although presentation can be improved. This used to be a main dish not appetizer.

This is truly the best restaurant that I've eaten at in years. Karides guvec: Shrimp in tomato, butter, garlic, and cheese. So savory and juicy, and pairs beautifully with bread. My favorite dish! Ahtapot: Soft, tender grilled octopus with a wonderful and unique lime mashed potato. This was the most delightful, softest octopus I've ever eaten. Crispy manti: Bite-sized baked dumplings in yogurt. A lot of meaty and savory flavor packed into one bite. Somonlu pide: Dill, smoked salmon, and capers on bread. So savory and refreshing! Lahana sarmasi: Cabbage rolls with rice. So soft, and had a lighter flavor. I also loved the decor and cozy ambiance of the place, and the servers were very attentive. Would definitely come back again!

Food is delicious!! Was really surprised to see them empty on a Sunday night. The meat is very well seasoned and well cooked. Highly recommend ordering the Sucuklu Pide. Portion is decent but on the smaller side. The ambience is very cozy yet feels casual. The service could be improved - the staffs attitude was a bit cold? They didn't feel very welcoming or friendly. Despite this, I would come back again. What we ordered: Kebab trio for 2 Crispy mantu Sucuklu Pide

Love the ambience & food here (especially the octopus chicken thighs and meat is so tender and cooked so well and juicy). It's one of the best Turkish places I have been to in the Bay Area.

This place was just OK. I was looking for a new Turkish place to try after having been thoroughly impressed by Nomadic Kitchen in Redwood City downtown. This place came up as one of the other Turkish options nearby so I thought that I would give it a shot. I ordered the chicken kebab plate and honestly wasn't very impressed. First they used chicken leg meat which although from a reputable chicken farm and marinated well could not compare to the premium chicken breast meat used at Nomadic Kitchen. Second, they only provided one kind of rice which was just plain white rice without much seasonings. Nomadic gives you two both of which are seasoned and delicious. Third, there wasn't much of a salad which is necessary to complement the grilled meats. Fourth, their bread although fresh baked did not taste nearly anywhere as good and was not as generously provided. Fifth, the pricing was about 75% more expensive. Sixth, there is not the same homey feel that I get at Nomadic such as when the owner comes out to have some Turkish tea with you after your meal. I'm not sure if Redwood City downtown restaurant space rent is that much cheaper or if they are just overcharging here. Either way, I won't be back.

Wow! This place is a winner. From the complimentary warm fresh bread (soooo good) to the apps and entrees, everything was exceptionally flavorful. Came with 4 adults, two little kids for a family style meal. We ordered: Köfte plate Trio for two Manti Olives Salad (forgot which sorry!) - especially loved the pomegranate vinegar on this ...and several refills of their awesome bread with dipping oil/pomegranate vinegar We left satisfied with a few leftovers to snack on later. My faves: the bread, the kofte (so juicy and well spiced), and the cute little manti. Friendly service, accommodating of our space needs with a stroller. Beautiful space, and not busy on the early end of Saturday dinner. Some of the best Turkish food I've had in recent memory.

This Turkish restaurant in San Carlos is modern, sheek, and simply awesome. We sat outside on a beautiful Thursday afternoon and it made us feel like we were elsewhere. We ordered Kopoglu, oven-roasted eggplants with peppers on garlic yogurt topped with tomato sauce, which was light, flavorful, and just perfect beginning with light airy bread, which also came with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We also shared Crispy Manti, oven-baked ground beef dumplings also with garlic yogurt & tomato sauce. The dumplings were perfect bite sizes that left you wanting for more. For dessert, we tried the Katmer, pistachio cream-filled filo pastry with pistacio gelato, which was so yummy! The service was amazing from beginning to the end. Would love to come back to try other of their dishes!

Discovered this hidden gem today. Small but calm, beautiful setting and amazing food. Their bread was fresh and kept coming. Kopoglu went perfectly with the bread -- it is a cold, hearty dish with eggplant, capsicum and tzatziki, but it hit the right note after a long walk. The wines were so-so, between the Chianti and the segura viudas. The Tavuk sis was amazing and leaves you with a clean palate. We also tried the Karides Guvec, which was more well spiced and also tasted healthy. I would suggest this one for sharing as it is a heavier dish. The service was great, it was nice to sit outdoors on a warm Friday afternoon and the food felt fresh and healthy!

Absolutely loved the Turkish breakfast here! Everything was so fresh and beautifully presented from the cheeses and olives to the warm bread, honey, and tea and Turkish coffee. The flavors reminded me of being in Turkey! The atmosphere was cozy, the service was super friendly, and the portions were generous. Definitely one of my favorite breakfast spots, a must try if you love authentic, flavorful food and good vibes.

Came here on a Sunday morning for breakfast with a group of 11 people & we received excellent service and the food was delicious. The items we ordered included the following below. This was a great place for a family style breakfast that was tasty, authentic, and not too heavy on the stomach. -Sucuklu (my fav) -Simit platter -Lahamacun -Hellemi pide -mantarli pide -tea -turkish coffee The ambiance is very cute and is def a vibe! Already planning my next visit!

Came here with a group of four friends on a Sunday evening for dinner. The restaurant was empty when we arrived around 6 pm and we were seated right away without a reservation. The staff were friendly and attentive. We ended up getting a few plates to share. The food tasted fresh and everything was tasty. It was quiet and we were able to have a conversation easily.

It felt like I was teleported to Turkey. Amazing food and decor! Crispy Manti was the highlight, succulent meat and tangy yogurt base with the right amount of spices! Loved everything we tried, specially the dessert was fantastic! We tried the katmer and I felt like I could eat like 10 of these and would blissfully be in heaven! The inside is nice and cozy and I would recommend to have reservations, we came in early (6:30pm on a Saturday with a reservation) but within 15-20 mins all the tables were full

Delicious Turkish food! Loved the appetizers and our mains. Our server, Una, was so attentive and gave us great suggestions. Highly recommend to try this new restaurant in San Carlos.

We were at Esnaf for dinner last week. The food was incredible, and the service was amazing! The location had a European vibe! I will go back!

Esnaf is our new favorite mediterranean restaurant. Even though it's slightly farther from our home, we love to go there for their beautiful space, authentic food, relaxing atmosphere, and great service. They have interesting dishes and we particularly love their complimentary warm sesame bread. It's ultra delicious and each time my wife and I have to resist the temptation to eat more in order to leave space for the main dishes. It's a great place both for a relaxing family dinner or for a friend's get-together. Highly recommend it!

Service: 5/5, our server was super friendly, checked on us a few times to ensure the dishes towards our expectations Food: Manti (Turkish beef dumplings) with yogurt sauce is surprisingly delicious, which I was a bit hesitant to try at first but turns out a great choice, Octopus is very tendered, just the right amount of seasoning and not overtaking the original flavor. Pide trio lets you try all 3 flavors at once, pretty fulfilling. Branzio (grilled fish) took a bit longer to grilled, I like that the skin has this thin crispy texture while the meat is still juicy. Turkish coffee, super strong, probably should not have ordered for lunch, kept me awake until later the night. Ambiance: relaxing and pleasant Mediterranean style, would love to sit outside next time as they set up outside tables to enjoy street view.

Tried this place last week for an early dinner and were thoroughly impressed. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and seasoned just right--authentic in style yet light and satisfying. We enjoyed the lahana sarma, the trio appetizer, gavurdağı salad, and the lahmacun. The complimentary bread was warm, fluffy, and absolutely delicious, and graciously replenished as soon as we devoured the first basket. The only dish that didn't quite stand out for us was the sucuklu pide - it wasn't bad by any means, but it was overshadowed by the excellence of the other dishes. That said, the lahmacun was one of the best we've had in the area: perfectly crisp and full of flavor. The decor was beautiful, with an open and airy ambiance that made the space feel inviting. We especially enjoyed the soft Turkish music playing in the background - it added a lovely, authentic touch. Our Turkish server was both professional and charming, he contributed greatly to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be returning!

Everything was great! Friendly staff and delicious meals! Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!

Good food and very friendly staff, but you can tell it's a new operation and they are still figuring things out. We had appetizers and entrees only, no drinks/desserts, and the final total was about $60 per person. It took a total of about one hour to get entrees out, which even with the apps felt like a tiny bit too long. Luckily they are generous with the bread! Somehow we ended up with an extra appetizer, and one persons entree came out about ten minutes after everyone else's, but we all left full and happy. Branzino - somehow this is baked to an almost fried texture, but the fish was crisp and tasty. They left the fins on and some bones in though. Definitely more of a special occasion meal, but worth a visit maybe after they have streamlined their service!

Fantastic Turkish food -- flavorful, authentic, and even tastier than some meals I had in Ankara. Service was excellent, ambience warm and welcoming. However, one serious issue: the restrooms are at the back, requiring patrons to walk through the kitchen area. As I returned to my table, a large metal door swung open suddenly and hit my left arm -- a narrow passage with no space to avoid it. Thankfully just a scratch, but it's a real safety hazard. Please fix the layout -- everything else about this restaurant deserves praise.

Food was delicious. Ate outside - place is small & I didn't want to deal with navigating my walker inside. Service was friendly and knowledgeable and helpful in making recommendations for dairy free options for one in our party.

Forget love at first sight, it's all about love at first bite. Because once that seemingly attractive person opens their mouth, it's game over esp if they're missing teef. J/k! It's been awhile since I've been enamored with a dish that I wake up thinking about...until Esnaf came along. Two words: Crispy Manti. Hella bomb. Opening in the former Cuisinett Bistro is Esnaf, a new Turkish resto (opened 6/15/24). They're open for takeout, indoor dining, and dog-friendly outdoor dining. We walked in for dinner around 5 pm on Sunday and was promptly seated (only one other table at the time). M E N U Traditional Turkish Cuisine. Beer and wine available. Link to food menu: https://tinyurl.com/2tsmuu4n F O O D * Complimentary Housebaked Pide // 5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/rxmsjuhs Served warm with a herbed infused olive oil for dipping, the pide was crisp on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside with a satisfying chew. * Homemade Crispy Manti: Oven-baked dumplings filled w/ ground beef, topped w/ garlic yogurt, tomato sauce ($20) // 5++ stars: https://tinyurl.com/bdf7red6 First time seeing a baked version with a unique, rustic presentation reminding me of a kaleidoscope. The manti were crispy and chewy filled with savory, well-spiced ground beef. The creamy yogurt and tangy tomato sauce were the perfect complement...with the brown butter giving it a delicious richness. It was love at first bite with great flavors, textures, and contrasting temperatures. * Kebap Trio for Two: Angus sirloin, chicken thigh, köfte, buttered rice, tomato-onion salad ($45) // 5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/mr2mcyb3 - Sirloin: Juicy, and subtly spiced so you can taste all the natural beefy flavor. Cooked medium rare as requested. - Chicken thigh: Marinated with yogurt and spices, the thighs were tender and juicy with a nice smoky flavor. - Köfte: The Turkish meatballs are mixed with onions and spices, cooked medium, tender with a bit of a bounce. - Buttered rice: Fluffy, separated grains, true to its name with a delicious buttery flavor. * Fındık Lahmacun (included in kebap trio): Flatbread w/ angus ground beef, tomatoes, onions, parsley, sumac onion-tomato salad // 5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/nhpemvy7 Squeeze some lemon, fill it with the sumac-onion tomato salad, roll it up, and enjoy! Crispy and savory, with warming spices and acid from the lemon...the Turkish pizza (for lack of better words) just hits different. S E R V I C E Friendly and attentive. It was a hot day, and they kept the cold water refills coming which I appreciated. Since everything is made to order, food does take some time. A M B I A N C E Modern and rustic Mediterranean décor with earthy tones, display of ceramic bowls, and open kitchen. There's about 8 tables indoors, handful of sidewalk tables, and a parklet. P A R K I N G Easy street parking near the transit center up the block. Overall, for being the owner's first resto, I was pleasantly surprised at how bomb the food was - props to the chef! It's the best Turkish food I've had in the bay for my personal taste preferences (reliant on herbs+spices not salt). Don't sleep on the crispy manti!

OMG, this place is SO Good!! There's another Turkish Med place we go to so the bar is set pretty high and they did not disappoint. I will say - my rating is more of a 4.5 but I bumped it up and I'll share why later. First - for appetizers - we got the Yogurtu (eggplant and peppers with tomato egg sauce on garlic yogurt). This is a staple for us when eating at a turkish restaurant - and while this was delish with their bread - there wasn't enough eggplant or peppers - but had a lot of tomato sauce - and the yogurt could have more garlic flavor - so this was good but not great compared to what we've had at other places. We then got their Crispy Manti - A MUST for ALL to try! It was SO GOOD - small bite with lots of flavor and different textures!! DEFINITELY made up for the Yogurtu... We also got their Lentil Soup which was delicious and hit the spot as well as their Esnaf Salad - which had that most amazing yogurt feta cheese dressing! I LOVE that salad!! And they added some sun dried tomatoes which totally took it over the TOP! HIGH recommend!! For our main dishes we got: * Branzino - was delicious - very tender with tons of flavor - not sure what the rub was but it had so much flavor but didn't over power the fish. * Lahmacun - which is angus beef on their flat bread - comes with an onion tomato salad that if you put on the flat bread just makes the bite PERFECT!! * Ispanaki Pide - which is spinach and cheese on their turkish flatbread! OMG SO GOOD... this was hubby and oldest favorite... BUT the * Truflu Mancrili Pide - the Crimini mushroom and cheese on their turkish flatbread!! My OH MY,.... that was mine and the middles favorite... I love that the Pide was thin and crispy and held up to the vegetable and cheese - did not get soggy - was crispy with every bite. Hubby LOVED the ends cause he loved the turkish flatbread. Definitely our must order when we come back. Reason for dropping .5 in rating - one as their Yogurtu - didn't quite meet up to what we were used to. Also service was lacking a bit. We had to sit outside and I had to flag the hostess to take our order after sitting for about 10 mins. OH and we never even got water. THEN we got the Yogurtu but NO BREAD.... had to flag down the staff to bring us bread so we could even EAT the dip. The guy who brought our water was great as he did keep checking and filling up our water but the rest of the service was basically us chasing them down. I thought it was because we were outside - maybe it's the table we selected as the other outside tables had immediate service. So not sure what the deal was other than it definitely dropped their overall review a star. It's definitely a tiny space - and I'm glad we sat outside as the inside was SO LOUD but they probably got better service. The FOOD was really good - especially their crispy manti, Esnuf salad and the Pides... Definitely want to go back and try different Pides...

What a cute and cozy Turkish restaurant in San Carlos! The branzino was lovely and the manti dumplings here are the crispy kind.

Tasty Turkish flavors. One star taken for the serving size. We felt like we had tapas for the price of a full meal. We ordered the starter meze trio. It's basically hummus, tzatziki sauce and a pistachio spread. The pistachio spread is special, the other two taste regular. The crispy mantis are very tasty, but they made quite a small starter for the $23 price tag. The flatbread Lahmacun has a perfect grilled taste and crispy texture, paired perfectly with tomato and lemon, but again a small portion due to the thin texture. We enjoyed the service from the waiter that looked after our table. He was very welcoming. The interior design is tasteful and clean. A good add to this neighborhood.