Taksim

We loved this place on our last visit. Good food at an affordable price with excellent service. I don't get what other people are complaining about. The appetizers, especially the smoky eggplant, was to die for. Portions were good and no one at our table left hungry. I would like to see some, gasp, American coffee on the menu though. But still a great alternative to some of the stuffier Med places in town.

Pros: Nice atmosphere

Cons: Crying babies, no American coffee

Posted 11/21/09

I wish I could give this place 0 stars but it seems one is the minimum. I just went here with three friends and we had a terrible experience. The food was decent, but the prices were high. In addition, two of the four of us found multiple hairs (absolutely not our own) in our food, and another one of us had a dirty wine glass (lipstick stains all over it).

We brought our own wine because we had read that this was a relatively inexpensive BYOB place. Instead, there was a $12 corking fee, per bottle! Slightly overpriced considering the $1-$5 fees elsewhere in the city. Additionally, the service was horrendous. It took forever to take our order, we were offered neither an apology nor a reduction in the bill for the hairs in the food/filthy wine glass.

Then, to cap off a disappointing meal, we were told that they their credit card machine had broken and we needed to pay with cash. They did not tell us this when we first arrived, which we found rude, so several of us had to walk to a bank, in the rain, and take out cash.

All in all, this combination of unfortunate events made for a disappointing meal at best. Don't give this restaurant your business. If you must, try to order carry out, ask them to place the doggy bags outside the door, and run away, so that you don't have to deal with the indifferent, unapologetic waitstaff, slow service, and filthy utensils and food.

Pros: nothing

Cons: service, hairs in food, high corking fee, everything

Posted 10/23/09

I simply loved it there!
The food tastes really like a homemade one, so delicious!!!!! Every single dish that I tried surprised me and the best thing, the price was very very good.
I always go with my baby in a stroller and they treat us nicely and very kindely. I feel at home there!
Try the baked rice pudding, it is amazing! And to finish, order a turkish tea, because even a simple tea is special in this place!

Posted 08/25/08

I was told so many things about this place but i could not satisfy myself.Food left me overtaste and the service makes you feel like you are in a diner.

Posted 06/08/08

Taksim has some pretty good dishes, but for the price, the portions are minuscule. An entree here is the size of an appetizer elsewhere. It's a pity, because I live in the area and like the food, but they basically give you a sandwich's worth of meat, add rice, call it an entree and charge $12+ for it. We order out all the time and would love to add taksim to the usual rotation, but its not enough even for my wife, who's a very light eater. For that matter, their sandwiches are incredibly expensive too.
If you like this type of food, head downtown to Bereket on Houston. Better food, lower prices, generous portions, and open 24 hrs. Taksim won't last long here.

Pros: Some tasty dishes

Cons: Absurd prices, tiny portions, inconsistent quality.

Posted 06/06/08

I love Turkish food and i can say that this restaurant is the one of my favoritte.I highly recommend this restaurant.

Posted 04/30/08

I really loved this place. It was affordable and good and the wait staff was delightful. So bright!

Posted 01/29/08

Whenever I am in this area, I go to Taksim. It has a great vibe. The staff will talk with you, not just take your order and run. The food is simple and delicious. Try a few small dishes to get some variety. Great Turkish beer. Definetely my fav Turkish place in the city.

Pros: Atmosphere, Location, Friendly Staff

Cons: Not for big groups

Posted 03/17/06

If you have never eaten there, you have to give it a try. This place has become one of my favorites! Everybody knows everybody, the staff is always so friendly. the food is always fresh and they have the BEST falafel sandwich in new york for $4 dollars! This place makes you feel like family. Can't say enough about it...

Pros: inexpensive, BYOB, Cute staff

Cons: no parking, waiting list after 7

Posted 10/15/05

Small and very casual - don't go to Taksim expecting ambiance. DO go to Taksim for tasty, inexpensive, and always reliable food. The service is friendly and prompt. A great spot for a laid-back after-work meal with friends.

Pros: tasty!, casual, inexpensive

Posted 10/11/05

Amazing food, very friendly people. Definetely taste the lentil beans as appetizer and lambshnak for the main course. Prices are great. You could even enjoy Turkish beer with a lot of foam on top :)

Posted 07/17/05

I was amazed to find such a highly rated midtown restaurant (8.9 citysearch, 21(F) Zagat) in midtown with $10 entrees so I decided to try it for dinner. The place was very busy. We had to wait a bit for a table. The service was very spotty. We had to remind the waiter of what we wanted several times. The decor wasnt much to speak of. All that aside, however, the food is pretty good. The tarama (codfish caviar) was excellent, though a bit too salty. The lamb chops were pleasant. I was told the chicken kabob was good. The Turkish tea was very nice. Overall, I would not say the food was excellent, but it was pretty good, and very inexpensive.

Posted 07/14/05

I was hungry and had some time to kill so I stopped in to this little turkish place.. I tried the humas It seemed very dry..like it was sitting out for a while... the chicken was my main course and a similar result.. dry on the inside almost over cooked... anyway.. no atmosphere and very plain....

Cons: food, food

Posted 05/27/05

A buddy & I met there yesterday after work and were completely impressed. Since we weren't too hungry, we ordered five appetizers and the lamb shank special & ate tapas style. The food was absolutely delicious without being too filling. We've decided to make that a regular staple in our gastronomic tour of NYC.

Pros: Inexpensive, Gr8 choices 4 samplin, Relaxed atmos.

Posted 04/06/05

One night my wife and I were loking for a cozy little sit down place in our neighborhood and remmembered an old place we went to over this past winter, Efendi..... when we went back the name was changed, but the place looked the same. so we tried it....Was NOT even close... we were VERY DISAPPOINTED.... the mussakka was horrible... and the humas was chucky.... I can not recommend it to anyone, sorry

Pros: close to me

Cons: , the food

Posted 01/08/05

Taksim has terrific food and prices are reasonable. Staff is always accomodating, even when harried, which is most of the tiime. Great donner sandwiches, spicy chicken, other hot dishes and their mezzes. Hummus is one of the best in the city, very fresh. Same with their cold artichokes and rice pudding.

Pros: food, prices, kid friendly

Posted 12/05/04

This place is fantastic!!!! The food just melts in your mouth. The bread is out of this world! The sevice is great. I was happy we tried it.. we would go back again in a heartbeat!

Pros: inexpensive

Posted 09/01/04

Upon moving into the neighborhood less than six months ago, my husband and I were excited when Taksim opened it's doors. Weve gone for a quick lunch, and weve gone with a larger group for a dinner. It's great for any occasion!!! From the great food to the great hospitality, it's quite obvious that these people love what they are doing. Their prices are relatively fair too. It's a rare find in the neighborhood let alone New York City.

Pros: Food, Excellent Service, Will Deliver

Posted 06/30/04

I recently dined at Taksim with two of my friends and can certainly assure you that well be back for more! We were warmly welcomed into the cozy restaurant filled with coppers, dark wood, and Mediterranean blues and yellows. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and also proved to be helpful in providing recommendations and explaining the dishes. For Turkish Mezze (appetizers), we had Hummus and Grape Leaves and continued to indulge ourselves with the Musakka, Stuffed Cabbage, and a variety of grilled meats for our entrees. Since there are no additional cork fees, I would highly recommend picking up your favorite bottle of wine to further enhance your dining experience. Save room for dessert followed up with a Turkish tea or coffee!

Pros: Authentic Cuisine, Prompt Service, Value for your dollar

Posted 04/01/04

Taksim has got it right...it's proper Turkish food, not a homogenized or "dumbed down" version for the American pallette. It's authentic, delicious, and the portions are generous. I think the best way to enjoy Taksim is with a few friends so you can sample a little bit of everything. And if you need a recommendation, the friendly staff are more than happy to make suggestions or explain the dishes. Don't miss out on the special warm Turkish bread...I've even requested having it shipped to me in Connecticut!

Pros: inexpensive, varied selection, pleasant atmosphere

Posted 03/30/04