Award-winning

Ottoman Taverna

4.5

1547 Reviews

$30 and under

Turkish

Top Tags:

Ottoman Taverna provides flavors and dishes from the Turkish cuisine. Enjoy house made kebaps, dips, hot mezes, desserts and more at our Turkish restaurant. Ottoman Taverna has been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand status since opening in 2017.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 6, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 36 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Turkish, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:45 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(202) 847-0389
Website
https://ottomantaverna.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Mustafa Essizoglu
Catering
Catering menus are available upon request
Private party facilities
Ottoman Taverna features the Sultan’s Table (Chef’s table) with 12 seats. We have 3 private dining rooms, with the smallest accommodating 30 people and the two largest combined seating 90.
Private party contact
Felicia Ruffino: (202) 847-0389

Location
425 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
Neighborhood
Mount Vernon Square
Cross street
4th and I Street NW
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
The restaurant is situated in between Judiciary Square and Chinatown metro stations in Mount Vernon Triangle along the red, green and yellow lines.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Hummus$9.95
Chickpeas Spread with Tahini, Lemon Salt, Olive Oil & Pine Seeds
Haydari$9.95
Fresh Labneh Yogurt Flavored with Mint, Dill, Olive Oil & Walnut
Atom$9.95
Garlic-Yogurt, Celery & Sundried Chili
Ezme$9.95
Sundried Tomato Paste with Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Parsley & Turkish Spices
Pembe Sultan$9.95
Beets, Labneh Yogurt, Garlic, Olive Oil
Muhammara$9.95
Red Pepper Spread with Walnuts & Olive Oil
Çiğ Köfte$9.95
Six Pieces of Bulgur-Wheat Kofta with Tomato Paste, Red Peppers, Turkish Spices
Moutabal$9.95
Charred-Eggplant, Yogurt, Tahini, Garlic, Olive Oil
Imam Bayildi$12.95
Roasted Eggplant Stuffed with Tomatoes, Onions, & Olive Oil

Hot Meze

Sigara Böreği$11.95
Feta Cheese, Onions & Parsley Wrapped in Homemade Dough
Patates Köfte$11.95
Potato Cakes with Crumbled Feta & Yogurt Sauce
Anatolian Dolma$13.95
Grape Leaves Stuffed with Rice, Pine Nuts & Raisins, with Yogurt Sauce
Falafel$12.95
Chickpea-Vegetable Fritters with Yogurt Sauce
Butter Shrimp$14.95
Sundried Chili & Turkish Spices
Içli Köfte$14.95
Bulgur Wheat Stuffed with Ground Lamb & Beef, Onion, Walnuts & Parsley
Brussels Sprouts$9.95
Caramelized Onions, Garlic, Pine Nuts, Orange, Red Cabbage, Cream, Red Peppers, Lemon Juice

Soups & Salads

Red Lentil Soup$9.95
Red Lentils, Onions, Carrots, Potato
Shepherd Salad$14.95
Chopped Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Onions, Green Peppers, Walnuts, Parsley, Lemon Dressing
Greek Salad$14.95
Romaine Hearts, Beets, Red Onion, Olives, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Feta Cheese, Lemon Dressing

Meze Platters

Cabbage, Cream, Red Peppers, Lemon Juice

Cold Meze Platter$23.95
Hummus, Pembe Sultan, Muhammara, Atom, Haydari, Moutabal
Hot Meze Platter$23.95
Sigara Boregi, Falafel, Patates Köfte, Icli Köfte

Chef's Mixed Grill

Chef's Selection of Kebaps for Two Guests $64.95. Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw

Lamb Chops
Köfte
Chicken Şiş
Adana Kebap
Lamb şiş

Beef Kebaps

Döner Kebap$24.95
Thinly Sliced Beef Döner Kebap Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
İskender Kebap$24.95
Thinly Sliced Beef Döner Kebap Served Over Toasted Pita Bread with Tomato Sauce & Yogurt
Adana Kebap$25.95
Char-Grilled Spicy Ground Beef Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Spices. Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Beyti Kebap$25.95
Char-Grilled Spicy Ground Beef Kebap Wrapped in Lavash Bread with Eggplant Puree. Served with Tomato Sauce& Yogurt
Inegol Köfte$24.95
Char-Grilled Ground Beef Kofta Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw

Chicken Kebaps

Tavuk Adana Kebap$23.95
Chicken Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Spices Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Tavuk Beyti Kebap$23.95
Chicken Kebap Wrapped in Lavash Bread with Eggplant Puree. Served with Tomato Sauce & Yogurt
Tavuk Şiş$23.95
Char-Grilled ChickenCubes Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Tavuk Köfte$23.95
Char-Grilled Ground Chicken Kofta Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served over PitaBread with Tomato & Yogurt Sauce

Ottoman Classics

Moussaka$21.95
Eggplant, Potato, Ground Beef, Bechamel Sauce & Kashkaval Cheese
Lamb Şiş$28.95
Char-Grilled Lamb Cubes Seasoned with Herbs & Served with Bulgar Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Grilled Lamb Chops$29.95
Thyme & Pepper Marinated Lamb Chops Served with Sautéed Vegetables & Smoked Eggplant Puree
Shrimp Casserole$21.95
Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Mint in Tomato Sauce with Kashkaval Cheese
Grilled Salmon$26.95
Char-Grilled Salmon Served with Mashed Potatoes & Sautéed Spinach
Kuru Fasulye & Pilav$19.95
White Beans Stew with Tomatoes, Onions & Green Peppers. Served with White Rice
Cauliflower Stew$19.95
Cauliflower, Chickpeas, Onions, Tomatoes, Carrots & Served with White Rice
Manti$21.95
Turkish Ravioli Stuffed with Ground Beef & Served with Garlic Yogurt and Anatolian Sauce

Sides

French Fries$5.00
Sautéed Vegetables$5.00
Plain Yogurt$5.00
Bulgur Pilav$5.00
White Rice$5.00

What 1,547 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.3Service
4.3Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

District of Columbia
Good for groups

1,547 Reviews

SC
StefanoC
Washington DC
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
outstanding quality of the food, really great! extremely recommended
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Richmond
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great dinner out! Best Turkish food I’ve had in a very long time.
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VH
VickyH
New Orleans
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service and delicious meal. Our server was very good. Loved The Black Sea drink
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M
Mike
Washington DC
48 reviews
vip
5.0
48 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The restaurant is elegantly decorated. The Trip to Turkey four course menu was a great value and provided a variety of item from which to select. The food was delicious, the rereview was fantastic. The noise level was moderate, so a conversation could be had without struggle to hear above noisy diners.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience4
Very good food for reasonable price and quick service
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AN
AnoNev
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall1food1service1ambience1
Unfortunately the service was really bad. The food was just ok nothing special.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service3ambience5
Delivery of ordered items was timely, but after the first check in we did not see our waiter again for 30-40 minutes.
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JS
JoseS
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great food once again and lovely service. I will definitely go back!
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F
Fineeatersanon
Washington DC
37 reviews
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on November 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
There are very few restaurants for real Turkish food in the DC region. This is the best. And it is a joyously fancy place at reasonable prices. Great service, food, ambiance. Can't be beat.
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DN
DinerNB
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very delicious food, came out quickly, attentive staff
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S
Salem
Dallas
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience2
Tables were way too close together. Service was ok, half the table did not get water service because of how close other tables were to us.
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BL
BeetLover
Indiana
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our family loved this place. Excellent service and food in pleasant atmosphere.
Is this helpful?
1
12345
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food and great ambiance. Incredible flavors!
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s
swisspat
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always delicious food and great service ! Nice atmosphere
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A
Anon
Chicago
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was spectacular! And the service was excellent.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Immediately the bread they brought out was so hot fresh and delicious! Everything we ordered was equally delicious. Lamb chops were flavorful and tender, chicken shish was juicy and full of flavor as well!
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v
vhurteau
Washington DC
65 reviews
vip
4.0
65 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
We had the tasting menu, which was excellent but our wine didn’t come until the 3rd course.
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KR
KalyaniR
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on November 15, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience2
Food was good, drinks were really forgettable. Our server took forever to provide us drinks, the food arrived before our drinks did. She also came past our table once every 40 minutes or so, meaning that if she forgot a request - like an extra bowl to share the soup across people - it meant we were waiting for 40 minutes before we could even remind her. She also forgot the orders for two of the people on our table, who waited an additional 45 minutes for their food AFTER the rest of the table had been served. Overall, bad experience and would not recommend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great authentic Turkish food and trust me as I am Turkish. Lovely ambiance with pleasant Turkish music in the back. Staff have Turkish hospitality. I took my entire crew of non-Turks and they loved it too. Would love to go again when in DC.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is the best Turkish restaurant in the DC area and is the quality is better than most restaurants where I dined in Turkey. I lived there a year and a half and return most years.
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m
moonbelly
Washington DC
27 reviews
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience2
Too crowded (some tables just inches apart) and much too loud. Lots of wait staff and runners, all friendly, but so loud you can barely hear them. (The quietest spot was the restroom!) A bit chaotic, too. We witnessed several mistakes -- running drinks/food to the wrong tables. A few of the dishes were really good, but most were average -- making the overall experience not something I'd repeat. It really made me miss Ezme on P Street!
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ST
SarahT
Washington DC
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
We enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service at this nice restaurant. We love Turkish food and Turkey, and spent a good chunk of time reminiscing about our past and planned travels to that lovely country. The tables are a bit close together for my tastes, I'd say. We thought the restaurant did a good job advertising the city's tipping rules and how they'd handled them. We had some delicious mezzo - I'd especially recommend the muhumara - and my Iskander kebob was great!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
Other than being fairly loud for a Sunday brunch, the experience was outstanding. Good food and drinks matched with great service ENJOY your mimosas 😀.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall2food3service3ambience3
They are including in the bill, as many other restaurants in DC, as a mandatory tip, a 20% increase of the final price. They should, as the rest of them, incorporate directly to the menu prices, this 20%. The clients must have the right to know clearly and from the very beginning the real prices ……. Should this behavior be tolerated or accepted in other businesses/services ?????
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is an absolute gem of a restaurant. I came in for a dinner with my colleagues during a tradeshow, and was pleasantly surprised by how delicious everything was, and how friendly and inviting the staff was. Will definitely be back!
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MP
MaryP
Philadelphia
27 reviews
vip
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall3food5service1ambience4
We (couple) chose to sit at the bar on a busy Thursday rather than be seated at an undesirable table. After our initial drink and appetizer order the bar service was non-existent. We had to flag down the bartender/server for a 2nd drink. After 2 hours we decided not to order an entree and left. The food is exceptional. Based on this experience, avoid eating at the bar. The restaurant is not adequately staffed and the bartenders are doing double duty as table servers.
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SY
SandraY
Washington DC
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had the best experience from food to service to everything. This is not my 1st or 2nd time but my 4th time at Ottoman Tavern and will always be back.
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E
Erika
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I enjoyed being at Ottoman Taverna. The food was excellent and the person who served us was very friendly and helpful
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KC
KyleC
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
We had a great time. The food is excellent and the value is very very good. Portions were large.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was good experience. I’ve been here before and I love their food.
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A
Annabanana
Philadelphia
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
The bottomless brunch is a good value for the cocktails alone. I did find the menu offerings sparse. A bigger selection would have been nice as some of the items are very similar to others on the brand much menu. If there’s something you don’t care for that eliminates several other options on the menu further. Also the service was spotty at times.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall3food1service2ambience3
The food you eat here is a very very very bad version of the dishes you would have in Turkey. I have eaten at Turkish/Mediterranean restaurants in various cities in the US, this is one that I would never recommend to friends.
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DK
DavidK
Montreal
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was outstanding with plenty of choices. The service was also very pleasant.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Amazing service and beautiful ambience. We loved it!!
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j
jorgep
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 19, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
The ambience and the place itself work as a great appetizer to a delicious Turkish food
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MK
ManelK
Los Angeles
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
The service is perfect! The food was good . So I will definitely come back.
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KM
KathleenM
Washington DC
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a great experience dining here. Takes me back living in Turkey with their food.
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DN
DNiz
Washington DC
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
We had a phenomenal experience at this restaurant. The cold mezze platter was delicious as was the entree we ordered. My only suggestion is the servers could do a better job of asking questions and making recommendations to help you make decisions. I will definitely return and have already recommended this place to friends.
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WR
WendyR
Washington DC
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Hopping place, though high noise level to match. Nice decor, good chef, decent service, good value.
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MH
MonikaH
Washington DC
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall3food2service2ambience3
Eight people, mediocre food, table was never cleared. Some food was greasy and cold. We had such high hopes…
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Ottoman Taverna does offer delivery in partnership with Chow Now and Uber Eats. Ottoman Taverna also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 847-0389.

Ottoman Taverna is rated 4.5 stars by 1547 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 6, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 36 times today

Order delivery or takeout

425 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Dining areas

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
Cross street
4th and I Street NW
Neighborhood
Mount Vernon Square
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:45 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Turkish, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
The restaurant is situated in between Judiciary Square and Chinatown metro stations in Mount Vernon Triangle along the red, green and yellow lines.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Mustafa Essizoglu
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://ottomantaverna.com/
Phone number
(202) 847-0389
Catering
Catering menus are available upon request
Private party facilities
Ottoman Taverna features the Sultan’s Table (Chef’s table) with 12 seats. We have 3 private dining rooms, with the smallest accommodating 30 people and the two largest combined seating 90.
Private party contact
Felicia Ruffino: (202) 847-0389

Ottoman Taverna

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Chicken Şiş

Grilled Lamb Chops

Cold Meze Platter

Cold Meze

Hummus$9.95

Haydari$9.95

Atom$9.95

Ezme$9.95

Pembe Sultan$9.95

Muhammara$9.95

Çiğ Köfte$9.95

Moutabal$9.95

Imam Bayildi$12.95

Hot Meze

Sigara Böreği$11.95

Patates Köfte$11.95

Anatolian Dolma$13.95

Falafel$12.95

Butter Shrimp$14.95

Içli Köfte$14.95

Brussels Sprouts$9.95

Soups & Salads

Red Lentil Soup$9.95

Shepherd Salad$14.95

Greek Salad$14.95

Meze Platters

Cold Meze Platter$23.95

Hot Meze Platter$23.95

Chef's Mixed Grill

Lamb Chops

Köfte

Chicken Şiş

Adana Kebap

Lamb şiş

Beef Kebaps

Döner Kebap$24.95

İskender Kebap$24.95

Adana Kebap$25.95

Beyti Kebap$25.95

Inegol Köfte$24.95

Chicken Kebaps

Tavuk Adana Kebap$23.95

Tavuk Beyti Kebap$23.95

Tavuk Şiş$23.95

Tavuk Köfte$23.95

Ottoman Classics

Moussaka$21.95

Lamb Şiş$28.95

Grilled Lamb Chops$29.95

Shrimp Casserole$21.95

Grilled Salmon$26.95

Kuru Fasulye & Pilav$19.95

Cauliflower Stew$19.95

Manti$21.95

Sides

French Fries$5.00

Sautéed Vegetables$5.00

Plain Yogurt$5.00

Bulgur Pilav$5.00

White Rice$5.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Ottoman Taverna offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Ottoman Taverna restaurant rated?

Is Ottoman Taverna currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information