Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant And Art Gallery — Restaurant in Göreme

Pumpkin is a true gem of a family run business. As soon as you walk inside, you can smell that  something delicious is being cooked up in the kitchen by chef/owner Ozzy. Service is handled very efficiently by his daughter, who offered spot-on recommendations. This restaurant came recommended by Lonely Planet Turkey travel guide. So I started to read the reviews on Google several months before we came. The creative responses posted by the owner to customers' reviews (especially the negative ones) made him my hero. I knew I had to eat here and meet him regardless of reviews. This restaurant did not disappoint. The food is delicious. The portions are large and everything is made with love and care. We had the soup and mixed salad to start. Both were delightful. I could have stopped there but I ordered the pesto penne, which was prepared al dente as I like it. My partner had the lamb shank. He said it was by far the best he had ever had. In fact he said he wants to come back the next day. He finished his meal with the rice pudding, which of course made him swoon like a little girl.  Ozzy came out and greeted us as he did for all his customers. I told him about my obsession with him and his restaurant, which made him smile. The overall experience was unforgettable. For the quality you receive, the prices here are more than fair. We highly recommend going there. Please make...

We had an absolutely outstanding dining experience last night at Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant last night. The owner and his family were so incredibly gracious and hospitable and welcomed us into their restaurant warmly. The restaurant Is elegantly appointed and had a beautiful ambience perfect for an evening of fine dining.

We ordered many of the top dishes on their menu including testi kebab, manti and lamb chops... It was a spectacular show to bring out the ceramic pot filled with the lamb stew and have the owner come over to extinguish the flames and tap it open unveiling the succulent contents to our delight! Even the starting bread course with olive oil and herbs and a secret mix of 10 spices to dip was a fabulous way to start the meal. And then for dessert, since we had a larger party we were able to order one of everything on the menu and had a sweet finish to an absolutely perfect dining experience.

We were able to grab the owner and his daughter for a photo with the entire group at the end of the meal. This was a beautifully satisfying experience and an easy five stars. Our compliments to the chef and owner. We hope to come and...

My wife and I absolutely loved this restaurant—we ended up dining here every night during our four-night stay in Göreme because it was just that good. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the owner’s friendliness really added to the inviting, relaxed atmosphere.

While the prices may be a bit on the higher side, the meals offer great value. The quality of the food speaks for itself—you can truly tell the chef is passionate about their craft. We tried the lamb chops, köfte, manti, stuffed squash, and the testi kebab, all as set meals. For us, one set was often enough to share, as they come with soup, salad, çiğ köfte, dessert, and tea.

Our favorite dish was hands down the testi kebab—the meat was incredibly tender and flavorful. If you plan to try the chicken testi kebab in particular, it’s a good idea to make a reservation and pre-order it, as it seemed to require some advance notice.

Don’t miss out on this gem when you’re in Göreme! We’re already looking forward to coming back on...