Wooden Spoon Cave Restaurant — Restaurant in Göreme

I normally don't review restaurants but do rely on others' reviews in determining the choices I make, especially when travelling abroad. Wooden Spoon restaurant came with high ratings and rave reviews on google and other sites which is why we tried it. The experience we had was below mediocre. We went in a nearly empty restaurant (20% occupancy at the time at best). The guy at the entrance ushered us in but did not indicate any specific spot. We chose a 4 person table, though indeed we were just 2. Again the restaurant was 80% empty and by the time we finished our dining experience it was 100% empty (no new clients came in). The server indicated that we cannot sit at that table and asked us to move to a 2 person table - just because. We complied but the interaction was impolite and unpleasant. Service continued to be mediocre and very very slow...so expect to wait an eternity for your food. If with 3 occupied tables they took so long I cannot imagine how it is on a busy night. Prices were high, though in line with other Goreme restaurants. They are just high relative with the rest of the world and Turkyie for what they are serving. Expect to pay a lot for mediocre food with sub-standard service. Portion quantities are small and the taste was unimpressive even though I ordered the most expensive item on the menu - the clay pot meat. The Meze item on the menu is the only thing i would recommend and it is the best value for money. We had it as an entre and in retrospect it is the only thing I would recommend one orders as I would not personally return to this place. The decor is nice which is the only merit for the place.

Last note on the way out we saw the chef cooking while smoking in the kitchen (which one gets a glimpse at as they pass through going in the dining hall) so make of that what you will but it did not seem like a place that cares a lot about quality control.

In a nutshell - nice decor, very poor service, lacklustre quality, high prices - clearly overrated reviews. I...

Unfortunately I’m marking this restaurant down, as yet again I wasn’t made to feel very welcome by the owner.

When I walked into the restaurant and asked the waiter for a table for one, the owner who was stood behind him said, “NO! You can’t eat here because you’re on your own!” I challenged him and asked him why? It was early and the restaurant wasn’t busy, so I couldn’t understand his issue. He then relented and let me sit at one of the floor tables with seated cushions.

I asked him if the ravioli dish (which was on the menu) was vegetarian, he looked at me with disgust and said they didn’t do the ravioli. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, so I opted for the Meze instead.

Service was quick, and I really enjoyed my meal - but I didn’t enjoy being stared at by the owner every time he walked in and out of the restaurant. So I took to staring back at him defiantly!

I definitely feel that quite a few restaurant owners (not all thankfully) in this area have a problem with women travelling alone, and solo diners. I’m quite thick skinned and not a particularly sensitive person, but that’s twice in two days I’ve been made to feel really unwelcome by male business owners.

It’s a real shame, but because of the way I was treated I cannot recommend this restaurant. A change of attitude towards solo women travellers/diners is very...

Our 2nd night in Goreme we went here and while our first meal along the main strip was very so so The Wooden Spoon wowed us! The lentil soup was probably the best I've ever had and I love my soups so I can be particular. The onion salad they served with the bread was also amazing. We had the same at the main strip place and it just tastes like onions and some sauce but the sauce and combinations of veggies in their salad was absolutely delicious. How can one place make theirs so bland and this place make a delicacy our of it? We ordered the beef and chicken kebabs in clay pots. Both were seasoned differently and both were seasoned perfectly. Oddly enough they had the best prices of any restaurants we have seen so far for the clay pot meals. We went to another place nearby to find their price went from 550 to 1000 which is about 13.75€ to 25€ but the price here was still at 550. It didn't seem to catch the "raise all prices like crazy" fever that seems to be happening to all places along the main strip. The service was also very friendly and attentive. The pot dishes do take some time, about 25 minutes, but how else can you slow cook a meal fresh on order? Were definitely planning on...