OD Urla — Restaurant in Urla

My partner and I dined here on New Years Eve.

I couldnt fault the food, however the reason for my one star review is due to the absolutely Kafkaesque experience with the booking process.

In late November, my partner made a reservation for New Year’s Eve, priced at 9,000 TL per person plus 10% service charge. Because it was a “special night,” the restaurant required not a standard deposit, but 50% of the total to be paid upfront via bank transfer. Although this was highly unusual, we agreed to go ahead with it. The deposit of 10,000 TL was transferres from his European bank account.

A couple of days later, he got an unexpected WhatsApp call from a staff member saying they hadn’t received the transfer. Despite having already sent the payment receipt, he logged into his bank again, generated a new confirmation, and sent that too. About a week later, the same thing happened again. Over the following weeks, he was contacted by four different staff members, all asking for the same documents. He was even told to speak directly with their accountant and banker, which he did. He also obtained a full international transfer breakdown from his bank and forwarded that as well.

By the time New Year’s Eve arrived, we knew the issue hadn’t been resolved. We had dinner. The food was absolutely lovely, and the waitstaff were polite. The overall atmosphere, though, was chaotic. We assumed it was due to the holiday and tried to let it go and enjoy the evening.

At the end of the night, we were charged the full amount again — not surprising at that point. We didn’t object and attempted to pay, but none of our four cards (debit and credit) worked in their system. All of them had sufficient balance or limit. It took about 30 minutes of stress and repeated attempts before we finally managed to complete the payment. On top of that, I overheard some of the staff talking about us in a disrespectful way — saying we were “problem customers” and that we “never paid the deposit.” It was frustrating to hear, especially after all the communication and documentation my partner had already provided them.

After the dinner, he kept following up for the refund of the initial 10,000 TL. Another staff member again requested documents that had already been sent multiple times. Then the communication stopped entirely. In March, we sent an email stating that we would consider legal action. That, too, went unanswered.

Finally, in June — seven months after the transfer — someone got in touch to say they had just realized the payment had reached their account back in November. They apologized and refunded the amount. But the damage was done. Since the transfer was made in euros, and the exchange rate had changed significantly over those seven months, my partner lost money simply because of their incompetence and delay.

This experience was extremely disappointing. Poor communication, no accountability, repeated requests for the same information, and months of silence. I would not recommend OD Urla to anyone — especially not to international guests or anyone paying from abroad. What should have been a special evening turned into a long,...

We read about OD Urla in Conde Nast Traveller and booked a table well in advance of our travel to Çesme (40 min drive to OD Urla). The setting is beautiful - down a little track (easy to drive past on the main road) and the tables are all nested within a beautiful olive grove. You couldn’t ask for a more stunning setting. The staff were very attentive and we were warmly greeted by name. I don’t know what it takes to earn a Michelin star, but I can tell you that the food was amazing. As one of us is veggie, we didn’t have the chef’s tasting menu but had the 4-course set price (more on that later) menu - and it was spectacular. From the amuse-buche to the chocolate at the end of the meal, there wasn’t one dish we ate that disappointed, but in particular the fig starter (cut figs, fig ice cream, fig puree sitting on a bed of local cheese, grated apple and pear) was out of this world. We only had room to share one dessert but we loved the meal from start to finish (including the fresh-mint filled chocolate to top everything off). Two things to note though (but please don’t let this put you off reserving your table): Other than water, we weren’t asked what we wanted to drink until our main (3rd) course arrived. As it happened, we weren’t drinking alcohol that night, but I’ve never been in a restaurant where it’s not been offered even before you look at the food menu (and the waiter made out that it was our fault!). If we were drinking, trust me, we would have asked very quickly but it was somewhat strange not to be asked at all. The waiter. I hate to hate on a waiter BUT as lovely as he was, it all felt too needy, asking us if we liked the food before the plates had even touched the table. This is a small grumble (call me fussy, but I do appreciate trying the food first before declaring its delicious!) but here’s the bit that was entirely unimpressive: when the bill came (remember, 4-course fixed price menu + some sparkling water) the waiter was keen that we didn’t really look at the bill, but just pay. Except I checked - to find out that dessert had been added to the bill (already included in set price) and something else that was unidentifiable. When we queried, he kept on pointing to the final price - and then finally apologised and took it off. All really shoddy for such a high-class and wonderful place to eat. As I say, if you’re anywhere near Urla, book your table right now - it was AMAZING. But don’t be embarrassed to check the bill before you pay! One other thing - our bill was approx £170, expensive, yes BUT for a 4-course Michelin-star restaurant seems...

🌟 A Memorable Culinary Journey at OD Urla – A Review by Naomi & Rupert 🌟

My husband (Rupert, from Scotland) and I (Naomi, from Japan) had the most wonderful dining experience at OD Urla yesterday, and we can’t stop raving about it! From the breathtaking setting to the incredible flavors, every moment was pure magic.

🔥 Fire, Flavor & Warm Hospitality The open-fire cooking lived up to its name—each dish was a masterpiece of smoky, earthy, and fresh Aegean flavors. A special shout-out to Metin Tosuncuk, the kind and knowledgeable staff member who guided us through the menu. When we asked for recommendations, he enthusiastically shared his favorite dishes, including the charcoal-grilled squid with onion jus and the mackerel with caramelized peppers—both were unforgettable!

🌿 Farm-to-Table Excellence As travelers who appreciate sustainability, we loved OD Urla’s commitment to zero-waste and hyper-local ingredients. Knowing that most of what we ate came from their own organic gardens or nearby producers made the meal even more special. The baklava ice cream was a delightful surprise—perfectly balanced and unlike anything we’ve tried before.

🍷 Stunning Ambiance & Personal Touch Dining in the glasshouse surrounded by olive groves as the sun set was romantic and serene. The Aegean wines paired beautifully, and the staff made us feel like honored guests. Metin’s passion for the restaurant’s philosophy added so much to our experience—thank you!

Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) OD Urla isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary event that engages all the senses. Whether you’re a foodie, a sustainability advocate, or simply looking for an unforgettable dining experience in Turkey, this place is a must-visit. We’ll cherish this memory forever and hope to return someday!

Naomi & Rupert (From Japan & Scotland, with love for great food and travel!)

P.S. If you’re planning a visit, don’t hesitate to ask the staff for recommendations—they truly elevate the...