El Turco Turkish Food — Restaurant in Miami

El Turco holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation, which initially piqued our interest. However, after visiting at least five Bib Gourmand-recommended spots in Miami, we’re starting to question how thorough the selection process really is. Many of these places, including El Turco, simply didn’t live up to expectations.

Walk-In Experience & Service

We walked in on a weekend afternoon without a reservation and had about a 15-20 minute wait. Not terrible, so we decided to grab drinks at their sister restaurant next door. Unfortunately, the cocktails were nothing special—just standard drinks with no standout qualities.

Service was a mixed bag. While the food came out relatively fast, closing the check was frustratingly slow—it took over 10 minutes just to flag down the server and settle the bill. The order in which dishes were served also didn’t make much sense (more on that below).

Food Breakdown • Simit Avocado ($16) – A thin sesame Turkish bagel that was clearly over-toasted and not made fresh. The toppings? Just smashed avocado and a single organic egg—for $16, we expected either an extra egg or higher-quality bread. Not impressed. • Lamb Casserole ($32) – This dish tasted like a Dominican-style stew, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but not what we were expecting. The lamb was well-executed and not overly gamey, but the portion size and temperature were disappointing—the meat was barely warm. At $32, it simply wasn’t worth it. • Homemade Hummus ($12) – Easily the best thing we had. The hummus was fresh and well-seasoned, but it should have come with more pita bread. The portion was fair for the price, but without enough bread, it felt incomplete.

Strange Order of Operations

One of the biggest issues was the way the food was served. First, they brought out the lamb casserole, which is a heavy main dish. Then, they followed up with the bagel, which felt like more of a starter. Lastly, they brought out the hummus, which should have been served first.

It was just completely backwards, which made the dining experience feel disjointed.

Final Thoughts

El Turco is yet another overpriced, overhyped Miami spot that doesn’t live up to the Michelin recognition. The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t special either. Service was slow when it mattered, and the overall execution didn’t justify the high prices.

Would we come back? Probably not. If you’re in the area, there are better spots to...

As someone who has lived in the States for over 30 years and has frequented numerous Turkish restaurants, my recent visit to El Turco Turkish Food left me with mixed feelings. While there were some positives to highlight, a few glaring issues left me questioning the overall value and service provided. Let's start with the negatives. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by an unfriendly atmosphere, courtesy of two out of three waitresses who seemed distant and disinterested. Perhaps it was the early Saturday morning, but their lack of warmth and attentiveness was noticeable. It almost felt as if they had a rough night and didn't get enough rest to serve Sunday breakfast with enthusiasm. To make matters worse, the pricing at El Turco Turkish Food left me astounded. Charging $3 for a small glass of tea seemed excessive, considering that tea is an integral part of Turkish culture and typically offered generously at a reasonable price. Furthermore, I was shocked to find that they were charging $2.50 for filtered regular tap water. Basic amenities like water should not be subjected to such inflated pricing. To add insult to injury, the restaurant had an automatic gratuity policy in place, as evident from the attached picture. While I appreciate the efforts of hardworking servers, tipping should be at the discretion of the customer based on the quality of service provided. Imposing an automatic gratuity removes the freedom to reward exceptional service and unfairly assumes a satisfactory experience. Now, let's touch on the positives. The ambiance of El Turco Turkish Food was pleasant, with traditional Turkish décor creating an inviting atmosphere. The menu boasted a variety of Turkish dishes, and the flavors were generally satisfactory, although not exceptional. The presentation of the food was visually appealing, and the portion sizes were adequate. In conclusion, if you're considering dining at El Turco Turkish Food, I would advise you to think twice. While the ambiance and the food are passable, the unfriendly service, exorbitant prices for basic items like tea and water, and automatic gratuity policy dampen the overall experience. There are other Turkish restaurants in the area that offer better value for money and more attentive service. Explore your options wisely before deciding where to satisfy your Turkish cuisine cravings. Thank you for reading my...

El Turco: A Review

The food was great. The service was questionable. The lighting was fabulous!

El Turco is a restaurant in Upper Buenavista that accepts walk-ins, according to their AI Hostess when calling their number but they encourage online reservations. Intrigued by its vegan and Michelin reputation, I decided to give it a try without a reservation. The rustic and welcoming atmosphere, along with the Evil Eye Imagery in the extended portion of the restaurant, caught my attention.

Upon arrival with a party of four, we struggled to find the host or hostess. After a few minutes, a friendly gentleman in white approached us and went inside to seek help. Shortly after, the inquired about our reservations and informed us that we would be accommodated at a shared table. We didn't mind this.

18:33 We were seated at a long table near the storage area, but the staff courteously navigated around us. While scanning the QR code menu, we noticed reasonable prices and a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options. We placed our orders with the same lady who returned to take our orders. However, the service was slow, and we had to ask for water multiple times. Our neighboring party even received their food before us, despite ordering first, which was concerning.

Finally, at 19:02, our teas and my Vegetarian Bowl arrived which was excellent.

At 19:12 the Pide arrived which reminded us of a good Cheese Quesadilla. Although I didn't try the Doner, my friend enjoyed it. The Baklava was too sweet, resembling the Napoleon dessert. However, the Turkish Tea was disappointing and tasted more like Lipton Green Tea.

The food was delicious, but the service affected our dining experience. We felt ignored and noticed that other diners were being well-cared-for. As we finished our meal, it seemed like we didn't quite fit in or were treated differently. At 19:35 When we requested the bill, our original waiter had left, and we were asked to list our orders again. The staff apologized for the poor service and assured us that no tip was necessary. They encouraged us to share our honest opinions and suggested leaving a review on Google.

Despite the service, we appreciated El Turco accommodating our on-the-spot dining request. However, we recommend making an online reservation for a smoother experience. Trust me, the AI Hostess will likely take better...