Toros Mediterranean Turkish Cuisine — Restaurant in Montclair

If you’re craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine in Montclair, NJ, look no further than Toros Mediterranean Turkish Cuisine. Established in 1972, this gem has been serving up consistently delicious and memorable dishes, and it certainly lives up to its reputation. My wife and I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and we were absolutely blown away by the entire experience — from the impeccable service to the vibrant atmosphere and the incredibly fresh, flavorful food.

We kicked off our meal with the Mixed Appetizer Platter, a wonderful sampler of six items, each bursting with unique flavors. The Patlican Salatasi (charcoal-grilled eggplant mashed with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil) was smoky and savory, and the Zeytinyagli Yaprak Dolma (grape leaves stuffed with a flavorful mix of rice, onions, pine kernels, and herbs) was delicate yet satisfying. The Hummus was creamy and rich, enhanced by Toros’s signature blend of herbs, and the Babaganus (smoked eggplant puree with garlic and sesame oil) had the perfect balance of earthiness and depth. The Lebni (creamed yogurt with garlic, dill, and walnuts) was light and tangy, while the Patlican Soslu (eggplant, tomatoes, red peppers, and garlic in a special tomato sauce) was a delightful burst of flavors that tied everything together. Every bite was fresh and expertly prepared.

For our main courses, I opted for the Toros Karisik, a combo plate featuring a perfectly grilled Izgara Kofte, a half portion of Adana, chicken, Shish and Doner Kebab. The variety of meats was cooked to perfection — juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. My wife, a fan of chicken, chose a special order of beef kebabs instead of lamb, and she was thoroughly impressed with how tender and flavorful they were. The portion sizes were generous, and we were more than satisfied without feeling overwhelmed.

Beyond the food, the service at Toros was exceptional. The staff was attentive, friendly, and eager to ensure we had a great dining experience. The ambiance of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with a traditional Turkish vibe that adds to the overall charm.

Overall, Toros Mediterranean Turkish Cuisine is a must-visit if you’re in Montclair. We genuinely believe it deserves a rating closer to the 4.8 range. The combination of great food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it stand out in the area. Plus, with good portions and fair prices, it’s well worth the visit. We can’t wait to come back and explore more...

Although the atmosphere and general vibe of the restaurant was pretty good (music, decorations, tables, lighting, etc), the food was alright at best. It's not completely authentic turkish food, especially the kebab and some of the appetizers were underseasoned as some other reviewers have stated. I really liked the baklava though, it was light enough and the pistachio taste was great. I also enjoyed the fried eggplant and hummus appetizers that came with the appetizer mix. The sigara börek was a disappointment, to be honest. It wasn't filling and it's very thin and small. I used to make it as a kid, my family taught me. And we made it thick with a generous amount of feta cheese stuffing. So, yeah, not the best place for that but it could be improved. The rice that came with the kebab was kind of bland, the kebab itself was alright but again, not an authentic taste.

Service was quite weird. There were two main people we interacted with, one of them was a waitress and then a man who seemed to manage the place. The waitress was polite, but the guy was quiet in his tone and didn't seem to smile at all. I can understand why people rated low for service, because it's important to give a good impression to customers coming in. The guy's overall demeanor made me nervous , as I thought he didn't like us even though we are Turkish. Also, a weird interaction: I asked if I could get some sugar for my tea (I drink it with sugar) and he said "it already has sugar". Last time I checked..no it didn't. Turkish tea doesn't come with sugar in it. You add it or you ask for the tea with sugar. So that made me feel awkward, I had to tell him "can I get some more?" even though I was very sure there was no sugar..

My mom and I liked some of the food and it IS a cozy atmosphere to come for some lunch and a dessert with your friends or family maybe. But it's just not authentic. The food isn't bad, but again, it's not the Turkish food I grew up with. And I believe the service could...

I have been here before and used to love the moussaka. This past weekend we drove there on purpose since i was craving moussaka, and it was absolutely disappointing. Honestly, i don't know what happened. Barely any meat and was mostly just potatoes wrapped in the eggplant with zero flavor. The appetizers were good, however made sure to be aware they ask if you want a salad once you place an order, and if you say you do: IT WILL BE CHARGED, even tho you might not be aware of it. That was a great strategy to make an extra 17 dollars, i can't even complain cause the salad was delicious but be aware it is not complementary as it might seem when you are asked if you would like to include it. I am not usually one to complain, but i felt compelled to come here and tell you if you want moussaka maybe find another place because it was terribly disappointing. I won't be returning. Appetizers and dessert were good so my reason for 3 stars. My husband is a slow eater and was asked if he needed a box and then the second time he was still chewing and put the fork down and the plate was taken away...we joked about it, but in all honesty we felt rushed. Used to like it, unfortunately 23 dollars for eggplant and potatoes i can make...