The Bosphorus — Restaurant in Nutley

A Love Letter to The Bosphorus: Where Chicken Shish Dreams Come True

There are restaurants you visit, and then there are restaurants that become part of your life story. The Bosphorus has firmly planted itself in the latter category for my husband and me since 2015, when we were still navigating the early, slightly awkward waters of dating. Nine years later, it remains our culinary North Star.

Let me tell you about their chicken shish kebab—a dish so perfectly executed it renders cutlery practically ceremonial. The chicken arrives in glistening, marinated cubes that surrender to the mere suggestion of a fork. Each piece contains the paradoxical magic of being both charred at the edges and impossibly tender within. I've often found myself debating whether to be civilized and cut each piece into smaller, more socially acceptable bites, or to surrender to primal instinct and let each heavenly cube disappear whole. The latter usually wins.

The service at The Bosphorus operates on an almost telepathic level. Your water glass never reaches the halfway mark before being refilled. Somehow, the staff maintains the perfect equilibrium between attentiveness and space—they're there exactly when you need them, yet never hovering. It's a ballet of hospitality that few establishments master.

But what truly elevates The Bosphorus beyond mere restaurant status is Nora and her team. When we walk through those doors, we're not customers—we're returning family members. The smiles that greet us aren't practiced hospitality; they're genuine expressions of "Welcome home!" The warmth of their hugs lingers long after we've paid the bill, and I'll admit to feeling a little pang of separation anxiety each time we leave.

When our friends ask where we should meet for dinner, the answer is always an immediate "The Bosphorus!" without consultation needed between my husband and me. It's our default. Our happy place. Our culinary home base.

I've seen some reviews calling Nora cold or criticizing the food and service, and I can only assume these people accidentally wandered into some parallel-universe version of The Bosphorus. Those who follow my reviews know I don't hand out praise like party favors—my standards could make Gordon Ramsay seem easygoing. Yet The Bosphorus consistently clears my high bar with room to spare.

Each visit to The Bosphorus leaves two things wonderfully full: my stomach and my heart. In a world of fleeting dining trends and Instagram-bait restaurants, The Bosphorus offers something infinitely more valuable—authenticity, consistency, and the feeling that you've found your way home, even if home happens to be on the shores of the Bosphorus...

Tucked away in the middle of the Oranges, this Mediterranean restaurant was a surprising find. The ambiance is elegant and thoughtfully designed, with attention to detail in both the decor and the presentation of the food. The staff is professional, attentive, and welcoming.

That said, this is more of a refined, white-tablecloth dining experience—not your typical casual spot. After arriving straight from a hike, we initially felt slightly out of place. But the staff quickly put us at ease with their warm hospitality.

We were fortunate to visit on Mother’s Day, when they were offering a full-course menu. The cold appetizers were a strong start—especially the grape leaves and the hummus, both full of flavor and freshness. The ezme had a spicy kick, but wasn’t a standout.

Among the hot appetizers, the fried shrimp stole the show. Encased in a perfectly crispy batter, it was arguably the best I’ve had. The shepherd’s salad was fresh, juicy, and well-balanced in flavor.

For the main course, I ordered the lamb chops—well done—and was pleased with how juicy and expertly grilled they were. The chicken shish kebab, however, felt a bit underwhelming. One consistent highlight across all the mains was the dill-topped rice, which added an aromatic and savory touch to the meal.

To end, we had the künefe. While slightly burnt on the edges, it still hinted at how delicious it could have been if executed perfectly. It seemed like it wasn’t originally part of the day’s fixed menu, so we appreciated that the kitchen prepared it for us nonetheless.

Overall, I would recommend this place if you’re in the mood for Mediterranean cuisine and are looking for an elevated dining experience—perfect for a special occasion or...

I don’t know if the reviews are paid for or if prior reviewers just don’t know good Turkish food/service.

Non-food first; We were sat and given bottled water rather than tap/filtered water, not a problem until the bill came and I found I was to be charged $2 a bottle (We only opened 1/2 of them) - I do not appreciate forced/unwarned sales. I did order a Diet Coke and received a flat tasteless cola-like drink that I considered to be imitation coke but whatever, it happens. After being charged $3.50 per cup I was eventually told it was Diet Pepsi, served from a can that had 3 weeks left until expiry and I didn’t even get the whole can, just enough to top the cup up once it was filled with ice. This left some soda in the can, presumedly for the next customer, which explains why it was served flat to me, we just seem to get some out of whatever can is open in the kitchen.

The food; mediocre at best. The falafel is very herby, which I know is the case in some parts of Turkey, so fine, not my style. The hummus is weak, not traditional Turkish, perhaps watered down too much. My family had wraps, which they said were not very flavorful and paid $2.50 to swap the garden salad for about 7 potato wedges each. The labne was chunky but at least flavorful and the bread appeared to be store bought but was warm and soft so no strong complaints there.

If it had been half the price it was I’d just write it off as a poor choice on my part and not go back again but for the money demanded, in some cases forced, I left the restaurant feeling ripped off and unsatisfied with my meal. I feel for the people of Nutley who don’t know better, try Toros in Montclair/Clifton or Ada in Fair Lawn, this is the standard for good...