Cafe Mangal — Restaurant in Wellesley

Since moving west of Boston the only gem of a restaurant I have found is Cafe Mangal. It's genuine flare, flavorful food, and endless service has made it a mainstay for myself and family. The lunch menu is more traditional sandwiches and salads, but each menu item is made with fresh ingredients and you will taste the love in everything you try. I am lucky to work close to the cafe and eat lunch there 3 or 4 times a week. I always try an order something different when I go, so here are some of my favorites. I recommend the prosciutto di parma mozzarella salad, Turkish lahmacun, warm goat cheese and vegetable sandwich, traditional Turkish Borek, best roast beef sandwich I've ever had, and the coffee service can't be beat. That's just for lunch. Dinner is next, where the cafe transforms by clearing the tables of salt & pepper shakers to replace them with white linen table clothes, classic candles, and low lit lighting.

For dinner bring an appetite, because you don't want to miss anything on the menu. For starters the Turkish Meze Combination Platter is served with warm pita. Each meze is made from scratch and melts in your mouth. My two favorite entrees are the duck, which Chef Mehmet does an excellent job prepping and preparing for service. Duck can be tricky, but he has mastered his technique. I also love the Turkish spice rubbed Rack of Lamb with Medjool Dates . (My birthday dish.) Please take my word.

For dessert, I always enjoy the créme brulee. However, ask the General Manager, Gul, for her personalized recipe and preparation of Poached Pear with Roasted Almonds. It will change the way you view dessert, and dinner service all around.

Wine service is bring your own, which can be quite cost effective, and special, ,to guests celebrating a momentous occasion.

Cafe Mangal is very special overall. There is a reason Zagot rated this restaurant "Extraordinary" and named it the 7th best restaurant to dine in the Boston and Boston areas. In a world of lost art in restaurateurship The Ozargun Family keeps love first offering a simple motto "Smile, Serve, and Share." Thank you...

Update from April 2023: A belated but delighted review for recent takeout experiences from Café Mangal to celebrate New Year’s Eve and a family birthday. As always the food was prepared with great attention to detail, the precise reheating directions were perfect and the food was simply delicious, enjoyed by both the adults and kids (11 and 16) in our family. We ordered a selection of vegetarian dishes, and while it’s hard to call out any dishes since they are all so delicious and flavorful, the okra, stuffed eggplant and hazelnut cake were particularly wonderful, in addition to the other delicious mezze - artichokes, carrot dip, hummus, baba ganoush. The service at the time of ordering, pick up and follow up was excellent. This restaurant has become one of favorite places to order out to celebrate, and we are always in for a treat.

Original review from 2022: Chef Mehmet's food is delicious and the service is exemplary. This was our first time trying the food at Cafe Mangal, and we ordered a selection of vegetarian dishes from their thoughtfully designed dinner carryout menu. The meal was absolutely fantastic. The directions to reheat were detailed and every single dish-- especially the complementary artichokes in olive oil-- was fresh, unique and delicious. Chef Mehmet also followed up with us to ensure that we enjoyed the meal. We look forward to enjoying his wonderful culinary creations again, and would wholeheartedly recommend Cafe...

This neighborhood jewel has been making locals smile for a dozen and a half years. Even though they don't have a liquor license, and it's BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE OF WINE, still the house is almost always full. This is an expensive restaurant not to serve alcohol. It's the authentic and delicious Turkish food that tilts customers into regulars. The upscale Wellesley clientele knows and appreciates fine dining and good ethnic regional cuisine. The 3 lamb entrees are each a knockout: a generous portion of rack of lamb; the omnipresent, but succulent and comforting lamb kebab, and the juicy tender lamb meatballs. One in our party kvelled over their duck. Another in our party said approvingly that his steak was perfectedly prepared. The eggplant appetizer was unexpectedly sweet. I also recommend the paper thin beef wrapped around the Haloumi cheese & grilled on a stick. The beautiful mezze plate makes you feel healthy ....and virtuous. The brown sugar and coffee cream brulee is to die for. If you live within 20 miles off this restaurant, haul your backside to this excellent restaurant. Wait staff is...