Came here with some friends on my last night in Atlanta. The vibe of the whole restaurant is amazing. Before I even walked in I could feel the energy of the restaurant from the outside. The bustling of the restaurant on a Saturday night was a total plus. They had a DJ, a belly dancer, the works. The service here was also amazing. Our waitress was a Turkish woman and she not only seemed like a great individual she also was a great waitress, took care of all of our concerns, and was incredibly nice. Aside from that though I was quite unimpressed with the food. I asked for medium done lamb, and it came well done, the vegetables were quite flavorless and slightly undercooked. The rice was also lacking flavor, but I did appreciate the chickpeas in the rice that gave it a subtle flavor and diversified the overall texture of the rice. The slightly pickled red cabbage or red cabbage with a vinaigrette on it was also quite tasty and different which not only added some color and pop to the meal but really was the best-tasting thing on the plate. The lamb was good, but since it was overcooked it wasnt as tender as I had hoped and I think it was lacking some flavor as well. Their plating also needs some work. The hookah was great while it was working. Two of the hookas we had were having trouble staying lit and werent very smooth. Luckily our waitress was able to quickly resolve the situation.

Since I moved to GA few years back, I thought I would never find the place that will warm my heart and make me feels like at home...but I was wrong. Cafe Efendi is the most amazing, friendly, family based, carrying, and just an incredible place with great hookah and food. Staff is always taking extra steps to make you smile and take care of you on a higher level. I never seen management being so great. They always recognize you, check on you when they around to make sure you are doing great - it feel like you are important there. I really want to say thank you so much to Cafe Efendi, management and staff to be so great to me, my family and friends. And, I am sure there are a lot of people who feels the same way as I do. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place to everyone! Trust me, you won’t regret it!!!!

Excellent vibes and very friendly service. The menu was crisp and delightful. Will absolutely recommend this spot to others. Convenient prices and large meals. Great work.

Seated with water and menus then went to wash my hands. Returned and waited 15 minutes without a single person checking on me or taking my order; there were only two other tables seated at the time, a four-top and two-top.Would not recommend coming here on a busy night unless you are with someone who is a regular or knows the staff.

This place is worth a visit. They have large portions for convenient rates. Consistently well organized and with fantastic vibes. Would recommend to others.

Yummy chicken kabab and falafels and calamari ! They have hookah and so many things... it’s fully packed on weekends! I heard they even have belly dance on weekends..Night mode set up is good “party”type!

Mediterranean food and the feeling here is great. Service is always nice even when they have a full house. The service here is attentive. This place has a good design. Feels like a place in Los Angeles I liked.

My top site for quality mediterranean food. Next time Ill be back with my relatives. Prices are fair I would say. Ambience reminds me of San Diegos scene.

This restaurant provides superb service and yummy meals. The best spot in town. The drinks and food served quick and the prices are affordable. Highly recommended.

Awesome spot to buy food when in a rush. The service is quick, prices are fair, awesome atmosphere. Would recommend to others

I love this place so much, but if you are curious about the virus and wearing masks, they are not any compliance with that at all, even the manager/owner comes to talk to you without any masks at all!I told one waitress that we not feeling comfortable with someone who isnt wearing mask, she was very nice and let someone else to serve us, overall I recommend it if they really take some masks/precautions!

My top site for quality mediterranean food. food was super flavorful. the staff was very friendly and kind. the bill was decent for the quality. menu is like a cafe in indianapolis i liked.

Mediterranean food and the scene at this location is super good. a preferred evening place. the service was very helpful and welcoming. food is similar to a cafe in indianapolis i liked.

Lets start with the positive: good food.Everything else ranged from disappointing to downright reprehensible. It took 25 minutes for someone from the waitstaff to ask for our drink orders, and that was only after I got up from the table and sought someone out. It was clear that only the large party of people who seemed to be friendly with the owner were of any importance. The waitstaff knew nothing about the menu and even managed to bring the wrong beer on the most simple of orders. Finally, when the check arrived, a 20% tip had been automatically added to the final bolded price to be paid. I cant think of a scummier practice -- surely this is illegal. To be clear, it was not a suggested tip, and we were a small party. There was no indication of automatically added gratuity on any signage or on the menu. They simply added in a 20% gratuity (which was based on the full total including tax) to the merchant copy of the bill which of course was followed by a line where one could add tip (to the already increased total). I imagine 50% of people dont realize this, and Im sure the restaurant has stolen quite a good sum of money from unsuspecting victims in this manner. Avoid this place.

Fine location for tasty mediterranean food. The staff was friendly and sociable. It has an awesome atmosphere.

My fav spot for quality Mediterranean food. i love visiting here. i had a brother come into town and asked me to take him back here.

UPDATE FROM PREVIOUS REVIEW: I brought my friends over this time as my wife and i had such a good time and it was phenomenal! Drinks, food, hookah, belly dancer, atmosphere! Good times for sure!Original review: Delicious food and excellent customer service! Very neat setting as well!

This place is hands down one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I have been to. The ambience is so pretty and rustic. They have indoor as well as patio seating. And the food is amazing. We had the mixed grill kebab platter and honestly, it surpassed my expectations. All the kebabs were juicy and delightfully flavorful and so was the rice. Wed also had baba ghanoush and that tasted great as well. They also serve hookah. Highly recommend this place.

The Hookah guy Said was perfect. And the hookah as well!

I don’t know whats the concept of halal if the atmosphere is so negative, it gives vibes of a bar the smell of hoqa was all over the place, it would be better if they had separated the smoking and drinking area from the restaurant area i wanted to try there food but I couldn’t stand the smell in there and had and headache i went to a cafe in florida and they had made separate entrance and a separate area for family the food was good they also carried hooka and drinks but atleast it wasn’t in the same area people look for halal restaurant so they can eat halal and promote that in their kids but the atmosphere was not family friendly would not suggest you to bring your kids here and make them feel that it’s normal .

Nice place with Turkish atmosphere, good kebabs and original tea

Heard alot about this place. Today we went to Cafe Efendi. Great place with great people. Delicious food. We enjoy and had an awesome experience with our waiter Jino. Definitely go back!!!!!

Something and have been looking for for a long. Turkish style restaurant. Authentic feel and service. Delicious food particularly kofta and kebab. I give it five stars easily.

Amazing and very authentic. One of my favorites!

Great ambiance food was delicious steak was too good and good service .

Great atmosphere, excellent service and a wide variety of dishes to choose from. The complimentary bread and dipping sauce is amazing.

First of all i am born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey and extremely picky on food. Cafe Efendi served the best Turkish food I have ever eaten in United States. Their Lahmacun (Turkish Meat Pizza) is even better than most of the restaurants in Turkey. My girlfriends family loved their meals as well. We started ordering from them every other week.So far we tried:Döner 4/5Lahmacun 5/5Chicken Kebap 5/5Sis Kebap 5/5Cacik 4/5Shepherds Salad 5/5Babaganus 5/5Cheese Pide 5/5 - left over for avocado toastHome made yoghurt drink (Ayran) 5/5Keep up the delicious food.TeşekkürlerAfiyet olsun

The food is tasty. The vegetarian options are not many. The hummus in the starters is so less that it will definite annoy anyone as it not even suffices the bread. But overall the food has great taste. The ambience is great but very sparsely populated.

Absolutely love this place. Sooo Good..

Authentic kabobs juicy, flavorful with great value and wide wine selection, huge bar

The best quisine weve eaten so far. We ordered by phone lamb kebab and Iskander kebab to take out to celebrate my husbands birthday. The prices are very reasonable. They gave us two sides of rice, two salads, additionally 2 little salads and bread. We have a plenty of food now, its impossible to eat 2 dishes for 3 people. Very delicious, healthy food. The staff is very nice, positive despite this current difficulties with quarantine.

Great food always fresh! Fabulous staff and amazing drinks definitely recommended! Did I mention the FOOD SHEPHERD SAUTEE!!!!thank you Jesus for this place!!! ️Wow what marvelous place perfect for any occasion!!!!!!

Liked the ambienceFelt that food prices are a little bit high but overall it was good.

Incredibly delicious food and outstanding service! Highly recommend the mixed grill kabob, it was awesome! It was our first time there and it was on a Sunday night which made it busier than usual but the service was fast, will be a repeat customer for sure!

Loved the place. The atmosphere was very friendly and the food was awesome. Their falafel patties were really tasty too, a must try

At the first moment you come to this place the personel give you a great feeling. Very congenial crew, it is a lovely place to to go out with friends and colleagues or with your date. Great cuisine, talented chief cook and stuff, honest cost and courteous service. Highly recommended.

We had an amazing time in this restaurant. We enjoyed the first-rate ambience and the meals. The staff are very affable. I am glad we ultimately managed to visit this place.

Excellent food, service, wine, nice relaxed atmosphere. Very comfortable home like feel.

I come to this superb restaurant once a month because I love the good air that is exist in this restaurant. The personel is awfuly welcoming and well trained. The service is exceptionally quick. Needless to say, the food you get is outstanding. I have been there many times and I was always joyful. The rate is decent. I suggest this restaurant to to all.

Stopped in for an impromptu lunch while in the area and oh my - what great energy in both the customers at the bar and the staff! Food is amazing and with an awesome lunch Doraville.. prepared just as requested, not charred at all even cooked on an open flame!Curious about Turkish wines but not wanting to order a full glass during the day, one of the owners, Barish provided a tasting for me and another guest and Mustafa helped me to reverse it by providing a sample of Turkish coffee! Another guest at the bar requested another tip for her hookah and shared her orange mint hookah with me!What a great experience here, I will be definitely back and often!! ️️️

Fun atmosphere for any and all parties...

Lunch portion or skimpy, dinner portions are build to share. Love it!

Enjoyed it. Had a blast!

Great time and awesome food! Plenty of vegetarian options and kabobs are awesome! Plenty of hookah flavors to pick from. My server Jonathan was awesome and delivered excellent service

Tasty food! great atmosphere!

We order the food, Adana Kebob and Sheesh Kebob.Rice was bad, sticky maybe 1 day old they served it.

Food is fantastic here. I recently started coming here for lunch, and now I plan on coming back every week!

Excellent food, many choices best hummus Ive ever had. Great wait staff, good price!!!

The customer service is regularly rapid, awesome atmosphere, super nice staff. Will visit here again when I am in town.

Best Meal I’ve had in a long time. Can not wait to come back!!!

This place is amazing. The food is so good! And the service was out of this world. The owners happened to be sitting next to us during Saturday lunch and saw that our hookah coals were getting low. They kept going out of their way to change them and get us whatever we needed. They even brought us their own concoction of tobacco to try. I definitely recommend the mixed grill entree and Karma Turkish Cabernet. You would be missing out by not giving this place a try.

Great location, Food is delicious, Hummus and bread are excellent.

Nice restaurant. Great food option. Courteous service waiting staff. Hukkah. Belly Dance on Saturday evening.Medeterrean entrees. Liquors, Spirits, Cocktails, wines and beers.Enough parking in front.Could be seen from road.

Great food and great service.

The lamb was cooked perfectly! Tender, and full of flavor. The only thing was the meat got cold quickly. A heated plate would have kept it warmer longer.

Very good food, nice atmosphere with live music and belly dancers. Recommended

The best Mediterranean food I ever had

This is a very nice place, especially sitting outside on the patio in the evening. I had the Adana Shish Kebab and it was delicious. Definitely will be back to try the steak.

I love this restaurant

I had the jajik and the veggie moussaka. It was excellent and I loved the classy decor. Ill be back.

Very nice staff. Good food, fun atmosphere and the belly dancer is a bonus

Great foooooooooood

The bread that is brought to the table with the house made sauce is everything your taste buds need. I went to there for lunch with a coworker and I had the Adana plate and it was all so good.

My and my girlfriend come here all the time. The staff and owners are incredible. I love them! They always go out of their way to make us feel at home. The food is awesome. If you have a chance to visit, do so. You will not be disappointed.

One of THE BEST Restaurant in Alphertta. If you are looking for Mediterranean food. Cafe Effendi is right place.I Like their Bread, Soup and the Falafel.Service is awesome.I went for Lunch!

Awesome service and hookah is on point. Now the food... I ordered the Adana and it was the best I’ve ever had. Great flavor, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Environment and space is very cozy and ambiance is great!

Visited for the first time earlier this evening. Food and service were absolutely spot on. I lived in Turkey many years ago and this was probably the most authentic Turkish cuisine I’ve had stateside, hands down. Thank you Jamie for a wonderful experience, we will be back.

This place best near Alpharetta for hooka lovers and some Midwestern food. They have good collection of hooka and food choices. I have visited this place multiple times and they have best staff, anyway making sure you are comfortable and feeling at home.

Very nice meal, thank you

The food it was really delicious and the service is great we really enjoy it there me and my family thank u y’ll

It is one of the worst Turkish restaurant in Atlanta.l dont recommend you going there guys and it is too expensive for that kinds of food .l was there 2 weeks ago .food was bad service was bad server was rude . They charged for everything .atmosphore o f the restaurant was negative .

The total package: excellent food, service, atmosphere and price

Great place to hangout; hookah bar, variety of food; quite options for vegetarians as well :) for desert in tried Kadayif, didnt liked much that though.

My friends and I are moving to the area. We stopped by to enjoy a hooka and some great food. WOW! I loved it! Authentic. Relaxed. We had a great meal and felt like a part of the family! If youve had a long day and need a place to unwind, dont think twice! Enjoy :D

The vibe was popping. It felt like I was at a classy dive bar. We only wanted to nibble on a snack while smoking Hookah and this was a great place to do just that. We ordered the appetizer sampler which included Hummus and 5 or 6 other Mediterranean dips, along with some sort of bread (not pita). I was very impressed with this dish and would get it again. The hookah was just your basic small set-up, but the coal guy come around very often. Overall, it was a great experience and I would come here again

Yusuf and Jamie are always there to help. Great food (especially my favorite chicken kabobs) and the hookah... probably the best smoking hookahs on the north side of Atlanta. Not exaggerating. That is coming from a frequent hookah smoker.

Great service... tasty food.

I dont doubt this place is packed on a Saturday or Friday night when the belly dancers come out and that its truly an entertaining atmosphere BUT to have come here for Sunday brunch just to end up with nothing but greasy overcooked chicken, vegetables, and rice was less than UNACCEPTABLE.. .NOTHING was fresh!!! How do you claim to be a Mediterranean restaurant BUT yet you dont even have gyro meat available??? 2 thumbs down and I will never return again...on another note, thats a cute Concept in the patio area BUT if youre going to have white sofas I suggest you have them steam cleaned regularly because they looked filthy. Too filthy for even a dog!!!!!

Really enjoyed dinner. My wife had lamb chops and I had lamb kebobs. Both were flavorful and well cooked. The prices are not cheap, but not ridiculous either. The food seems worth it to me.Update: went back tonight with another couple, didnt really enjoy the experience today. Food and drinks not quite as good, plus poor service and music that was too loud for conversation.

I have been to this place several times in the past. I really enjoyed the food. Last night was a big let down. I was served dry meat with barely any sauce on top and the service was slow. Additionally, they had the lights up so high my wife and were squinting during our meal. I am not sure what has happened, but Efendi does not seem like the same place it used to be as far as quality and service are concerned.On another note, the condition of the restroom was disgusting. It felt more like Atlanta gas station restroom than that of sit down restaurant in Alpharetta.

The hosts are very friendly and the restaurant food is good. However for adana kebab you need to check and make sure it is cooked, sometimes itbis not.

This place has some of the best Turkish food I have ever had at a restaurant in the States. Kudos to the amazing wait staff, too. Check it out on the weekends when they have live music and belly dancing!

EXCELLENT PLACE TO EAT TRUE MEDITERRANEAN FOOD, GREAT COSTUMER SERVICE AND FAMILY ORIENTED LOVE IT EVERYTIME

We tried lamb kabob and mix plate. Both of them were wonderful! A lot of food. The belly dance was entertaining. Our waiter was a funny man. Such a great Friday night.

Cafe Efendi is a truely exceptional place serving authentic Turkish and Mediterranean food. Only here you can find the best in town, home made Doner, Hummus and Babaganoush. Delicious food, Cozy environment, life music will help you build long lasting memories of your life. Strongly Recomend to everyone to visit and experience Turkish hospitality.

Great hookah place in Milton area. Nice atomsphere and service. Their hookahs are smooth and special hookahs are pretty interesting. They have a separate dining area if you just going for meals and sit away from the smoke. Price for entrees are little high but is expected from such a cafe. All in all great place to hang out with friends and have a good time. To add - you get belly dancers on the weekends.

This place has great food and service. Best kebabs I have had in my travels, and I have been to all but 3 states in the US. Service is fast and courteous, and the atmosphere is something special. Hooka is offered there and it is kid friendly.

Yum! Love the food, the bread and hummus is by far the best I have ever had. Especially the bread I mean WOW. I got the lamb which was also very good. It is tender, the rice is good and the veggies that come with it are great as well. The only thing I would say I wish was different is the amount of food I received for my money. And that’s only because it’s so good I wish there was more of it!!!

Ordered hookah, theres no smoke. Complained and they tried to fix the hookah for 30 mins but they couldnt.We had to leave and when asked for the check, they charged for the hookah. When checked with manager, hes said we shouldve send the hookah back earlier if it isnt working and they charge depending on the duration of the hookah at the table which did not make any sense in our case. Finally, after a long discussion they took it off the bill.

What a wonderful authentic experience. My server Geno was amazing, knowledgeable and attentive. Thank you to the chef! The Adana kabob was excellent

Great food. Love their lunch specials! Wonderful service with an neat atmosphere.

Thank you for your response. As you mentioned you have only two vegetarian course. When I visited the restaurant, I was given only one option. I hope you can fix that, so your restaurant would be more vegetarian friendly and more vegetarians would come to have your food. The important part is that you said you are working on it. And please do something about the smokers right by the entrance. Thank you!

Dinner here was nice! The staff was friendly and the food was amazing! The music was a little loud at times for casual conversation though.

Great food and hookah. Would be nice if the belly dancer would visit all areas of the restaurant.

Delicious:)

Food was really bad.Hookah was ok but...They need to hire a few more people to serve

The first visit to this restaurant was good. The food was excellent and the decor was great. But the price for the food quantity was a bit overpriced in my opinion.

We went on a weekday and the restaurant was almost empty may be a table or two are filled, but still our order took almost 30mins but taste was absolutely goodUpdate: I went there again last weekend(09/02/19) and this time it was so bad.Food was so tasteless and our falafel was so undercooked and they are so thick, chicken was just ok with no spice or salt.

I have been to this restaurant many times in the last 12 months. Although the food and hookah are good, theyre a bit pricey compared to Cafe Istanbul. To our dismay, last weekend was a big regret. We took a friend here who recently moved to Atlanta because we wanted to enjoy quality food, good service and music. We got in at 10 pm, the restaurant wasnt busy and the service was fast. At around 1:50 am we order our last drink (mind you, they dont even check for ID!). At exactly 2 am, the lights came on, music off and only two tables were still occupied which included us and another group of people! Suddenly, the long dark haired female bartender started yelling across the bar were closed, bye, thank you, you can leave now and come back tomorrow. She was drunk, rude and obnoxious and to top it off her and the other employees started laughing and humiliating the busboy while telling him to move faster. We literally had to chug our drinks that were just served to us which we had paid for, so we can run out the door before we got humiliated evenmore. Weve never experienced such unwelcoming behaviour. Usually restaurants will politely give you a few more minutes after their closing time to finish your food/drinks before they remind you again that you need to leave promptly!Something mustve changed with management, but Efendi does not have the same service and ambiance as it used to. The quality and service deserve 0 stars at this point. Not to mention, the condition of the restroom is disgusting, not Alpharetta sit down restaurant quality at all!

Food was really really good, service was great and the bathroom was really clean.