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Sip Sak
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Turkish Middle Eastern, Turkish
928 2nd AveNew York, NY 10017
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
(212) 583-1900
- Nearest Transit:
-
Lexington Av/53 St (E, M)
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Sip Sak
Review Highlights
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"Grilled Lamb Sausage was a new one." In 35 reviews -
"...had the manti, tiny beef dumplings in a garlic yogurt sauce." In 4 reviews -
"fried eggplant / eggplant salad - nom nom nom." In 5 reviews
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Tracey A.
San Anselmo, CA
We were hell-bent on finding a unique restaurant for Manhattan vacation day one and waltzed down 2nd Avenue at 9:30 p.m. checking out the offerings. This place, with it's odd name and cozy, fun ambience (marble-topped tables and silver stars swinging from the tin ceiling), caught our attention. A quick look-up on the Yelp app confirmed that we were about to enjoy some good Turkish food, whatever that was.
The appetizer section of the menu included a notation reading "mixed appetizer platter is available upon request" and my decision to order it represented my second really good decision of this vacation (the first was my choice of accommodations). The mixed appetizer platter, which we ordered for 3, was a humungous plateful of deliciosity, a photo of which I previously posted. The fresh flavors of hummus, white beans, tzatziki, eggplant, grains, and pastry sticks filled with oozy hot cheese was an explosion of flavors, each more enticing than the last. Everything on the platter went together beautifully (with Turkish red wine), and left my taste buds dancing.
So satisfying was that platter (which turned out to be $31 for 3) that we probably should have skipped the entrees and gone straight to desert but we did not. The entrees were good, but couldn't compete with the excellence of that appetizer platter: We sampled a Lamb special, Eggplant Moussaka, and Manti (house made dumplings in a garlic yogurt sauce that was good but too much of a single flavor).
I've since learned that this restaurant is owned by chef Orhan Yegen, a somewhat notorious character about whom many people hold strong opinions (think Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi"). Their Hot Yogurt Soup, a couple years back, was listed among the top 50 NYC soups by New York Magazine, which also described a foolproof way to order at Sip Sak: "the appetizer sampler, followed by the invariably lamb-based special of the day".
I'll go them one better and suggest starting with some Turkish wine, moving onto that memorably wonderful appetizer platter, and closing out with either more wine or a small dessert. No entree is even needed. -
Review from Matt B.
New York, NY
2/20/2012 3 Check-ins Here
***I WORKED FOR THIS RESTAURANT*** for 3 days. You can take whatever I say with a grain of salt if you wish, but the following information is absolutely true:
::The owner, Orhan, is a bigot, misogynist, and an anti-semite. He treats his employees like he's a slaveholder, and it's not difficult to understand why: most of them are Turkish and cannot find jobs elsewhere, and therefore trapped and must accept his abuse. On this notion alone, I strongly urge any self-respecting women, Jews, and anyone else who simply believes in equality to not patronize this restaurant. I will not repeat anything I overheard him say or that was said to me, because it's absurdly vile and I will defame him enough with what I am about to tell you in this review.
::The food is good. It's overpriced, but it's New York. The hummus (my mistake, "Humus") is good, the kidney beans dish is good, the bread is great, and the red lentil soup is tasty. Those items are all I sampled while working there and it was all good. The mixed mezze platter looks nice and you get a nice selection of appetizers and is reasonably priced.
::I can tell you that the servers do not wash their hands. There is no access to a sink besides the one in the singular bathroom for the whole restaurant. Two minutes of observation will demonstrate that the servers are not using this bathroom between tables. Therefore, they are touching other's dirty dishes, and turning around and touching your plate as it's handed to you. And the glasses you're drinking out of--before you've sat down or during your meal. Every other restaurant I have worked at has stressed washing your hands after touching every plate for our own personal safety as well as the customer's. It's unsanitary, against health code, and simply increases the likelihood of becoming sick from another customer or even the server (I was sick while I worked there but was not permitted to stay home).
::On a busy Friday night, while I worked in the kitchen to learn the dishes, bread was dropped on the floor; the kitchen was so busy, was under such pressure, and was rushed...which meant that I was forced to take the dirty bread and give it to a table. Sick. I've always heard myths about "dirty food" but have never seen an instance of anything remotely resembling this during my two years in the service industry. Until Sip Sak.
::They are generally rude and/or ambivalent towards anyone who is not Turkish. The owner has created and fostered an air of Turkish superiority (false, obviously) and you can easily observe Turks getting preferential treatment as well as a few patrons receiving a type of moonshine-esque liquor provided to them in a cubic, Odawalla-like container. Look for an obese man seated at the "bar."
::All in all, if you have no concern for hygiene and a complete disregard for the unfortunate service staff, by all means patronize this business. I have had the privilege and pleasure to have dined at some of the finest restaurants in the country (MOTO, Commander's Palace, Alinea, Galatoire's, Joe's Stone Crabs, Gibsons, the list goes on...) and have never felt that the wait staff was ever subjected to such mistreatment or that patrons "got off" on seeing this behavior, as is the case here. Sip Sak is undeniably and embarrassingly lightyears away from these institutions in every facet of the dining experience and therefore has no right for its modus operandi to exist as it does.
::I ONLY gave Sip Sak any stars at all because the food is objectively mediocre but I could never support him or any other businesses of his.
/rant.
Best of luck, Orhan. I haven't at all bashed you, been rude to you, or lied about anything in this review. You had no reason to abuse me and I feel terrible for your employees and even worse for you. If you don't calm down and stop the constant, angry fits, you'll have a coronary. Just sayin'. -
Review from Mahrukh M.
New York, NY
1/28/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I went out for dinner here with some friends. It's a pretty good turkish place. I like the ambience. The service was great.
We ordered the Pacanga which is the first time I've had the filo dough with beef in it as well as cheese. It was good but I've gotten used to the sigara boregis which is what I prefer :)
I would go here again with a group of friends. Although I felt a bit rushed at the end. We may have overstayed our welcome and there were parties waiting to be seated. But, Pasha is still my favorite turkish place :-D The ambience there suits me very well. -
Review from Mark E.
North Haven, CT
5/13/2012
With all the well known spots along 2nd Ave. packed for Mother's Day Brunch, we stopped in here and were very pleasantly surprised with the brunch selection to be had and the excellence of the food. I had eggs with spicy lamb, my wife had an omelet with sauteed onions and cheeses, while my mother in law had to die for French Toast with fresh fruit. The Turkish coffee was great and very similar to an espresso but less bitter..my only complaint was that it could have been a little hotter.
I know calves liver is not everyone's favorite, but I love it and haven't had it in years (I don't get it at home). I tried an appetizer portion of it. Livers can be very strong and sometimes tough, but the calves liver here was almost sweet and very tender...not mushy yet tender. All in all a very pleasant surprise...we'll be back to sample dinner soon. -
Review from Alexandra K.
Astoria, NY
3/28/2012
I've become bizarrely obsessed with Turkish food as of late. If I could eat cacik and a Shepherd Salad daily, I would. I came here with a friend last night, and had a delicious dinner. I had the shepherd salad, some red lentil soup, and we split the eggplant salad appetizer. The waiter was hysterical, really funny and lively - especially in handling my friend and his humor. My friend had soup, a piece of salmon (served on a bed of rice with a side salad), and a butternut squash dessert. We each had a glass of wine - in fact, I think he had two - and the bill hit just under $90 before tax and tip. Not cheap, but really great quality and delicious. Beautiful decor, very friendly service.
Listed in: Mid East Eats
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Review from Minhan S.
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a late dinner with a few friends. my friend ordered something that was not on the menu. Grilled chicken with bread and yogurt? It was a very different combination, but they were good indeed! The price was reasonable, and waiters were nice. I will go back for more Turkish food when I am around. :)
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Review from Ashwin T.
11/30/2011
Trekked out here in the rain to hunt down a delicious chicken soup that I recall having a couple of years ago (back when I lived in midtown east) but was horrified to discover that it is no longer on the menu. After recovering from that initial shock, I was pleased to see that the rest of the menu actually sounded very appetizing in theory, and the food did not disappoint! Lady friend and I shared a spicy red lentil soup, and a lamb with okra dish. The soup was delicious (similar to an Indian dal, but a little tart) and the lamb dish was very good too. I'm perhaps biased since okra is pretty much my favorite food item, but I thought the combination of the meat and the vegetable worked very well, and the sauce was a good compliment too.
We did take out, but prices were very reasonable for what appeared to be a pretty classy restaurant on the inside.
Would definitely come back. -
Review from Andrew G.
Providence, RI
1/29/2012
Was visiting some friends in a touristy hotel and needed a late dinner, so we stopped in here for some turkish food. This was an above average turkish place and the eggplant app and the lamb dinner I had were cooked nicely and fairly flavorful. They had a nice wine/beer list, and the service was friendly. Atmosphere was fairly lively for late at night. All in all, not worth traveling a cross town for but a nice area place.
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Review from Jen H.
New York, NY
2/26/2012
Came for brunch- had a Mediterranean twist. Seated before entire party arrived. Food was delicious, esp lamb burger. Water glasses always full. Staff was very attentive. Sunday at 2PM - a mix between family and 30-somethings and a pair of guys in the back watching the soccer. Coming back to try dinner.
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Review from Samantha G.
Jersey City, NJ
1/20/2012
Went to Sip Sak last night for dinner with my sister. We arrived around 9:30 for a late dinner and they sat us right away. It wasn't that busy. Everything was great from start to finish. Waiter was knowledgeable and pleasant. Wine and food was delicious. We shared the raw spicy meatballs (they are actually raw) and the artichokes with fava beans (seasoned with dill). Amazing...I had never tried raw meatballs before but they were very tasty...a little spicy but not too much. The artichokes were awesome as well, a healthy delicious that's very flavorful. We also shared the greek salad with chicken. I was pleased that there were fava beans and artichoke pieces in the salad as well...you dont always get that. They didn't rush us, even though they were closing up at 11 and we didn't leave until 11:15. DO go here...:)
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Review from Vanessa V.
Portsmouth, NH
7/16/2011
Last night, when I suggested to the hubby that we "do Sip Sak", he kindly requested that I never say such a thing to him again. Once I rephrased "let's go to this Turkish place I found on Yelp", he was much more willing.
We were seated immediately at about 6:30 on a Friday, and most of the restaurant was empty. We got the humus and cacik as appetizers, the Greek salad, the grilled salmon, and the daily special-- some type of white fish. (And don't worry, we weren't eating all of this alone)
The humus and cacik (aka tzatziki) were fantastic. Better hummus than Hummus Place, better tzatziki than Uncle Nicks. Served with amazing warm bread. Definitely going to become a weekly staple. The salad was fine, nothing super special. They used beans instead of black olives, and I would have preferred more cucumber, but it all got eaten anyway. The salmon was incredible-- possibly the best grilled salmon I've ever had. The white fish was OK, probably not a reorder for me.
I'm already craving humus and it hasn't even been 24 hours. Can't wait to return to "that Turkish place on 2nd ave"Listed in: sutton it up
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Review from Tony T.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came on a Friday night around 8:30 and it was packed. By 10 pm, the crowd had thinned out. Had a reservation and got seated pretty quickly but you probably don't need one even on a Friday night. Tried a few of the mezzes and the fish of the evening, grilled dorado. Had the smoked eggplant salad, stuffed grape leaves, borek, and the grilled lamb sausage with fries. The eggplant salad was very smoky and was made into a spread that tasted great with the bread. It left me wanting more and more until I finished all of it. The stuffed grape leaves had rice, pine nuts, and raisins in it. They came 3 to an order and with a splash of lemon on top, it was a nice dish. The borek was crunchy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. It was pretty good although I wanted more than the 4 pieces that came to the order. The grilled lamb sausages came in a cast iron plate with some fries (a potato sliced in 4). The sausage was a little dry but had good flavor and the fries were good. The best part was the drippings on the bottom of the plate, which are fantastic when mixed with the bread and the smoked eggplant spread. The fish was reasonably cooked but the fillet still had bones in it. The meal for 2 cost $110 with tip, which is much more than you would pay for a similar meal in Istanbul. That's why there are only 3 stars and not 4. The food was good but overpriced. The owner was very pleasant and constantly checked on us to make sure we were fine. The hostess knew what food and wine to recommend. Service was good, food was good, but if the experience was $55, I would have liked it much better.
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Review from d r.
New York, NY
11/27/2011
Delicious food and excellent service!
Had the braised artichoke appetizer...yum! Squeeze a little lemon on it. Give it that extra little kick.
I had the little beef dumplings drenched in garlic yogurt sauce. Delish! (Although it became a little monotonous. The bread breaks it up nicely!)
My dining partner had the lamb neck special. It was great! The meat literally fell off the bone.
I will definitely be back! -
Review from Joe S.
New York, NY
1/6/2012
The food was okay.
We sat down for lunch and were offered a mixed appetizer plate for 4. It was a standard size plate, just enough of each item for everyone to taste it. This ended up costing $49. Nearly as much as all 4 entrees combined. We questioned the high price, since it seemed at least twice as high as expected. The waiter explained that that's what it costs and did some fuzzy math to prove it. Something times 4 equaled $49. We asked the manager who apologized and adjusted the price to $40.
I don't usually squabble over the price or review restaurants based on what I perceive the food should have cost -- the price is the price. But, in this case, the price wasn't advertised and we felt cheated. That feeling adds up to one star. -
Review from R C.
Manhattan, NY
8/11/2011
Myself and my 2 friends were having a pleasant dinner until about 10 women showed up at the bar adjacent to our table to loudly congregate and wait for a table - apparently they hadn't made a reservation. From that time on we were rushed through the rest of our dinner and given the check before we asked for it, then the manager on duty, a youngish woman (relative of the owner?) hovered around us anxiously waiting for us to pay and leave so that she could seat this loud group. Bottom line she handled the situation poorly; was ungracious and rude. It's short sighted to mistreat loyal customers to accommodate a crowd that didn't have the forethought to reserve. Yes, the food is very good but I will think twice before returning for this poor kind of treatment.
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Review from Dan N.
Manchester, CT
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pleasantly surprised with the quality of food at this great restaurant. The wine menu is a little disappointing (focus on South American wines), but works.
Try the sausage and fries appetizer (way better than it sounds). The lamb kabobs with onion/tomato/spinach over rice is also a hit (entree).
Price is right, atmosphere is good, food is amazing, and the staff is prompt and friendly.
Do yourself a favor and try it out. -
Review from Terry H.
New York, NY
2/1/2012
Love Sip Sak. Really nice waitstaff, beautiful restaurant, a lovely place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine and an appetizer or two. The esme salad is so good (tomatoes, pomegranite syrup) and the warm bread is outstandingly luscious.
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Review from James K.
10/4/2010
My friend and I felt like we had too many people waiting on us... I guess it's not necessarily a bad thing, but we did end up hearing the specials twice.
Except in the end we didn't order any of the specials of the day. For appetizer we had humus. It was good, though pretty average. I can't say it's better than other humus I've had. For entrees I ordered the lamb shish kebab and my friend the roasted short ribs. My lamb was slightly over-cooked, though the salad and rice were fine. The home-made sauces were delicious, one red and one white, and I preferred the red one. The meat in my friend's short ribs was falling off the bone and juicy, I loved it.
For me this place is between three and four stars. If I find more items I like on the menu, I might change it up to four. Also, the decor is cute, mellow, and comfortable. -
Review from Jeremy W.
9/8/2010
Probably a 3-star establishment, if not for the crying waitress fired in the middle of lunch or the extra $4 added to the credit card upon reviewing my monthly statement. Mistreating the staff in front of the customers and trying to rip me off? I don't think so.
Grape leaves, fried eggplant cubes, spicy chopped lamb over pita w yogurt sauce were all delicious and not terribly priced. Very nice place, as well...
Too bad they comitted with 2 major restaurant sins, both of which could have been easily prevented. -
Review from Ann A.
Manhattan, NY
3/2/2012
Went to Sip Sak at 8.00 p.m. for dinner with three others. Appetizers (two, shared), four main dishes, two deserts (shared), three glasses of house wine and five apple teas came to just under $40 per person before tip. The food was delicious, the service unobtrusive, the chef jovial, and the atmosphere relaxed. We were not hurried along and could have stayed as long as we want, while the staff had their dinner at the next table. Warmly recommended!!
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Review from LISA N.
2/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to this place losing my Turkish virginity!
My boyfriend and I had the calf's tongue and the hummus, both extremely delicious!
I had the manti which were the beef dumplings with the creamy garlic yogurt sauce it was soo savory and I kind of want some now!
I also had the coffee there, and wowwwww if you want something extremely strong then you need to try their Turkish coffee!
Also I came when it was packed and a whole restaurant full of Turkish people wee watching basketball and screaming for their team. It was the loudest scream ever! -
Review from Jose E. R.
Elmhurst, NY
8/22/2010
The owner is such a D O U C H E B A G . . .
He's one of those creepy types with a ponytail and a bald top (a là Michael Bolton, Douche-Master of the USA). He treats his employees like garbage and that makes them extremely nervous as they serve you. Then he comes around your table with a broad smile and cracks the types of jokes that only jocks find funny. You know the type? That type!
That being said, the food is absolutely exquisite. Their menu is much simpler compared to Ali Baba's, but it pays off in that almost everything you order tastes just perfect. Nothing seems over/under done and the atmosphere is great (except for the creep with the ponytail putting his arm around your wife!). Being from Queens, I don't think of Midtown as a place where you go exclusively seeking for food, but this place breaks that stereotype for me.
It is a bit pricey, but the food alone is worth the price. I see other reviews saying it is loud; that wasn't my experience. The menu could be better written though. Unless you are Turkish, you really can't appreciate what you will be eating by reading it, but rest assured that almost anything you order is bound to taste like heaven! -
Review from Ernesto G.
North Salem, NY
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great food, good service. I would go again, but be sure to get there before the dinner rush around 7, although there were still some places to eat in the restaruant.
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Review from K O.
New York, NY
7/19/2009
I love Turkish food. It's probably my favorite and their use of eggplant is extraordinary. Take me to Turkey baby!
I was here just last night and already want to go back tonight. Even though it was just the two of us I think he ordered more then half the things on the menu. And when I asked the owner if that was his Harley Davidson bike parked in the front he said, "Yes that is my bike, that's my girlfriend, and this is my restaurant." huh errrrr awkward.......but funny.
Cacik was the best I have ever had.
Fried Eggplant was very flavorful.
Grilled Lamb Sausage was a new one. Never had it before. Loved it.
I don't think what he ordered for me is on the menu. But it was basically a little of everything. 1 Grilled Lamb Chop, 1 Chicken Shish Kebab, 1 Lamb Meat Ball, over rice with salad.
I only wish this restaurant was in my neighborhood cause it is unbelievably good. -
Review from Deborah H.
New York, NY
2/19/2008
Great complimentary bread, yummilicious hummus, and the lamb pizza was really unique (in a good way). Ground lamb, tomatoes, onions, and parsley on a super thin-crust that you roll up into a Turkish eggroll of deliciousness.
Service is fine, prices are decent (expensive for lunch, reasonable for dinner), and you'll leave with nice oniony stink-breath. -
Review from YenTi T.
Manhattan, NY
10/21/2011
Amazing good Turkish food!!!!
We love the seats by the street for anytime!!!!! Love it and the service!!!! -
Review from Gina S.
New York, NY
4/24/2008
Delicious turkish cuisine! We started with the tarama and babaganoush, which were excellent - I could have gotten another serving of the tarama and been happy with that as a dinner. But for my main course, I got a spinach, tomato, ground beef dish which was also very good. I got the turkish coffee at the end...the first few sips were good, but halfway through it was nothing but grounds and was like drinking mud. Do not recommend the turkish coffee. The baklava was very good though - worth the fat and calories!
The service was friendly. Overall, it was a very good experience...we left full, satisfied, and the price was right. I'll be back! -
Review from Kimberly F.
Manhattan, NY
11/30/2010
I love the food here, but the last time I went the waiter literally tried to upsell anything he could. Not once, not twice...but with everything we ordered. I ordered a glass of wine, he asked about a cocktail. We ordered 2 appetizers, he tried to add on two more. We ordered 2 entrees, he suggested ordering one more.
The food is great. It is authentic, fresh and super tasty. The hummus was great, and the boyfriend loves the beef tongue. The even have an off the menu Turkish Pizza, which is hard to find outside of Istanbul. The other wait staff is great. -
Review from Jewel Y.
5/18/2009 2 photos
Fantastic eggplant salad!! Just like the one I had in Turkey! çok lezzetli! The tarama was ok, I had better one at Beyti Kabab. They serve good bread so I kept eating them with my delicious eggplant salad as a spread. The Turkish style croquette (Forgot what it's called) was delicious, and I loved the accompanying tomato sauce.
The service was good, and the ambiance was casual and pleasant. We got a nice table by the sidewalk, which was the best spot in my opinion. I'd like to come back again if I happened to be in this neighborhood. -
Review from Chris C.
9/23/2009
One rare day, we found ourselves on the East Side of things. We had little time and needed good food pronto. I noticed Sip Sak around the corner and figured it was probably one of the safer options. It was a good call on my part.
We were seated promptly and dug right into some of that Turkish bread - oh those Turks and their bread. We decided to go with the eggplant salad, leeks in olive oil and a Greek Salad. Very good choices all around if I say so, myself. My girlfriend, being Greek, has a chip about Turkish places but loved Sip Sak. I, being the health nut, was really impressed with the amount of good, filling, healthy and delectable goodies available on the menu. We quietly claimed that Macedonia was ours, paid the check and went happily on our way.
The staff was very friendly and although the place seems to be undergoing some renovations, it was still clean. Besides, I go to eat, not to look. We'll happily return to Sip Sak when on the East Side again! -
Review from Pomaska H.
New York, NY
10/18/2010
This place is soooo good. As much as I try.... I can't find Turkish restaurants in Manhattan that have great reviews but Sip Sak is great for so many reasons.
First, the food is authentic, fresh and so delicious. Second, the atmosphere is very inviting and upscale. The service is some of the best I have had anywhere in NYC. I have eaten at Sip Sak three times and it's been amazing each time.
Last night I went with my parents and the waiter didn't know what more to do for us. He was so nice and accomodating. Our water glasses were always filled, fresh bread was brought twice. When my dad complained about the yogurt in his dish, it was whisked away in seconds a returned without yogurt in 5 minutes.
If you like lamb, please try it at Sip Sak. These people know how to cook lamb the right way without you having to tell them (which I appreciate).We had the hummus, shepard salad, and artichoke hearts with fava beans. I had the lamb shish kebab, dad had spicy chicken and mom had grilled shirimp. Everything was delicious. At the end the waiter brought us complimentary baklava and an almond pastry that was unreal.
I will go back here for sure and bring friends in the future. -
Review from Amanda E.
New York, NY
5/9/2008
Good hummus and bread.
Try the vegetarian appetizer platter: humus, cacik (tzatziki), artichokes and Turkish beans - I hold the eggplant spread. -
Review from Michelle H.
New York, NY
10/10/2008
umm....I don't think I'd come again. Not impressed at all and based on the 4 star review, def expected better.
We started with the fried eggplant with tomatoes and I thought it was tasty, but fiance thought it was ok. We tried the beet salad and the lamb shish kebab. The beets were good but a lil too tangy. The lamb was tough and chewy. My fiance's jaw was hurting after from chewing so much. Also the bread basket, which others have said was great, was so so. The bottom part of the bread was hard and rough.
Service was bleh. I have to say I was surprised by how crowded this place was. Perhaps we didn't order the right items, but it'll be a long time before I come back, if I ever do. -
Review from Amy C.
8/31/2009
Thank God this place is right by my job because I cannot get enough of it! I came in with a friend after work on Friday evening and we were more than tempted to order 25 dishes each just to sample everything. Ultimately, we decided to split the Börek since anything fried, filo, and cheese are all high up on my list of favorite foods.
For our main courses, I couldn't decide between the Manti (home made beef dumplings with yogurt garlic sauce), musakka, or Ali Nazik (seasoned ground beef served over mashed eggplant puree). My friend was stuck between several dishes as well. To compromise, she ordered the Manti and I got the Ali Nazik so we could try each other's. My fork mastered a little dance jumping between the Manti and the Ali Nazak. It's been two days now and I'm still tasting that eggplant puree.
I have a feeling I'm going to gain some pounds due to excessive Turkish food in the coming weeks. The two blocks walk over from work should balance that out in my foodie world where weight and prices are meaningless. -
Review from emily g.
2/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
i love sip sak. i eat in and order out from there often. I eat Turkish food at many other places in this neighborhood, but sip sak is the best tasting. their char grilled octopus is a standout, and i also love the spicy grilled chicken, which is similar to an adana kabob. its slightly more formal Turkish food, by that i mean dont choose this place for sandwiches.
for delivery they only accept cash, and they are inexplicably closed on Mondays. -
Review from Michael M.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2011
You really can't go wrong ordering off this menu. My favorites are the Greek salad and the "grilled hand chopped spicy lamb skewers" with the garlic yogurt sauce. Also, if you head in on a weekend for brunch be sure to try the Turkish cream, and of course the coffee.
And if you go in a group and call ahead I believe the chef (Orhan Yegen) can prepare what looked to me to be a massive grilled meat and vegetable platter that smelled absolutely amazing and had every head in the restaurant turning...
Orhan is extremely passionate about his food and the results show. -
Review from Laura T.
New York, NY
6/24/2009
I love the food here. When I lived on the Upper East side (in the upper 70's), I would take the bus down to 50th just for take out - now that's serious dedication.
But, why you ask, did you only give the business 4 stars then? You obviously enjoy the food since you would spend 20 minutes in transit each way to delight in the delectable hummus salad.
Well, little grasshopper, let me explain.
Maybe this is a common occurrence, but never before have I seen two different menus at the same restaurant - one for take-out and one for in-house dining. The eggplant salad (which is heaven in my mouth) is more expensive if you order at the restaurant itself - and I'm not talking about including tax and tip. I was a bit surprised at this and it made me not want to eat in the restaurant, even though their decor is quite festive. I'd rather save the extra money. (please let me know if this has changed!)
With that said, let me list some of the great dishes to try:
hummus and falafel appetizer - so good I got my friend hooked on it
the chopped salad - huge fan, except for the abundance of peppers
fried eggplant / eggplant salad - nom nom nom!
musakka - musakka'me more!
Love this place, can't wait to get take-out again from them. -
Review from Jamie S.
5/19/2008
Despite no bellydancing, hookahs, or whatever fun middle eastern gimmicks-my friends and I really enjoyed this classy-casual, not too expensive Turkish restaurant. Some of these friends have sensitive stomachs and palates (superlame, yes this puts a strain on our friendships), yet everyone enjoyed their food here.
I have found no truth to the rumors that the owner here is awful; all the staff was really friendly to us even after a rowdy discussion about sharting that disturbed other diners AND even after we broke a wine bottle on the floor (turkish wine, worth trying).
I love the manti- dumpling things in a yogurt sauce and the lamb pizza. A lamb special entree was also good- and huge. We also enjoyed a grilled octupus appetizer even though the portion was really small.
recommendation if there is a wait: We enjoyed a happy hour with some decent mojitos and margaritas across the street while waiting for our table. -
Review from Keri M.
Alexandria, VA
7/2/2007
Sip Sak is the ideal restaurant I look for - a great value.
This place made the NY magazine's Cheap Eats list for good reason. It has great prices, amazing food and appealing atmosphere.
Service: Despite my friend and I getting to the the restaurant late, around 10:20 pm on Friday, they took us in. The hostess explained to us that we needed to order soon, but was not rude or cold and gave us great recommendations for food. Our service was good - I have no complaints (and I'm someone who often does have a complaint about service).
Food: Glass of turkish white wine was good. Wish I remembered what it was called. For appetizer, we had tennis-ball sized balls of ground meat and spices covered in corn meal that was fried (I forget the name and I don't see it on the online menu). It was something different, but just ok. For entree I got a special: lamb shank with eggplant. It was heavenly. The meat was cooked well b/c it was still moist on the inside. Meat cooked right is a sign to me of a good restaurant. The eggplant really worked with the lamb. It came with subtly-flavorful rice pilaf that was a nice balance.
Atmosphere: Classy and Romantic. Walls are deep yellow and red and are decorated tastefully with a middle eastern theme.
I will probably go back here on my next visit to NYC.Listed in: Love me Tender [Meat]
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Review from adam y.
Brooklyn, NY
2/10/2008
Stopped in this place for a late lunch.
The grilled octopus was downright amazing, and the oil and vinegar it was covered in was great for dipping the bread in, which was pretty tasty in its own right.
The Turkish pizza was well prepared and certainly a unique dish that I would recommend.
Since, it was lunch on a Sunday, I didn't drink, however, the homemade lemonade was about as good as it gets.
With so many restaurants in the city, I like to keep trying new places, but I would definitely consider this place for dinner, or another lunch in the summer when they open up the front of the building.
