Alla Turca

Been here many times, and each time has been a treat. A great meze tray for two, including falafel, stuffed vine leaves, humus and tabule (sic) amongst the eight things in all, washed down by Efes and followed by the Alla Turca Mixed Grill, which is basically a large mixed kebab. What’s not to like… and it’s all accompanied on a Friday by a saz player. Sometimes he plays traditional Turkish music, sometimes he plays Radiohead. Either way, I won’t eat from the Italian menu here.

I received a deal offer from one of the discount sites for Alla Italia and thought mmm price sounds good. 3 courses and champagne cocktail all for £9 a head. Although it included 2 primary school kids I thought yep birthday coming along so go for it.
SO on arrival all seemed promising as we were greeted but then manager came up and was all animated bumping his gums at greeter (though it was the manager who was greetin) sorry for overseas reviewer colloquial joke. So from lively area, we were taken down to gloomy dungeon — must be reserved for those on the big deal offer. Don’t get me wrong but it was lovely décor but extremely cramped — not due to room but due to too many covers shovelled in. Remove a few tables and add in the recorded music as up stairs and it would be a lot better.
Food order was very limited but that’s expected on discount deals. Menus were handed out and I nearly vomitted — you expect to read about food on the menu — not actually be handed a menu with caked in food adhered to it EEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUU,
SO short and sweet summary — quality of food was mixed subject to choice. Vino was relatively nice for usual restaurant prices. Staff service was extremely attentive and outstanding. Only redeeming feature really. We slipped the wiatress well over the odds and she was daft enough to stick it in the jar. If I though she would do that, I’d have asked for it back! Avoid at all costs. If it hadn’t been for the histrionics of the manager, service score would have been much much higher. Otherwise — ones all across the board.

Alla Turca Mixed Grill
Came across this restaurant as we walked along Bath Street trying to find somewhere different to eat.
It was late, the restaurant wasnt busy but the reception was welcoming.
The décor was pleasant, with pretty hanging lights this small restaurant had a Turkish v modern twist.
I enjoyed my meal Alla Turca Mixed Grill (see picture). I decided to try the Fruit Crème Brulee but found it extremly rich and creamy so settled for enjoying my complimentry champagne cocktail whilst I eyed up my friend Baklava :-).
Great choice of food, set menu and ala cart — Worth a visit.

Taking advantage of Alla Turca’s 3-​course dinner and champagne cocktail deal for £15.95, I visited the restaurant with my partner on a Saturday night.
The restaurant is nicely decorated, with pretty lantern light chandeliers and fairy lights strung at the window.
Included in the meze starter — the only starter they offer with the deal we got, I believe — were (small, two-​person portions of) falafels, deep fried squid, spanakopitas, grilled halloumi cheese, tzatziki dipping sauce, hummus, some sort of pomegranate salad, and a grilled harvest vegetable-​type dip. We also were served a plate of fresh pittas and additional hummus. I enjoyed the grilled halloumi most of all, but the falafels and vegetable medley dip were also very good. The pitas were nice and fresh, and the hummus was really creamy. I didn’t enjoy the deep-​fried squid (too little squid, too much batter, too much grease), and thought that the dough of the spanakopitas (at least I think that’s what they were; they had feta cheese in them and they were made with phyllo dough) were too greasy.
For the main, I ordered the chestnut and mushroom casserole which came with salad and rice. This was the only vegetarian option they had on their tasting menu. While the portions were pretty sizeable, I felt that the casserole was a bit too rich to be able to finish. It tasted very good, but I think I’d have preferred it as a starter over a main. The rice was flavoured with tomato and had pieces of bell peppers in it.
My partner ordered the pan-​fried scallops, which came with salsa, asparagus, sausages, potato and watercress. He said that the scallops were pretty good, but pointed out that everything on his plate seemed a little moist — the small salad that came on his plate, for example, was all soggy, maybe just because the asparagus had been steamed. The presentation of the plate was very nice, though!
For dessert, I ordered the Turkish chocolate and coffee pot, which was decorated with a small amorelli cookie. This was delicious! It reminded me of a harder nutella, without the hazelnut flavour. My partner got the Turkish-​style apple tarte with cinnamon and cream, which was also very good.
The champagne cocktails were small, but tasted nice.
Overall, I think the portions here are really large. You do pay for them, though; the menu is not that affordable, at least to a student!
The service is pretty fast, though the waiters don’t really go out of their way to be friendly. This didn’t bug me, but probably more enthusiasm would have made for a happier atmosphere.
Overall, I wouldn’t go out of my way to dine here again. Maybe for the halloumi cheese, falafels or chocolate pot, but I wasn’t overly impressed with everything else!

Booked for valentines. service was slightly slow, however it was a busy night. the food was worth the wait though. couldn’t outside it enough. we had a nice table with a nice view of the live music. was on the expensive side but I’ve paid more for worse. really nice an relaxed evening an atmosphere. would go back.

Had the pleasure of visiting Alla Turca with the lovely Lizzie and can safely say I bloody loved it!
I’m a big fan of Mediterranean and Eastern cuisine, so was looking forward to trying this little Turkish restaurant. I wasn’t diappointed. Along with being a lovely, well presented venue for a work’s night out, the food was unusual and delicious.
We got two courses which included a free glass of pink champagne and an array of Turkish appetisers before our main. The appetisers were small enough so as not to spoil your appetite, and a great way of venturing into trying some new food without finding yourself ordering a main course which you didn’t end up liking. There were a lot of veggie options on the menu but I had the lamb which was gorgeous. Juicy, succulent and doused in a mouthwatering creamy sauce…
God I sound like an erotic food advert now! Dessert was equally as sweet, and in a dinky enough portion so I didn’t feel full afterwards. Throughout our lengthy meal staff were attentive and didn’t seem to mind the fact that we packed the restaurant out.
Overall I loved Alla Turca. It offers something a wee bit different, and as a venue you may find yourself romanced under the twinkling fairy lights and elegant décor.

My friends and I always get together for something to eat a couple of weeks before Christmas. It’s one last night together before we all get tied up with work nights out, present buying and family obligations.
Every year we have the dilemma of where to go. None of us wants to be stuck sat beside a rowdy works night out. We don’t want dry turkey, a cracker and a paper hat. On top of that one of us is a vegetarian and the vegetarian offering at this time of year is generally even worse than at any other time. It’s usually a token bowl of soggy pasta at best! So, after much deliberation we ended up at Alla Turca and it was a great choice!
There was a set Christmas menu but it had plenty of tasty veggie options as well as meat options to accompany the obligatory turkey. The starter was either soup or a plate of assorted mezze. There were 10 mezze in total in the assortment and all were vegetarian apart from the Turkish sausages. There was humus, tubule, rice wrapped in vine leaves and everything else you would expect to see in a Turkish restaurant! It was all fresh, tasty and delicious but definitely an acquired taste. One of my friends didn’t like it at all but it’s worth bearing in mind that she hadn’t tried lasagne until last month! How can you get to your mid 20’s and not have had a lasagne?
For the main course 3 of us had the mixed grill plate and it was phenomenal! Turkish sausages, skewered chicken, pork chops and more, served with salad and rice. It was simple, fresh and yummy and for once I didn’t feel completely bloated after a meal out! My veggie friend had a cous cous stuffed apple and pepper concoction in a tomato soup like sauce. She loved it and I think even an avid meat lover would have to concede that it looked fantastic!
For dessert 3 of us had Baklava and it was OMG wonderful! It’s difficult to find a good Baklava, even in Turkey! It’s often too sweet but Alla Turca’s was just spot on. Another of my friends went for the rice pudding with cinnamon and she liked it but was expecting it to be warm instead of cold.
A few other positives were that there weren’t any big rowdy groups of people so you could hear each other speak. Also we were left in peace to enjoy our meal at a leisurely pace and we weren’t hounded out the door as soon as we’d had our dessert which is rare at this time of year.
There were a couple of little negatives about Alla Turca though. Firstly a 10% tip is added automatically on to the bill. It tells you this in tiny writing on the menu. This always makes me feel a bit icky. Also, the meal was billed as 3 courses from a set menu for £19.99 but in reality it wasn’t. There were two starters, soup or mezze, and the mezze had a surcharge of a couple pounds. On top of that 2 of the 5 main courses had surcharges too (including the mixed grill that 3 of us had). This meant that our bill came out at about £30 more than we expected it too.
Everything considered though I’d happily go back to Alla Turca. I’d really like to see what their «proper» menu has to offer

THis is a great place. Love the live music being played and the setting! BUT MIND YOU– IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I wouldnt mind paying a bit more, if the quality of the food was high! But that’s were alla turca fails. So, it is certainly expensive for the quality of food provided.
I was there on a Friday eve and it was soo packed that the service wasnt very good. There was only one woman to serve everyone– which was quite annoying too. We were in to celebrate a birthday. (the cake was delivered before hand to surprise the birthday boy after the meal), but it was such a disaster! the waitress didnt even bother to sing birthday song or wish the birthday boy she was soo emotionless when bringing the cake (obviously she was tired and too busy with the fully packed restaurant). It was very disappointing! Not going back again

THis is a modern restaurant which has been taken over and made to look traditional. The eclectic look was a failure.
The food was mediocre at best. Again — be careful of extra charges — Im surprised I wasn’t charged for the salt — although there was more than enough in the food.
THe staff were friendly enough although I feel they were more interested in gaining a tip than providing good service.

Had lunch here on Saturday afternoon, booked the 5pm deal, £12 for 3 courses and a champagne cocktail. It was about half full when we arrived, we were shown to our seats in the corner quickly & I thought the décor was lovely and the guy in the corner playing the guitar/​mandolin (?)added a nice authentic atmosphere to the place. Our table was big and spacious too and although the table next to us was full we weren’t too close to them (my pet hate when eating out). We ordered a bottle of turkish red (£16, not too bad but not cheap either)& the waiter brought us complimentary mixed olives, pitta bread & houmous, then I had the sesame falafel & houmous (hummus?)to start, this was brought out about 15 – 20 minutes after the waiter took our order & was piping hot so I assume it was made fresh to order. It was ok, nothing special, a bit bland but nicely presented. The other starters we ordered were delicious though, according to my friends (melon & goats cheese, and chicken skewers). We had a nice 15 minute break before our main courses came out, I had the turkish fusilli pasta with chicken breast & asparagus tips with mushrooms in creamy sauce, this was GORGEOUS, quite a big portion and I greedily finished it even though I was full because it was so tasty! The other starters were delicious too I was told, the swordfish & mixed grill. The waiter was friendly & took our plates away as soon as we finished without hanging about, and asked us how our meal was. He brought us our champagne cocktail after we ordered dessert, I had the baklava & ice cream, lovely but a really small portion, 3 little squares of baklava & one scoop of ice cream, I like my puddings to last more than 3 mouthfuls! Overall the food is delicious, fresh & the menu is really varied and interesting, the service was quick enough for me as I like a break in between courses, & I would definitely go back. The only thing is they added on a sneaky 10% service charge on top of the food bill which was only about a fiver but we still felt like we had to tip aswell! Definitely well worth £12 each if you can get the 5pm deal!

just about licked our plates clean — in fact, i did. and guitar player in corner didn’t bother us as we like music

Sloooow service in the only Turkish restaurant in Glasgow! You hear complaints that some restaurants try to get you in and out as quick as they can so they can get another cover in and then you hear that other restaurants try to take their time when they serve so that you spend more money on drinks. Alla Turca is definitely the latter. Waiting made me thirstier and thirstier! This was a Saturday night but we were there for 3 hours just for 3 courses! A long time to sit on plastic chairs.
When we were served by a nice gentleman, accompanied by the string plucking of a Turkish guitar player, the Barbequed Chicken Shish wasn’t the best I had tasted, but wasn’t the worst. Otherwise my starter of falafel and houmous were lovely. A good quick stop for dinner with a different sort of music, but not a nights worth of entertainment.

Lovely food, friendly service, value for money, with a fantastic atmosphere. You can’t go wrong here!

food lovely –however rather ‘sneaky’ that they put a plate of olives & pitta on your table before your meal & then add it to the bill. also asked for bread & guess what? — given another plate of olives & pitta so yet another charge!!! also got the impression that they dont particularly want turkish customers!!! — found the turkish guy really quite rude to my husband (turkish) when he was trying to be friendly/​sociable. very interesting watching him with other (non turkish) customers being incredibly helpful & sociable. went with the intention of booking this place for a business function/​meal but unfortunately as many of our clients are turkish, afraid we where put off. **since writing this review, the restaurant owner has contacted me and advised that charge for bread has been reduced and invited us back to his restaurant to give it a 2^nd chance — this is very commendable and as in my prior post i do highly recommend the food — it was just our personal experience on the night!**

Scotland’s best and UK’s only Turkish Fine Dining Restaurant with Scottish Twisted — Award winning Menu.