Sip Sak Turkish Restaurant

I will NEVER again The food is no tasty and the owner is soooo rude!! I will NEVER go again \r (AGAIN NOT RECOMMEND) more

I ate here last night and I have to second another recent review that mentions the owner's bad attitude. We ordered the octopus special to start and it tasted off . I also bit into something crunchy which looked and felt like a piece of sand. We didn't make a big deal about it or formally send it back. However, when the waiter came by to clear the table he noticed we barely touched it and asked us if it was alright. We casually mentioned that we didn't like the octopus. Shortly after, the owner, who is a short, bald man with a pony tail came directly to our table. He was clearly furious. At first, we couldn't actually understand what he was saying because of his accent and because he was more or less shouting at us. He condescendingly asked ""do you not like the octopus because you have only had bad octopus before?"" It was very insulting. Too add insult to injury he added a whole series of angry non sequiturs including ""I'm not Italian."" It seemed like he was insulting the way Italian's cook octopus? To their only credit, I think they didn't charge us for the appetizers.The rest of the meal was average I thought. I have been to Turkey and had Turkish in NY many times. NY is too big and has too many options for restaurant owners who disrespect and insult customers. The owner needs a serious attitude adjustment. Constructively, he should enroll in an anger management class ASAP and while he is at it could also benefit from a basic restaurant management and hospitality course as well. more

I went to this restaurant for lunch today. We were seated right away, the staff was nice, and the food (I had stuffed cabbage) tasted very good. My experience quickly turned sour when I took a sip out of my glass of coke and ended up with a bunch of shards of glass in my mouth. I handed the glass over and complained that they should check the ice machine for broken glass. The waitress smiled and apologized, but just returned the glass and kept working. No apology from the owner or manager or any kind of compensation. I can't tell if the pain in my stomach is imagined or real; either way, despite the excellent stuffed cabbage, it soured my experience and I will not go back there again. Pros: Good food Cons: Broken glass in drink more

Recently there with a group of 6 friends, we ordered a bottle of red wine with our meal which was not good. We raised the issue with the waiter and requested to see the wine list again. The owner came bearing down on us and proceeded to insult us loudly, saying that we had no knowledge of wine and should drink something else. That was a real turn-off and really spoiled the evening for us - I don't think any of us will go there again. The waiter tried to smooth things over and was very professional and definitely deserved a good tip. The food at SipSak is still good, eventhough it used to be better when they first opened, but frankly for that attitude I'd rather skip it. In any case, there are plenty of other good Turkish food options in the neighbourhood now. Pros: Food Cons: Owner more

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD TURKISH RESTAURANT, BUT, THE OWNER, KNOWN TO US FOR MANY YEARS HAS PROVEN AGAIN TO BE A RUDE PREJUDICED INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS NO MANNERS..\r NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO MISTREAT THE HELP, WHEN QUIZZED ABOUT ANY DISH, HE BEHAVES LIKE HE IS THE ONLY KNOWLEDGEABLE COOK IN THE WORLD. BEWARE OF HIS WINES SOLD BY THE GLASS. THEY COULD BE HIGHER IN PRICE THAN IN REGULAR SUPPER CLUBS. WHEN WE ASKED AS TO WHY, WE WERE POMPOUSLY TOLD THAT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT SPECIAL WINE. \r IF AND WHEN THIS IS THE CASE, THE ESTABLISHMENT SHOULD MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE CLIENT IS AWARE THAT A ""SPECIAL""WINE ""WILL BE SERVED.RATHER THAN RECEIVING A STIFF BILL FOR REGULAR WINE. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. NOBODY NEEDS A RUDE POMPOUS INDIVIDUAL RUNNING AROUND LECTURING THE HELP AND CUSTOMERS WITH HIS SELF \r APPOINTED KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD AND TURKISH AND AMERICAN DINING EXPERIENCES. \r THIS INDIVIDUAL SHOULD WORK AS A HERMIT RATHER THAN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY. A GOOD RESTAURANT IS KNOWN FOR ITS FOOD AS WELL AS COURTESY AND HOSPITALITY. \r FOOD IS OKAY, COURTESY AND HOSPITALY IS TOTALLY MISSING. Pros: NONE Cons: HORRIBLE OWNER AND SERVICE more

I am a regular customer of Sip Sak who lives in the neighborhood. Me and my sister grew up on this food and we know the owner very well. A lot of the negative reviews are very upsetting, especially the ones that insult the owner. He is actually a very nice and funny guy, this becomes apparent very quickly once you get to know him. more

I have been to sip Sak several times no over the past few months and nothing but great food and great service. My favorite dish here is the lamb and bean with turkish hot tea. It is average priced so don't expect it to be like a cheap ethnic restaurant you would find downtown but for being in Midtown it is pretty well priced. I wouldnt suggest bringing kids here as most kids don't usually take kindly to unknown foods but for friends its great place to go! more

My experience in the restaurant was great .\r Service was very good, and the food was excellent. \r The chef / owner Orhan Yegen came over to ask how everything was. It was very nice .\r Musakka and Manti !! delicious !\r I recommend this restaurant highly Pros: Thumbs up more

The owner of this place işs crazy .He screams all over the restaurant and doesnt care whether there are customers or not.Anyway food is ok service is bad owner is crazy. more

I HATE LAMB.--And yes, I am middle eastern. So I opted for the cubed chicken..how could you go wrong? Well apparantly you can. It was bland and boring and had a funny taste. Lahmajun is lamb, everything is lamb. \r \r Eggplant dip (babaghanouj) is pretty good.\r \r Octopus is great.\r \r Was packed when we were there..so apparantly people like this place...\r \r i think its overpriced, even if i did like lamb..nothing look special enough for me to even want to try it. Pros: Decor is pretty, desserts are yum! Cons: If you don't like lamb..you don't have many choices. more

My boyfriend and I went to NY city on vacation from San Diego. We eat out and travel frequently, and I have been in the service industry (bartender, server, cocktail waitress, assistant manager of restaurant, and flight attendant) since I was 17 yrs. old. We are very laid-back, and enjoy all types of food. We don't eat fast food, and enjoy a healthy cuisine. We know when we're traveling to eat WHAT THE CITY IS KNOWN FOR. If you're in Austin, TX get Tex-Mex, if in New Orleans get Cajun, etc. And we always ask the LOCALS where to eat. That said, we asked 2 locals their opinion on where to eat near our hotel (which was on 3rd or 4th ave.) We got the same answer from both (and there are a lot of restaurants in that area). We were greeted immediately, and only had to wait about 10 min. for a table. Our server was nice, and efficient. We had never had Turkish food, but are always up for something new. It was outstanding! We had this chicken kabob type dish with yogurt and red sauce and soft croutons. Sounds strange, but wow! We loved it so much we went back the next night. The waiter from the night before came by our table to say ""hello"", and our new server was really nice too. Both nights the servers gave excellent recommendations (we had a Turkish pizza that was yummy!), but both nights we noticed the staff seemed stressed whenever the owner walked by. When he walked past us I asked if he was the owner. Without a smile he said ""yes"" and the server walked up with a nerves laugh. I told him that we loved the food and the service, and he just nodded his head and saw someone he knew and started talking in Turkish while walking away. I couldn't believe it - how rude! No ""thank you for coming"" no smile, nothing! I looked at the server in amazement and kind of laughed. The server tried to act like he/she (don't want to get anyone in trouble) wasn't embarrassed. He better get an attitude adjustment very soon, because good food alone won't cut it! Pros: Food Cons: Owner more

I've been meaning to write a review on this restaurant for awhile now but never came around to it. To my amusement, as it is there are so many bad reviews on this restaurant, particularly on the terrible manners of the owner. Likewise, sometime ago, in fact when the restaurant had just opened, I was there with a friend of mine. Our waitress, this really sweet and demure Russian girl, had forgotten to bring something that we had ordered. The owner, who was hovering around our table, getting into everyone's business, started pulling her aside and yelling at her. When he came back to us, (I'm normally not very forthcoming with my opinion, but was so upset by the way he had treated his staff that) I told him that he shouldn't be so upset with her, she really didn't do anything wrong. Believe it or not, he got upset with what I said, and told me that I don't know anything better, meaning anything about good service. Can you believe this? As my friend and I, after being insulted were packing up to leave, he started talking to his Turkish friend, who was sitting behind us, mind you in English, that my friend and I must've just come off the boat just like his waitress. He discriminated and insulted all of us. There are worst human rights atrocities in the world, but they all start somewhere, somewhere probably small because of a remark, an ignorant gesture that trigger hostile feelings and attitudes. DON""T GO THERE. It sure did take me awhile, but I've told every single one of my friends, and especially colleagues at the UN, never to go to this restaurant - the food isn't all that great, and it's definitely not worth being the presence of someone so angry and spiteful. \r more

Went to Sip Sak for a casual diner with my wife, what a BIG mistake! The portions are small, the food is pre-cooked, the staff is rude and the ""owner"" is a nasty little bald man with fewer manners than a prison?s cook. He was screaming to the staff when we arrived, then half way our meal he engaged in a very loud and rude argument with a customer sitting next to us... \r \r We ate in fear, fast, paid, and left without looking! What an unpleasant, stressful and over priced experience. How does this place stay in business? Cons: Everything more

As a frequent patron of Sip Sak, I was pretty shocked to read a recent ?customer? review. I eat there a few nights a week, whether it?s for a quick sit down dinner or even take out. Where else can you go for a quick bite, or even a cup of soup, and still get a quality NYC restaurant experience? This last review reminded me of something a bitter competitor would write. It was so full of untruths, and didn?t at all sound like my neighborhood restaurant. Perhaps next time this guy hears someone raising their voice to a waiter/waitress they might think its to ultimately show the customer a better experience, and point out what is being done wrong (i.e. correcting mistakes), and not trying to be obnoxious and rude? I hope this guy doesn?t come back to Sip Sak, because I would hate to see my neighborhood favorite being patroned by someone so clueless. Pros: Price, amazing FOOD, service, the owner more

I have been to sipsak once, what a bad service, what a bad experience i had. I ordered hunkar begendi, it had only a few lamb pieces. it wasnt filling and tasty at all. even though the servers are not helpful, too. And i donbt know this guy, he seemed the owner to me, he was yelling screaming n front of everyone, as well as, his attitude on the personel wasnt nice.\r \r I am telling you if you want to have good food, friendly service I RECOMMEND ALI BABA ON 34 STREET. more

it my favourite restorant,im visiting that place about a year.and most of the reviews are not true i understand people dont like blame themselves,but mostly its costumers fault,i saw couple of times how owner of the place was yelling to the costumer but it had a reason,once they didnt know that he is the owner and start complain and make a pose before to seat,he heard it and kick them out(ill do the same in his place-it his place ,home),once they send food back the reason she change her mind when food already was on table,and didnt want pay for that also because it was i guess expensive staff like a sea bass.im talking with him a lot he is very nervious but interesting and honest guy. but it casual restorant-and he dont like when costumers make a pose and act like they are in 5 star place,be simple Pros: cheap,tasty,interesting food Cons: too staffed at nights,owner yelling to waiters a lot more

We stopped in the other night - the menu outside looked great, prices were reasonable, so we were excited to try a new Turkish place. We were seated pretty quickly - my fiance ordered the lamb meatballs, and I ordered the lamb with beans. When our meals came, my dish contained VERY little meat, but worse, when I tasted it - the meat was NOT LAMB! - it was, without a doubt, low quality, chuck roast, beef. Let me say, that we frequent an amazing Turkish place near us, but I also prepare lamb in my home, AND, I work for one of the top catering companies in NYC and we serve lamb on a regular basis - long and short - I KNOW WHAT LAMB TASTES LIKE (as I'm sure most of you reading this do), and this was not lamb. I tasted my fiance?s meal, and his was definitely lamb. \r I complained to our waitress who said that they don't serve any dishes with beef (which they most certainly do, so she lied to me), and that my fiance?s dish tasted different because it was ""ground lamb, and not chunks of lamb"", like my dish. I then asked to speak with the manager, who was extremely rude to us, saying that we obviously didn't know what lamb tasted like, and that she would bring out some lamb for me to taste. She returned with the same low quality, chuck roast, beef - slamming the plate down on the table, saying to me ""this is what lamb tastes like"". \r I was so disgusted by their rudeness, but more importantly, by the fact that they would insult their customers by just throwing any left over meat into a dish and trying to pass it off as something that it is not. If they do not have the ingredients to make the dish, simply say that the dish is not available that night -DO NOT make customers pay for something they are not getting. I found this establishment to be completely unethical and judging from the horrific experiences others have had here, I would STRONGLY discourage anyone from giving this place business - I know I will never go back after the way I was treated. more

It's very interesting that there are comments so conterary. My experience in the restaurant was great. I was in Manhattan for a month and almost everyday I was in Sip Sak. The waiters are friendly, attentive with a warm smile and the owner Orhan was very attentive to the customers, sat on their tables, had stories and laughs with them. The food in the restaurant is exceptional. The humus, cacik (yogurt with cucumbers), manti ( pasta puffs filled with meat and a yogurt sauce), lamb, steak, okra, cabbage, borek... They were all very tasty. The owner yells to the waiters when they make a mistake, give the man a break, this is his 13. restaurant, if I'm not mistaken 12 being in New York City and maybe the 10,000th time he sees the same mistake. But still if that doesn't happen the visit would be perfect. Pros: Price, FOOD, service, the interesting owner Cons: Sound of Yelling more

I would recommend Sip Sak for Sutton Place/Midtown East residents. As long as you are having the lamb with okura, the food can be very good for the price. The restaurant is low-key--waiters are friendly enough and competent. Nothing outstanding about Sip Sak, but nothing that detracts from your company or experience either. And it is true that the owner will glower at you depending on the size/price of your order, though he has never said anything to me or my dinner guests. How horrifying would that be. Pros: Reasonable prices Cons: Unreasonable owner more

Service is very slow.. If u are in rush dont go there lunch time.. They are very rude..we will not go there anymore more