Aya Sofia Restaurant in St. Louis - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

My Aunt said she wanted Turkish and we tried Aya Sofia. It was wonderful! The good was very yummy and portion sizes were just right.

Delicious food! Specially baklava!

We had a great experience here after having not been in roughly a decade. All of the dishes were delicious. Our server, Wendy, was kind and knowledgeable of the menu. Food came out in a very timely manner. We’ll gladly return! As many of the other recent reviews have noted, the busboy is very anxious to help and will refill your water before you even knew you needed it replenished. We found his eagerness to help rather endearing. 🤍

This family owned restaurant is awesome! The food is absolutely delicious. The staff and owners are kind and attentive. They always offer a good selection of amazing and fairly priced wine as well as good cocktails. My favorite dishes are the Chupra (whole fish), sarma (stuffed grape leaves), kofte (meatballs), tabbouleh, and so much more. You will not be disappointed!

Cozy atmosphere and really lovely food. Some import beers hard to find elsewhere. Good veggie options.

Food is terrible. At least the Iskender is. The meat was dried out. It was like they smothered the dried out meat with sauce to try and moisten it. The lamb shish kabobs were overcooked and dried out. I definitely wouldn't recommend this place. I have found less appealing Mediterranean/Greek/European restaurants that served much better food for half the price. I'm starting to wonder if people in Saint Louis have a pallet for food because I've noticed all the restaurants that have high reviews tend to suck.

The swordfish was decadent; as was the mashed potato and tomato and spinach under it. Amazing quality. Beautiful plating. Perfect execution! Dope as fug!!! Wow!

Great food and nice outdoor seating. Right across the street from Ted Drewes.

The staff was amazing, so attentive! The food was phenomenal, definitely coming back!

Fantastic food and experience. Come here for great Turkish food and decor. Very clean and very hospitable! PS. The bus boy stole the show! Fantastic attention to detail and extremely polite.

The food was awful. I know what the flavor is supposed to be, and it wasn’t. Waaaay over priced for the simple dishes served! Total disappointment!

In general, our experience here was very good. First off, our waitress was very friendly and extremely accommodating and plesant to talk to. The atmosphere is dark and romantic (inside that is, they also have outdoor seating). The food was all very tasty. The bream fish, in particular, was very good. The menu is obviously foreign, so be prepared to try some stuff that's new. I'd definitely like to return here again.

Great brunch menu! Can't wait to come back for dinner!

Great food, amazing staff, just not the best parking options, but that hasn't stopped using from repeated visits.

Food was mediocre at best if you’ve been to a good Turkish place. . They had 1 server for entire restaurant. I saw the server probably 3 times in total. Automatically charged gratuity even though we were a small party.

I will preface with Food was very good. The service was fair. They were all nice but the boy bussing the table would take away food far too quickly when we were still eating it. He wouldn’t ask and he did it several times. He was very nice, but determined to clean that table! Paying was another struggle. They do not split a check more than 2 ways. They offered to split 3 ways, but it was overly complicated. Good food, fair service, but they were nice. We had one person with a severe dairy allergy and one with gluten intolerance (not preference). They tried to accommodate but were not well informed of allergies.

We ate İskender Kebap but it was too much salted and extremely condimented. Buy the way they are very expensive because they charged 18 💵 for gratuity. That’s why? Because of I did not give them tips. After than when I looking for Halal Turkish restaurant I have to will be looking carefully.

We came for dinner, the food didn't taste good, we couldn't finish it and it was unnecessarily expensive. I don't recommend it.

The staff was rude and we found hair in our food

Loved the food. Everything was incredible. Can't wait to go again!

Why did they charge me $20 for gratuity???Still confused.

Hands down the best mussaka and the menemen is the best breakfast. So freaking good.

Over priced, the food is not that good at all. You need to review your bill before you paying. The put there Owen tip on the bill without telling you.

What a charming spot. The food was amazing and the staff was so friendly and welcoming!

A must go place. Excellent food quality and vibe.

What a wonderful New Year’s Eve experience! The appetizer trio was excellent, particularly the spinach and goat cheese in phyllo. The butternut squash soup was delicately flavored with a nice hint of spice. My swordfish skewers were cooked to perfection, and the accompanying rice pilaf was a revelation. But my wife swore that her lamb and chickpea pasta was even better. The baklava squares with warm honey poured over them were sent from heaven. Our server, Kim, was fantastic, and the overall hospitality and service were stellar.

Had a wonderful meal at Aya Sophia. The restaurant was crowded due to the upcoming holiday, however, the service and presentation of food was amazing. The restaurant had quite a few larger parties and we were worried that we were going to run late to a concert we were attending after dinner. It was absolutely the best food, drinks, and timing! Our larger party had a wonderful time and everyone loved the food and service!

Amazing food with great flavors. I've never had a dish here I didn't like. Recommend the Meze platter to experience a range of things. Recommend the Lebanese wine, red or white. The deserts are a must.

Lovely place inside. Cozy and inviting. Go to Aya Sofia if you want properly cooked fresh lamb or fish in the midwest. The sea bream is worth it. Only concern was the calamari were a bit cool when they arrived, but the dish was very well constructed. We've been here for date nights several times over the years, and we love it.

Food was great. Would not recommend the wine.

Delicious every time I go and good service as well.

They closed for holiday, put it on Facebook a day ahead. No signage, did not tell door dash etc. or make it clear for reservation app.

Great authentic turkish food! The ambiance was great and service was on point.I'll definitely be coming back to try more of the dinner dishes!

Gotta get the lamb chops! Great Brunch!! Grilled swordfish 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Having just gone to Ayasofya in Instanbul, we decided we should get dinner at Aya Sofia. The decor and ambiance is fantastic. Service was great as well. We started with some red Turkish wine which we enjoyed. The falafel appetizer was garlicky and delicious. I got the doner and feta pide (basically a gyro pizza) and my wife got the Iskender. Both were decent but neither was great. We might just get gyros next time. They have baklava available for dessert but we decided to walk across the street to Ted Drewes.

One of our spots Aya Sofia it's #stlouispescatarianapproved @stlouispescatarians on instagram. Aya Sofia Restaurant in St. Louis is a delightful fusion of culinary and design expertise that has been enchanting St. Louisans since its inception in October 2005. The collaboration between Chef Mehmet Yildiz and Architect-Designer Alicia Aboussie has resulted in a culinary gem that offers an exquisite blend of Contemporary Mediterranean, classic Middle Eastern cuisine, and authentic Turkish entrees. Some of these dishes even trace their origins back to Ottoman times and the middle ages. Stepping into Aya Sofia, you're immediately enveloped into a luxurious vibe. Warm colors, lush fabrics, and textured elements come together to create a unique ambiance. Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner for two or a celebratory gathering with friends and family, Aya Sofia's inviting atmosphere sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The culinary prowess of Chef Mehmet Yildiz and the design sensibilities of Alicia Aboussie have elevated Aya Sofia to the forefront of Turkish cuisine in St. Louis. With its rich history, delectable dishes, and inviting space, Aya Sofia is our go-to Mediterranean spot! The swordfish... you're welcome!

I'm not sure if this fits my expectations anymore. I ordered Beef Şiş Kebap. It was alright, but a bit tough and the seasonal vegetables left a lot to be desired. Usually, Aya Sofia offers better fare but recentley, in my opinion, things have changed. The food doesn't taste the same as what I was used to pre-pandemic.

Loved this place!!! Was so surprised at how well everything was done. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was beautiful and clean. Will return.

I am not someone who gives low rate especially for Turkish/halal restaurants because I usually want to support them. But this place unfortunately doesn’t deserve it even I would give “zero” point if I could. We ordered lamb PirZola and mixed grilled, they put a very interesting spicy on all of food which is very weird. Also the pilaf/rice side of meat was not fresh(was not cooked at that day probably) and disgusting. We were so hungry before going there but our appetite completely went away with the food. The only thing I could eat there grilled broccoli and carrots side of the plate. I will never go again, and never recommend. Also we paid 110$ for this two plates and one lemonade.

Went there on my 60th birthday to eat . Food turned out to be one of the worst I have eaten in a very long time. That Mediterranean chicken on the menu is atrocious. My daughter had the pizza which she left it after having one slice. It's just bad!!! don't know how they have 4.5/5 on google......

Blown away by the positive reviews, it makes me wonder if they are phony. My wife ordered the Mediterranean chicken and I ordered the Kılıç Balığı (Swordfish) Steak. The swordfish was inedible - really bad, I took one bite and couldn't get the taste out of my mouth. My wife, a foodie, struggled with her chicken and tried to eat some of the potatoes but finally called the a busser over to remove both dishes. The food was really bad - if you visit, please stay with the kabobs or appetizers (hummus, olives, etc). The staff was unfazed when we asked them to clear our untouched food. We paid, nice tip, and left. We won't be back.

Lots of variety on the menu. Everything is delicious. Very friendly staff! Favorite spot for Turkish food

Great menu with a delicious variety of food. Attentive waiter. Nice smiles throughout. Everything from the babaganus to the kebobs were spot-on. And the atmosphere is elegant with lovely music playing in the background. A perfect date night, especially without the kids!

We returned to Aya Sophia after having been gone from Saint Louis for 12 years. It remains a very good and memorable restaurant. The setting is good, the service was friendly and engaging (Precott B.), the food has interesting and savory spicing, and there is a decent wine selection. It is one of the few places we can get very well-prepared lamb. When we visit Saint Louis again, we will always consider eating at this restaurant.

Has this restaurant always automatically added 20% gratuity? We’ve come to this restaurant at least 10 times always on a Friday night and we’ve never looked at the itemized receipt. Tonight was different because I was curious on how much they charged for the chocolate martini and I saw the gratuity on there. We never cared to look at the itemized receipt because we always tip 20%. I am going to be livid if our server which is usually the blond guy with glasses has been receiving a 40% tip the other 10 times we’ve been there. In addition, the 20% tip is not posted anywhere in the restaurant or on the menu.

Lovely experience at Aya Sofia this past weekend celebrating a birthday. Not only did we have amazing food and service, but they gave us champagne after we had to hide in the hallway from the tornado warning. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The food, service, and the atmosphere is always good here. I've been here for several major occasions in my life, it's become nostalgic for my husband and I, and we've always had good food and a good experience.

My first time and it won't be my last! I had the House Speciality Bream fish. Absolutely Delicious!

I have never had Turkish cuisine before. Rarely have Lamb. The chops were EXCELLENT. Everyone enjoyed their dishes.

food was average but it is nice place but kinda dark, there is no enough light in middle part of the restaurant to even recognize your food color

Great Turkish food! We had Kofte and Islandar. Both were delicious and tasty. The staff were so polite and nice. They checked with us very often and refill drinks almost every 5 mins. It was good but I think it was too much. I have one small point that they can easily fix. It was so dark there. We could not see what was in our plate.

This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem, and we have dined here enough times to assert this fact. Friday night was no exception; Prescott took care of us, which was the second time we’ve had him as our server, and he did not disappoint. Super well-versed on the menu AND of Mediterranean cuisine and wine, he steered us in the right direction while also taking exceptional care of us. I ordered the Tavuk (chicken) stew. Served in cast iron, it reminded me of a delicious yet not-too-spicy chicken Tikka or Tandoori dish, the latter of which as Prescott described it. We got the Meze platter for the table, and everything on it was fresh and delicious, but OMG the hummus and fresh pita are as good as they come! My spouse had the Kofte platter, and that might be my favorite dish of all. All in all, consistently delicious with unique and fresh flavors, paired with outstanding service and beautiful interior decor, are what keep us coming back again and again.

This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem, and we have dined here enough times to assert this fact. Friday night was no exception; Prescott took care of us, which was the second time we’ve had him as our server, and he did not disappoint. Super well-versed on the menu AND of Mediterranean cuisine and wine, he steered us in the right direction while also taking exceptional care of us. I ordered the Tavuk (chicken) stew. Served in cast iron, it reminded me of a delicious yet not-too-spicy chicken Tikka or Tandoori dish, the latter of which as Prescott described it. We got the Meze platter for the table, and everything on it was fresh and delicious, but OMG the hummus and fresh pita are as good as they come! My spouse had the Kofte platter, and that might be my favorite dish of all. All in all, consistently delicious with unique and fresh flavors, paired with outstanding service and beautiful interior decor, are what keep us coming back again and again.

This place is an experience! I was introducing Turkish cuisine to my friend and this restaurant made me feel proud. We got lahmacun (it’s quite big like a pizza) very rich in flavor, shish lamb kebab (see picture) I mean it speaks for itself. The grilled vegetables were great as a side. We also ordered a skewer of Adana, it was an experimental version of the authentic Adana kebab and it was indeed very good. That was my friend’s favorite. Also, baklava was PERFECT. The chef of this restaurant is an expert in seafood, you’ll see the news stories in the entrance. Definitely try those options. Have it with some Rakı. Other than that, great ambiance, nice concept, great lounge type music, well trained and professional staff, welcoming host. The place has a very nice high-end vibe. We will definitely come back, with more people! Serefe!

Perfect place, service and delicious meals.

Amazing place! Very excited about this new discovery! So many menu items and choices! Very eclectic!!

We had an amazing time. The food is excellent - everything is very tasty and well-prepared, and the service was fantastic. My parents can be a little bit difficult, but everyone there, from the hostess to the wait staff to the manager, made them feel comfortable and well cared for. We ordered beef kebab and moussaka with a starter of the 3-dip plate of hummus, banaganous, and bieber meze and that wonderful bread they serve with it. The bread is amazing on its own, but the dips were fantastic to add to them. You will not get hummus like that anywhere else. They do not serve American macro-brewed beer, only the good stuff - I think that all of their selections were from Germany or Austria or Czech Republic. My British stepfather did not mind, nor did I.

Excellent food excellent service!

Without a doubt by far the worst restaurant I have ever been to, I ordered the mix kabob and I literally had to return the beef kabob 3x because it was extremely raw to where it was still bloody. On top of that, one of the waiter would literally come by every 30 seconds and ask me if I wanted more coke, im like no dude you're fine, not joking it was every 30 seconds because I started to time him, I thought the guy was messing with me or something. N the cherry on top of the whole thing, they automatically charge 20% tip, I went at 6pm on a Thursday and it was completely dead. The tip should be left up to the customer, terrible food, terrible service and yet they still charged for the tip. I would recommend McDonald's before I ever do this place to anyone of my friends. I don't know the cook was but the owner needs to fire him

I have been to turkey multiple times and this food is just very authentic. Friendly staff. They add 20% gratitude but they even deserve more!

It’s a gem for Turkish cuisine in St. Louis. Loved the outdoor seating arrangement, fine wine and Turkish cuisine. Definitely recommend to couples, family and friends looking to spend quality evening with great tasting food and ambience.

Top notch service, amazing food! We pretty much tried everything here and everything tastes delicious! We lived In Turkey and this is the only place in St. Louis that has authentic Turkish dishes. Love coming back here, highly recommend!

Great food and experience!! The food was tasty and would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a great vibe but more so the local Turkish/Mediterranean cuisine and drinks

Not good food. I’ve never had anything so dry in my life.

I ended up getting the Köfte sandwich to go, the bag smelled lovely when I picked it up. And I couldn’t wait to get home and eat it. Sure enough, it was delightful. The seasoning on the meatballs was perfect, the rice pilaf was moist and full of flavor. Despite not going inside for this experience- I would still come back so I could. This place’s atmosphere is warm, and cozy. Private and traditional. Really good if you like Balkan-Mediterranean food!

Fantastic meal, attentive service. The swordfish kebabs were amazing, even better than everything else we enjoyed! The pistachio liqueur is an unusual find that is not to be missed.

Not even close to Turkish food:(((

Spectacular food and great ambiance! Hard to find wine, beer and spirits as well.

Best Turkish experience in St. Louis. Brings me back to Istanbul every time. Food consistently high quality. Service excellent. Try the kofte, chicken tuvasz or the lentil soup. But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

В гугле написано, что ресторан работает а по приезду оказалось, что он откроется только 3 августа.

Tbh, I didn’t like Iskender and Musakka. Musakka wasn’t warm enough. But Hunkar Begendi was okey. You can dip it with pide bread and you can have it. Staff was nice

Tyson, the server did great work! He seemed to know the components of each plate. However, I've been to many Turkish restaurants, the doner "turkish shawarma" is actually gyro 🤮 which has horrible taste!! The adana "grilled ground beef" tastes ok, was a bit dry. The hummus was ok too but a but oily, as for the rice it was dry too. I didn't want to bet on the baklava and their turkish coffee so I won't get disappointed. I would recommend this place just to feel the sense of turkish environment but not the food though.

Plate was full! They put a lot, but they use gyro instead of döner. Overall, lovely spot nice people.

This is a hidden gem in MIDWEST I'd say!! Every bite of their food is scrumptious!! If u know the taste of real turkish food, u'll definitely adore and appreciate how delightful their food is!!! From salad to mezzes to main courses to sweets, everything here is outstanding!!! I am attaching pics of two of their sognature dishes, ISKANDER and TARUV STEW! Both were finger lickin good this time!! Visited for dinner on 3/31/2022

I was so excited to try Aya Sofia so that I could try some of the Turkish cuisine I had been told about and let me tell you, I was not disappointed! Everything was very fresh (and fast, like, crazy fast service!) and tasted great. Lahmacun is really good; a little spicy, a little lamby, very very flavorful. The donner pide though? Oh man was that good. The beef was beautifully seasoned, the bread was tender, and the feta and herbs were perfection. Absolutely stop in and get the most authentic bites!

What a wonderful experience, this restaurant is a nice place to spend time. The menu is large and my friend and I tried several items. Everything was so tasty and delicious. We had a wonderful time. The staff were excellent, so I definitely recommend this place. Be ready to be amazed by great food.

The pide is really good. Kebab is okay.

Tyson got us comfortable and Prescott was our server; both were welcoming and courteous, very knowledgeable about the menu's options. It wasn't busy because it was 4:30p and the ambiance was very peaceful. The shrimp and beef kebabs were delicious!

Great experience! The food was yummy and the stuff super nice and friendly. Highly recommended 👌

Great tasting and Gluten free options galore

So incredibly fabulous!! !!! Cant wait to go back. Service was excellent and the food beyond terrific!!

Update: April 17, 2022 Yummy as always, and... tsipoura in St. Louis!? Two Greeks couldn't believe we could actually get fresh fish prepared like home :) Keep up the great work! Cok tesekkur ederim! I was there at the opening many years ago, and throughout the years, be it challenges, up or down times, COVID or not, supply chain issues notwithstanding, somehow the quality remains top notch. For foodies and Greek/Middle Eastern/Turkish cuisine aficionados, Aya Sofia is always the wise choice. Commendable work from Michael our server tonight, and definitely a must and repeat... Stay the course, keep it going, we'll be back.

Definitely a favorite restaurant in St. Louis!

Went here for the first time for my partner’s birthday and it was SO good. Service was a bit slow as there was seemingly only one person on for the whole restaurant, but we were in no rush. We got the Börek to start (yummm), and some wine and beer. For my main (pictured) I had the Manti. We got some pita with dinner which was perfect with this dish. It also made fantastic leftovers. My partner got the Adana Kebap and it was also fantastic. I don’t think you could go wrong if you pointed to a random item on the menu and ordered it blindly.

One of the best Mid East restaurants in St Louis. Food was delicious & decor is good too. Nice place for family & dates

Amazing food!! My favorite Turkish Mediterranean restaurant in St. Louis.

Food and service is excellent! Our server was one of the best I've ever had at any restaurant ever and I'm not exaggerating.

Do not I repeat do not wast u time or money at this place , the preng us some falafel the where not done I asked to replace theme the scand time was worst ther meat and kabab not good smells bad and not done there falafel sandwich is the worst and after that the add $40 tips in the recipe I payed $279 and eat almost nothing so I give the 1/10 for food , 1/10 customer service and there price is vary vary vary high compared to what the servid

Falafel kabob, lamb chops not cooked well the rice needed salt We tried to ask redo it but same thing As well it's pricy

Falafel, kabob , lamb chops isn't cooked well the rice needed salt And its pricey

The Baklava was warm and succulent. Made with just the right amount of sweetness. The Sarma was ok. The meat could have had more seasoning. Everything was well packaged.

The patio at Aya Sophia is one of the best kept secrets in St. Louis - the bench tables are absolutely lovely and you can pretty much always snag one. Delicious food and a great happy hour.

The service was so especially kind and checked in to make sure everything was great. Which they don't need to because the food is Amazing! Definitely try something new there.

very friendly, and the gentleman has a great customer service 👍

One of the best tasting Turkish food in St.Louis. All the dishes are authentic with amazing flavor.

Authentic,everything is delicious!

Nos gustó mucho todo: la comida estaba buenísima, el lugar tiene mucho encanto y el personal nos atendió estupendamente. La familia que lo dirige es muy amable y profesional.

Love this place for our Mediterranean cravings.

Amazing place! Highly recommended

Great food,great service, great atmosphere