Turkish restaurant

Zara Cafe Grill

Todt HillStaten Island

4.3· 1,548 reviewsClosed nowHalal
Zara Cafe Grill — turkish restaurant — in Todt Hill — Staten Island — NYC
Zara Cafe Grill interior — Todt Hill

Todt Hill

Staten Island

The brief

About Zara Cafe Grill

Zara Cafe Grill is a Turkish restaurant located in the Todt Hill neighborhood of Staten Island that offers authentic Mediterranean flavors and traditional Turkish cuisine. The restaurant caters to health-conscious diners with fresh, quality ingredients and offers various options suitable for different dietary preferences, including vegetarian and grilled meat specialties. With its welcoming atmosphere and consistent 4.3-star rating from nearly 1,500 reviews, Zara Cafe Grill provides a warm dining experience where guests can enjoy flavorful, wholesome Turkish dishes in a comfortable neighborhood setting.

Health inspection

NYC DOHMH Grade A

A

Score7(lower is better)

Inspected1/2/2025

Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.

How grades work

Community Rating

4.3

out of 5

1,548 community reviews

Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.

Community-sourced rating

Reviews

What diners say about Zara Cafe Grill

15 verified Google reviews · 2 with owner responses

4.7

15 reviews

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Goddess Gia
a week ago

The food is super fresh, especially the lamb. I didn’t even need any sauces, although the spicy red sauce and the white sauce were super flavorful and bold with the dill was so refreshing. Loved every bite of it. The lamb gyro comes with rice which was delicious and a salad that was perfectly fresh and crisp. The warm bread and the olives were a pleasing start as many restaurants don’t even do that for dinner anymore and we came for lunch. The atmosphere is super chic and modern with beautiful Turkish lanterns. Bathroom was spotless and had great music bumping. Service was top tier. Thank you so much to the owner and the staff. This was a true delight and we will be back for some more!

M S
3 weeks ago

I was there on Monday and everything was amazing. The food was delicious, prices were very reasonable, and the service was excellent. They really took great care of us. The cold appetizers were full of flavor and the hot appetizers were fresh and tasty. We ordered the Zara Mix Grill Plate and everything was fresh, juicy, and cooked perfectly. Thank you for the great experience. We will definitely come back again.

Abdullah Sheikh
2 months ago

Amazing experience at Zara Grill. I had lamb over rice, and the taste was absolutely wonderful—fresh, flavorful, and very satisfying.<br><br>I visited during Ramadan on my last fast, and they made it truly special by providing dates and showing great respect and hospitality. It’s a moment I still remember.<br><br>Great quality, generous portions, and excellent service. Highly recommended for families—you’ll definitely enjoy it.

Dammin SeneratLocal guide
2 months ago

Amazing food!! My first time trying Zara. 5 stars all around..

korra daleLocal guide
4 months ago

I recently dined at Zara Cafe Grill and had a pretty good experience! The food was tasty, with a great variety of options that catered to different palates. I particularly enjoyed the grilled chicken, which was juicy and well-seasoned. The service was attentive, with friendly staff who made sure we were taken care of throughout our meal. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, ideal for catching up with friends or enjoying a meal alone. Overall, a solid choice, and I look forward to returning!

Response from the owner

Hi Korra, thank you so much for the detailed review and for sharing your experience at Zara Cafe Grill! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Chicken Shish and our Kunefe—they are definitely fan favorites.<br><br>As a Local Guide with so much experience, your feedback on our food and atmosphere is incredibly valuable to us. We’re always working to level up the dining experience, and we hope to earn those extra stars from you on your next visit! We look forward to seeing you again soon for more grilled chicken and good vibes.<br><br><br>Regards,<br>Zara Cafe Grill Team

Ninj GLocal guide
5 months ago

We ordered for take out and the wrap is huge. Definitely worth $12.99. Generous amount of meat. The chicken gyro kebab small plate $15.99 was also a decent amount, which comes with white sauce, hot sauce and a side of bread- which was delicious. Great turkish spot! If you dine in- they have a small parking lot, not to be confused with the Wendy’s parting lot.

Sena
5 months ago

I’ve gotten food from this place multiple times and today my family ordered food to the house and I got a small chicken shish like I always do. This time I see this long piece of hair in my food. I am very disappointed, this is very unsanitary, please fix this.

Response from the owner

Please call and ask for the manager. Thank you

Frank “DJ FRANKYPHENOM” AlvarezLocal guide
10 months ago

Everything you see that I posted DELICIOUS!! The rice buttery soft...Meats, salad, rice, appetizer were all on point! Ended up going to TRUVA restaurant in Astoria 3 days later cause its closer to me and was suggested by my waiter. Not the same menu but just as delicious.. TRY BOTH!!!

LoriLocal guide
a year ago

this is one of my family’s go to spots. if you can, definitely try to eat at the restaurant. it’s still great for takeout and we’ve done it many times but nothing beats eating the food fresh and hot off the grill. we are obsessed with how fluffy and tasty the rice is and how well it goes with all the meats. the portions are generous and the presentation is appetizing.

Wing NPLocal guide
Edited a year ago

Been to Zara for several times during my visit to Staten Island. I always enjoy the food, especially the rice and almond pudding. I also love the atmosphere when there was a birthday party. It felt like the whole restaurant was celebrating the party. Very warm and happy vibe.

opencornersLocal guide
a year ago

Ordered takeout. Tasty. Had the mix, the chicken and beef and some salad, bread, and rice pudding.<br><br>The chicken and beef, although i ordered close to closing time, was very fresh, as was the rice.<br><br>The white sauce was watery and could have been better.<br><br>The bread felt like a bonus as I hadnt ordered any bread but it was hot and fresh and was enjoyable.<br><br>The rice pudding was good, a nice sweetness, but a tad milky. The top felt like a coat and when brushed aside, felt like some regular cinnamon could have put this to a 6 star dessert.<br><br>Would order from here again to try some other dishes.

MariamLocal guide
a year ago

We visited Zara for the first time. Since we have kids, we generally avoid places where alcohol is served, so it was a bit uncomfortable for us on a personal level. That being said, the ambiance was lovely, the customer service was excellent, and the food portions were decent and satisfying.

A. FloresLocal guide
a year ago

I usually order take out but this was my first time dining here. I have only ever gotten the lamb gyro but I don’t doubt the rest of the menu is served the same- absolutely exquisite. The gyro is cut nice and thin, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The rice is buttery and the salad has the perfect amount of dressing. All the ingredients taste fresh and the portions are perfectly sized.<br><br>The employees are also very prompt and hospitable. Plus the interior of the restaurant is extremely clean and decorated very nicely.<br><br>I grew up eating a lot of Turkish food and this is by far the best that I have tried thus far in NYC.<br><br>Highly recommend!!

Malik AlmathilLocal guide
a year ago

The food<br>Tasty food with good seasoning we order the Zara mix grill and the fish fillet. Good amount of food portion, and the food came out in a matter of time we didn’t wait long for it.<br><br>The service<br>Was above and beyond from welcoming us by the door and all staff were smiling and friendly.<br><br>Atmosphere<br>The place has plenty of seating even an outdoor seating as well. It’s clean and decent with a parking lot on the back of the restaurant. Give them a try and you won’t regret!

Jenice RobertsonLocal guide
4 years ago

This is literally the best Mediterranean food I've ever had (and I've had my fair share 😏)!<br><br>Posted some pics below, but these were my favorites;<br><br>The mixed appetizer was delish- the Babaganush tasted like smoky, grilled perfection and the Acili Ezme was fresh and super flavorful.<br><br>The WINGS WERE SURPRISINGLY AMAZING. Perfect amount of sauce and fall-off-the-bone tender!<br><br>The Falafels were well-made. The 2nd best I've ever tasted!<br><br>The Zara mixed grill allows you to sample alllll the meats (well almost lol). Everything was lightly seasoned yet tasty!--->my favorite was the beef shish kebab.<br><br>And the cheesecake was yummmm!!!!<br><br>Highly recommend this restaurant if you are craving classic, delicious Turkish food!<br><br>Honorable mention: Customer service was great as well!!!!

Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.

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