From the moment we walked in we felt like old friends, with warm knowledgeable staff. The space was intimate and cozy. Every course was amazing, interesting flavours expertly balanced. The coeliac at our table felt included with most of the meals being GF.
I loved trying the Turkish Wines, I will be hunting down more to try. We can’t wait to come back again, we have an eye on the private function room for a special occasion. Thank you for taking such good care of us
Went to Yagiz last night with a few friends and the guys there couldn’t do enough for us. The waiter (Alex, a lovely Irish man) knew everything about the menu and recommended us on what to order as we had no idea. We ended up with a 6 course delight! Thanks again, can’t wait to return.
The food was faultless and the fit out impressive. Chef Murat, the staff and the service are 10/10! Yagiz has a great vibe going on, definitely a new entry to Melbourne's top 10. Can't wait for an excuse to book the private dining room!!!
Great addition to the area and great potential to become a neighbourhood gem! Great warm service, great food, original decor and amazing Turkish wine (the name escapes me). The passport at the end is a lovely touch! We'll be back
La cuisine est exceptionnelle et le décor moderne mélange les cultures australiennes et turques que j'aime tant.
Merci au chef d'être venu nous saluer.
The Place to be #Victoria #Melbourne
Thank you sincerely for a beautiful dining experience two weeks ago. Your restaurant is just exquisite and I wish you the absolute best wishes in building a successful business. I was in Melbourne visiting family and I will return to eat with you every time I am in Melbourne!
Finest Turkish restaurant in Melbourne. A must try. Had a great experience. Great service and exceptional food.
We had a fantastic meal, with excellent, friendly service, and scrumptious, interesting food that was presented beautifully.
Super restaurant, n'hésitez pas à venir pour partager un repas entre amis, en couple ou en famille.
Goût : ★★★★★
Dressage : ★★★★★
Service : ★★★★★
Lieu : ★★★★★
The first of many visits to come I’m sure! Had a fabulous evening of great food, great service and great atmosphere! Wish the whole team at Yagiz every success!!
I would like to thank you guys for Saturday. We've been there for my husband's 50th. Food was delicious and excellent ambient, everyone loved it. Special thanks to Mike for taking care of everything. We'll definitely come again.
Great food. Great service. Great night. Top marks
I was one of the lucky ones to get a table at this fine dining restaurant in south yarra. The presentation is lovely through and through. We were welcomed by well dressed waitstaff. After sanitizing, we were offered water and a drinks menu.
Then came the food menu which consisted of small entrees, larger entrees, mains and a dessert. The menu is small and simple but options for all. We ordered one large entree and a main between us. While waiting, we were offered complimentary bread with turkish butter which was smooth and garnished with sumac. Our entree was deliciously spiced cubed lamb liver bits on sourdough with some delicious ricotta on the side. Very flavoursome and salty.
Our main was the tender juicy corn fed chicken (two large pieces) served with a chickpea dip and two spiced crackers
Delicious satisfying food.
Their unisex toilets were clean and well maintained.
Staff were friendly, attentive and not pushy.
They do split bills.
I’ve got to say, the starters were soo good, every single dish! But when we got to the mains, we were let down.
Starters:
• cheese cigars
• zucchini flower
• croquette (not sure what this was called)
• marinated lamb rump
Mains
• hand cut Turkish pasta
• cornfed chicken
The pasta was way to dry - I haven’t had Turkish pasta before, but this reminded me of an Asian noodle more than a pasta.. we struggled to finish this.
The chicken was very salty - i think it’s because it sits in a salt brine for a few days (waiter had mentioned this)
I would come back for the starters and maybe try another main dish!
Loved the modern rustic interior with lots of details bring warm and life to this place. Services are superb at this price point. I am a huge fan of traditional Turkish food and was a bit sceptical about modern Turkish cuisine as I tried a few times in other places and unfortunately they didn't really work. But this place has totally won me over. We ordered the set menu of four-course meal, they were flexible enough to swap the Tuna tartare to grilled squid. Every dish was executed beautifully. Although the duck sigara borek was arguably a tad salty to some people's liking, it was the highlight of the night for me. Stuffed mussels were so flavoursome, the rice had soaked up the flavours of the mussels, herbs and spices, instantly brought me back to the west Turkish coast. In short, we cleared all the plates. Highly recommend this place and definitely will return very soon.
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🏚: Yagiz
📍: South Yarra
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📝: With experience as chef in many top Australian restaurants around the country, chef Murat Ovaz started Yagiz. his first solo project. It was awarded a prestigious AGFG Hat after being open for just 10 weeks.
Ovaz says "Much like classic Turkish food, Yagiz brings people together. I wanted to create an unpretentious atmosphere, where refined dining could be enjoyed in a warm and vibrant atmosphere with no fuss. Expect to experience all the flavours of Turkey with a modern, unique twist."
❤️: With a seasonal menu that changes depending on produce availability, Yagiz ensures the use of best quality ingredients sourced locally.
My favorite would be no other than these Grilled Prawns. Look at that char on it. Just perfect. Another signature dish is the Tarama with Fraser island crab meat and trout roe.
The dessert was also a highlight—baklava filo pastry with praline ice cream. Classic and simple, but definitely delightful.
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The place was nice. I love the ambience and the food was great! It is something different. I have never taste turkish dish before. But this is definitely one of the best food that i have ever had.
Superb Turkish food served in a modern elegant space. This place did not disappoint and the cocktails were sensational. With so many options to choose from in regards to food , the chefs banquet was the perfect choice. Food was delicious and tasty and unusual from what is considered main stream Turkish food. Service was friendly and efficient. Definitely not a cheap eat so be prepared to pay the premium for this night out.
Fantastic is all I can say... the food was full of flavour and the service outstanding. The resturant had a very nice and cozy decor. Midye was fantastic but also the Baklava. 100% recommend this resturant.
Eat Play Live Melbourne
+4
real rating 4.5/5
We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Yagiz and were thoroughly impressed. The fit out is modern and classy with an intimate mood, fine dining that's not stuffy.
The staff took fabulous care of us, were just the right amount of attentive without being annoying, and had excellent knowledge of the menu.
Modern Turkish cuisine using great quality Australian produce, you can either order a la carte or choose the Chef's set menu. We chose to go with a la carte and ate our way through most of the menu! Everything was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The meals came out quickly and the cocktails were creative and totally insta-worthy. We highly recommend and will definitely be back.
This will be the shortest review I’ve written. Zomato requires one hundred and forty characters minimum. 5 Stars, great food, great service, go there!
Nostalgic Turkish cuisine takes a contemporary approach at Yagiz on Toorak Road, South Yarra where it's as much about Middle Eastern flavours as it is about fresh Australian produce. Owner-operator Murat Ovaz comes from Zonguldak, Turkey and grew up in several cities before settling in Australia the past ten years, gaining experience at recognised Australian restaurants such as Four In Hand and Tulum before opening up Yagiz in October 2017.
4.5 Modern Turkish restaurant, Yagiz is thriving, having found its rhythm as Chef Owner Murat Ovaz (Tulum, Four in Hand) celebrates the venue’s first year in service.
Located on South Yarra’s bustling Toorak Road in Melbourne, Yagiz invites guests to experience the flavours of modern Turkey in a vibrant atmosphere, accompanied by a new menu that demonstrates the evolution of a talented chef and his kitchen team.
What a lovely night we had a Yagiz - greeted by warm friendly staff who had a great knowledge of the menu. We ate our way through the menu and enjoyed every dish we had. The chicken paste with crispy chicken skin was delicious, crunchy with beautifully smooth chicken inside. The duck cigars are amazing - I’ll be returning just for these. The crab was a light and refreshing dish followed by the spinach and potato borek which was also really good. The marron was perfectly cooked and the duck breast was a real highlight. The bulgar pilaf served with the duck was so good! The heirloom tomatoes were a perfect side. Finished with the baklava and we’ve already made a booking to return!
Most of us are familiar with Turkish flavours, but at Yagiz, you will be treated to a unique and modern twist on classic Turkish flavours in a contemporary, warm and friendly ambience. Yagiz is the dream project of Chef Murat Ovaz who has a wealth of experience working at some of the top restaurants in Melbourne and NSW. He was the Head Chef at Tulum before starting this restaurant which was named after his grandfather. In fact, you cannot miss the beautiful portrait mural of his grandfather inside the restaurant which almost instantly warms you up to the space.
What a great experience! The atmosphere is lovely, the staff are great, and the food is fantastic. When you are told by a Turk that the food is fantastic you know the food will be great! We had the duck cigars, the eggplant, the lamb liver, the bulgar, the lamb kofte and the baklava. The baklava maybe small but the taste is incredible! The most authentic tasting baklava! Highly recommend
Lovely Turkish restaurant, very well presented. Staff very friendly and attentive. Food was very authentic to its roots. Lovely visit it was, will definitely be back! Prices very reasonable especially for its location on Toorak road! Loved the Turkish passport addition carrying the bill! Top idea 👌.
Finally made it to Yagiz and I’m so glad I did! The flavours took me down memory lane...Being from a Turkish background the flavours of each dish reminded me of home cooked meals but with a modern presentation. We had the chefs selection menu (6 courses), I can taste the love that’s been put in each dish I’ve had especially the filo baklava with praline ice cream (yum). The service was fantastic! It did get very busy at one point but the staff were very cool and all smiles. The restaurant has a modern warm look. I thank the waiters and the chefs at YAGIZ for a fantastic experience...can’t wait to try your other wonderful dishes!
Amazing food and service. Rich flavors and a great menu..... will be back. At the beef, lamb, leek, anchovies. Wine menu was extensive with different selections from turkey france Australia and beyond
absolutely phenomenal food - and i am not that easy to please. deserves at least a michelin star if it ever comes to australia. this is how a restaurant should be run
Finest Turkish restaurant in Melbourne. Incredible experience. Prompt service. Very reasonable pricing. Strongly recommend stuffed squid and confit duck cigar.
Great drinks menu with specialised cocktails
Highly rated.
A MUST TRY!!
Very impressed with every aspect of this modern Turkish restaurant. We ordered a variety of different dishes and everything was delicious and presented beautifully. Interior fitout is spacious, relaxing and modern with many tasteful creative touches.
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I ate here on Friday 15th June. Service was a little slow - i..e we had to continue to ask for our wine glasses to be topped up. if the staff can't keep the glasses topped up they should leave bottle at table.
Service was friendly and apologetic when we kept asking about the wine so can't complain too much.
All the food was super tasty and presented very well.
The homemade sourdough was a little underwhelming however. I had hoped for some nicer bread.
My biggest disappointment, which i'm still unhappy about is the Kozde Biber (chargrilled pepper with goats cheese). the portion size of this is beyond a joke - the pepper was a single strip measuring 3cm wide by 10cm long with a teaspoon of goats cheese on top - that's it! And, for a pricely sum of $14! I make these all the time, which taste just as good and I can make about 2.5kg of them for $14! The chef must be taking the piss as this was a disgrace. We mentioned this to the waiter and he apologised but did nothing about it.
So, i'd be happy to go again, but will be asking more questions of the waiter next time so as to avoid this pepper mistake/joke!
Took my mother here for mothers day lunch and I have one word outstanding. All the food was delicious. My favourite part was I have food intolerances and they were so accommodating. I often find it hard to enjoy altered food because I cannot have onion but all the dishes I had were amazing. The standouts were the mackerel, the cigar and the complimentary cocktail was a really nice touch. All waiters were friendly and attentive, despite it being one of the busier days in hospitality.
I went here for a meeting. Was not expecting much. Initially when I was waiting for my dinner partner all the waiters were doing my head in:( When Rhonda came I ordered the duck cigar. Solid start. We followed this up by calamari with cheese - delicious!!!! Real highlight. Followed by vegetarian pasta. Delicious!!! Waitress ended up turning a corner and her service was exceptional - came from Germany. Apologies for forgetting her name. Last cauliflower dish also great. Restaurant fitout cool. Long overdue 5 stars
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My Key 3 Pointers
* Middle Eastern dinning is alive and this addition is a must try.
* Turkish food has more to offer than just dips and Kebab. Modern not traditional but all beautifully put together to capture the essences of Turkish flavors
* Bellydancing not required in this Turkish restaurant. Ambiance, sleek venue and the amazing food is all the hype.
We were seated in the more casual bar area at the front and I much rather preferred this than the more formal dinning area at the back. It was very cosy, intimate and the perfect spot to spend hours eating, drinking and chatting with good company. The wine List was extensive and very good options to try. I loved how there was so many options available by the glass. I probably should have opted for a drop from Turkey however after having some bad wines in Istanbul I did opt for security and the Rose I had was exceptional.
The service was very good and reading some reviews prior to arriving I did pay more attention, we got friendly, prompt food service and nothing but polite and attentive staff. The staff did struggle saying some of the names of the dishes, they are not Turkish so I can excuse a pronunciation difficulty. The only feedback in service was we ordered a pastirma sis on the snack options and there was only one skewer. I wish we were advised as I would have ordered more, it was delicious and definitely wanted my own. Probably good idea to inform customers so they can order accordingly.
Was very happy with the food we selected and the traditional dishes I know we’ll definitely had a modern twist that I enjoyed. The flavors were a talking point and we were blown away with how good our old time favorites tasted. We opted for the Midye Tava fried mussels,Pastirma sis air dried beef with goat cheese, Karadis jumbo prawns in chili butter, Kizartma eggplant and zucchini with kefir, Orderk duck breast, Manti dumplings and for dessert we had the baklava and Kazandibi. The only thing i did not love was the granita on my all time favorite dessert Kazandibi. I would have much preferred an ice cream to complement my milk pudding. Also if I was aware that I needed to pre order lamb 24hours in advance I would have done this . It was forbidden fruit, you want what you can’t have. If you are not aware and its your first visit this can catch you off guard.
Finally I feel confident to recommend a Turkish restaurant to friends who have not experienced the cuisine and want more than a kebab takeaway shop. Loved the unique concept and finally get to fine dine Turkish style. Loved the passport replica of Mr Yagiz and fine little details make the journey a tad more enjoyable. I may not have been on the Bosporus but you took me there.
Great interesting food that you don’t experience elsewhere. Each new dish was my favourite but the duck cigars amazing. Don’t skip dessert the baklava praline - yum yum yum
Extremely good Turkish. All dishes were fantastic and the staff were great advising how much food to order (often an over looked skill at share menu restaurants). The chicken cigars a highlight. I’ll definitely be back for the whole lamb (24 hours notice required)
Delicious and innovative take on Turkish food with good vegetarian options. Pleasant and obliging service. A good find which deserves a much higher rating
We dined there 18 January having gone there on a friends recommendation. I think it a promising new entry to the local restaurant choice. The variation in review scores and reviews highlight the importance of choosing the right dish. We had a grilled cauliflower dish done with a tasty yoghurt sauce. Delicious. As an entree a sashimi tuna. Very nice. Generous sides of heirloom tomatoes and dutch carrots. Both very good. Limited wine list but include some wines from Gallipoli. Lots of hard surfaces and Yagiz could be very noisy if crowded
Extremely pleased with everything this restaurant had to offer.
From the excellent quality service, ambience, amazing taste and twist on Turkish cuisine, my party and I were unable to fault any aspect of our dining experience.
The owner/chef, introducing himself and thanking our custom before departing.
Bravo Yagiz! Look forward to dining with you again 👏🏼
Sleek venue with interesting Turkish sharing style menu. Between two we shared the borek and the quail for entree, the lamb backstrap and the kingfish for mains and the asparagus and tomatoes for sides. I couldn’t fault a single dish. The lamb was a particular highlight. My only comment is that the wine list was a little unusual.
It s definitely a must try place. If you like the middle east region food or you are interested to get to know them this place would do it just fine. We had a great experience. The cocktail with Raki in it is highly highly recommended 👌
Can't really fault this place. Greeted warmly as we arrived and promptly shown to our table. The drinks did take a while to arrive but the lovely ambience and service more than made up for it. We had the set menu and there was too much food for us six ladies. Every dish was beautifully prepared with the freshest of ingredients and pride. When the bill came, four of us paid by cash and two paid separately on our respective cards and that was not a bother for the restaurant at all (this type of bill splitting is such a rarity here in Melbourne which should be practiced more in other restaurants). Will be bringing my other friends back here.
Enjoyed an awesome spread of mezze food, sharing tasting menu. Dips, bread, sardines, lamb, squid and swordfish. The standout dish and a must eat was the squid. Live music playing was a great touch. Some tasty cocktails too. Highly recommend
Must try modern turkish cuisine. I really enjoy the cozy ambience. Waitresses were very nice and recommended a few dishes to try. We love the fried eggplant, saganaki, charcoal chicken and grilled eye fillet. Both chicken and eye fillet were perfectly done. The waitress recommended cured bonito. I must say its interesting choice 😅
Wow, what an experience, excellent service, cocktails, ambiance & the food, brilliant food.
Go for the DOYUMLUK, the dips, the sardines, swordfish, seafood mix. We really liked the TARAMA – Tarama salata, trout roe the most.
The Eating & Drinking Cow
+4
Visited for dinner on a weeknight and enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Yagiz.
The food is well presented as well as the wait staff.
Suitable for big groups and business functions.
Regards,
The Eating & Drinking Cow
Yagiz. Great name, great spot, great flavours. If you haven’t been to Yagiz you should go. Start with a cocktail, they have some classics and some out there ones with a Turkish flair. The flavours of the meal were really good if not terribly diverse. For some reason they have changed the menu and taken off some dishes that add some diversity… the duck cigars were amazing, something to remember like Hestons Meat Fruit…but for some reason they don’t have them anymore. This means that the entrees are repeated in the mains a bit. Wait staff were attentive and helpful, used to be all Turkish but that is probably a symptom of post covid so well done on assembling a crew and training them to be good nonetheless. I love different things that surprise, would love to give them five stars but in Melbourne this is hard. Bring back the duck cigars!!
It’s an “Instagrammable” restaurant.
We ordered the set menu (@99 pp). We kept waiting for a long time for our mains. It seems they forgot our mains. A staff member offered us a free cocktail to make up for it. But our meal had stretched to 2.25 hours and we were too tired to go on. That’s a long time to spend on a meal
The food is really nice! But i would not be keen to go again owing to my experience with the long delay.
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