Bodrum Mediterranean Kitchen

First time here and the food was great. The dessert was awesome also. The wife said the Lemoncello cake was fantastic.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food and generous portions. I don’t know what kind of sorcery they do to their rice but it somehow stays soft and delicious 1-2+ days later??? I’ve also transported several orders of their roasted eggplant across state lines so my family could try because it is THAT good.

Food: 5

One of my favorite places in Jax. A bit far from where I live but certainly worth the drive when I have time, which is typically once a week.

The food is always fresh and delicious! My go-to meal is the chicken shawarma platter with hummus & rice(pictured below). Let me not get started about the portions. I can eat A LOT and I always have some leftovers to take home.

I recently tried the Kavurma(braised beef pictured below). And dude, this meal was OFF. THE. CHAIN! So delicious, tender, and full of flavor. Throw the rice on top of it and let it soak up the juices…. Thank me later.

I always start off with the Lentil soup and squeeze some fresh lemon in there(also thank me later).

The staff is always kind, polite, and very hospitable.

The atmosphere is also really neat. It’s the perfect spot for a random date night or a small gathering.

If I could give more stars, I would. I love this place and highly recommend checking it out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

After reading the restaurant’s response, I want to make one final statement.

My review was never about policies, seating choices, or when the check was brought. It was about how my partner and I felt during our visits to Bodrum Mediterranean Restaurant. Hospitality is not just about following procedure — it’s about how guests are made to feel.

We visited multiple times because we genuinely enjoyed the food. If our intention was to create an issue, we would not have returned for a third and fourth visit. We wanted to continue supporting the restaurant. Unfortunately, the repeated staring, the uncomfortable energy, and the dismissive response when I calmly addressed it made that difficult.

When I brought up how we felt, I wasn’t looking for an argument. I was hoping to be heard. Instead, the response was immediate defensiveness. That is what solidified things for me. A simple acknowledgment or willingness to listen would have gone a long way.

I understand the restaurant stands by its staff. That is their right. But I also stand by my lived experience. Two things can be true at once: you can believe your service was fine, and a guest can still walk away feeling unwelcome.

This will be my final comment on the matter. The food was good, but we didn’t feel welcome. For that reason, we won’t be dining in again.

I truly hope no one else ever feels uncomfortable when they’re simply trying to enjoy a meal.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Everything was so good and yummy.Our server was so nice and helpful. We will be back !!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve really gone back and forth about writing this because I genuinely loved this place at first. Bodrum Mediterranean Restaurant has some of the most unique Mediterranean food I’ve had in Jacksonville. The flavors are bold, fresh, and different from the typical spots around here. From the seasoning to the presentation, you can tell the dishes are made with care. That’s exactly why my partner and I kept coming back.

Our first two visits were great. The food was amazing, the atmosphere felt warm, and we enjoyed trying new things each time. Even on our third visit, while the food was still excellent, something started to feel off. I didn’t get his name, but our server had two small gold hoop earrings, jewelry around his neck, and a blowout-style haircut. He kept staring at us throughout the meal in a way that made us uncomfortable. At first, I brushed it off and tried not to overthink it. But then he started rushing us — checking on us repeatedly in a way that didn’t feel attentive, but more like he wanted us to leave.

We tried to ignore the feeling because we truly loved the food and didn’t want to assume anything. So we decided to come back for a fourth visit, hoping maybe it was just an off day.

Unfortunately, that fourth visit confirmed the discomfort.

From the moment we sat down, I felt uneasy. The same energy was there — the staring, the feeling of being watched instead of welcomed. It didn’t feel like hospitality. It felt like we weren’t wanted there. My partner noticed it too. When you go out to eat, especially somewhere you enjoy, you expect to feel relaxed. Instead, we felt tension. We didn’t even stay as long as we normally would because the environment just didn’t feel right.

At one point, I decided to politely confront him about how we were feeling. I didn’t raise my voice or cause a scene. I simply expressed that we felt uncomfortable and rushed. Instead of listening to what I had to say or acknowledging our experience, he immediately chose to defend himself. There was no attempt to understand our perspective. That response honestly hurt more than the original behavior. When someone dismisses your feelings instead of hearing you out, it makes you feel even smaller.

I hate even having to say this, but as a person of color, it’s hard not to question whether race played a role in how we were treated. When you notice you’re being looked at differently, rushed differently, or made to feel like you don’t belong, it stays with you. I don’t throw around claims of discrimination lightly. That’s why this has been weighing on me.

What makes this even more disappointing is that the food truly is special. I love the uniqueness of the dishes, the flavors, and the authenticity they bring. The food was good, but we didn’t feel welcome.

Because of that, sadly, we won’t be coming back to dine in. We will likely just be ordering online in the future so we can still enjoy the food without feeling uncomfortable.

I sincerely hope no one else ever feels the way we did.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

I ordered the lamb gyro bowl and was very satisfied with the portion considering the price. Unfortunately the gyro meat was not seasoned well at all, was lukewarm, and did not taste fresh at all, the main flavor in the bowl was the diced veggies in it, and the rice was mushy like an Asian sushi rice. The tzatziki was lacking as it needed more of everything (salt, lemon, dill, etc). The pita was pita, nothing to write home about. I honestly made it half way through my bowl before just calling it quits. This was a great shame because the atmosphere in the place was truly taverna like with servers who were very nice, timely and attentive!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 4

Really good, amazing taste
Definitely coming back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We went for Valentines and super.good food, good service quiet. We will visit again soon!! Hummus deliciosooooo

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Grape Leaves, Cheesecake

Best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had and Omer is the best server on the planet. Will definitely be back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great restaurant. Delicious food, large portions, fantastic service & wonderful desserts!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The Turkish ravioli it’s a must have! Delicious deserts also. The vibe it’s quite and friendly ✨👌🏼

Food was great! Large portions so the prices are fair. Service was okay very laid back but the hummus made up for it. 10/10 would recommend getting one of the platters!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Gyro Platter, Spicy Hummus, Tzatziki, Creamy Chicken

BLUF: AWESOME & AUTHENTIC!! Took me back to my days in Turkiye! I lived in Izmir, the major city near the beach playground of Bodrum, and am VERY particular about my Turkish food, especially Iskender kebap, as no one seems to do it quite right in the states, usually omitting or substituting ingredients. These guys nailed everything, Iskender Efendi nods in approval from the grave!! The cigarette borek was totally on point and having my old favorite, Efes pilsener, was an unexpected treat. Well done, folks, well done indeed!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Have wanted to try for a while, and so happy we did. Gyros were delicious with plenty of delicious lamb and right amount of toppings and seasoning. Only had time for a quick lunch but will return for dinner, as remainder of menu looked good as well.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5