Nirvana Essen in Essen

Super friendly and attentive staff... the food couldn't be more perfect.

The food at your restaurant is simply exceptional – one of the best restaurants in the European Union. The restaurant is very clean, and the quality of the food is consistently outstanding. Every time we eat there, we enjoy delicious dishes, and each time the food is even better than the last time. We order from you regularly because you maintain such a high standard. Your success is absolutely well-deserved. The food is clean and fresh, and the service is top-notch. Many thanks to the entire team.

We went there without a reservation. Luckily, they gave us a table, hence the two stars. In my opinion, the price isn't justified. You order a mixed grill and get a piece of bread soaked in sauce with a few scraps of meat. I also ordered an appetizer, which the menu said should be four pieces of Icli Köfte, but we got two pieces that had been cut in half?! For €9, it came with a dollop of herbed quark and four slices of cucumber that, stacked on top of each other, weighed more than the Icli Köfte. The dish should really be called "Cucumber with herbed quark and two Icli Köfte" – that would be more accurate. But I doubt anyone orders that for €9. The food itself was okay. It's alright once in a while. Personally, I wasn't satisfied. The only positive thing is that we got a table spontaneously on a Saturday. I'd rather not even mention the parking situation. The restaurant hasn't just opened yesterday, but apparently nothing has changed.

The best breakfast I've ever had in Germany. The service was excellent; they came by every second to ask if we were enjoying ourselves and if we needed more tea. I have absolutely no complaints. It was simply wonderful.

Everything was excellent, the food was delicious, and the service was outstanding. I will definitely come back.

Overpriced food, mediocre taste

A stylish restaurant, nice atmosphere. I ate liver, it was very good. I also recommend the Kazandibi dessert.

The reservation went smoothly, my companion arrived later, and I was offered tea while I waited. The food was excellent, and the service was incredibly friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was lovely, and even though it was very busy, it wasn't unpleasantly noisy. All in all, perfect ❤️

Unfortunately, the restaurant was significantly overcrowded. They were accepting walk-in guests even when it was full. Despite having a reservation and having specified the number of people in our party beforehand, we had to wait, and were initially offered separate tables. The service staff seemed overwhelmed, and it was also very noisy, making conversation nearly impossible. While the food tasted good, the wait was very long. The menu was also confusing and confusing: one page listed beef fillet, another steak with cream sauce. However, the opposite was served – beef fillet with sauce and steak without. When we inquired, we were told that the side dish was included in the price, but it was charged separately. Furthermore, the menu listed a 300-gram steak, but the bill only showed 200 grams for the same price. This lack of transparency left a very negative impression.

Pure chaos! We had a reservation for 11 people for 6:30 pm and arrived 10 minutes early. We had to wait 35 minutes for our tables, and then they tried to seat us at two different tables. We didn't accept this and had to wait another 10 minutes for a table to be shared. After a few more minutes, we received 3-4 menu cards for 11 people. About 40 minutes after ordering, some dishes arrived, and some were wrong. We had to wait another 20-30 minutes. The same thing happened with dessert; half of it was missing. There are definitely too many reservations for a restaurant of this size. The waiters were running around, but the tables and chairs were so close together that it was impossible to move around properly. Among other things, we ordered six mixed grill platters. None of the plates looked alike, even though we hadn't requested any changes to the menu. Sometimes the Adana kebab was missing, sometimes the chops were missing, sometimes there was no beef but plenty of chicken. Two identical dishes were missing the mushroom sauce. For a restaurant of this size, they should accept about 20 fewer reservations. Then guests could sit comfortably and the waiters could move between tables without tripping over them. It's incredibly loud. Conversation is impossible!

Nirvana Restaurant was a complete success. The food was absolutely delicious – from the various meat and kebab specialties to baklava and other sweets, and the diverse appetizers, everything was of the highest quality. We would especially like to commend the service, particularly Mr. Uğur Çubukcu, whose exceptional friendliness, professionalism, and attentiveness made our visit perfect. Overall, top-notch service and a restaurant we wholeheartedly recommend. Nirvana Restaurant was a complete success. The meat and kebab dishes, baklava, and other sweets were all delicious. We would especially like to commend Mr. Uğur Çubukcu, whose exceptional friendliness, professionalism, and attentiveness made our visit perfect. Hizmet kalitesi ve yemeklerin seviyesi gerçekten üst düzey. Gönül rahatlığıyla tavsiye ederiz.

The food was absolutely delicious, the service was top-notch, they took great care of us, especially the friendly waiter Ugur. We came from Frankfurt for a weekend and were very satisfied; I can highly recommend it. It's time to open your next location in Frankfurt/Gießen!

Delicious food and very friendly staff, many thanks to the nice waiter named Uğur who welcomed us so warmly 👍🏽

Despite having an appointment, there were long waiting times. Parking was a disaster. The service was rude and disrespectful. The food wasn't worth the price! Not recommended.

A lovely restaurant with wonderful flavors. The staff were especially friendly and polite. I would definitely want to go back again 💫

A lovely place for a relaxed meal.

Delicious Turkish food near the RÜ (Rüttenscheider Straße). We received a tasty salad and two dips with fresh bread as an appetizer from the restaurant. Then we had fried anchovies with rice and salad. Very tasty, but quite filling. And lamb skewers with eggplant and rice. Also very well seasoned. Fair value for money, very friendly service.

The food was very tasty, juicy, and delicious. Adana is highly recommended. The staff are all lovely, too.

The staff was very friendly. What we missed for the price was: Juice or still water included. The food selection was okay. The traditional lentil soup was missing.

Best breakfast in a long time. The waiter was very friendly and attentive! He deserves a raise for the service he provides. Best regards from the six guys from Munich!

Atmosphere 10/10 Waiters were incredibly friendly, highly professional, and attentive. Food was excellent and fresh. Highly recommended.

First, I'd like to point out that in Germany, don't expect the same service quality as in Turkey. Even if you go to a Turkish restaurant, they don't bother to clear away empty glasses or plates. We ordered a kiymali pide (ground meat pide) and it had plenty of meat on it, but it wasn't like the kiymali pide we know. That's why I gave it a low score. They didn't have the service befitting such a beautifully decorated and luxurious restaurant. We then ordered the fatty black and lamb shish kebabs, which were delicious. BUT THE SERVICE IS NOT GOOD. IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THIS PLACE. IT'S LIKE THIS PLACE.

Very tasty food at reasonable prices.

The service staff was extremely friendly, and the food was truly high quality and delicious. Special thanks also go to the manager for the exemplary and respectful team. Thank you all for the outstanding work. I definitely give it a high rating.

We went for a business lunch. The kebabs were good, the service was good, we ate a free kunefe until the kunefe arrived. Maşallah, it would have been better if it wasn't so die die. Parking is another problem.

A truly lovely restaurant. Friendly, attentive, and polite. All in all, a nice, pleasant atmosphere, and the food is really delicious. Highly recommended.

We ate Beyti sarma and were generally pleased with the taste and service.

Besides the ambiance and the excellent food, we were particularly impressed by the service. The waiter was extremely friendly and attentive and contributed significantly to the positive experience. Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

Hospitality 100% Attentive, top-notch service Adana kebabs were amazing! Satisfied and full, many thanks to the fantastic team on site! Highly recommended. I'll be back!

You're wondering what to eat at the breakfast buffet.

Everything here is 5 stars. We are more than satisfied.

Top restaurant, very good quality and delicious food. Very friendly staff. Great atmosphere.

I went to the restaurant because of its beautiful stars but the taste is not good enough to be exaggerated. There is little variety on the plates. It is not enough for the price. I think they need to improve on the taste, especially the appetizers, salads and also the shish kebabs.

The food was delicious. The service was very fast and incredibly friendly. I highly recommend it!!

Unprofessional organization. First you're seated, then you're told to get up again because someone else was supposedly there first. Waiters should coordinate with each other instead of shuffling guests around.

A peaceful home-like atmosphere... A wonderful place, I highly recommend it. The location, atmosphere, service, and flavor are all top-notch. HALAL 👍

Unfortunately, I can't rate the food because they let others go ahead of us even though we had already been promised a table and had already sat down.

Poorly organized. We were seated at a table by a waiter, then asked to go outside because someone else was going to get the table. We didn't feel well treated. I'd rather go to a different restaurant. Never again.

The service from Mr. Ugur was very friendly, courteous, and helpful. You immediately feel incredibly welcome in this restaurant, and the Turkish specialties offered are excellent.

This is our second visit to this restaurant. The first time was excellent, but the second visit was the complete opposite. We called the restaurant last week to reserve a large table with eight chairs for two families with young children. When we arrived, we were greeted rudely by the staff member simply because we had a stroller with us. Although there was plenty of space and the stroller wasn't obstructing the flow of guests at all, the staff member was annoyed that we hadn't mentioned bringing a stroller beforehand. We tried to explain that there was absolutely enough room – which was indeed the case – but she simply ignored us and walked away. We found this behavior disrespectful to the guests. Therefore, we left the restaurant immediately, despite the cold outside, and will not be returning.

Very friendly and attentive staff. The food was also delicious.

Our reservation for two people was refused, and the man on the phone was incredibly arrogant and unfriendly. Today at 5:00 PM, there were plenty of free tables. We were offered a small table right by the entrance with a terrible draft. Since it was too cold for us, they offered us the table next to it, but told us to leave within an hour. The service was abysmal. The salad was already wilted; we had to ask for oil and vinegar several times. We ordered Ali Nazik, but the rice was more like risotto and cold. The Ali Nazik kebab was made with lamb, but the meat was tough, sinewy, and fatty. After it was served, no one came to our table. Because of the extreme draft and the fact that we didn't like the food, we ended up paying ourselves at the entrance since no one came to our table. They try to act like a fancy restaurant, but you get better service and friendlier treatment at any kebab shop. We would never go there again. We haven't eaten this badly in a long time. A definite no-go. Go somewhere else. It's like mass processing with unfriendly service.

The waiter Uğur is really awesome… great restaurant

Reservations are essential on weekends. A very nice atmosphere for breakfast.

Breakfast was delicious. The waiters were all very friendly and helpful. Very satisfied.

Our visit to this restaurant was absolutely superb. The food was fresh, delicious, and prepared with great care. The staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional, yet pleasantly unobtrusive. Everything was clean and inviting, the atmosphere warm and truly comfortable. We lacked nothing. I would love to come back again – highly recommended!

Disappointing Visit to Nirvana Restaurant & Café, Essen Today I had the pleasure (or rather the misfortune) of having lunch at Nirvana Restaurant & Café at Alfredstraße 99 – and it was definitely not a good choice. There were three of us. First, we ordered one pan-fried salmon (breaded) and two wraps. The wraps were okay, nothing special, but acceptable. The salmon, however, was simply awful: It seemed to have been barely cooked, wasn't breaded, and still smelled of musty fish. Totally inedible! And as if that weren't enough, the fish was overloaded with a huge pile of raw onions and lamb's lettuce – which just didn't go together at all. Then the drinks arrived – two Cokes and one Fanta. It was astonishing that these were served in tiny 0.2l bottles, and at the completely exorbitant price of €3.90 per bottle! That's what you call extortion. You can definitely skip Nirvana Restaurant & Café. The food quality leaves much to be desired, and the overpriced drinks are simply unjustifiable. There are certainly better options in Essen. Overall, I'm only giving it two stars, and that's solely because of the wraps. Because of the overpriced drinks, you should boycott this restaurant.

We came for dinner with my sisters. Everything was perfect. The food was great. We thank Mr. Uğur for his service.

I liked it, I'm from Brazil and I visited during a trip, they have free shisha. I was in a group and we were very satisfied.

I don't recommend it at all. The waiters don't even acknowledge you. The food wasn't hot. Even though the place was empty. When we arrived, I asked for tea, but they didn't even bring it. I asked for warm bread, but it arrived lukewarm.

The appetizer plate didn't taste good. The mixed grill was cold. But the staff were very friendly.

We went to First Deg for dinner with friends. We were all very pleased with the food. We were also pleased with the service. Kudos to every staff member for their hard work.

My girlfriend and I happened to be driving towards Nirvana and both decided to have lunch there. The parking lot in front on Alfredstrasse in Essen is ample, so we were able to park right away. We entered the restaurant, which was about two-thirds full, and chose a table in the large dining area. We took a spacious table for two. To our right, in a bay window, was a table for six to eight people. It's a Turkish restaurant. First, we visited the restrooms to wash our hands. While we were there, we saw the huge buffet, which offered a wonderful selection. That's why they also offer brunch. Many tables had silver teacups and samovars on them. I was thirsty and ordered a chilled drink. We both ordered number 51, which was pasta with cream sauce and mushrooms. The portions were large. We later asked them to pack up the leftovers. The staff is exceptionally friendly and welcoming. The restaurant has a modern feel with traditional touches and can easily accommodate large groups. It's clean, and we didn't have to wait long for our food. We were delighted to have gone there. We'll definitely do it again. The memory card is very comprehensive; there's sure to be something for everyone. As a gift, we also received a small glass of Turkish tea, which I unfortunately needed sugar for. The visit was lovely and a real highlight.

I would especially like to commend Ugur Er at the restaurant – he is incredibly friendly, attentive, and always helpful. His positive attitude makes you feel welcome immediately. The entire team is also outstanding! Everyone is professional, friendly, and creates a pleasant atmosphere. Highly recommended!

We visited the restaurant during the game. Despite not having a reservation, they found a table for us (two people). The atmosphere was great, the food was excellent, and the service was really good. The next morning, we also enjoyed the breakfast buffet there. It was fantastic as well. If we find ourselves in Essen again, we'll definitely come back.

A very delicious meal in the city of Essen. Very friendly head waiter Mazlum.

Delicious food and friendly waitresses

It was great, thank you all so much, I'll be back! Waiter Ugur Cubukcu was very nice.

From A to Z, the service staff did everything wrong that could possibly be done. Waiting ages for the food. And the food really didn't taste good either.

Service was truly 10 out of 10. The food was unfortunately only average, but the ambiance was okay.

Excellent service and a very nice atmosphere.

The food was cold, the service was bad, so I wouldn't recommend it. I wanted to give zero stars, but unfortunately that's not possible.

It must be a truly sought-after place in Germany with its breakfast variety, freshness and service.

Delicious, warm, and freshly made.

The atmosphere is pleasant and quiet, but the food options are limited compared to other Turkish breakfast buffet restaurants.

Delicious as always. We love coming to your place and recommend it to everyone. Friendly service. Thank you!

The atmosphere is perfect and the buffet is very diverse and delicious, unlike anything you can find in a 5-star hotel. Especially the female staff work with dedication. Thank you very much, Ms. Leyla and Ms. Esma. I wish you success in your business life.

Fantastic experience! We spontaneously got a table for two on Saturday evening. Even before we ordered, we were served a small salad, bread, and dips. We ordered the mixed appetizer platter and the mixed grill platter. We were very full and the food was delicious; you could try a little of everything. The menu really offers something for everyone.

We ate there a week ago. The dishes were all very tasty. The service was very friendly.

We really enjoyed our stay. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The restrooms are spotlessly clean, just as they should be. We will definitely come back. Thank you!

We went there (in 2017) with a Groupon voucher for the breakfast buffet. Not recommended! The dishes that were supposed to be hot were cold, there was no dessert (only fruit), and the lukewarm food had probably been sitting there for ages. The feta cheese tasted like it was from yesterday. The server only came when we asked for it. The selection was only a fraction of what you'd expect from the pictures. We will neither go back nor recommend it! I also can't understand the many positive reviews. The acoustics are more like a train station waiting room. It's anything but cozy. I can only imagine that the service is a bit friendlier and the food tastes better when dining without a Groupon voucher (hopefully). There's so much good Turkish food out there. We unfortunately didn't find it there. Update: I hope the food has improved since then; this post is already 8 years old, and we haven't been back since. Our post was reported as defamatory by Google and is now to be removed. I wanted to add this purely factual information. October 30, 2005

I had lamb and vegetables in a bread bowl. Delicious, great team, and they even offered me tea afterwards! I'd love to come back!

The Ford was excelent. Delicious and generous in quantity. The price more than reasonable and the hospitality made us forget that essen is in germany. Can't recomend this enough

We came here for the breakfast! And we were not disappointed. The variety was amazing. 🤩😍 so many different salads, olives, baked goods++ I literally had to get a taste of everything.

Service was very quick. The food was great and the staff friendly.

After the meal, tea was offered to every table, but even though I asked for it, we were told it wasn't available. I guess tea isn't provided if you pay less than 80 Euros.

Everything was delicious, and the staff member who served us was super sweet and very attentive. Thank you, keep up the good work.

Very good for the buffet (there is not much sweet) but the cappuccino is a disaster

In Essen, an absolute top-notch service, we're talking about a Turkish kitchen. We're incredibly friendly and helpful, and our staff are friendly and helpful. We're also very happy with the food. The chef in Essen is right there, so you'll find him in the kitchen, and he'll be right there in the kitchen. Everything is delicious, and the food is delicious. It's a real treat! Absolutely top-notch recommendation for anyone looking to try Turkish cuisine in Essen! Everything is always fresh and especially delicious. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the waiters, in particular, deserve a lot of praise. Whenever the chef is at the table, he visits the guests, asks how they're doing, and takes great care of them. In short, a big thank you and congratulations from my wife and I! Greetings!

Everything was delicious and highly recommended. The service was also very friendly.

The staff is very friendly, polite, and dedicated to their work. The taste, organization, and hygiene are all excellent. If you're ever in the area, definitely go.

The people are very nice, very warm-hearted, the food is absolutely delicious, and the prices are fair. Please stay that way, there aren't many like it in this world.

Everything your heart desires at breakfast… Thank you

The food was good service was awsoem and i Dont even need to talk about the atmosphere

The food here is truly excellent! The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the service is top-notch. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. 👏🍽️

As soon as we walked in, we received an incredibly warm welcome – we immediately felt welcome! I especially loved that we were allowed to look at the buffet before deciding. Despite the variety, we opted for à la carte this time and were immediately treated to fresh bread, delicious dips, salad, and Turkish tea – that's rare! The food was simply fantastic: incredibly delicious, top quality, and really generous portions. The service was very friendly and attentive – you could tell they put their heart and soul into their work. The cleanliness was also impressive: everything was cleaned regularly, even the floors. I felt completely at home, the food was great, and I was honestly sad that I was full at some point – I would have loved to keep eating! 😄 This is my absolute favorite restaurant – I would love to give it 10 stars and will definitely be back!

Very hospitable restaurant. My girlfriend and I had breakfast there. The extensive selection is delicious. The ambiance is also beautiful.

I went on my sister's recommendation. There were six of us, including our children. I've honestly never been greeted with such a polite and friendly welcome as I did at Nirvana. They also paid such close attention to our well-being, making sure everything was there, and asking when we needed more. The food was absolutely delicious. The starters arrived quickly, and the salad was fresh and crisp. The main course didn't take long; everything was perfectly timed. The portions were just right, and the price was reasonable. Others should take a leaf out of this restaurant's book. Thank you, see you next time.

Besides a great atmosphere, wonderful food, and service that's second to none. Thank you so much, Ugur.

Great food. Thank you so much! Thank you so much, Ugur!!!

One of the best breakfasts I've had in a while. From vegetarian options to various spreads, breads, cheeses, fruits, and much more. Truly delicious.

Excellent price-performance ratio,

We arrived at the restaurant for breakfast on Sunday without a reservation. Although the restaurant was full, the friendly waitress Leyla found a seat for us. She served our table very professionally throughout breakfast. The restaurant is clean, and the breakfast is delicious and varied. We will definitely be back.

Very tasty food and the waitress Leyla was also very nice

Vallah best shop in Essen so restaurant to eat, the staff is great and very friendly and it is 100000% halal and the food is very tasty but the meat has its price but I would always pay that much for such good meat

A bit pricey, but the food is worth every euro. One of the best grilled mixes in Germany.

It's okay, but not wow. I expected more. Wouldn't necessarily come back.

Extensive breakfast/brunch selection. Very friendly staff. We were very satisfied.

Very good and varied buffet. There's something for everyone!

Very good food, service & cozy atmosphere