Galata Mezze & Restaurant in Swale

The staff are very friendly, and the restaurant is so beautiful.

Think it's under new management and called something different. Either way, we have a lovely meal there. Attentive staff and who seem to genuinely care that you enjoyed your meal. There is a large class window to the kitchen, and we even had the chef wave to us on the way out... Definitely recommend.

Took an online booking with no mention of the fact it’s closed for renovations. Only found out when we turned up to eat.

Took an online reservation. No mention at all it’s closed for renovations. Turned up with 4 peeved friends! Luckily Sentado lounge could accommodate us at short notice.

Such a waiste of time and money . We went there today but was closed and not updated on website at all no info . On website state that restaurant it’s open.

We went to this restaurant for a family birthday. Great food. Delicious in fact. We even tried and enjoyed plenty of the Turkish wine. More importantly than anything however was the service. My Father has dementia and sometimes finds meals-out all a bit too much. The owner must have realised this and he went and sat with my Dad and talked to him. He packed up the main meal up in a doggy bag, as my Dad gets overwhelmed with the amount of food on a plate. This act of kindness was very much appreciated and made the evening extra special. Thank you!

We have loved this restaurant in past visits but booked for my fathers birthday who came from an hour away to celebrate to find closed for renovations. No warning, no call and had confirmed attendance of booking. Really unacceptable

Dreadful. I booked a table for fathers day at 5pm. The day before I had a reminder come through. When we got there it was closed for refurbishment. What a let down.

Fantastic food pleasant staff great atmosphere

Lovely service, great selection of food, which was delicious and a very nice set of complementary dips and bread.

We had a lovely 20th anniversary dinner last night. The food was great, well cooked and presented. At the end they gave us a slice of cake with a candle as a gift for our anniversary. Very thoughtful and kind staff.

Amazing food and service. Definitely I will visit Galata again! 😊

Lovely restaurant and a great atmosphere, food is amazing!

Sadly, the food took nearly 2 hours to come. Didn't help when asking for an update, getting a sarky reply from the waiter. When food did come it was wrong, the food took that long the staff including our waiter put on their coats and went home when our food arrived. Sorry, but we won't be returning.

Amazing first experience here food delicious service was a bit hit and miss but made up for it in everyway possibly

A great experience, friendly service and lovely hot meals. we were a large party not always easy to cater for but everyone received Their order Correctly and nothing was too much trouble. Was a lovely atmosphere and everyone enjoyed their food thank you

Meals were delicious, meat was seasoned perfect, lamb iskender was so soft, Turkish sausage meat is must have, staff were welcoming and polite x

Fantastic food, great atmosphere and lovely staff !!!

Simply amazing restaurant serving great food at a reasonable price. Professional service by a friendly team. Erkan the general manager has a great hospitality attitude and he makes sure that your experience is truly unique. I can’t wait to go back for my lunch meeting and most probably I would like to dine in the garden at the front which looks stunning.

Arrived on a Thursday evening excited to be meeting up with girlfriends and expecting a delicious meal as per our meet up here last year It started off ok, the place was very quiet, also, we noticed the staff/management had changed. The young waitress who seemed new was attentive and professional but a bit nervous. We ordered cocktails and Prosecco and got on with our long awaited chat. However, between the waitress and presumed manager turning up at the table every five minutes we felt pressurised early on to make a decision on food, I chose lamb tender, the others had sea bass. The restaurant got busier mainly it seemed with birthday diners, the staff all get together, turn down the lights, turn up the music full blast then start shouting, clapping and banging drums for the recipient but for way too long. We put up with this twice but joined in respectfully. Our meals arrive and we order more drinks. The sea bass was fine apparently, nothing great but ok. My lamb tender was luke warm, obviously a warmed up dish in the microwave, a lot of lamb in a pot with sauce/gravy but it was just impossible to eat more than a few mouth fulls, the sauce was tasteless but at the same time too rich, the whole thing just boring and cold and very different from our last experience. Drinks came and the waitress had help by the manager to open the bottle of Prosecco which I’m not sure she needed tbh. Finally able to carry on chatting the waitress turned up with dessert menus, we said we would wait a while which she was happy with but two minutes later the manager who was parading the restaurant in circles stopped at our table and asked if we had made a decision for desserts!. Again, pressure to be quick we decided one of us would have a cocktail instead of dessert and gave the menus back . We got about another half hour chat after the cocktail arrived and out the blue loud wailing African type music came on and was turned up full blast! You couldn’t hear yourself think let alone speak! I turned round to the bar realised we were the only table left and asked jokingly if this was their way of asking us to leave, I genuinely thought it was a joke. The barman had to turn the music down to hear me, I repeated the question to the barman and the manager but got no answer, so an obvious ‘yes’ I mean wow! We felt so awkward and uncomfortable, we asked for the bill and drank up quick as we felt they wanted us to leave and before you think we had really outstayed our welcome on a Thursday, it had just gone 9pm! It says on their website open until 11pm! Bill paid bearing in mind we spent just short of £50 each and adding a tip (hopefully for the waitress) we were out by 9.15pm never to return! I didn’t realise it had turned into some fast food, turn the tables round and get them out as quick sort of place! But to be honest if the manager just came to us and said he would like us to settle the bill and he wanted to start closing early, it would have been fine but that was down right rude!

Great food and service. Had a wonderful birthday meal for 10 recently. . Very friendly owner.

Lovely, friendly restaurant with great staff. We were greeted with staff opening the door for us and we managed to get a table despite not booking. We were given the normal menu's at lunch and then had to ask for a lunch menu, but this was then immediately presented. Food was freshly cooked and the bread and dips a lovely entrée to the starters. Both the starters and mains were delicious and the right amount of food so we were full but not uncomfortable. The owner was friendly and made a real effort with our son and gave him extra sweets at the end of the meal - Turkish delights, his favourite. Sittingbourne needs more restaurants like this to help lift the town and I'm so pleased we have Galata as a great option to go to. I highly recommend this restaurant to all.

My family and I loved the food!! A very lovely place and we felt very welcomed 😊

An incredibly beautiful and tranquil atmosphere, and the food was really good!! Not to mention the friendly and welcoming service ☺️

We had a great experience from the moment we came in. Erkan the manager is an absolute gentleman, his service is absolutely faultless - the food is the best food you can have in the whole area. Each dish was perfectly well cooked, seasoned just right and mouth watering.

Went for our sons birthday…first time. Annoyed that we hadn’t visited before. Great food and the service was first class. Lovely restaurant and no doubt we will return.

What was not to like, excellent food it was hot, spicy and very well presented, portion sizes were good with a great menu choice. The place was buzzing and sang along with the staff to 3 different people celebrating birthdays, great atmosphere. Highly recommend but book as you may not get a table.

Food is 10/10 and in such generous potions. One of the best moussaka dishes I've ever had. Staff are patient and attentive. There were vegetarians in our group that were well catered for. Good location with plenty of car parks nearby.

Make sure you book a table to avoid disappointment.

First time there for a family meal. First class,could not fault it. Brilliant, will definitely return.

Amazing meal and lovely atmosphere

Wow what a lovey birthday 🥳 dinner out at Galata Meze with my son. The food is absolutely delicious 😋 compliments to the chef 😁 cocktails spot on compliments to be bartender. The waiters so attentive and friendly. All round excellent service. I’ll whole hearted recommend Galata Meze!! It’s one of my favourite dine in restaurant in town! Thank you team Galata Meze for making my birthday 🥳 feels so fabulous 🥰💕See you soon 😇

Loved the food and the service was nice. Friendly team. 👍

Arrived at th right time 6:00 and the room was empty, a miserable man tried to seat us right by the door, we asked if we could sit somewhere else....he huffed and said you can sit over there but be sure to be finished by 7:30, I said we will be! He served us throughout without a smile or pleasantry and it made me feel uncomfortable, my moussaka was barely warm and pretty tasteless so rather than make a fuss to already feeling uncomfortable I just left it. They had a belly dancer that started at 6:30 and tbh the music was sooooo loud and she was going around to every table putting her hat on everyone and making people stand up to dance, not quite what I was expecting...maybe later in the evening when people have had a few drinks maybe! So, won't be returning I am afraid.....

Mixed grill and mixed shish combination were awesome. Honestly, they have the best adana I’ve ever had. Nice decoration, comfortable, great service. Amazing starters with some soft pitta bread in strips to dip into garlic sauce or spicy chilly sauce! I highly recommend it!

Best restaurant I've been to for a long time, food was perfect, staff are really lovely. I would recommend the lamb chops 👌 We will be coming back.

Dropped in for a quick drink and snack on the spare of the moment after shopping and greatly enjoyed discovering quality food with great service for the first time in a long time, going back for more on Valentines day and really looking forward to it. Beautiful tasting food, yum! Will highly recommend.

Shocking service !!!!!! Avoid at high cost , shambles👎👎👎

Brilliant food, service and atmosphere. Have not been to Mezze restaurant for a while. But this was top class, food.

Lovely tasty food, had to wait for my table that I booked in advance and there was a birthday so a bit noisy. But I loved it

Drinks took ages to come and there was an hour wait for food. They then gave the birthday cake that we brought to another table. I don't know whether they had bit off more than they can chew but when the final bill came we was also given a service charge of 10%, which we would have paid if the service was better. We was then pushed to leave within 5 minutes whilst eating our desserts as the table was booked for another family. Such a shame.

Wonderful service from the moment we walked in. Served with a smile and the food is absolutely amazing. Definitely coming back 👍🏼

Absolutely horrible people, made my wife feel like rubbish, robbed our money and basically laughed about it... Pathetic excuse of a restaurant.

Me an my husband are (we’re) regular customers to this restaurant visiting at least once a week On this occasion I went down to order a takeaway the same as we always order Our order was placed into a brown paper bag with all dished been laid SIDEWAYS On arrival home as I went to get the PAPER bag out of the car the whole bottoms fell through with all my dinner going up the floor with no way of saving it, I rung the restaurant up an explained my situation to basically be told it wasn’t there fault an there’s no much they can do expect do the same order with a cut cost! I had just spent enough money ordering my families lunch which then being there staffs fault with how my order was placed in the bag to then have no consideration. They have now lost loyal customers as I won’t go into this restaurant again.

Friendly staff, good food, good drinks....perfect place to chill with love one or family..recommended to anyone

Lovely service and delicious food.

Worth a visit. Friendly and homely. We were there very late and during closing time without an appointment but a great meal was served and the service was brilliant. We did not feel at all rushed. Would go again if I am in the area.

Ordered the £40 box plus cold starters as a takeaway. Came to £60+. Not enough food for 2 adults and 2 children. Feels like it's half what it used to be. Used to get food from here all the time and will pay for better quality but being left hungry after a meal isn't an option. Last visit for us.

Visited on Friday evening, 8pm sitting, and after a minor re-arrangement to our seating location (no fuss involved), we had a perfect evening. Restaurant was pleasantly full with a nice buzz amongst the customers, the food was very good and the service was excellent, with adequate staff to ensure everyone had their needs met. Just excellent all round.

Great food but the portion of rice could be a little more, baklava got a takeawy very expensive for its price. But other than that great place great experience. The manager said it is halal food!!!

Absolutely amazing food very good value for money an excellent friendly staff 10/10 definitely eat here again and will recommend to friends thank you for an awesome experience

Lovely food we had before we went to the cinema, great service from staff. Only problem we had was the door kept slamming when people was entering/exiting, the hydronic door closer need adjusting.

Lovely Turkish food with nice atmosphere

Amazing meat. Portions are large and the staff is very good.

Food was good ,felt really rushed with the food. Waitress was very pleasant but no sooner we put our knife and fork down the plates were cleared and straight away the next dish had arrived, had no rest between courses.

I was not very impressed with my visit, one of our party was ill before eating and so i cancelled her order and took her home and when i got back 2 starters had arrived but the third nowhere to be seen it had been cancelled so we waited an age to get the 3rd starter. We then waited 30 mins for our mains which if im honest weren't great. One was fine but in all cases the meat was dry and the waiting staff were abominable, they were wondering around with food and drinks in their hands not knowing which table to take it too. I will not go there again.

Have been twice now since new ownership at the end of last year. Both times the meal has been blergh! First time I thought I had to keep giving them a chance and to get used to the new chef. There was a price increase and much less food, plus the food not as flavoursome at all. but 2nd time, na, can’t even make a salad! I could of just cut up an iceberg lettuce and thrown on a couple Of sprinkles of dressing. No Mediterranean taste at all. Of the other 5 people I dined with , only 1 ate their meal. Friendly host though and young waiter/waitress sadly in at the deep end and need training.

Very nice food and good service.

Disappointing visit. We ordered the Galata Mixed Grill for 2 people at £45 and it simply wasn't worth it. We were expecting one skewer of chicken shish and one skewer of lamb shish, not ONE PIECE of lamb and chicken each. They have changed what they give you to maximize their profit... it's mostly kofta which is obviously far cheaper for them. Mince, chicken wings and fatty lamb ribs...not worth the money!!!

Always a pleasure to eat here or from here. Never failed us. The presentations are not very turkish but doesnt matter, still the taste is good.

Had a great time and service with a smile

Very wonderful experience. The ambience was serene with exceptional and courteous staff members. The food was very good and I will be back here again and again. This restaurant is highly recommended.

The meals we had were ok but quite average was expecting a turkish meze to be on menu but alas not

One of my fav restaurant & definitely the only one in sittingbourne ! Finally nice to see quality , tasty & luxury Turkish restaurant! We’ve been there many times always been 5 out 5 experience! Recently been there again & yes there is some changes but still it’s good! I’d just like to see large salad that comes with my meals back 😊 ( it was changed to smaller & different salad but still is ok ) very friendly service! Definitely we’ll be back again ! Thanks for keeping it high standard food service! Best wishes

Arrived to find a chipped plate, had to ask where our water was twice. My prawn cocktail was bland, with very cheap cocktail sauce, and tasted of someone's perfume! My coke tasted watered down. The manager/owner was pacing up and down with a face like a chief mourner! First and last visit. Not impressed.

Saturday 4th September 2022 we went to this restaurant for a surprise birthday meal for our friend. In total there was 9 of us, 5 of us arrived just before 8pm which the table was booked for, we was waiting at least 5 minutes before any members of staff came over to ask about a booking etc, then they quickly rushed and got a table together for us which was great, however, only seated 8 not 9. When the 3 other friends arrived still no extra seat. we asked 2 members of staff on different occasions to order some drinks. Neither of them came back over to us to take our order, we didn’t even have any water put on the table. 30 minutes later still nothing. We then had to go over to the ‘bar / drink making area’ to ask again for drinks. Another 15 minutes still nothing! When a member of staff finally took the drinks orders it was nearly an hour of being there and sat down with out any kind of drinks. Then we ordered food. It was awful. A member of the party with us went straight home and was ill, we was all offered a shot for free because of the wait for drinks. Supposed to be tequila, it definitely was not and it made 2 members of our party sick also! I would not go back to this restaurant at all. Service and food was so poor. The 2 star is because the pornstar martini cocktail was nice.

Great food and service big problem with the volume of the music, absurdly loud could not have a conversation with our company, is it a disco or a restaurant!!!

Amazing food Amazing service Thanks for a great night

A really great dining experience. This is NOT a bumped up kebab shop or any other daft stereotype that gets thrown at Turkish restaurants. This is a really nice Turkish restaurant serving extremely good food, including far tastier versions of some dishes you may already be familiar with from takeaways and many more great Turkish dishes that you probably won't have experienced. This restaurant is a real credit to Sittingbourne and the fact it is regularly full is testiment to this.

Busy restaurant with great atmosphere, food (plenty of) and drinks.

The food was really good and the service was very friendly. There was a nice atmosphere and we will definitely go again. Family live in London and it was their top 4 for tasty food.

First and last time after a trip to cinema. I felt we were treated in a rush and given poorly prepared and cold food ot worth the cost. Better food elsewhere

Good food, great meat. At the end of the evening sing along with the owner and staff on popular songs - great atmosphere by a very accommodating team.

We booked a birthday meal for 6 at Gelato in sittingbourne. We sat down at approximately 20.15, ordered our drinks then ordered our 1 starter to be served with main courses. Drinks arrived and after a long wait approximately 1 hour 45 minutes our mains arrived. The chicken casserole had little to no flavour. No time for desert as after 22.25 didn't feel like one. We complained to staff, and explained we were the only table in the restaurant with no food at this time. They tried to make a joke about it. And after asking they sent over a fruit juice based shots . After all we have heard about these chains been so good and the food would be superb. We came out very disappointed. Not to return I might add again. Poor service poor food.

Oh my god this place is amazing!! Can’t actually believe it’s tucked away down Station Street! I have tried both this one and Rainham but the food and service here is by far the better of the two! Everything tastes amazing, the portions are huge and the cocktails are amazing! The staff are so friendly and down to earth and the music and atmosphere is great too!! Highly recommend!!

Firstly I very rarely give negative feedback or poor reviews. I have always raved about the Galata Mezze as per my previous reviews. However I recommended to my friends from Rochester to come over to Sittingbourne as the Galata Mezze was the best in town. Very bad mistake as there is nothing positive I can say about this visit. We arrived to find the place quite empty, which was very unusual for a Friday night. There was a very loud Karaoke singer in the restaurant area and the music was so loud you could not even hear yourself, let alone those next to you. Even the waiter was surprised at the volume. We moved to the outside area where the noise was acceptable. However, out of sight and out of mind, as we must have been forgotten. When we did order food and drinks it took so long to come that my friends though that they may miss the last train! To add insult to injury they got the food order wrong, it was cold and very greasy. Standards have definitely slipped The whole experience was awful and so unlike previous visits. On leaving we say folks dancing in the restaurant. I am a firm believer in "live and let live", but dancing in a families and couples restaurant was the last straw. We will never, ever go to the restaurant again!

I was here last week to celebrate my birthday with my partner and it was unbelievable! The staff were extremely nice and food, music, atmosphere was amazing. The food was the best grill I have ever had and the prices were very good. We had so much fun and would definitely go back. Its the best restaurant in town.

Absolutely awful! I used to work here before (before all the changes have happened and a little after ). Yesterday I decided to go visit my old colleagues just to say hello and was told that if I do not order food then I'm not welcome here. New staff especially one of them are very rude. All my old colleagues who have stayed there don't even get paid and are told that they are oweing the person thats in charge money. How disgusting and disrespectful. I would never recommend this place to anyone especially knowing what kind of horrible people are in charge. Galata used to be a lovely place to visit with staff that treated each other like family and food that was in my opinion outstanding, now the new staff treat the old staff like garbage and use them wherever and however they can. A total disgrace ❌

Not as good as it used to be was my favourite eating place in town but been told its changed hands.different menus and food isn't as tasty.sad because this was a great place.

Clean, friendly, good atmosphere, very nice good food,apart from overcooked seabass!! Would go again to try other things.

Fantastic food and really attentive and friendly service, despite the fact that the restaurant was very busy for Father's Day.

It was very good before , but now there is new menu and it’s shocking , very overpriced with very little food on the plate , used to be our favourite place , but will not be coming back

This was my favourite place to eat 3 weeks ago, but something drastically has gone wrong, no water arrives on the table or bread with dips, you now have to ask for it, they had no salmon, the salad was cheap and chucked on the plate and wasn’t presented well like everything else and bread was different and the waiters haven’t got a clue. Wether it’s changed hands I don’t know, they have done it up a bit but why? Because the food and menu has gone down the pan. What a shame 😢 if it carry’s on like this there won’t be no trade, my friend’s and I won’t go back

Well how disappointed are we!! We use Gelata on a regular basis but, on entering we noticed that it wasn’t our same people in their, no regular waiters, cook or Management/owner. Tonight was a meal for our sons birthday as we knew we would get great food and service. My wife noticed straight away that there was no water carafe on the table. Anyway we ordered a drink and then decided it was time to look at the menu, my wife didn’t bring her glasses as she knew what she wanted well., she should have brought them. Quite a considerable amount of changes to the menu but we found delicious sounding food. No bread was brought to the table until we asked and no dips. The bread was very dry and we didn’t request anymore like we normally do because it’s so nice. Starters came and I had asked for calamari, you get just 3 rings and each ring cost £2.00 we had that and then main meal came. You normally get flatbread that your kebab is laid on, now you get a thing piece off something shaped like a triangle. You get half a skewer of meat, small piece of salad and some couscous. The lovely bowl of salad has gone, the larger dinner plate has been replaced with a smaller plate but it still looked to big a plate for what was on the plate. The mixed grill, although tasty was not up to standard. Quantity has definitely been reduced. Desserts have been changed but they have done away with a traditional dish which is rice pudding. The reason it is no longer on the menu we found out is because the chef doesn’t like making it!!!! Very expensive night for not nearly as good service and consistency. Will be looking for a new place to spend our family and friends evenings, such a shame. This was our go to restaurant sorry it’s not anymore.

Visited today, with a few friends we go every school half-term for lunch. We had heard rumors that there had been an owner change and there have been staff changes. We didn't recognise any of the staff or cooks and the two waiters both struggled to take drinks and food orders. We had to ask for a water refill three times. We didn't get bread and dips like usual while waiting for our starters, once we got our starters we did get some bread due to the some of the starters we had, but still didn't get the dips and to make matters worse the bread was stale and wasn't the same bread they have been serving for years we normally ask for a refill as it's so good but this is the first time we didn't. Two of my friends ordered the salmon but they came back a few minutes later to tell us they were out which made one of my friends have to go off the lunch menu. Other small changes were wasn't served fries, got steak cut chips, Salad has changed, and the rice served with my dish wasn't up to par as normal. We will be looking for a new place to have our regular meet-ups. If there are new owners they will be closed by Christmas, they have ruined what was special about the place.

Good food, reasonably priced and nice staff.

Staff were very nice. Very clean and lovely decor. The food was amazing with good sized portions.

Excellent food and staff were very friendly and efficient. I was introduced to Turkish coffee and I loved it.

Lovely food and people. Very accommodating

This is by far my favourite place to eat at! The service is exceptional with friendly staff on hand to keep you topped up and well fed. The food is fresh, tasty and you're not kept waiting from order to tucking in! 👌🏻

Been here before and again, Great service, great food, MUST visit again.

Excellent food and service... Very consistent... Good value for money

Excellent food and good friendly service would recommend it to anyone 👍

Food was nice and good sized portions, but drinks were quite expensive. Was good service to start with but then felt like we were being rushed and pushed out towards the end.

Food and service was great, Saturday night had a very lively atmosphere with plenty of noise from several groups celebrating birthdays ect! This was our first time visit to Galata on a Saturday and would suggest if you want a quieter more relaxed or romantic evening meal to consider perhaps going on a weekday!

Good food large portions good service

Friendly staff and nice relaxing environment. Starters really nice.

Great food and friendly, attentive staff.

Good food, nice restaurant. Had such a great evening. Spontaneous decision to go out for food and I’m glad we chose to go here tonight. Our guy who waited our table was the best and had us in stitches. We’ll definitely return and hope to see him and his beautiful personality again. “Da!” Definitely recommend it

I can't believe I never knew about this gem of a place. Although fully booked a table for 2 was sorted at short notice... had to an hour to eat and go as the table was reserved which we agreed to but that didn't compromise the service and food. Absolutely fantastic food, staff and atmosphere. Will definitely be coming here more often. Everything was fresh and delicious.