Bosphorus
(3/10) 
Attention Channel 4. Bosphorus will make a perfect edition of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares in a couple of years. It's got all the ingredients - perfect location (in the middle, literally, of Cardiff Bay), wonderful design (bit like a lavishly decorated greenhouse) and a promising menu (meze, upmarket kebabs, exotic fish). Oh, and utter contempt for all its customers.
So, teaandbiscuits friends, unite and give Bosphorus what they deserve: a right old kicking. And here's why.
Time limits in restaurants are the machinations of Satan's maitre d'. When Bosphorus say you've only got two hours of their generous hospitality they mean that they will force an order out of you within seconds of arriving, they will follow a request for a second bottle of wine with 'does sir drink quickly enough for that?', and will thrust a bill into your hands when you're still eating dessert. It's not on, and we won't stand for it.
It could be so enjoyable. The interior is terrifically bright and colourful, and the wardrobe department did a great job on the waiters' waist-coats. The meze starter is not bad at all, if slightly dominated by sludgy dips, and do give the liver a go as a first course too (although there's far too much of it). There's a great range of meat and fish for main courses too. One warning - be wary of over-ordering. Many combinations of starter and main leave you with too much on your plate, literally. I'd suggest asking the waiters for advice, but they would probably sigh, look at their watches, and lament the fact that if they didn't have to fit any customers in at all it would all be so much easier.
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Comments
The Bosphorus is a huge disappointment. As the previous reviewer mentioned its location is stunning. Yet the service is completely indifferent, if not even contemptuous of customers, and the food is just sooo bland that you could happily mince it all up and wean your baby, if you had one. It's maddening as the Bosphorus has many of the ingredients for being an exceptional restaurant, but it's clear that owner and staff do not really care about customers or food. So if you fancy strong Mediterranean flavours in Cardiff bay my advice is to buy some pitta bread and a few other bits and bobs from the local Tesco Express and sit somewhere around the Bay. You'd still enjoy the views, and would feel at least that you got value for money.
Nice Gem and I thought we would go there on my birthday a few years ago. The place was empty (and I mean there was _no one_ in there), but the surly MD asked if we had booked and turned us away when he found out we hadn't. Up your bum Bosphorus.
Thought I would give the bosphorus a try with some friends and was very disappointed. I ordered chicken which was well overcooked and the sauce was stuck hard to the top of each piece. I had two tiny potatoes on the plate, with one mange toute, yes just the one,and one piece of each other vegetable, I do remember though that I had two tiny pieces of broccoli. Somebody in our group said that the only thing worth eating is the salmon, and it did look nice on someone elses plate! A violinist then started playing, the noise stopped us from talking and we were glad to leave and go to another bar for a drink and a chat!