
Babylon
“Traditional Middle-Eastern plates offered in a modern setting with wagon wheel chandeliers.”
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Quick info
About Babylon
Every meal at Babylon, a restaurant on South St in Exeter, opens with a complimentary starter of lentil soup, bread, and dips of hummus and yogurt dill sauce before the main order arrives. The menu runs to 74 dishes, with lamb chops, lamb ribs, and adana served alongside rice or biryani, salad, and bread. Mixed kuzi and mixed shish appear as recurring orders, and milk pudding closes the meal for those who want dessert. Portions across the menu are generous. The restaurant takes walk-ins rather than reservations and opens daily, making it straightforward to drop in without planning ahead. It sits on South St in Exeter's dining strip, with the free soup and dip course setting every meal in motion before the rest of the order lands.
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Menu & Prices
74 dishes · mains £5–40- Lentil Soup£7.09
- Hummus£4.99
- Sigara Boreg£6.99
- Paca Soup£8.99
- Haydari£4.99
- Tarator£4.99
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention complimentary lentil soup, mixed kuzi, lamb chops and ribs and homemade milk pudding.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention complimentary lentil soup, mixed kuzi, lamb chops and ribs and homemade milk pudding.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“We visited this Turkish restaurant yesterday evening and had a wonderful experience. The food was absolutely delicious, with generous portions and great flavours. We were also pleasantly surprised to receive a lovely soup from the house, which was a really nice touch. The waiter was fantastic — very friendly, welcoming and attentive throughout our visit. Everyone was made to feel welcome, and the service really added to the experience. Overall, a lovely restaurant with delicious food, generous portions and excellent service. We will definitely be coming back! Highly recommended.”
- Google user
“The only positive part of our experience at Babylon was the friendly and attentive waiter. Unfortunately, I can't rate a restaurant based on the service alone. We ordered the Mixed Kuzu, and the chicken was unbelievably dry. I have no idea how long it had been sitting in the fridge, but it was rock hard, as you can see in the photo. The lamb was at least tender, but it lacked any real flavour. We also ordered a burger, which was just a standard shop bought patty in a bun. Surprisingly, that ended up being the best part of the meal, which says a lot. Overall, the food was very disappointing, and I wouldn't return based on this experience.”
- Keith Cordeiro
“The food was really good here. Very authentic and tasty. I ate the Adana with rice and salad, which was very spit on and delicious. The complimentary lentil soup and hot fresh bread with hummus and yogurt dill sauce was great. Must go !!”
- Google user
“We went here for Eid Dinner. This place is the definition of good food. The customer service is without a doubt the best I have ever experienced. I would highly recommend this place 10/10. Don’t need to think twice, just go here and you won’t be disappointed.”
- Google user
“Finally, quality Turkish food in the South West! The portions are huge, just the way we like them, but it's the flavors we love the most. We've tried most of the meat dishes, and all of them were rich and perfectly moist on the inside. They even provide complimentary starters on the house, something you rarely find in most UK restaurants lol!!! The service is refreshingly genuine. Bark* handles the busy restaurant all alone with incredible efficiency and a smile. Someone give him a raise or two. This was our second visit of many to come...”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often come back to the complimentary lentil soup, served with hot fresh bread, hummus and yogurt dill sauce, and several describe free starters or tasters as a lovely touch. Close behind are the grilled meats at this Turkish restaurant: lamb chops that were juicy, lamb ribs that were tender and subtly spiced, an Adana with rice and salad, and the mixed kuzi and mixed shish, all called delicious. Portions are repeatedly described as huge or generous, and a few reviewers call the prices reasonable for the quality. The homemade milk cake and milk pudding also earn praise. Reviewers single out a friendly, welcoming waiter who handled the room attentively. The one dissenting reviewer found the chicken in the Mixed Kuzu dry and rock hard, the lamb tender but lacking flavour, and the burger a standard shop-bought patty, though that review still credited the waiter's friendliness. Most others finish by saying they will return, with two already on a second visit.
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Vegan options
- Alcohol
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Coffee
- Halal food
Show more amenities
- Great dessert
- Facilities· 6
- Restroom
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Location
Restaurants near Babylon
- Al-Farid4.61,3890 mi
lamb tagine, veggie mezze platter, vegetarian and vegan options
- The Ivy Exeter4.41,7780.1 mi£30–80Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
champagne afternoon tea, birthday chocolate cake with candle, specialty cocktails
- The Botanist Exeter4.18330.2 mi£20–30
halloumi hanging kebab, live music, pork belly bites
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babylon | 4.91,167 | — | £10–20 | complimentary lentil soup, mixed kuzi, lamb chops and ribs |
| Al-Farid | 4.61,389 | 0 mi | — | lamb tagine, veggie mezze platter, vegetarian and vegan options |
| The Ivy ExeterOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.41,778 | 0.1 mi | £30–80 | champagne afternoon tea, birthday chocolate cake with candle, specialty cocktails |
| The Botanist Exeter | 4.1833 | 0.2 mi | £20–30 | halloumi hanging kebab, live music, pork belly bites |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Restaurants nearby
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0.2 miBill's Exeter Restaurant
0.2 miCosy Club
0.2 miSouthernhay House Restaurant
0.4 miDinosaur Cafe
0.5 miHarry's Restaurant
0.7 miDahhans Café & Food Exeter
1.2 miThe Heavy Tree British Bistro & Weekend Indian
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