Cafe Istanbul
6125 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH, 43017
Cafe Istanbul Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Dublin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Dublin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Dublin for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6125 Riverside Dr
Dublin, OH, 43017 - Phone (614) 792-9190
- Website https://www.cafeistanbuldublin.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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JJ S.
I can finally check this place off my bookmarked list! I came here on a Tuesday night to have dinner with some of my classmates. The place was not packed and we did not need to wait for a table. The waitress was super friendly. We came around 7:30 pm so it was still pretty light out. We were able to see the sunset on the Scioto River!! The decor of the restaurant was beautiful; it made us feel like we were in a cozy cabin enjoying a nice dinner. My friend ordered the kebab combo platter and she picked half shish kebab and half doner kebab. The dipping sauce that came with it was creamy and flavorful. The meat was cooked perfectly. Even though, I am not fond of lamb meat, I thought it was seasoned really well. My other friend ordered the Lahana Sarma, which consisted of cabbage leaves stuffed with ground lamb and beef and rice. It also came with a mini container of yogurt. There were so many complex flavors but it was tasty. The yogurt helped to balance the flavors out. I ordered the Mousakka. It reminded me of lasagna (layers of eggplants with minced beef and lamb filling topped with bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese). I really enjoyed it and it was not heavy. My friends and I were satisfied with our food! We will come back to try more!
(4)Fred B.
One of the best restaurants in Columbus... IF you like Mediterranean food. Go. Just go. Go in the winter and sit in the bar next to the indoor fireplace. Go in the spring, summer and fall, and sit outside on one of the best outdoor decks in the city. But GO...!!! This is some of the freshest and healthiest food you will ever have at a restaurant. Have the Shish Kebab. The first thing on the menu at top-left. This is the finest lamb, the most delicious lamb, the most perfectly marinated lamb you will ever, ever, ever have. Eat it with the rice. Get the Labne - house made yogurt with dill and walnuts and wonderful deliciousness. Awesome. Have their bread - among the best I've ever had. Have a wonderful, strong drink in the large bar. Go. Just go. I'll see you there...
(5)Rati S.
This was on our list for long time so on Mothers day we decided to go in there as we love Mediterranean food! Location is perfect, the best you ask for in spring! Am sure other seasons work good too as they have a cozy interior along with nice deck. We ordered a starter platter, falafel and sigora borek. It was all great except the Tahini dip with falafel but the others dips and starter were so good that we didn't care about Tahini at all. Service was excellent, food was good, ambience was the best - what else you would want! These three starter were enough for two of us and a little boy! Definitely will visit again!! (There wasn't an option for 41/2 * so I gave 4*)
(4)Mark K.
I had been here before, long ago, when it was built as another restaurant and I lived nearby. Kinda forgot about it, and had no idea what was here until I used my trusty Yelp app while shopping nearby. I decided to come here since the clerk at Meijer had just asked if I was Arab. I passed on the cafe at the retirement community across the street. When I walked in I had to wait for someone to notice I was at the hostess station, which made me wonder if that was a bad sign. But it was only a few minutes, and they were pretty busy. I was seated, choosing a table by the windows. The view is great, and the building is very cool in general. Service from that point was excellent- friendly, helpful, efficient. I went with the lunch special, though I was very hungry and wondered if it would be enough. It was. I stayed simple, starting with hummus (you choose an app, an entree, and a dessert for $9.95.) The hummus was good, with a nice seasoned oil and plenty of bread. I had the doner kebab next, and it was incredible. Sort of a deconstructed gyro with flavorful meat, rice, sauce, and veggies. Between that and the hummus I was stuffed, but I had to try the dessert. A creamy rice pudding, it made a nice cap to the meal. Excellent food, excellent service, a cool place, all for a reasonable price. I'll be back.
(5)Andrea C.
This place was great! Beautiful decor and river view. Looks upscale but prices are very reasonable. Wait staff a bit slow but service was good overall. Our party had the Turkish tea and Ayran, which were nice. Appetizers were hummus and boreks -- the hummus was fine and the boreks were delicious. Entrees -- the mixed chicken and doner kebab and a Turkish pizza were tasty and well prepared. The complimentary bread and olive oil dip were so good I couldn't stop eating it and was full when the entree came. Bonus -- staff verbally confirmed the meat to be zabihah halal. No pork served, but there was alcohol. Will definitely come back when in Dublin -- looking forward to trying other menu items.
(4)Joni W.
Nice service, pretty ok food. I'm not sure I would come back. They did their best. Just didn't seem to have a lot of fresh ingredients available.
(3)Steven P.
This place is beautifully appointed, with gorgeous views of the river. We have come here many times in the past and have enjoyed the food, but lunch today was quite disappointing. i'm not sure if the main chef was gone but the food was dry and tasteless the bread was dry, and our meals were generally disappointing. I informed our server, and he simply said that he would let the chef know.
(2)Sabir M.
The best Turkish Coffee I ever had. This is the best Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant in the town. The owner is very nice guy. He is always very welcoming. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone who likes the Mediterranean food. I will definitely come back..
(5)J F.
First of all, what a gorgeous restaurant Café Istanbul is! The inside is beautiful and the view of the Scioto River is so romantic during nights or winter especially. Decorated with pure class and elegance, the interior of Café Istanbul is worth visiting alone, but the food was equally impressive in my opinion. I've never experienced Turkish food before so I was quite excited to try it out, and the menu full of different kebob choices made it nice and simple for an amateur like me to order. We started with an order of the hummus (so creamy and delicious!) and the Sigara Borek (tart and unique), and the free bread and oil was unlike any other I've had before. A great start for sure. For our meals I ordered one chicken and one lamb kebob, and my husband ordered the swordfish kebobs. My lamb was a little too well done on the ends, but the pieces cooked properly were great. My favorite, though, was the chicken kebob: the special sauce and seasoning on this grilled chicken was fantastic! The plates were beautiful, brightly colored and super fresh looking, which is always appealing. I did think my husbands swordfish was also a tad overcooked, but again the seasoning was very tasty. A little expensive but definitely a fun experience, especially if you're like me and just starting to try new things for the first time. In terms of service, our waiter was very quiet but extremely friendly which we liked a lot, but they did get a little loud in the kitchen. Also, the woman serving our bread and filling our glasses was very grumpy looking and never said a word to us, which made us a bit uncomfortable at times. Overall, it wasn't 100% perfect but the food was very good and the view was amazing so I would definitely go back again and recommend it to all!
(4)Mirabelle L.
Nicely located right next to the Scioto river. Great atmosphere, decor, and food. We ordered combo kebab (ribeye kebab and shish kebab) and Chicken Delight and they both are pretty good. We also had rice pudding as dessert. Tasted kind of like Creme Brûlée which I liked it a lot. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Chaitanya K.
Cafe Istanbul deserves the near five star rating it has on Yelp. Excellent service combined with great food is what this place provides. Went here for dinner with colleagues and everyone were went home satisfied. I got the lentil soup and chicken Adana kebab. The lentil soup was great and the chicken adana kebab was cooked very well. The only reason I am docking a star is the falafel we ordered for the table which wasn't the best I have ever had. Overall, a great experience and I will be back.
(4)Steph W.
If you want a place with a view sans traffic & roadway come here. Oh, & the food is good too.
(5)Zeina E.
Delicious food. Always leave happy. I've tried the rib eye steak kebab. It comes with a side of rice and veggies. The talapia entree is also pretty tasty. The eszme is my favorite appetizer. One of the best restaurants in columbus. Beautiful location & interior decor. Very friendly staff.
(5)Caitlin W.
Came here during restaurant week, and a got a great deal for a 3 course meal. My first experience here: great food, great service, and great atmosphere. I will absolutely be coming back.
(5)Vicky T.
Granted, this was my first stop upon moving to Columbus, OH, and my first taste of Mediterranean. Since, I have had many more Mediterranean foods, and I've come to Love it! This place, unfortunately, left me a weak impression. What I mean is the dish I was served was absolutely distasteful. Don't get their falafel. I was surprised because I was told that is one of their most basic dishes; how could it taste so aweful? Dry, tasteless, cold, and sort of rough/crumby.. I also had their calamari, which was pretty good, their apple tea, and chicken vegetable soup. Nothing impressed me.. I did, however, absolutely keel over a special treat! You must try their Kazandibi: A milk custard dessert rolled in cinnamon (I think) decorating a small pool of grape sauce. I don't know how to describe it, exactly, but give it a try! If you're willing to pay a higher price, I am sure you can afford better food, but for what I had that night, I was quite disappointed. I am disappointed even after having tried various other Mediterranean foods in Columbus, Kansas City, as well as Chicago.
(2)Kayla H.
Went to this place on a whim and loved it!! It was my first time experiencing Mediterranean cuisine and I was so glad I experienced it here. I got a bottle of Turkish wine to split with my boyfriend (I'm sorry I don't remember the name but it was in the $34 range) and that was deliciously fruity with spicy undertones. They bring out bread and a dipping oil with herbs and a tomato based paste which was pretty run of the mill. BUT. The entree that I got threw me through the roof. I got moussaka which was absolutely amazing. It's a lamb and beef mixture with layers of eggplant, topped with bechamel sauce and mozzerella cheese. They also had a lovely tomato yogurt sauce surrounding the moussaka. It was like a giant piece of lasagna without the noodles and 1,000,000 times better. The place is pretty pricey for my taste but my boyfriend and I are on vacation so we decided to spoil ourselves and we are so so happy we did!
(4)christin b.
The Food is fresh and so tasty! Employees are always very friendly and inviting. Great happy hour and beautiful patio for nice weather days! View in the the dining room is amazing! Love this place!
(5)Zachary A.
I visit Columbus and the Dublin area fairly often and this is easily one of the best places I've been to --- at least in terms of Mediterranean food. I was with two others and I would have EASILY swapped any of my meals with theirs and been just as happy and satisfied. I had the Lamb Saute, which was a house specialty, and it was complex, cooked perfectly, and crazy filling. The other dishes were Moussaka and I can't remember the name of the other, but all of them were awesome. We also started off with the app combo and I highly recommend it. Other points of awesome: The atmosphere was great and our server was super cute. The bottles of wine were half-off and totally reasonable. This is going to be a regular visit of mine when I'm in the area!
(5)Lindsey A. T.
My husband and I went to Café Istanbul for date night and it was amazing! The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous including a fireplace and a view of the river! Amir was our waiter and he was just adorable! The chef even stopped by our table to see how our food was! Most importantly the food was delicious! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Lauren R.
This place is really good! The hummus is awesome and you can tell it is homemade! The bread that they serve with it is also very good! We both got kabobs and they were very delicious! Lamb is by far my favorite, but the chicken was good too. The steak was over cooked in my opinion (I like mine medium rare), it was definitely "well done". But the doner kabob and the ground lamb were perfect! The one big disappointment that I had was I usually love baklava, but theirs is so sweet I couldn't even eat it! It was very dense and covered in way too much honey! I would definitely not recommend the baklava.
(4)Sophie J.
Atmosphere, very good. Service, very good But the taste is not very delicious.
(3)Meghan R.
Went here for restaurant week. Very beautiful establishment and great view. Food was delicious, I was very pleased with everything I tried. My server was very pleasant but never checked on me except to bring my next item. Definitely going back.
(4)John K.
My wife and I have been coming here for almost two years now, and while the crowds have never been out the door, the food and service have been consistently excellent. We both have the same favorite dish - the Mixed Grill Kebab. It's enough flavorful meat for two meals, with rice, vegetables and tahini sauce. I've also tried the Moussaka, which is good as well. The bread and oil is a great start to the meal, and the appetizers we've tried have been consistently good (based on another review, we tried the Sigara Borek last time and it was a light, almost sweet start). Service is attentive and friendly, and the view is about as good as you can get in Columbus, overlooking the Scioto.
(5)Erol P.
Had dinner tonight - again superb! I had the Kofte Kebab and wife had the Shish Kebab! For the appetizer, Pinto beans and the Borek - OMG - everything was truly excellent. Turkish authentic Raki and Kavaklidere Wines ... and to top everything off, Baklava ... everything made at the restaurant. Obviously all the ingredients are of the highest quality which makes for the best Turkish food anywhere. I had not tried the Kofte Kebab before - you get 4 of them, accompanied with a mixed vegetable side and rice pilaf - Turkish style. It is the best kofte kebab I have ever had in my life! I also tasted the Shish Kebab - excellent there as well. The service was excellent, our waiter was very nice and was there for anything we needed immediately. Another memorable dinner at this gem of a restaurant. We are very lucky to have this restaurant in our neighborhood. I feel very lucky! Recommend to all who enjoy good ambiance and Turkish - middle eastern food.
(5)Teresa W.
My friend and I had lunch at Cafe Istanbul on Riverside Drive. To begin with, we got lost and drove for what must have been 45 minutes trying to find the location. GPS did not help! We called the Cafe and a very kind gentleman guided us to the restaurant on the phone, staying online till we arrived. Thank you! We were in time for the lunch special: an appetizer, a main course, and dessert. For an appetizer I had the hummus and it was wonderful. The main course was a Doner Kabab, or turkish gyro. Again, superb. It was served with cucumber sauce, rice, and vegetables. For dessert we had vanilla almond pudding-it was delicious--they toasted their almonds before making the pudding.
(5)Erik A.
Phenomenal! The food is super delicious and fresh, and the decor is great. The restaurant has a beautiful view of the Scioto River. For some reason it's never full here. If you like Turkish or Mediterranean food, you should run, not walk, here!
(5)Tanya B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this authentic restaurant in the middle of nowhere, OH. We stayed one night at a nearby commuter hotel, so I wasn't expecting to each much more than your normal junk food. Their food is moderately good; but like I said, it tasted better just knowing I'm not opting out for a greasy burger that night. I come from the middle east, so I've had a lot of good homemade ME food; and their food left room for improvement. For example, the humus was so runny, it tasted more like tahini (which is probably exactly what it was). Nonetheless, if you're in the area and want something healthier than your average junk chain places, go and try it out.
(3)Luke T.
I just happened across this new location of Cafe Istanbul on my way to the driving range yesterday. I've never been to either of the other locations before, so it was a first all around for me. The location is pretty freaking far out of the way unless you already live up north, in Dublin, etc. The building itself is really nice. Apparently it was a Mexican restaurant during its last life. It sits right on the banks of the Scioto River, and you can see the river from the dining room windows, which are huge floor to ceiling windows. So the structure gets an A. They didn't build it, but they had a mind to use it, and remodel it. All very nicely too. But the service, whoa. It could use some work. First of all, the hostess, there is just no polite way to say this, was dumb as a doorbell. My friend and I walked in and asked "how long have you been here?" She responded, confusedly, "3 hours." We continued "How's the food?" "I don't know, I just started." "Oh, so you've never eaten here before?" "Oh yeah, I have, when it was a Mexican restaurant." When we walked around a bit to check out the place, she asked, "are you lost?" She did this in all seriousness. And so it went. Then it took at least five minutes for anyone to come over and take our drink orders. We had been golfing, so we needed to wash our hands, but both wanted to wait until we'd ordered drinks. So there we are with our dirty hands. Waiting. And waiting. Maybe the hostess never told anyone, seems likely, or maybe they just weren't on point. An older gentleman finally came over and took our drinks so we went to wash up. Oh, also, this was around sunset and they didn't have the blinds pulled at all so the sun was just beating on everyone's faces. I had to move it was so bright. (Addendum: I don't know how I forgot to mention it, but my fork, neatly wrapped in my napkin of course, was covered with someone's leftover greens. Had to send it back. Then I found some smaller food leftovers on my water glass.) So far this was a one or two star experience, but then the bread came. And nearly us as well. Damn, that bread was good! I do not jest when I say that we both considered it the highlight of the meal. It was perfect. Toasty, warm, crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. It was served with this red oil that had a very, very good flavor. For dinner, I had the vegetable grill. It is a testament to the bread that I considered it the highlight, because the entree deserves its own praise. Again, a delightful sauce complimented the perfectly grilled veggies nicely. They were juicy, succulent, and devoured quickly; very appetizing and delicious. Service continued to be slow. Our checks took forever to arrive and forever to cash out. In fact, the star of the service was the busboy, who was plenty attentive and brought us MOAR BREADZ before we left. Delish. Awarded three stars for the busser, the ambiance, and the food. Would be less otherwise.
(3)Melanie C.
Best Turkish food I've had outside of Turkey!
(5)Omar A.
I come here with my girlfriend all the time as it is closer to us than the Easton one . The staff is so nice and so courteous . Even the owner tries to get to know everyone in a first name basis . The staff is always on point and the food is just heavenly . Out if may be 59 times I have been here I couldn't remember one bad experience . Except for may be gaining a few pounds .
(5)Capiz G.
I saw the reviews on this restaurant as I was exploring dining places in and around Dublin/Columbus. Since I kept getting lost going from my hotel to my destination, I've had the opportunity to discover various restaurants on my scenic routes! As I was zipping by after a busy day, on my way to getting lost again finding my hotel, I passed this restaurant, then quickly turned around to partake! As mentioned in some of the reviews, this location on Riverside is perched high on a hill overlooking the river directly below. Very calming, relaxing environment after a long day's work. The babaganoush was tasty, the warm breads gave the perfect texture complement, and the baby okra with lamb cubes served with a tomato, onion, green pepper sauce was a nice blend of garlic and other fragrant herbs! Perfectly filled, I will definitely return when I'm back in a couple of weeks. Time to try the kabobs, stuffed eggplant and stuffed cabbage leaves. The calamari looked pretty good too when fellow diners got their order. Service was quick, friendly and efficient. So I'd say this place has all the components I need to give it a good rating and be a return customer!
(4)Charles S.
For whatever reason, every restaurant that locates in this wonderful location fails no matter how good the food and service are. My guess is that the rent must be very high, due to the wonderful location, and there are not a lot of seats. I hope they make a go of it, as the food for this lunch was very good -- fresh, healthy, and well prepared, and amazingly affordable (which makes me worry about what will happen if my hunch about rent is right). I had the lunch special -- an app, main course, and dessert. I chose the tabouli app, tilapia main course (excellent, posted a pic of it here), and the custard desert, like a creme brulee but served as a pad on a side plate. All for 9.95. Including a great view of the Scioto River. Btw, my son had the hummus app, and it was not runny, as the poster from somewhere noted. I've had my share of hummus, it wasn't great, but I'd rate it average or a little better. He also had a chicken kabob which looked very good. All in all, certainly 4 stars, add in the price and it could be 5.
(4)Sriram T.
Service was fast and friendly. Food was served nice and hot. The hostess was friendly and checked in on us frequently to see how we were doing. There was nothing spectacular about the taste of the different items we tried - sigara bourek, Turkish pizza and grilled vegetables. The baklava was dry and tough to eat - we make better baklavas at home. On the other hand, the khazandibi was pretty good and saved the dessert from being a total washout....
(3)Steve H.
LATE POST Came here with my wife last week and I have to say this place is golden!! love the food and you will get great service too!! My server was an Asian girl, I think her name was Kristen. She was the best server I have had in a long time! She really knew the menu and the history of the building quite well. She recommended the chicken delight for my wife and she thought it was amazing and for me she recommended the kebabs with yogurt, karniyarik, and lamb chops. I ended ordering shish with yogurt. It was wonderful!! next time we are going to order the others that she mentioned. Oh and don't forget the appetizers!! We got the liver cubes and calamari. They were to die for!! A must have for sure!! we love this place, our new most favorite restaurant in Dublin! its very affordable and good amount of food! after eating so I felt like my wife was going to have to carry me out! lol And yes, we got dessert too! I hope I spell this right KAZANDIBI (custard) . it was so good I ordered one Togo! so yummmm!! When we get a chance to come back we will most definitely ask for Kristen's table! She was just amazing and she was so cheerful she even made my wife laugh and she was having such a bad day!! thanks cafe Istanbul for the great food and you need to promote Kristen! she's awesome! HOW DID I FORGET....THE HOUSE BREAD AND DIPPING OIL IS RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS!!! THEY ALSO HAVE A GREAT HAPPY HOUR, CHECK IT OUT!! OUR SERVER MADE GREAT DRINKS! cheers!!
(5)Tristen B.
This is a place where I will absolutely return. Menu on the web page showed a relatively high pricing range but we just wanted to give it a try for its captivating location ; right next to the scioto river! I had a lunch and found it satisfied all considered categories : quick and nice service, reasonable price, cozy ambience and great delicacies!! We had a male server and the service was outstanding and timely! I suggest you to dine in for lunch! It's $9.95 before tax for starter/entrée/dessert of the day! Happy for the authentic turkish dishes Happier for the prices of them :-) Do not hesitate to visit here if you are looking for some turkish gourmet food!
(5)Yvonne R.
I have been to the Easton location of this restaurant as well but the views from this one are worth the drive. Awesome deck on the back over looking the river. My only concern is whether or not there will be enough business in this location to sustain them (also been to this location when it was Gibby's and La Tavola). It was a Monday when we visited but there were 5 tables on the patio and no one at all was seated inside. Aside from the small crowd, the bread and dipping sauce were amazing and the hummus was creamy and delicious as well. As for the wine list, stick with one of the Turkish reds they offer. Our server was very attentive and nice, even made us smile with a few jokes. I had the Iskander kebab and it was great. Large portion enough for leftovers...always a good thing! I just hope this is still there next time I want to go back.
(4)Sandy M.
One of the best Mediterranean restaurant along riverside. Chicken kebabs and tilapia dishes are really good.
(4)Tiffany R.
I made a special trip to this location for carry out hummus to serve guests and requested extra bread. After leaving I checked the bag and discovered that I was only give 2 pieces of bread for two large orders of hummus. I had to turn around on Riverside Drive which is not easy and returned to the restaurant stating that I had only been given two bread for two hummus the waitress argued with me that you only get one per hummus and that extra bread had an extra cost. I stated that the Easton location always gives at least 2 bread with the hummus and I was told that this was not Easton and they had a different owner. I stated that I had requested extra bread (6 to be exact), upon some hesitation I was told they would give me extra and not charge me, they brought me two more pieces of bread. Still not the additional 4 I requested. I was really put off at this point, and left. I will ensure when the craving for Cafe Istanbul hits again I will only visit the Easton location where the service is always cheerful and non argumentative.
(2)F. X.
Incredible, authentic Turkish food, beautiful restaurant, all around awesome evening. Cannot beat the lamb shank - it is over-the-top delicious. Great venue for overlooking the river, lovely atmosphere. They even had live music! A really talented violinist. Service was excellent, too. I'll go back any chance I get.
(5)Russ H.
Food was outstanding. Service started out okay, though she was reluctant to explain much about the menu. Service grew increasingly worse throughout the meal. Would have ordered additional drinks but she did not return to check on us after our entree was served. I will give it another try and hope we get a better server.
(3)James K.
Delicious doner kebab, zucchini pancakes, and lentil soup. Good ambience and friendly staff.
(4)Dean S.
Prices are good, food is excellent, and staff was prompt! If you love Mediterranean food this is the place to go.
(5)Courtney B.
Building, view and patio are amazing. Our service was very good and the bread with dipping oil they bring to the table is out of this world. I had very good falafel and a nice light salad. I was impressed with the food and will go back.
(4)Kim T.
Ambiance is perfect. The restaurant is cozy with the fireplace running and the service is superb. The calamari was yummy. Crispy and just the way I like it. Liver on the other hand was not my cup of tea. I'm not a liver person I didn't enjoy it as much as myhusband and my friend. For my entree, I tried the Kofte Kabab which was amazing. It is a perfect mixture of beef and lamb with tasty seasonings. I was pleasantly surprised of the portions! It also came with a side of rice pilaf which my son loved and some grilled vegetables that wasperfect as well. I ate everything. Even every single grain of rice because it was that good. For dessert, we had the Baklava (phyllo dough with pieces of pistachios) and Sutlac (rice pudding) both were delicious and I highly recommend it! When I come back this way to Columbus, I must visit this establishment again.
(5)P R.
We went to this restaurant for a Saturday evening dinner with friends. We initially chose this place primarily for its vegetarian friendly menu but that was just the beginning. Everything about this dinner experience was superb: very charming location, simple but clean and warm ambience, friendly service, live music and good food. All in all a delightful experience.
(5)Noah R.
We tried the appetizer sampler and shish kebabs. Everything was amazingly delicious--the lamb was probably the best I've ever had. I'm so glad this restaurant moved into the neighborhood; I would would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who wants a better alternative to all the chain restaurants nearby. And the prices are totally reasonable to boot: way less than I'd expect to pay for the awesome quality.
(5)Michael S.
Awesome addition to Dublin's dining scene. Excellent menu, authentic Turkish cuisine, nicely decorated building and wonderful attentive staff. We've already eaten here 4 times and it's quickly becoming our favorite in town
(5)Brittany M.
My husband and I were really excited about trying this restaurant. It's a little pricey, so we decided before hand to split an appetizer and an entree. The meal started with free bread, and no, folks, this isn't your typical free bread. I don't know if it's the delicious sage, dried tomato and oil dipping mixture or the perfect mixture of soft and crunchy, but it was a delight for my taste buds. Next was the falafel which looked like mini green hamburgers. The falafel came with two dipping sauces- I'm not a huge fan of this type of dish, but it was pretty good. The entree was worth the anticipation. We ordered the eggplant mash with chicken. Sounds boring, but was anything but. The chicken was just the right type of juicy with a semi- charcoaled outside. I need to figure out how to make chicken this way! The wait staff was just the right kind of attentive-not hovering over you, but there to refill glasses at just the right time. The location is beautiful, and I wondered to myself how they managed to position this restaurant right on the edge of bank overlooking the river. We'll be back!
(5)Kim B.
We had a wonderful meal here this evening. The vegetarian in our party had the appetizer medley as her entree and loved most of the items (she found the baba ganush a bit too smokey for her taste). Another person had the Mousakka which they joined the clean plate club with. I had the Iskandar Kabob. It was very flavorful, I loved the bread cubes under the meat that had soaked up the sauce. Also the apple tea was a hit. It was sweet but delightful. Our table was overlooking the Scioto river so we had a lovely view. When the sun began to set one of the servers noticed the light was beginning to bother us and offered to lower the blinds. Our only complaint was that our server was very new and made a few mistakes, which she did apologize for.
(4)Andrew L.
This is a good restaurant. The food is quite tasty, though I'm no expert on Mediterranean food. Unfortunately, they were out of the stuffed grape leaves when I got there, but I had stuffed cabbage, and my friend had something with tomatoes and vegetables - I forget which exactly. Food can be pricey, but it's tastey. Also, each meal comes with some fantastic bread. In fact, I would venture to say it's some of the best bread I've had. It's nice and crispy and flaky on the outside, but soft and warm on the inside, and it comes with a delicious dipping sauce with oil and spices. Service was very friendly and welcoming. The host asked if it was our first time, and introduced himself as the chef and was very hospitable. The location of the restaurant is cool, too - overlooking the Scioto river, just off the side of the road. A strange but unique spot. There's also a restaurant in Easton though, as I understand. Overall: Food can be pricey, but it's tasty, and the complimentary bread is fantastic (and they do refill it). Good service and cool location. Oh, and a quick note on dress: I saw lots of people in sort of business casual, but I also saw some young people in t-shirts.
(4)Joe E.
I feel guilty. There are two different Turkish restaurants in the Northwest quadrant and I love them both. It makes choosing between them hard as they are both equally excellent restaurants. This restaurant is located along the Scioto river on Riverside Drive. It offers scenic view atop the river and has a large outside patio for warmer days. The interior has been updated with newer track lighting, flowing drapes, plants and white linen table cloths. Last night, the fireplace was lite adding to the whole ambiance. Do you like red wines? I highly recommend the Kavaklidere Select. I don't like a really dry wine or one with a lot of tannins. This one has become my favorite! This Turkish wine is very smooth with lots of flavor. Experiment! Try something new. I have been quite pleased. Last night, I tried one of their hot appetizers, Sigara Borek. It's warm, flaky phyllo filled with melted feta cheese and herbs. It was wonderful! They bring a serving of warm, crunchy bread served with a wonderful oil with spices and red pepper. I'm addicted to it! I think I could eat this all night! I have found the oil dip to be a bit salty at times. My favorite menu item has been the Iskender Kebab. If you have trouble expressing the menu item, the staff have always been quite fun with helping to teach you how to pronounce the items. This entrée has Doner Kebab (Turkish syle gyro) over toasted garlic crouton like bread and topped with a mild tomato sauce. It is served with an ample side of a mild homemade yogurt, a toasted tomato quarter and slice of green pepper. I've tried many other menu items and have enjoyed them all equally, but this has become my favorite. As for the service, everyone has always made my feel at home. Servers have been very responsive, friendly and quite helpful with making menu selections. This is a locally owned business which is another reason I like to visit here. The owner shook my hand as I was leaving, thanks us for our patronage and asked about our dining experience. Definitely one of my favorite places to visit.
(5)John H.
Great restaurant. Beautiful views of the Scioto River. The staff is always attentive and friendly. Delicious food at a reasonable price. This is easily my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Central Ohio.
(4)Bradley O.
My wife and I tried Cafe Istanbul for the first time a few weeks ago. We dropped our kids off to stay with my (much older) sister so we could get some house work done and worked up a bit of an appetite. Needless to say, we we're quite surprised by our first visit.
(4)Mary M.
What a great place to spend an evening! I definitely recommend the patio. The mixed drinks were just ok, but the food was very authentic and FILLING! A bit pricy, but for the level of class and cleanliness, I'd highly recommend it. We came in for a friend's birthday party and had a great time. There was free bread and yummy oil based dip. The back corner table on the patio had some green "sap" falling from a nearby tree, so that was kind of gross. Kebab was great, would come here again.
(4)Cathy C.
Four of us ate here on Saturday evening (note one person is middle eastern, one eastern europe and two of us eating alot of both areas so very familiar with this type of food). Bread and oil (paparika / oil / dill) was delivered to the table- YUM. We ordered hummus and borek, both were tasty. The borek was different that two of us expected, but good - its phyllo pastry strips with feta cheese rolled and then FRIED not baked. Turkish gyro, Saturday special - lamb shank, chicken kebab and lamb kebab - all were happy with the meals. We also both shared Kazandibi (Custard) - homemade milk custard topped with cream and grape sauce which was nice. One note: for beer drinkers- the turish beer is very weak. This is a very nice location and easy to get to. A wonderful find.
(5)Amy S.
Food was good, service was average, setting was informal and a bit unfinished. We enjoyed the food, but probably won't go back. There are too many other choices where the service and overall experience is better.
(3)Carole B.
Since I love Middle Eastern food I had a hard time choosing from a large menu. Choices were typical Middle Eastern fare and were delishish. Service was slow with infrequent check backs. Had to flag down Busser for coffee and cream. No spoon for coffee or forks for dessert.
(3)John D.
Maybe not for the unadventurous Olive Garden Set, Cafe Istanbul is a good possibility for those in search of food more unfamiliar than spaghetti, endless salad and breadstix. Occupying the dining venue unsuccessful for La Tavola, Gibby's and Baja, this edition is more promising as it distinguishes itself beyond the cute perch above the trees lining the Scioto, by serving actual meals finely prepared. Fans of Cafe Istanbul at Easton, having repeated excellent dining experiences there, we loved the food here. The service must be improved from the experience of another rater, management must have ditched the moron-cum-hostess described elsewhere. We were greeted by the owner/manager: he's justifiably proud of his restaurant and he could not have been any more hospitable. The service was first rate. All this beneath a photo of Ataturk, benevolently overseeing it all!
(5)L A.
great place by the water, i love their patio and the service is great. try the lamp kabob next tine you go. :)
(4)M R.
We ate at Cafe Istanbul this evening for the first time and it was a fantastic dinner. The arugula salad was light and amazing tasting and our dinners delicious. Our server assisted us in ordering and he gave us great suggestions. We are happy to now have another "go to" restaurant close by when we decide to go out!
(5)Stephanie F.
I finally visited this location last Friday after it changed hands from the Mexican restaurant (and before that, the superb Italian place from Powell that so sadly went under). The view of the fall foliage across the water was absolutely wonderful. We were there at 6:00, and although the dining room stayed fairly empty with several unoccupied staff loitering about, the food was delicious and for the portions, reasonably priced. The grilled vegetable plate I ordered was flavorful and properly cooked, as was the Doner (missing umlaut over the 'o') gyro entree my friend had, and the wonderful made-to-order baked dessert with soft goat cheese in the center. At the bar before dinner I wasn't overly thrilled with the fairly flat Turkish wine suggestion (there must indeed be a reason why we don't import Turkish wine), but I made up for it later with a lovely Australian Shiraz from the extensive International wine list. Do give this place a try... and if the weather cooperates before winter, make a beeline for the deck.
(4)