Istanbul Cafe
628 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH, 45202
Istanbul Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
628 Vine St
Cincinnati, OH, 45202 - Phone (513) 421-5100
- Website https://www.istanbulcafecincy.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Maggie B.
The food is pretty good here. We stopped in for an appetizer and dessert this time. The sampler is a good option but it is more food than it appears. Three of us ate on the small and still didn't finish it. The feta borek was also tasty but very dilly. The baklava was just ok but the Kanafe was amazing! Crispy with a sold interior and delicious flavor. We will be returning for that sweet treat.
(3)Tejaswi K.
Great food. We tried the large sampler and everything in it was delicious. I ordered the chicken adena kabab and my fellow companions ordered the stuffed eggplant, cabbage rolls and vegetable stew. Everything was well spiced and cooked to perfection!
(5)Karen L.
This is a delightfully different and delicious place. The food was tasty and the wait staff was very nice. It's about a block north of fountain square and convenient to many hotels in downtown Cincinnati. We enjoyed it very much. If you aren't familiar with Turkish food, the menu seemed to have elements of both Greek and Middle Eastern, so if you like those cuisines, you'll love this.
(4)Ben G.
I am reluctant to review this place because I feel it has been my secret for so long. The food is top notch, the service is always good, and no matter how busy the city is, I can always get a seat. Excellent meat and vegetarian options as expected from a Lebanese/Turkish style restaurant. Try the zucchini pancakes.
(5)Joel L.
I ate during lunch on a (cold) weekday and it was nearly empty. The service was nice and attentive. The interior was fine. The menu is typical for a Turkish restaurant. The food tastes great. It tasted so great that it was almost unbelievable. Not just one dish, everything tasted great (lentil soup, falafel appetizer, doner dish). I return to few restaurants but am sure Istanbul Cafe will make that list. This might be as good as Turkish food gets.
(5)Matt P.
The food was fantastic. The wine too. The price is not bad either. My wife had the tilapia...the best I've ever tasted. I'll order it the next time we're here. The falafel was great and the feta borek too.
(4)Liberty S.
My friend and I have been looking for a good mediterranean restaurant to try and this did not disappoint. Prices were very reasonable, the seasoning was great, and the portion sozes were perfect. I got the Adana Kebab, my friend the Adana Chicken Kebab, and we also got the Phyllo rolls, which were perfectly cooked and yummy. Will definitely return!
(4)S S.
Very delicious authentic tasting Turkish dishes. Chicken Adana was juicy and moist and portion was filling, despite being visually deceptive. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. I will return for sure next time I am in town!
(5)Linda C.
We had the calamari as an appetizer, very tasty! Main course was eggplant and the seafood casserole. Food was fresh, delicious, and great service, would definitely come back.
(4)Elaine W.
Pleasant! I walked in thinking quick, cheap gyros and walked out leisurely, having enjoyed a vegetarian stew simmering with tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. The interior is surprisingly polished, set up like fine dining. My friend had the chicken adana wrap, which she thoroughly enjoyed. We shared free pita bread that was brought out warm. We purposefully had a light meal so we could indulge heavily in dessert right afterwards (girls plan these things in advance), but what we did taste, we loved. Plus, our server was attentive and explained the ingredients in the dishes. It truly felt like "fine dining" service with "quick dining" prices. Already eager to revisit.
(4)Christian M.
So good that I'm considering going to actual Istanbul. The portions are perfect, and the hummus is like sabra on crack. Definitely coming back
(5)Colin M.
I have never had lamb before where i thought "this is some of the best shish ever". Try the shish kebab
(5)Tony S.
The gyro and fries was good but not 8.50 good.. I gave it two tries and both times I was disappointed with the portions that I got for that price. The waitress was always smiling and happy but the place both times looked empty.. Probably for the same reasons I rated low.. very over priced food.
(2)Sylvie D.
My friend and I had lunch today at Istanbul Café. We had been meaning to go for a while but always ended up somewhere else. We will definitely be back. She had the gyro wrap with a side salad and I had the falafel wrap with the red lentil soup. All was delicious. Our very nice and polite server also brought pita bread hot out of the oven. It was a treat to have a very reasonably priced delicious and flavorful lunch on a table fitted with a white table cloth. Thank you
(4)Chris H.
Tried this place for the first time during downtown restaurant week. I will skip the appetizers, sides, and desserts because I want to focus on the main course. I ordered the gyro kabob and my wife, the chicken kabob. I love gyros, and this one tasty, but a bit greasy for my liking. The chicken kabob on the other hand was awesome! I felt like I was bugging my wife for another taste of her meal every other bite. Very tender, with just the right amount of outer crispness from the grill. We will be back!
(4)Eric R.
Food was amazing!! Service and atmosphere was great. Definitely recommend
(5)L J.
Cincinnati lacks ethnic restaurants so I was pleasantly surprised to find this one. I ordered the beef shish kabob during lunchtime. The shish kabob was not bad but the rice was bland. Their tables do not have sumac or anything set out for the customers so I had to ask the server for something. It also would have been nice if the entree came with roasted tomatoes as well. Service is good though.
(3)Aimi W.
Really a hidden gem of downtown Cincinnati. I've walked down Vine street many times but the washed out exterior of the café failed to grab my attention. Thanks to a deal on cincysavers I was able to try this place out and loved it! Lunches:: The lunch deals offer an appetizer (lentil soup, salad, falafel, or hummus) and entrée (kebabs, wraps, cabbage rolls) for $10 dollars. They also have wraps with fries for only $9. Seriously, if you're tired of eating at Chipotle or Panera and is willing to shell out a few extra dollars during lunch for some awesome Turkish food, don't hesitate to give Istanbul café a try! Dinners: The entrees during dinners are more expensive (around 15dollars/person), but they usually have some kind of deal going on (groupon, cincysavers). For the appetizers, I've tried the feta borek which was delicious, and the cold sampler plate which was just okay (im thinking its just hummus or salsa tasting sauce- okay I know its called ezme). For entrees, the baked eggplant with grounded lamb is a perfect combination. For those who complain about it "dripping in grease", its olive oil okay? Olive oil is a major part of Mediterranean cuisine, and eating some olive oil is good for ya. Plus, it tastes good :). The iskender (basically gyro, pita break, and yogurt sauce) and kebabs are also pretty good. The family that owns the restaurant prepare their own meats (and yes everything is Halal). I particularly like the yogurt sauce that comes with all the meat entrees. Desserts: Of course I can't forget mentioning their desserts, which are all really great. They offer baklava, rice pudding, and kunefe. The kunefe is a must try: phyllo dough and sweet cheese baked fresh with simple syrup poured over it. One more thing, this place is BYOB with no corking fee!
(4)Jonathan S.
Growing up in Cincinnati, everyone in the know, knows Andy's Mediterranean. After spending one year in NYC, and more specifically, in Astoria (a greek neighborhood in Queens) my affinity for middle eastern fare outweighed my traditional cravings for Indian food. In NYC, I discovered the unbeatable and beloved, King of Falafel & Shawarma. This is an award-winning food truck which recently expanded. This brilliant entity has become my benchmark for judging all other turkish, greek, middle eastern fare. Luckily, they once posted recipes. I am able to reproduce the world's best falafel and kofta burgers. I learned that this cuisine can outpace indian food, and cost less too. Upon returning to Cincinnati, I was truly torn between Andy and Istanbul. Andy had so many home runs, but very inconsistent. Istanbul, on the other hand, is presently amazeballz! But, I first encountered this restaurant group at Newport at the Levy where after two visits I was very disappointed. They moved to Beechmont and I heard impressive tales, but I wasn't willing to trek to Beechmont. I think this latest location is the best, and I wish them so much success. The biggest hangup I have with both of Cincy's premiere Mid East Diners is the price points. Without coupons or Facebook discounts, both winners are overpriced... but I'm not aware of a more reasonable option for those of us in withdrawal. P.S. BYOB +++
(4)Jorie M.
Outstanding authentic Mediterranean cuisine. I had the small sampler appetizer and the portion was so generous I couldn't finish it as an entree! Wonderful homemade hummus, baba and grape leaves.
(4)Katrina L.
We have ordered the same thing here 3 times now and it's always good. We start with the appetizer sampler (hummus and pita are delicious) and get the mixed grill for 2- it's the perfect amount of food (lamb and chicken are the best). The vegetables are also great! Every time we have been the service was great but it has been nearly empty for some reason (and we were there at 730 on a Saturday night)
(4)Jing H.
Hang out with my friend in Cincinnati. Great food!! Especially we were very tired from visiting the contemporary museum. The kebab and Turkish coffee made our day.
(5)Beth F.
I went here with a group of friends for a birthday dinner recently, and had never known about it. We decided to stay downtown for the festivities and I was surprised when my friend wanted to stop at the store to grab a bottle of wine. She explained that this place is a BYOB type of establishment. The first thing that I pictured was a seedy little place that I may be afraid to venture into. But, when we walked through the doors of this place it was actually quite charming and elegant. The food was great and the prices were also very reasonable. We shared many appetizers before digging into our entrees. They took our alcohol that needed to be chilled and put in the fridge. When we were running low they would serve it to us, just as if it were from the place. All in all I was impressed. The decor isn't the most upscale thing I've seen for a Mediterranean restaurant, but it gets the job done with the food. I would love to go back here soon.
(5)Brittney R.
I am super bummed about this- but I am docking 1 star because this place is no longer BYOB!! :( We had been wanting to try this place and had a $10 off coupon we had been saving. We decided to walk down on a glorious day last week with our bottle of wine in my purse, and we got there and they said they just got their liquor license about 2 weeks ago. We decided to stay, and had a Turkish beer and a glass of wine. We started with the chilled grape leaves and the feta borak. The grape leaves were fairly standard, but that is how I like them! The feta rolls were good, although it was a lot of phyllo wrap to the amount of feta. The dill sauce on the side was to die for though! We then shared the stuffed eggplant with the ground lamb and the doner kabob. The kabob alone is worth coming back for! We sopped up every bit of the sauce with the warm pita bread delivered to the table. The eggplant was good, it really did melt in your mouth! We ended with the baklava, which was a hit and we finished every last bite. A great spot to bring a group to- oh that is the other thing, we were there on a Thursday night and we were the only table! It was a beautiful night out though so I think people had just stayed at their happy hour's really late enjoying the weather!
(4)Zak R.
Waaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive and as from someone who has been to Turkey, I question whether the food is authentic, or even Turkish for that matter! With that said, $19 for 1 lamb kabob and a cup of basmati rice, seems like robbery. $6.50 for falafel is crazy! While the food I got was tasty, and the service was good, I will not recommend this restaurant based on price and frugal portions.
(2)Joshua C.
Amazing food and reasonably priced. The lamb and chicken kabobs were cooked to perfection. The falafel is the best I've ever had and you have to try the Feta Borek. I wish they were located in Chicago!
(5)Manny V.
We came here based on the Yelp reviews. The place is not upscale or fancy although clean and looked comfortable. I seemed distracted by disproportionate size of the pictures relative to wide walls although I was thinking that shouldn't matter since I was here for the food. My wife and myself have been wanting to have Middle Eastern food so we made the trip across the Ohio River and even paid for parking to dine here. Apparently this place is run by the same people who ran Café Istanbul that was at Newport on the Levee years ago. We're glad that we found this place so we could enjoy Turkish food again. They don't serve alcoholic beverages so this could be a plus for some who like to BYOB. And no corkage. Nice! We started with their small appetizer sampler which was Hummus, Ezme, Tabouli and Eggplant dips, and stuffed grape leaves and pita bread. The bread came out hot and fluffy and went perfectly well with the dips. I loved the hummus and the eggplant dip, while my wife liked them all. My wife had Shish Kebab which is grilled lamb served with basmati rice and vegetables, and I had Baked Eggplant which is Eggplant with ground lamb in a tomato sauce on top, served with basmati rice and vegetables. We shared our entrees like we always do. The grilled lamb was tender and full of flavor. It was really good. The Baked eggplant was good however I can see some people not liking it. It's more of an acquired taste kind of food. I enjoyed it, too but if were to do it all over again I would order the Shish Kebab. It was definitely a positive experience. We will be back to sample the rest of the menu.
(4)Sal R.
This place was so delicious, I'm already eager to go back for more! It doesn't look like much from the outside, but has plenty of seating inside. The waitress was quick and friendly, the best combination. We split the falafel, which was pretty flavorful and has a good texture. It's not necessarily "can't miss" but it was satisfying. Do. Not. Hesitate. when it comes to the vegetarian stew. The vegetables almost melted in my mouth, and it was packed with flavor. I loved every single bite! It's not a giant portion but it comes with a generous scoop of rice. My friend and I both polished off the entire entrees, but it left me pleasantly full. The pita bread is OK but store-bought. I have no doubt this place could whip up some amazing homemade pita, so that was a bit of a disappointment. Before you go, check out Groupon. They seem to often have a special running.
(5)Mike G.
Read the following sentence as emphatically as possible - This place is excellent! I took the advice of other Yelpers and ordered the baked eggplant with ground lamb. The seasoned lamb was a perfect compliment to the eggplant. And, their rice pudding is equally incredible; served with diced strawberries, walnuts, and cinnamon.
(5)Amnon F.
I love the place, great food and great service.
(5)Ed P.
My family and I visited Istanbul Cafe last Tuesday evening. The Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant sits downtown on Vine Street, not far from the intersection with 7th. From my research, the restaurant was formerly named Turquoise. The inside of the restaurant does in fact have turquoise walls along with Mediterranean artifacts and even Cincinnati history hanging on them. The crowd was filling around half of the available tables upon our arrival at close to 8 P.M., which seemed surprising to me in the downtown location. We were given a table in the back of the restaurant and offered high chairs for the kids. Typically my wife and I will split a sampler appetizer when visiting a Mediterranean restaurant like this, but we didn't like the idea of the chef picking the selections as part of their sampler. So we just decided to order two entrees and split those. I ordered the Chicken Adana Kebab, which is ground chicken seasoned with red peppers, parsley, and paprika, then grilled on skewers ($14). This was served with basmati rice and sauteed vegetables. The chicken was outstanding! It was full of flavor and grilled to a crisp on the outside, yet the inside was moist and delicious. My wife ordered the falafel plate, which consisted of four falafel patties, hummus and and salad ($13). The falafel and hummus are two items we would definitely want on a sampler, so this was a good way to try them both. The falafel was much too dense and chewy for my tastes and I would not order it again. However the hummus was creamy, just as it should be, and with very good taste, and the green salad was surprisingly pleasant as well. Even with mediocre falafel, I think Istanbul Cafe's excellent chicken adana kebab and hummus were enough to earn a return trip sometime in the future. Also the restaurant is BYOB, so don't forgot to pack your favorite bottles of suds on your visit.
(3)Robert N.
OMG! I paid shocking amounts of money for meager portions. Worse yet... Not very tasty. If you do go...bring Tums. We won't go back.
(1)Matthieu M.
Excellent Turkish/mediterranean food. I had Emze and lamb chops alongside a dark Efes, everything seemed fresh and everything was tasty !
(4)Bethany S.
Recently I was in Cincinnati on a brief business trip, and based on the Yelp reviews decided to check out this place with my co-worker. After going in I realized that there is a twin of this place on the north side of Indy, but I don't think I've been there. We ordered a sampler appetizer platter, a variety of tasty mediterranean dishes including hummus, domas, and baba ganoush, all of which I enjoyed. For my entree I ordered falafel, but it was pretty boring. I've had much better falafel. Interestingly, they don't serve alcohol and are a BYOB joint. This can be a good thing, I suppose, but generally I find it more convenient to order from a menu, and you have access to more variety that way. The waiter recommended a discount liquor store down the street, and my co-worker grabbed a bottle of Cabernet that looked good, but it wasn't. The poor server had trouble getting the cork off and we ended up with bits of cork in the wine. So I'm now even less excited about BYOB. Istanbul Cafe was okay, but it's just one of those places I felt meh about. I wouldn't jump to go back.
(2)Michael W.
I found this place walking around Downtown and through yelp. Food: Ordered eggplant puree. It wasn't too strong of seasoning and kept the egg plant taste. I liked it because it was pretty fresh. Ordered the doner kebab for dinner - it was a big dish. However, the meat was a bit too dry for my taste. THe last time i had a doner kebab was in Europe. So i was craving for that dish. It was a similar dish except Istanbul cafe served as a platter. 3.5/5 Atmosphere: It was okay decorated. It had a bit of middle eastern feeling but not completely because I didn't like the teal colors. It felt like i was back in 70s. When i came in on a wednesday night. It was pretty empty. Hopefully next time, when i come back it is not dead . 2.5/5 Service: the waiter was cool. He knew his dishes and very professional. he was also from gainesville, Fl. Anyhow, he refilled my water and checked up on me in a timely manner. I think he was the only waiter of the restaurant at the moment. they only had one other table. i want to see how the service is when they have a full restaurant. 4/5
(3)LaChelle S.
Delicious and I just knew it would be. I hadn't eaten all day, and I really needed some meal that would taste so good, be healthy, and fill me up - this place gave me all three things. It is cozy inside and everything on the menu was pretty tempting - I really wanted to try the zucchini pancakes. I went, though, with the vegetable stew which was everything I hoped it would be. It was warm with hardy chunks of carrot, eggplant, onion, celery and other veggies in a savory rich red-orange broth and came with rice. It is the kind of dish I would order every time I was there it was that legit.
(5)Jax J.
Istanbul cafe is in downtown cincinnati. Parking on street . Restaurant's atmosphere is average. I ordered iskandar kabab and that was ok . My wife had chicken gyro and she liked it . The fries were REALLY fresh and delicious. The lunch menu has wraps and it is cheaper than dinner menu The service is average. If you craving for Turkish food, then you can try it
(3)Sharon S.
I have eaten at Istanbul Cafe a couple times recently. The service was great and the food was exceptional mediterranean cuisine. It is BYOB and that can be quite nice if you wish to save a few bucks.
(5)Mark K.
While the decor isn't impressive, don't fret; the restaurant is an oasis of interesting Turkish food. The appetizer sample plate was decent, and they have a nice rice pudding for dessert, but the most impressive dish was a grilled eggplant with a mined lamb filling -- totally hit the spot! It's a great alternative to the fairly bland, blah food surrounding it (including upscale places). Highly recommended.
(4)Stephanie W.
Absolutely wonderful! Many choices and everything was good. We were thrilled to find we received a coupon for checking - in, so we ordered dessert, too. I wasn't sure what to expect of the Kunefe but it was a good choice. We started with an appetizer for 2 and the falafel was really yummy. Crisp on the outside, warm on the inside. And who can say no to babganoush and hummus. Bonus at the end when we found out the sister store is in Indy - so we'll be going there, too
(4)Ben N.
Psst. Hey. Yes, you. Downtown Cincinnati worker (or resident). Do you really want to wait in that 25-minute line for the 137th time in the last 18 months for a chicken burrito "bol" at Chipotle? Or in the 20-minute line at Potbelly for your 78th "Wreck on white" in the last six months? Or the 1,423rd three-way of your lifetime at one of the three downtown Skyline locations? Evidently, a bunch of you do, because these places are always jam-packed at lunchtime on weekdays. But you can do better than this tedium. You deserve better than this monotony. Hell, this is directed at myself, too: I can do better and deserve better than this sort of repetitive, mind-numbing lunchtime repast. When we moved to Cincinnati in 2007, one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Istabul, was located at one of our-not-so-favorite "entertainment" areas, Newport on the Levee: really fresh and bold-tasting Mediterranean food, with some Turkish specialities, served in an appealing cave-like space that made you forget you were actually in an antiseptic mall. But within a few months, Cafe Istanbul shut its doors. Now they're back, this time downtown, as "Istanbul Cafe." And Jumping Jeebus, the food is still terrific. I've been only at lunchtime so far and have tried the cabbage rolls, the doner kebab, and the chicken kebab. Istanbul Cafe has a great $10 lunchtime deal: You get your entree, served with a side of rice and veggies, and an appetizer (either hummus, excellent lentil soup, or a Med-ish salad). Nothing has been less than delicious, and the chicken kebab is the best I've had in this town: bursting with chicken-y flavor, succulent and juicy, and with just slight grill char to contrast nicely with the succulence. Holy crap, was it good. All this for about a buck-fifty more than you pay for that Chipotle burrito bol with guac. You get good table service for your troubles, so, sure, there is a tip involved, too. My minor quibble with Istanbul's lunch deals is that the portions might be a wee bit on the small side. But unless you're a work-out demon or training for some arduous athletic event, you're probably better off not scarfing down an entire Chipotle product anyway. I suspect one thing that's keeping people away from Istanbul at lunchtime, ironically enough, is the drab and monochromatic decor and atmosphere of this place. Ironic because the surroundings at the glitzy mall across the river were actually much more natural and comforting. I look forward to trying this restaurant at dinnertime as well. P.S. Watch out for the felafel. We discovered that it, unlike the rest of the menu, was subpar: dense and gummy.
(4)Megan B.
I've only been twice during lunch and it's never busy. People don't know what they're missing! The food is amazing, everything is fresh-testing and wonderful. Typical Turkish fare and fast, friendly service. You owe it to yourself to check this place out!
(4)Paraag M.
I tried Istanbul Cafe based on reviews on this site and was not disappointed. The last two times I've gone, I got the Mixed Grill for Two with a friend. My hope is that I can always order that dish - as per the name, it comes with a variety of meat dishes (chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) and is cooked and spiced to perfection. For whatever reason, the place never seems to be full despite being downtown. While the dining room is very large, it also seems as though people just don't even realize it's there. The decor is not outstanding and the awning/window are very easy to just walk past. That's unfortunate as they really do provide great food & service.
(4)Rachel G.
I went with my father during downtown restaurant week. I like to try to get him to come up to CIncinnati for a meal every once in a while. We went mid day so it was right after the lunch rush. The manager was also our server who was polite, friendly, and was multi tasking well. He told me his name, can't remember. (Sorry, been a few days!) 1st course was the cold appetizer sampler. OMG the eggplant, yum! Coudn't believe it was eggplant, not exactly my favorite food. The pita was so soft and still pretty hot. Perfect. I got the Iskender Kebab. Which was fantastic as well. Just enough yogurt and marinara, not over powering got the right amount of flavors from everything. My dad got the cabbage rolls, which he said were really good. I also tried a bite, But I preferred my dish more. Just preference of taste. Dessert...oooh boy. Are server recommended the rice pudding along with the kunefe. Which I highly highly recommend! The kunefe wasn't saturated with honey like some baklava is (Hate that). Oh and the chi tea is very good as well. I bet the Turkish coffee is as well. Definitely will have to come back.
(5)D A.
The food was excellent. I ordered the small appetizer platter and the lamb shish kabob. The meat was tender and full of flavor. The prices were fair and the place had a cozy atmosphere. The service was great and quick. The only negative is that the Pepsi was kind of flat. The coffee was very strong!
(5)Paige M.
I bought a Groupon for this restaurant in December when it was named Turquoise. In January, it switched its name to Istanbul Cafe and increased prices. While the restaurant still honored my certificate, the pleasantries stopped there. I had an odd feeling about the place when we arrived during the dinner rush and there were only two other customers in the entire restaurant. During our stay, only one new person came in to eat. We mentioned to our server that we had a Groupon good for one appetizer and two entrees. While there were no restrictions listed on the website, the server informed us that we could only choose hummus or tabbouleh for an appetizer, not the feta borek we wanted. Then we were informed we would have to pay an additional charge for our entrees if they cost over $13.00. All of the mains were priced $14.00 - $25.00. We ended up ordering the Doner Kebab, Baked Eggplant topped with lamb, and the tabbouleh to start. A very small portion of tabbouleh arrived on a tea saucer plate for us to share; no pita bread. In fact, no pita bread was served to us at all during the meal. That's a traditional staple of Mediterranean restaurants. Our mains arrived shortly after, which were pretty small for the price. The Baked Eggplant was very oily and tasted like lasagna innards minus the pasta. I took a bite of something hard, which turned out to be the stem from the vegetable. My side of sautéed veg were actually six slices of soggy green beans and carrot wedges. Yes, exactly six. The rice was the only good thing about this meal, which came out in a small scoop. The Doner Kebab was chewy, overcooked, and sopping with oil. My friend barely touched it and wished there was a paper napkin to dab the grease off of the lamb. After redeeming the Groupon, we received a bill for the remaining balance. I showed the server the Groupon print out listing no restrictions, wanting our meal honored for two entrees and one appetizer. She replied, "I've been taking these coupons every day, I think I'd know what is offered." She wasn't budging. We paid the bill and left. In short, the food was much too pricey for the portion size and overly greasy to boot. Price per person: $25.00
(2)Enisa H.
My husband and I decided to visit Istanbul Cafe during the downtown restaurant week. For a long time, I've been on the hunt for a good Turkish eatery. We got there at 7 and the place was almost empty but I didn't care. I usually don't pay much attention to the decor of a restaurant because I am there to eat food. What I do pay attention to is the cleanliness and Istanbul cafe made me very comfortable to eat there. We were originally going to stick to the restaurant week menu but when I saw Feta Borek on their appetizer menu I couldn't resist, so I got Borek and Falafel while my husband got the usual (humus and pita bread). I've never had Falafel before and honestly didn't even know what it was, but this thing was pure deliciousness; perfectly spiced, perfectly fried and I couldn't decide if I was going to eat it like that or dip it into their equally yummy tzatziki sauce. Feta Borek was good; crunchy outside and soft inside but I kept looking for that feta cheese. I am used to my Borek's filled with cheese. I ordered chicken kebab and my husband got doner (gyro) kebab with fluffy rice and vegetables. Both meats were perfectly spiced and cooked. My husband even made a comment that chicken was super tender (he had two pieces of my chicken). His lamb was spicy but not too hot and it was very tender. So far both of us thought our meals were great, no complaints whatsoever but then we got our deserts. He went with baklava and I ordered rice pudding. This was seriously the best rice pudding I've ever tried. My family makes rice pudding but I don't live close to them any more so I've been craving it for a long time. Istanbul Cafe's rice pudding hit the spot. It's very smooth, creamy, sweet at the just right point. I could care less about the cinnamon on top but it didn't bother me to eat around it. The waitress told me to let her know next time and she will make sure there is no cinnamon on my rice pudding. And all of this food for around $40 for both us! Even though we didn't take advantage of this perk, but they are a BYOB establishment and no corking fee. We will do this next time we visit Istanbul Cafe.
(5)Miiim R.
Everything was awsome. Delicious food and friendly staff and good environment. A little bit expensive though
(5)Michael Q.
I checked into my hotel and by the time I unpacked and changed I was desperate to find a near by restaurant that had some decent food. Fortunately for me Istanbul Cafe was just a couple blocks away. I spent quite a bit of time in Turkey and one of my favorite things about the place was the food so I know of what I speak. This restaurant does it right. I started with the feta borek which was dead on and the yogurt dipping sauce was quite refreshing. For my dinner I went with the doner kebab and it was just like what I used to get when I lived in Turkey. As a bonus the rice and vegetables were also a cut above. I even felt content enough that I had a Turkish coffee for desert. If I had any complaint it would be that I wish a plentiful pile of pita would come with every meal. It's not a meal in Turkey without plenty of flat bread. But that is a minor quibble and if you're in Cincinnati you should definitely check this place out.
(4)Abby C.
Rivaled the Kabob I had in Istanbul! The red lentil soup was extremely authentic and the kabob was perfectly grilled. Amazing food and extremely attentive service. The waitress even took an opportunity to explain some of the Turkish carpets on the wall. Overall a great dining experience.
(5)Robert M.
An island in the sea of Cinci franchises. Skip the regular heavy meals that you can get anywhere and enjoy homemade traditional Turkish food that leaves you more than satisfied.
(4)Scott M.
You've gotta love a place that is BYOB. You don't have to pay a marked up price for alcohol and in the immortal words of TI, "you can have whatever you like". Met a few friends for dinner here this past weekend. The place was quiet and like most Mediterranean dining spots, the decor was fairly spartan but for the overly thick coat of paint every wall and ceiling had been doused in. Our waiter was extremely nice and even offered to cork bottles and provide wine glasses for all of us which was wonderfully helpful. Hummus and pita were excellent, I couldn't get enough and probably could have had just that for the night. For dinner I ordered Falafel's, which were also served with hummus. These were fantastic as well and I was extremely happy with my choices. I'll go back anytime.
(4)Julie C.
We always end up here before a show or something. It's my favorite place to get dinner in Cincinnati. I always get the same thing - Vegetarian Stew. It's really delicious and filling. Also, I like the workers. They're nice.
(4)Jonathan B.
Upon sitting down, we had to wait a while before we got some water, even though we were literally the only table in the entire restaurant. Our waiter also had trouble understanding our order. However, the food was absolutely fantastic! I got the shish kebab and grape leaves and I was blown away. Incredibly flavorful and delectable! If they can get better front of house and wait staff, this would easily be five out of five.
(4)Phil A.
The best falafel and lamb in Cincinnati for a modest price starts here. The restaurant is clean and classy, with lovely music and friendly staff all around. Any chance I get to go here is one I'll take because I've never left unhappy or dissatisfied. It's actually tucked into the Provident Building on Vine and 7th, across the street from a juice place and an ice cream place. It's easy to miss as the awning with the sign doesn't pop out at you, but I think that's indicative of what makes it so great; it's a little bit of a hidden treasure. It's finer dining than Al Amir's or Uncle Mo's. The rice is exquisite when mixed with the vegetables and lamb. Seriously, if you're downtown and want a great dinner, try this place.
(5)Kar S.
I came here for their lunch special - $10 for an appetizer + an entree. Got the hummus for my appetizer and man, it was amazing! Forget the other choices (lentil soup or salad, which were also good). The pita bread was hot out of the oven, and together with the homemade creamy hummus, ahhh so good. You get to choose from their kabobs, falafel or wraps for your entree. Got the Doner kabob and Adana wrap. Omgee, I did not expect the wrap to be this good (actually I wasn't expecting much for a $10 lunch). It was juicy and flavorful, I didn't even have to put any sauce on my wrap. They give you a good amount of food for $10. At first glance the wrap didn't look big, but it filled me up, and the appetizer was bigger than I expected. Istanbul is definitely an awesome lunch spot for those who work in the area.
(4)Keith C.
I'll preface my review as this location or general fare wasn't my choice; I was brought to this location by others that were very happy with their prior experiences. I would rate the food that I ate, beef skewers, as just ok. The beef was generally very dry, over spiced, and I found it difficult to eat the entire portion despite being very hungry. The sides that came with it, rice and vegetables, were nothing special - the vegetables almost tasted frozen and the rice was very "plain". I frankly expected a bit more for a $15 dish. The restaurant itself was clean but a bit out dated. Service was great for lunch hour. Despite being a sit-down restaurant, we were in and out in about 45 minutes and we never felt rushed (it was a bit slow for a lunch hour, however).
(3)Valeria V.
Food was good but I'm giving 1 star because of the service other way i would've give them 4! I asked the waiter which one was better and if i should get Salmon or the grilled chicken kebab and he told me that i should get the chicken because Im a woman but that he would get salmon because its better and he's a man! I don't care if someone was raised a certain way those are comments you should keep to yourself! Other than that the lamb and beef kebab was as good as the grilled chicken! The sample platter, the feta borak and the falafel were tasty as well! At the end We ordered the künefe and it was really good (us women we eat dessert too) and ordered turkish tea but he gave us regular lipton tea which tasty! It was alright but i wouldn't go back because of the poor service.
(1)Paul L.
We had a good dinner here this evening. For appetizers, the zucchini pancakes were OK but truly outstanding was ezme, a spicy tomato walnut mixture that have never seen before in a Turkish restaurant in the US and that I am determined to replicate at home Sadly, they were out of the main course that I wanted the most, a seafood casserole or lamb casserole, but the stuffed cabbage rolls were also good. Two of us ordered the shared mixed kebabs -- the lamb and chicken were especially tasty. My wife had the baked eggplant stuffed with ground lamb: I am not an eggplant fan so I didn't sample it, but others at the table did so and were favorably impressed. For dessert I ordered künefe (didn't get the name until after I first posted this review), a freshly baked confection that consisted of something like shredded wheat with cheese in the middle and soaked in honey, served with whipped cream; after everybody else passed on dessert, the rest of my party couldn't get enough of mine.
(4)Dheenu S.
Came here during lunch hour. Had the appetizer sampler and lamb chops. Appetizer sample was really good very tasty and had enough spices also. Lamb chops was one of the best I have had. It was cooked to perfection and the meat was tender and juicy also.
(4)Jessica N.
I truly can not wait to go back to Istanbul Cafe! I headed here for lunch with a few friends this past week, and was extremely happy with my experience. I had the vegetarian stew (which came with a side of rice) as well as some hummus and pita. Everything was super fresh and flavorful... definitely a situation where I was full but wanted to keep eating because the food was that good! Everyone else I was with got the plentiful lunch special, a full 2 course meal for $10. Service was attentive, kind and quick and the location is pretty convenient for those who work in any area of downtown.
(5)Chris S.
What a great find! We had zucchini pancakes as an appetizer. Falafel and cabbage rolls as main course and kunefe for dessert. Everything was delicious. Service from Adrienne was excellent. We really enjoyed ourselves and we will be back.
(5)Olwen C.
I agree with the guy who said waaaaaaaaay too expensive for what you get! The service was pleasant and the food certainly tasted fine, but it wasn't a good deal at all. My boyfriend and I shared the mixed grill plate for 2. It came with two scoops of rice, a pile of meat that included gyros meat, chicken and lamb chunks. They served us some pita bread with it, that but that was it. It would have been nice to have some garlic sauce or hummus included because it was quite pricy at $35!
(2)Jenny D.
I tried a sampler platter for delivery. Along with another entree. The vegetables in it had a delicious sauce.
(5)Nevena K.
We came here hoping to have a few things that our vegetarian friend could eat while we ate some of their meat dishes. I have to say that I am always rather underwhelmed when we come here. All they had as far as vegetarian goes was hummus of falafel. The sampler plate was good, and it comes out with warm pita which has a nice charred texture to it, but there was no "wow" factor to it. Their baklava was also decent, but the rest of their deserts are great.
(3)Kate L.
Even though I rated this 3 stars, it's more like 2.5 in my book. While the food was good and the restaurant is nice, I think this restaurant is extremely overpriced for what you get. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm... We asked for the lunch menu, but unfortunately they were only serving the dinner menu. That was a bit of a bummer. We ordered the feta borek ($6) to start. I enjoyed the dish but it wasn't anything I'll be dying to order again. For our entrees we ordered the seafood casserole special ($17), the falafel plate special ($13). Both were good, but the portions weren't giant for the price. My boyfriend ordered a coke and they brought him diet, and when he sent them back they brought him diet again. This happened another time. Finally, after 3 diet cokes disguised as regulars, they said they were out of regular?? That was a little bizarre. The entire lunch experience was just okay. Luckily I had a $20 coupon or we would have been looking at a $40 lunch.
(3)John B.
There was a time when Mediterranean restaurants in the area were few and far between. Well, that time has passed and there are about 3 other restaurants downtown for eating one of my favorite ethnic food styles. Turquoise has some great food and good service, don't get me wrong, but the prices charged are way more than one would expect. Perhaps the fact that they are BYO it makes sense for them to charge a little extra for the food, but for those that don't drink alcohol, this isn't fair. I don't know, I'm torn. I want them to succeed but I am only recommending them with the caveats of, use a restaurant.com cert (hey, use their iPhone app to save some trees!! restaurant.com/Mobile ) and definitely bring a bottle or two. You'll enjoy the food, but slightly cringe at the bill.
(3)Ed M.
Excellent Turkish food. I lived in Turkey for several years. This family owned and run restaurant produces authentic dishes that use fresh ingredients. Try the Adana Lamb Kabob and finish with Sut Lach (rice pudding). Both dishes expected my expectations. A great choice in downtown Cincinnati.
(5)Channing N.
We came for the Turkish Tea and we stayed for the food. After the first bite of the appetizers I knew I would be a frequent customer of this restaurant. The service was fantastically fast and the servers are very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I was impressed how quickly I was sold on ordering salmon at a Turkish restaurant but after hearing about the top quality and freshness I was convinced. It was one of the best salmon fillet's I have ever hard and since then I have had a chance to try many other dishes, each one of them I have loved. Definitely go for the appetizer sampler as the ezme, tabouli, and stuffed grape leaves are a must try. This is by far a high quality restaurant with amazingly affordable prices.
(5)Dan O.
The Donner Kebab was excellent and I strongly urge people to try the amazing Kanafeh dessert.
(5)Holly D.
Ok....finally found something on the menu not to get. Vegetable stew! Unless you like mainly celery and potato's. However everything else was fabulous as usual. Large appetizer platter. Hummus and Ezme delightful! Mixed grill...heavenly!
(4)Tommy W.
Superb service, price too high for the mass consumer. During my visit here, 3 other parties dined over 2 hour period. Granted it was during a food festival but I'm really hoping they make most of their money in weekdays or wish catering. I got the eggplant ($15) and the dish was on par with the best Persian or Turkish eggplant I've had. Ask for the Turkish tea if you want to see something cool for $2.
(4)James W.
Excellent food served in an artistically appealing way! We split the appetizer two ways (plenty of food) and enjoyed two different entrees- each better that the other. Then we had barely enough room for delicious dessert. I would be pleased to return if I'm ever in Cincinnati again.
(5)Mimmo M.
One of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. Period. The service is very attentive and knowledgable .
(5)Sanjay P.
Not impressed at all. Furniture and tableware looked old. Falafel was too "dense" and heavy; we ordered Kebab plate for 2 that came with an assortment of kebabs and some rice. Presentation could have been better; rice had nice flavor but was lumpy. Kebabs were greasy (there was a lot of residual grease on the plate)... Service was good but rest left lot to be desired
(1)Willie S.
Enjoyable meal. Chicken kabob was very moist and cooked to perfection. Nicely seasoned. Red lentil soup and fresh pita bread made for a filling dinner. Helpful and enthusiastic staff. Would dine again.
(4)Will M.
I've revisited my review, as I've revisited the restaurant. I've added an extra star because the owner is right - this is not a takeout joint and it's unfair of me to judge it as such just because I desperately want one. Taken as an actual restaurant the pricing makes more sense and the byob status is quite a boon. My meals have typically been quite good. Once the gyro meat was dry, nearly to the point of being inedible, but that was an exception (and cost a star.) The chicken kabob has been consistently excellent.
(4)Rosanna L.
Now called the Istanbul Grill, this restaurant has unique and well prepared dishes served by very attentive and helpful staff ready to offer recommendations. The zucchini pancakes as an appetizer were fresh and light. The lamb shank was the special of the day during our visit and it was very tender and seasoned perfectly. A minor improvement would be to serve it at a hotter temperature because it is a rich dish. The bread and hummus were very tasty. The other main dish that we tried was the Iskender Kebab. The tomato sauce was very good and the meat was very tasty. This dish has a unique combination of textures and flavors worth trying. The desserts are also unique and the Kunefe with a Turkish coffee are a perfect way to end the meal. This dessert is made when you order it and totally worth the wait. The portions were generous and the prices are appropriate for the good quality of the ingredients.
(4)Jackie S.
Let me be clear about my intentions, I want you to try Istanbul Café. I'll let you make your own opinions, but I think it is probably the most underappreciated restaurant in the city. I was hesitant about trying this restaurant because it looked a bit fancy and I was intimidated that I wouldn't know what to order. I'm glad that the strong reviews on Yelp as well as recommendations from a friend encouraged me to try this place out. Happily, I found the restaurant to be clean, spacious, and delicious. I have to admit, there were some things on the menu that I couldn't define, but it's part of the experience. Our waiter was incredibly courteous and the most important thing is that the food was delicious. This isn't one of those in your face, "we're good because we say so," restaurants. They let the food speak for itself. I got the falafel gyro and was pleased with the flavor and quantity. This is definitely something I couldn't make at home. Plus, the prices were reasonable for a lunch downtown. So, in summary, I want you to try this restaurant because it brings a slice of authentic diversity to our city that can't be matched. Bonus points: The fact that they offer BYOB without a corking fee Plenty of space for large groups Different menus for lunch and dinner They often have deals on groupon-type coupon sites (including a check-in offer on Yelp!) The name of the restaurant is painted on the plates - how cute!?
(4)Jeffrey S.
We came here while on project for a team dinner. We ordered the doner kabob and casserole. The food was pretty typical for Mediterranean, offering the usual setup along with an order of pita. Quality was good and food was tasty, specifically the grilled chicken. However, this place is quite pricey and they charged $6 for a small side of hummus. Also, we were charged 20% gratuity for a party for 4... a bit surprising.
(3)Kathy M.
We had a wonderful lazy Saturday afternoon feast here. Sampler appetizer was terrific, cabbage rolls and shish kabob great. Kubali (sp?) our server was very nice, great service! There's a lot of talk about lack of ambiance but I thought it was quite lovely, if they wanted to kick it up a notch I'd suggest tablecloths but I know that's expensive. It's not what you might think just driving by, it has a very nice dining room, cloth napkins and black table tops. Food is wonderful, tho I do think Sultans in West Chester is better, that's so far away and this is delish food! We were quite alone in dining room and that was a shame! Support this great restaurant! We need good Turkish food in Cincinnati! We will definitely be back!
(4)Katie P.
I got their hummus and tabouli to-go for lunch on a weekday... it was really good! They were a little awkward in that they didn't address me at all until my order was ready {I called it in}. It was $10 for only a side of hummus & a side of tabouli, so I'm a little hesitant in ordering from there again, but it was delicious and lasted me a couple of days of small lunches.
(3)Chris B.
My wife and I love to go to random large cities for our vacations and usually stay downtown and try to find unique restaurants to eat at. We happened to be walking around looking for another restaurant when we stumbled upon this gem. When we first walked it we were a little skeptical due to the plain decoration. Not classy and weird choice for decor, but we figured we would still give it a try. We are both completely happy that we did. The wait staff was very polite and well mannered. I never had to ask for a water refill. We ordered the Kebab Grill for 2 which came with four different types of meats and two portions of rice and vegetables. Plenty of food for both of us to eat, but some might complain that it wasn't enough. The dinner price for this was $29, which is decent considering that you are sharing the portion with someone else. The lamb meat was the best we had ever tasted and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. Not overdone, but cooked to allow a slight crunch when you bite into them. One of the best restaurants we have been to, even with the lacking atmosphere. I can't wait to visit Cincinnati again just so we can eat here again. NOTE: This place is a BYOB which means you can bring your own bottle of wine. The server even informed us of this and let us know of a couple of nearby wine places we could go to if we wanted before we sat down. They will even put your white wine on ice and have it chilled for your when your meal is ready.
(5)Stan K.
I discovered this place recently when I was in Cincinnati for a few weeks on business and found myself going back several times. The food is authentic (I was stationed in Turkey years ago when I was in the Army..) and excellent. My main regret now is not being able to return now that my assignment ended. They sometimes have a lamb casserole as a special, which is fantastic!
(5)Nimita D.
Absolutely fantastic! The best Turkish/Middle Eastern restaurant in/around Cincinnati. Must try their appetizer combo & cheese wraps. All the kebabs are fantastic! Oh, and, their Turkish coffee is the best I've ever had! P.S. It is now called Istanbul Grill.
(5)Shirley R.
This is my new favorite restaurant. The pita is chewy and warm with a wonderful flavor. Each of the appetizers and entrees that either my guests or I have tried has been outstanding. The staff is excellent, friendly and helpful. They have a special Turkish dessert of cheese with whipped cream and strawberries that's to die for! I've been there more than half a dozen times over the past year and the food and service have been consistently excellent.
(5)Erin P.
Family dining welcome with fine food appeal. Everything is made from scratch including the bread. Doner and adona are Turkish specialties served up deliciously -a mix of lamb and beef. They will soon become Istanbul Grill. They are affiliated with cafe Istanbul which was located at Newport. I was pleased by my Adona wrap and my Turkish coffee hit the spot. I will be back to try more house specialties.
(4)Stacey L.
I really, really wished I liked this restaurant better. I walked in thinking this place was going to be a new favorite restaurant... It has all the things I look for in a regular joint--- Mediterranean food, restaurant.com certificates and BYOB. But still.... Our waiter was incredibly friendly as soon as we got there and was more than happy to give us a corkscrew for the wine we had brought with us. He chatted easily with us and gave us suggestions on the menu. He was the only server in the mostly empty restaurant and handled the 5 or 6 tables easily. Though there was some confusion with the checks at the end, he still did a very good job with our group of 8. Half or our group ended up being very late and so we ordered some appetizers to tide us over. We had the appetizer sampler for 4 ($17) and the rolled feta pastry ($5). Everything on the sampler plate was fantastic and they make their own pita bread, but for the cost it just wasn't enough food... The pastry came with 4 very small pieces of flaky pastry with the most minuscule amount of feta. Once again, it was a very small amount of food for the cost. My husband and I shared the Shepard Salad ($8). It was just chopped up tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, onion and a little bit of feta. For that cost you would expect a dinner sized salad. It wasn't... it was definitely on the small side even for a side salad. Considering the ingredients total probably cost them about 80 cents, it was a huge rip off! For entree, we had the Iskender Doner ($14). It was gyro meat placed over pita bread and covered with a tomato sauce. It was very good and the only part of the meal that felt priced correctly. The menu online is not the same menu that you will see at the actual restaurant. Because of our restaurant.com , our bill was very reasonable, but I wouldn't go there without one. I do love a good BYOB restaurant and so I might return there once or twice. So... I recommend this place with hesitation...
(3)Steve A.
Loved the lamb and I hate lamb. As a middle easterner, we seek out this food everywhere and generally avoid lamb in favor of beef. I ordered it anyway and it was fantastic. The chicken was great too. The rice, delicious. The wait staff was very friendly. While it is called 'eggplant purée' on the menu, the baba ganuuj was really good too. Also, 7 baskets of pita bread later, my family concluded it was the way we have had at any kabob house. We will be back.
(5)Christian L.
Turkish is the new Mexican! Or at least it is climbing higher up on the latter for ethnic foodie places to try out... This little gem in the rough, was probably not a place I would go, if I had not bought a gift certificate at restaurant.com . But never the less, the food was really good. Can recommend the appetizer platter, everything was fresh and seemed like they just prepared the different items to order. I can not remember what I had as the main course, because we went to MOTR and Japps afterwards, but I do remember it was very good! Be aware that it is BYOB, but it is possible to buy beer in the bar round the corner, they even supplied me with a bottle opener... The service was very attentive and fast, nothing to put a negative finger on! The interior could probably be a little more inviting and authentic, but as a long as the food is good who cares right. Very good down town spot, that I recommend people to try!
(4)Matt R.
With part of my family being from the mideast and having been there a number of times, I've been disappointed with a number of middle eastern restaurants around here. However, Turquoise was very enjoyable. I went with a groupon. The staff was incredibly friendly. I also brought a flask of scotch (didn't feel like bringing an entire bottle) with their BYO policy with no cork fee. For appetizers we wanted to try something that other places don't offer so we got the Ezme which came with pita. Delicious! The server also recommended this. For entrees we ordered the baked eggplant filled with lamb/herbs, and the Iskender Kebab. This is a doner kebab with tomato sauce/yogurt over pita which was also recommended by the server, and not a normal dish at most middle eastern places around here. Both dishes hit the spot! All the food also tasted very fresh. I've already told a few people about this place and will be back soon. Business appears slow for them so go and check it out because they are one of the better restaurants around that I've been to recently. There are even coupons on restaurant.com
(5)Chad F.
Let's start with the staff. Yeah, I know...you've read it all before...below. The staff was fantastic. The Greeter was a nice young man who sat me immediately. Shortly thereafter a young man came over and poured me water. He asked me if I wanted something to drink and I ordered a beverage. When the waiter came he asked me if I needed any help ordering. I told him that I was fine, that I would order a lot and take home what I didn't eat! All these men were one - Baran. Baran has been in the USA for 6 months at this point, is starting to master the American English language and is proud of both his former country - Turkey, and his new country - the USA. I started with the Sampler Plate for Two. The four portions were small-ish, but plenty for two...or one big ME. The flavors were great in all four portions, sampled with the wonderful pita bread. Baran told me that one of the dishes on the sample plate is spiced with tobacco! I hadn't noticed initially but could faintly pick it up after he said so. I'll not tell you which one it is...you have to guess for yourself. Just rest assured that it is NOT disgusting. It's so faint that unless you know you're eating it, you won't know you're eating it! Being a glutton, and having a wife who worked late, I ordered both the Baked Eggplant and the Seafood Casserole. The Baked Eggplant came first, as I told Baran that I wasn't a stickler in the order the dishes came out, as I was eating by myself. It's a lovely looking plate with an eggplant splayed across it, with the ground lamb (yummy) layered on top, baked in a tomato spiced sauce. For you native Cincinnatians...there is nothing terribly HOT about Turkish cooking! The spices are used skillfully and with very little heat. But the flavors in this dish are fantastic! Lamb & eggplant...with a native Turkish chef...how can you not love it!? As my wife can't eat Seafood I sampled the Baked Eggplant and then dove into the Seafood Casserole! Plenty of seafood in that casserole, along with a plethora of fresh mushrooms & other (secondary) vegetables! The mozzarella cheese is the perfect topping and used sparingly too. Not to say there was too little...only that it was just the right amount without killing the dish. This is a great restaurant for downtown and I hope that I'll have many more opportunities to stop in, enjoy the Seafood Casserole & conversations with my new fried Baran!
(5)Laura M.
We had a great experience. The food was delicious and authentic. Our server was very helpful in aiding our food choices too. Best of all, it's BYOB!
(4)Karen K.
Istanbul Cafe, Yeah! Had dinner with six friends. Shared an appetizer sampler with everyone at our table. The pita pockets were nice and warm, too. All of our orders were delicious! Service was excellent. We were going to the theater "after" so we were given plenty of time to process our checks and bag up our tasty left-overs. This was my second dinner here. Thank you! Will be back again and again.
(5)Juan L.
Stumble upon this place while going to another restaurant for lunch, and it was a pleasant surprise. It has a lot of space inside, with tables very well presented; incl. table cloth, cloth napkins nicely folded, and two forks. The menu has room for improvement on simplifaction and highlighting what makes this Turkish restaurant different from other mediterranean menus. The food was very good, I had a Falafel side (very fresh and tasty) and a Doner Wrap a.k.a. Gyro (again, fresh and crunchy). Prices were a bit on the high-side for a Lunch. I'd recommend this place.
(4)Roberto H.
After reading the reviews and being particularly curious about the rather negative one, I decided to try the place this past Tuesday. I was quickly and warmly greeted and shown to a table. I was delighted to find out that this used to be Cafe Istanbul at Newport on the Levee. When they were there, it was one of my favorite restaurants. I ordered the Farmers Salad. It was delicious. Crisp cucumbers and firm tomatoes, wonderful flavor. I thought it was a perfect size for an appetizer. I then had the Adana Kebab. It was juicy and flavorful and cooks perfectly. The rice and stewed veg were also delicious. I finished up with Turkish chai. My only negative here is that they didn't have sugar cubes (traditional). Everything was so good, I went back for lunch today. This time I had the cheese pastry rolls which are puff pastry filled with feta cheese and served with yoghurt dipping sauce. They were delicious. For my main courses, I ordered the Iskander Kebab. It came out bubbling hot. The yoghurt and pita under the meat was still cool and I loved the temperature difference. I would say there could have been a little more pita and a little less meat for me. I thought the sauce was good, but felt like it could have used a little more flavor. Overall, I thought the food was very good and worth the price. I highly recommend it.
(5)Mike M.
a good spot - alright food - excellent and friendly staff. as a doner kabob snob, i was fairly disappointed in the one i had here - however, it was a nice dish. i think when i go back, because i will, i will order what steve, one of the employees, told me i should have ordered. all in all, this is a great place - please support it and KEEP THEM DOWNTOWN!!!!!
(4)Rex I.
The lamb shish kebab is awesome. Freshly made and tasty. Waiter - Steve - was very polite
(5)Trenny S.
Authentic and delicious food. Wonderful atmosphere.
(4)Green D.
I've never eaten in but I order take-out quite frequently (about 3x a week). I usually get the lamb kebabs and the salmon along with the baba ghanoush. The other day I was in and the lamb shank was the special so I gave it a shot and it was wonderful! These guys have great lamb! The quality is very consistent and always great! The baba ghanoush is some of the best I've ever had--nicely smoked. The pricepoints are a bit high for Cincinnati but I'll still keep going back!
(4)Steve S.
Simple & tasty. Visiting & working at library nearby. Good lunch choice. I would go 3.5. I thought portion was a little small. I never had Chicken Adana before. Very flavorful. Rice was plain. Could have had sauce on top. I went back for dinner a few days later. Again very tasty; an unusual dish I never had before. Prices reasonable. This is a no-frills place (atmosphere-wise) with good food. They don't serve liquor. So BYOB.
(3)Jessica P.
Cute little restaurant downtown on Vine Street. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. Extremely friendly. It is BYOB, so that was nice. The food was decent, it was just overpriced for what you got. We ordered the sampler, which was good but small. There were only a few pieces of pita, which was a fresh baked and there was a small plate with baba ghanoush, an eggplant in tomato sauce, hummus and tabbouli. Everything was delicious, but it was really a better size for one person rather than two. We both ordered the shish kabob, also good but small for the price.
(3)Priya K.
Good falafel and mixed green salad. Hummus was yummy.
(3)Reem B.
I remember passing by this place one day while I was in downtown and thinking we love Turkish food, we must try this place! but then I forgot about it until I found a coupon on restaurant.com which encouraged me to buy and try it finally. so my husband and I went there for dinner on a Saturday evening, we didn't make a reservation and it seemed that we didn't have to since it wasn't busy. the decoration is Ok nothing really special but I really hated the seating, because a lot of their tables are small and crammed to the wall. so they made us sit on a small table that only fits two ppl so you don't have much space and it makes you feel you're closer to the wall than your dinning partner! the food was fine a little bit pricey (for the quantity you get) if you don't have a coupon. we had the feta borak as appetizer and it was good. we ordered Iskender kabab and Adana kabab both were marinated nicely but a little bit salty. overall this place is so/so for me, I can find better Turkish restaurants in town!
(3)E P.
A lucky find rewards the searcher with awesome falafel. Sounds like a bad fortune cookie fortune but it holds true for Istanbul (not Constantinople) Cafe.
(5)Scot H.
service is always great. food is wonderful. always get the shredded phylo dessert!
(5)Sarah M.
Really excellent Mediterranean/Turkish food! At first, I was a little put off by the lunch prices - the special is $11 and comes with a lunch portion of an entree and soup, salad or hummus - but after the food arrived, it turned out to be worth every penny. My group ordered a variety of kebabs and everyone was impressed with their dishes. In addition, our server was attentive, friendly and just all-around good at his job. We will definitely be back!
(4)Kaushik G.
They were a complete no-show to an office event, which they were supposed to cater. Extremely unreliable. This restaurant doesnt have too many days left with tardy management like that. I would suggest try another place like Andys Mediterranean Grill. Never again am I going to order from them!
(1)Logan C.
We got a Groupon for Turquoise and decided to give it a try last night. The food greatly exceeded our expectations. We started with Tabouli as an appetizer & it was fresh & flavorful. We both ordered the Iskender Kabob as an entree. This was a hit! So much flavor complexity. Needless to say, we both cleared our plates (honestly wished we had an extra pita to dip the remaining sauce in...). We will definitely come back & try more of the menu. Prices lean more towards date night than casual, but on date night, who cares? Check them out.
(5)Sara W.
People here are raving about the staff, but when I went last week with two other women for a chatty dinnner, it was terrible. The young man (American), was way too talkative. He was interrupting our meal to brag about the restaurant. It was annoying and in content, he oversold it. The food and service should speak for itself. Service with a smile is fine, but service shouldn't become a new guest at my table. Also the chai tea wasn't up to snuff. And they microwaved baklava to make it warm??
(3)Jeff L.
You will get what you pay for from this restaurant! We had falafel for an appetizer, and it was unlike any other I have had - the texture and shape were completely different from the hard, crusty balls you would expect; theirs are very dense and almost like samosas. Definitely recommend the baked eggplant and stuffed cabbage rolls! Absolutely delicious ground lamb and delicate seasonings that bring out the best in the dishes; the restaurant is owned by a husband and wife who also work the kitchen. The wait staff is also very personable and knowledgeable. For dessert, I cannot remember what we got, but it was a nest of fried phyllo dough filled with sweet mozzarella cheese, honey and nuts. Incredible! It's a good thing I cannot cook this at home... Highly recommended, and will certainly be returning :)
(5)Tom T.
Used our Groupon. Started with Feta Borek as our appetizer and moved on the Chicken Kebabs. Both were fantastic. Our server was friendly and efficient. Remember this is a BYOB restaurant with no corking fee. We'll gladly go back again.
(5)yue l.
This restaurant doesn't follow posted operating hours. Claims to open 11am to 10pm. I tried to order lunch just before 3pm was told they are closed. Tried again at 9:30pm for dinner take out was again told closed. This might be typical of poorly operated small businesses but I don't think the extremely unprofessional restaurant deserves the high rating.
(1)Pennskea C.
Didn't know what to expect but really enjoyed it. Decor was a little sparse. But servers were very friendly and welcoming. The feta/veggie salad was very fresh and light. The cheese roll appetizer was tasty too. We had the chicken kabobs and they were very flavorful. We also had the kabob sampler and everything was very good and flavorful too. Tried the custard for dessert and that was yummy as well. Retaurant.com coupon made it a great deal. It was not very busy...even tho' it was Valentine's day. I recommend you go here soon to keep them going so we don't lose this new little gem downtown.
(5)Matt P.
Great lunch spot. They are open for Dinner too. Awesome wraps and kabobs....very authentic.. I'm excited this place opened!
(4)Susan L.
I lived in Turkey for about 9 months in 2007 so I was excited to see a Turkish restaurant opening up downtown. I wish it had not taken me this long to get there, but am very glad I finally made it. From looking at the menu it seemed to be authentic Turkish food. I had the Iskender Kebab, which is a very traditional Turkish dish which I have not had seen I left Turkey and have not seem it on any restaurant menu in Cincinnati before. It was excellent and reminded me of what I had in Turkey. I was with a large group so they have us a collection of cold starters with $3.50 a person. All of them were excellent too and we were given good portions. It is BYOB, which is great if you are looking to save money. The decor is nothing special, but the food makes up for that. Even though we had a large group, the service was excellent. The staff was attentive and friendly. I need to go back and try some of the other dishes, everyone I was with really enjoyed the dish they got.
(4)Asad H.
great food, good ambiance, great service = 4.5 start (round up to 5). Kebabs are awesome!
(5)Courtney F.
My dinner was SOOO good. I got to take my favorite bottle of wine to drink there! And I had the best Doner ever! And the desserts were delicious too!!!
(5)