Today we came to this joint. We ate there many many times before. They never fail to disappoint. I got doner and it tastes delicious. Staff are super polite. This is the best Mediterranean cuisine we ever had. I highly recommend this place if you are in the Easton area.
Very nice place with beautiful decor and ambiance. Location of the restaurant is in the heart of restaurant and shopping district which is very convenient. Portions could definitely be bigger. Price is the same you would probably spend in NY or Chicago for slightly bigger portions. Overall a very nice and clean establishment. Good food. We called in and were assured meats and all menu items are halal, confirmed it when arrived once again. Food is 3.7-4.2 stars, location is 5 stars.
We have been customers of Cafe Istanbul since it opened and it always been good and reliable. Such was the case this past Sunday. It was likely one of the best meals we have had in the past couple years. And service was excellent. If you are hesitant about trying middle eastern food, this is a good place to go as the have a variety of dishes that should please most any palate. And don’t forget the rice pudding.
My mother and I had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon and it was very good. Despite many restaurants having long waiting lists, Cafe Istanbul was getting people in and seated in a timely manner. We were seated immediately and quickly had water brought to the table. We had zucchini pancakes for an appetizer. They were served with yogurt and it was a lovely compliment to the interesting flavor of the pancake. For the main meal we had Labne and Moussaka. Though the Labne was an appetizer it was of sufficient size that my mother had it for an entree and it was plenty. The Moussaka was also a large portion. The only negative was that the center was a bit cool. It had good flavor to the sauce and all of the vegetables were cooked well- even the eggplant! I sometimes find eggplant slimy, but this was done perfectly, no slime! We couldn't decide what we wanted for dessert- so we ordered 3 for the 2 of us! The Sutlac (Rice Puddding) was delicious with the right blend of cinnamon and other flavors. The Kazandibi (Milk Custard) was very mildly flavored and not really something that we enjoyed- but that was just a matter of taste. It was good, but just not for us. Finally the Keskul (almond pudding) was also very good, flavored well and good consistency. Service was spot on- refilling our water, making sure we had bread with dipping oil, getting boxes for left overs.
Good food and good service
great food and service tonight!
Amazing food, the other location next to the river is nicer but this definitely more convenient right next to the mall, the food is 10/10 amazing everything I’ve tried has been perfect. This location is cozy and looks authentic on the inside. Staff is very friendly and nice. I highly recommend trying cafe Istanbul is u are in the Columbus area
Oh my gosh! I was on my way to get a friend at the airport. I stopped by just to kill time and I can definitely say that I will be stopping by every time I’m in the area. The taste is very unique and the portions are more than enough to fill 2 people even though it’s stated as a single dish for 1 person. The look of the place makes you feel right in spot with the culture. My wife is going to be mad at me for going without her but I know I can make it up to her when I make it a date night go to. So 5 stars is what I give because I been to many places where I tried authentic food and this would be one I considered authentic.
Paletable but overpriced and disappointing. The kazandibi exemplified our experience. It is supposed to be a Turkish milk pudding characterized by its carmalized top (Cafe Istanbul's menu even depicts it with a carmalized top), which balances the creaminess of the desert with an earthy flavor and different texture. Ours was a few degrees away from instant Jell-O pudding with some cinnamon on top, as if I tasked a toddler with making the dessert. It was as disappointing as if I had ordered creme brulee in France and received it without the characteristic torched sugar top. The rest of the dinner (my wife had the okra and lamb stew with 'rice pilaf,' with was just plain white rice, and I had the shepherds salad) was fine but nothing special. This felt more like a drive though level of quality for sit down prices. I'm a huge fan of Mediterranean cuisine, but not from here.
Very nice atmosphere, the food tastes fresh and good. A little pricey.