Istanbul Restaurant

Love this cute little restaurant.
The ambiance is homey and cozy, and the service is beyond friendly — the perfect spot for a lovely date night.
We loved every single appetizer plate and the house red wine was great. I’d recommend coming to Istanbul and ordering all the appetizers, salads and soup on the menu and sharing carafes of their house wine!
The items I especially recommend are the Mediterranean seabass, veggy pie, fried calamari, seafood combo salad and their appetizers. I am a strong coffee person and the Turkish coffee is to die for.
We were so full portions were huge and we couldn’t even finish them.
Definitely consider Istanbul for your next date night excursion!
Happy Eating, Unilocalers!

The food is sucks and the price is overcharged and the service waiter even compelled me to ask good comments then can get one free desert ! My god I feel so uncomfortable of that.

Absolutely worse experience I have ever had around the world, and I can say that having traveled 30 countries (including Istanbul, a city this restaurant was named after) and loving hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants.
I have waited for 50 minutes for my table after I have made a reservation online. Their excuse was that they were busy and didn’t check Unilocal reservations.
After that I have waited for an hour for the first appetizer (a salad), 20 more minutes for the other two. Waitress was very apologetic but her apologies could only do so much.
The two tables next to us sat down as we were eating out appetizers, they got their entrees about 15 minutes before us and that’s after I lost my temper with the manager.
At the end I have asked the hostess if they could comp our $ 28 wine in a bill that was over $ 200 and they refused.
If they do not value their customers enough to make up for their mistakes, i would strongly discourage anyone from going there.
The food was ok, not worth the THREE HOUR WAIT… #happymothersday

So I understand that a restaurant wants to make money. And I also understand that lunch specials tend to be fixed. That being said, how difficult or expensive could it be to serve my chicken chops with some lettuce and tomato instead of rice. This does not bode well. Review to follow. Fortunately the waiter was smart enough to substitute salad for my rights. Very good chicken chops (2) and salad for $ 8.95.

Since I live very close to Istanbul, it has always been one of those restaurants that I took for granted and never went to since it was a short walk away … until this past weekend. I came here as part of a group of 8 on a Sunday afternoon around 12:30pm and the restaurant was nearly empty with just 2 customers. Since I pass by the restaurant on a daily basis during different times of the day and night, it was no surprise that the restaurant was nearly empty because it usually is quiet with few customers here and there. On the day we went, a few other parties showed up after we began dining including a large party of about 15 people so business was probably a bit busier than normal.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the décor. I loved the spacing inside and the wall art was very interesting. It definitely was very colorful and easy to observe. Having been to Tacis Beyti, which is the Zagat annointed king of the Turkish restaurants, and Anatolian Gyro, which is one of my favorites as well, Istanbul was going to have a lot to live up to by my standards. I don’t claim to be a Turkish food expert, but I know GOOD FOOD when I see and taste it.
First, our table immediately received some baskets full of bread right after ordering and boy was the bread good! The bread wasn’t really hot or warm, but they were so soft! I think rarely does anyone look forward to bread at the table, but this is one place where you can easily fill up too quickly and go overboard on it. Our entire table was just raving about how good and addictive the bread was.
Next, came our order of Coban Salatasi (aka the Shepherd Salad). The Shepherd Salad contained fresh tomatoes, green peppers, cucumber, onions, parsley and dressing. Istanbul probably has Tacis Beyti to thank for this, but it just was not that good here. Tacis Beyti’s Shepherd Salad absolutely blew me away when I had it, but there was nothing special about the salad here. The flavor was just ok and, at times, lacking. In addition, the feta cheese was just crumbled on a dish and not freshly grated onto the salad. For the rest of my life, every time I have a Shepherd Salad I will be comparing it to Tacis Beyti’s and it’s a shame for their competitors because it will be VERY hard to match.
Onto the entrees. Being a table of 8, our table pretty much ordered different entrees each. On our table we had the Mixed Grill, Lamb Adana Kebab, Chicken Shish Kebab, Lamb Chops and I ordered the Beyti Kebab. Most of the dishes looked good and I had a chance to try the chicken and Adana in the Mixed Grill. Unfortunately, the chicken was a bit on the chewy side and the Adana crumbled like ground beef. It didn’t seem like it was cooked that well. I’ve had Adana before and I was very well aware it was ground lamb, but I’ve never had it crumble into literally pieces of ground meat before when bitten into.
As for the Beyti Kebab, the ground lamb wasn’t that bad. I can’t say it was the best and most tender meat I had ever had, but it was good. It was wrapped in lavash bread and tomato sauce was drizzled on top of each piece. I liked the presentation of the kebab surrounding the outer rim of the plate, although I read that it’s a pretty common way of presenting it. The rice was also good too. On a side note, I also had a chance to try the fries and they were delicious! The fries were perfectly crispy, which everyone agreed was very good! These were probably some of the best fries I have had in a very very long time.
We also ordered some dessert, including the Tiramisu, Soufflé and Baklava. Surprisingly, the Baklava wasn’t as sweet as I normally was used to, which was a good thing. The Tiramisu and Soufflé were also pretty good as well. The desserts took a bit long to come out so we assumed it was being made to order, specifically the Soufflé.
Despite my rave reviews about the bread, fries and dessert, Istanbul was still just OK though. I wasn’t impressed with the entrée food, which were really the most important aspects of our meal. Honestly, it’s probably unfair that I’ve been to Tacis Beyti, but this assessment was truly just based on Istanbul. As I stated, the Shepherd Salad was really lacking flavor and the meats were OK. Nothing about those dishes WOW’d me. The Adana Kebab crumbled like ground beef and didn’t stay together like a good piece of meat when chewed into. Although my 1^st experience here was a bit disappointing, I would still give Istanbul another shot and maybe try other items.

First of all, I want to convey that the service of this place is beyond words, and the glimpse of the resemblance of the historic city of Istanbul from the inside is just breathtaking, as far as food, I love their SULTAN PLATE and if you a seafood lover then MUST try Saint peters Fish, it’s very delicious. As far as desserts concerned the KUNAFE is a very authentic compared to other places in Emmons…

Had a lovely dinner with my mom here tonight. The food was just simply delicious. We shared some babaganoush, Shepard salad, and I had the chicken kebab entrée while my mom had the trout. We were greeted very politely, seated immediately and got pretty quick and attentive service. The place is so beautiful so adds a nice ambiance to the dining experience. They brought out this beautifully puffed bread as complimentary, I’m on a no bread diet but I had to give in and try this beautiful masterpiece! On that diet note, the reason I give 4 stars is because is asked to sub the rice/​frenchfries in my $ 18 entrée with babaganoush instead since I can’t have the carbs but they said I would have to order some. Many places offer that substitution and I don’t expect a full portion but I can’t see how even in terms of price it makes much of a difference. Some places charge $ 1 or $ 1.50 extra for that substitution which I’ll gladly play even though the price point of this entrée already is pretty high. I wasn’t given that option so I got the full order and it was absolutely deliciously, just wish they could of accommodated such a small request. It’s pretty expensive but at the same time it’s not really a fast food place and the food and kind service makes up for it. Will certainly be back!

Been here twice. 1^st with a groupon liked it enough to pay the full price the 2^nd time. Great location. Ambiance is sure there. Clean place. Service was decent both times groupon or not. Tried Shepard salad and the mixed grill platter both were tasty. 2^nd time got babaganush and humus as starters and St Peter’s Fish entrée. All was perfect fresh and perfectly cooked. Of all I tried there fish dish was the best. I regret not having any deserts but appetizers and main course were filling. Definitely be back this summer.

Came in with a group a couple weeks ago and was not overally impressed. We ordered a bunch of different items so we could try. I thought the lamb was a bit chewy.
The eggplant spread was not bad but had a grainy taste to it.
This spiced meat quesdilla thing was probably the highlight of the meal.
this place just lacked the flavor that you would get from other middle eastern spots.

The décor of the place is really cute, especially considering this place was totaled after the Sandy hurricane. The location is very convenient, for me at least, because I live down the street and it’s right in front of the water. The service was nice — friendly staff.
I ordered the Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza). My sister ordered the Adana Kebab & my mother ordered a Pide. The Lahmacun portion consisted of three pieces. The view of the plate was very appealing and the food was just as equally appetizing.
I was very hesitant about coming to the place because I hadn’t before and I didn’t know if it would reach the expectation I walked in with but I can genuinely say it reached and exceeded that expectation.
We had a good dinner. We all enjoyed our food. Thanks for the great service.

I enjoyed the décor and the location (by the water). We went for an early lunch and the food was delicious. I also liked the service-​very respectful and kind.
It was a bit pricey but we ordered an appetizer and two entrees for a little under $ 70.
The crowd is Much better than the other Istanbul in brooklyn (hard to get a seat even if the food is amazing). I prefer the intimacy of this small but worth it restaurant.

My family and I came here on New Year’s Eve, and had a phenomenal experience. The service, food, and ambience are second to none.
The freshly baked pide bread came early and often, and the lahmacun, shepherd’s salad and lentil soup were excellent. For the entrees, we had the mixed grill, the grilled chicken kebap, and the lamb kebap. All were exquisitely cooked to perfection! I especially enjoyed the tender chicken.
We will absolutely be returning here, and wanted to thank the staff for a great dinner. Highly recommended!

Great food and amazing service! Their menu is a bit limited if you are not a lamb person or if you’re new to Turkish food and want to start of with something more familiar, but all the food is great nonetheless. Their appetizers are delicious, and the atmosphere is authentic.

Real Turkish food, for reasonable prices. I am vising New York, and one of the things I promised myself is to try many different restaurants from different places around the world, and I was recommended about Istanbul by a coworker.
The food and the service were good, and the food is really with flavors from far places. The thing that caught me the most was the bread which is kind of home made bread, that taste very special.

I’d put 6 stars if Unilocal allowed it. Everything is perfect:
— Staff are very well trained, attentive and polite.
— Appetizers, mains and deserts are all top quality. Try their whole grilled fish — amazing!!!
— Bread that’s baked like a big bubble is very cool.
— I like the house red wine. It’s simple, tastes good and goes well with the food.
— Atmosphere and ambiance are very inviting. Nice décor.
I’ve been to Istanbul multiple times and the experience has been consistent.
Highly recommend it for various occasions: dinner with friends, large party or just dinner for two.

Istanbul is delightful w the most excellent food and fast friendly service. The Turkish bread was gorgeous, the fish was fresh and tasty, and the dessert was exceptional. I had the seasonal candied pumpkin with fresh whipped cream
Well worth driving down from westchester

Yes! Another «Go-​To» Turkish restaurant added to my list. *Happy dance*
My rating is actually a 4.7÷5. This place would’ve totally gotten the full 5 Stars had the rice been a bit more tasteful. But that was the only con.
I ordered the chicken cubes (kebab?) which came with a portion of rice, some seasoned onions, grilled pepper and tomato, and the chicken. I was quite impressed with the portion of the meat; usually most places serve the tiniest cubes of chicken and the biggest portion of rice. …whaaat…
The plate was (very) pleasant and appetizing to look at. There wasn’t too much of anything (I.e too much rice for absolutely no reason) and was very filling.
The taste was on point. Chicken had just the right bit of tenderness packed with a punch of flavor. The rice, though, was very, very bland. Maybe ask for Brown rice instead, it looked a bit more flavorful. Otherwise, ask for their white and chili sauce to create your own concoction.
Among the other entrees my friends ordered were the chicken adana, lamb kebabs, and the sauteed chicken in a tomato gravy. Everyone had positive comments for all, except the rice.
For dessert, we had the chocolate biscuit cake. It was delectable! Not too sweet, not too soggy, just right. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone, including diabetics. One of us decided to use the free dessert offer upon checking in on Unilocal.The waiter was nice enough to double it since there was 6 of us (looking all hungry for dessert and what not)! How nice!
As for the restaurant itself, it’s very family-​, group-​, and/​or date-​friendly. The interior has a nice «Turkish» and cozy feel to it. It’s right by the water, so the outdoor sitting area on a warm summer night would be wonderful. It was pretty packed around 9pm, so I suggest reserving beforehand.
As for the staff, they seemed to be somewhat understaffed. I only saw one waiter for the 4 – 5 tables inside. So water refills had to be asked for and no one came to check on us to see whether we needed anything else. But the one waiter was friendly enough.
I didn’t get to try their tea, however. What a shame. I must go back now. ;)

Decided to give Turkish food a try after strolling around Emmon’s Avenue bay. They offer both indoor and outdoor dining which is a plus especially when the weather is nice. As for the interior dining area, it’s made up of brightly-​colored bricked walls and decorated with Turkish lamps which sets a warm atmosphere for the restaurant.
We started off with the cheese-​roll as an appetizer since our waiter recommended it. It’s essentially a delicate spring roll filled with feta cheese and parsley. Nothing to write home about… I would probably never order this again. For mains, we had the chicken shish kebab and chicken adana. The presentation on the dishes were superb. Both dishes were packed with flavor. They even provide you white and chili sauce to create your own concoction to complement your entrees. My only complaint is that the meats were on the both entrees were too tough and dry. I wish they had an option of just dark meat. Also, we weren’t provided with their complimentary Turkish bread that I was hoping to try along with the hummus… better luck next time?

I don’t see the hype with this place and the food is okay not the greatest.
My best friend used
to eat at this restaurant and we sat outside to feel the nice summer breeze. We had very nice waiter and they were very attentive. I ordered a shrimp kebab which I realized didn’t have any sides. I asked he waiter for a side which he said he can put mixed vegetables which turns out to be grilled peppers and tomatoes. Once I was sharing my food with friends we realized there was a sticker on one of my grilled tomatoes. I showed the waiter and he grabbed a tissue and took it off my plate then proceeded to go on with life as if they didn’t do anything wrong, thank god i took a picture and place it on the site. My best friend wanted to stay for dessert but i had enough when no one apologize for the mistake that happened and was ready to leave. When we got the check we seen an extra charge of $ 15 dollars on the bill she asked what was it for and then they said it was for the
serves charge. She’s used
before in that restaurant and never been charged extra and she went on the website to see why are they charging her that no one where did it say they will charge $ 15 to use their website. So we asked to speak to the manager and was told he wasn’t there on a busy Saturday night Yeah OK!
Once they seen we were really upset with everything that was happening the waiter that was serving us said the $ 15 was tip… So which is it a Tip or Service charge for using
… I won’t be going here ever again, If you enjoy this place kudos to you!

My boyfriend and I came to Istanbul as a spur of the moment dinner, and I’m happy we did. The restaurant is decorated very fun, and has alot to look at, definitely a fun place to come during the warmer months, being that they have outdoor seating.
Our server was very polite, and helpful, he brought us waters, as well as bread, and THE BEST olive oil. We ordered sigari as an appetizer, and they were definitely the best that I’ve ever had from anywhere. For entrees we split a large Shepard salad, and the chicken kebab platter. The entrees were great, we both really enjoyed our meals. As a dessert we got the chocolate soufflé that came with ice cream on the side.
The soufflé was completely cooked through as if it was a piece of chocolate cake, which was not what we were expecting. The servers were really nice, but extremely slow, the restaurant had 3 tables in there and everything seemed to take forever, I would still come back though because the food was worth it.