A Thousand Tales is a wonderful dining experience. The space is much larger than I expected, with a main dining room, an attached bakery cafe and what looks like a banquet room in back. Located in a strip mall, there is ample free parking. Staff is unassuming, professional and helpful, willing to help with any menu questions. We came for lunch to celebrate a birthday and it was an excellent choice. The menu has a lot of clean eating options, including vegetarian and keto. We opted to share a lamb pizza, a tomato and cucumber salad and a meat tray. All were excellent, plenty of food. The pita was excellent. The tea at the end was lovely. Prices reasonable, good food good portions. Absolutely worth checking out and adding into the rotation of where to go. read more

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I came back from another state, and the first place I missed was Thousand Tales with their cozy and stylish atmosphere. The pistachio crumble latte is still one of my favorites -- creamy, flavorful, and comforting. If you prefer stronger coffee, I'd definitely recommend adding an extra shot. The pogacha with beef and the burek were both delicious, rich, and full of flavor. I also tried the pistachio cheesecake, and it was absolutely delicious -- just as good as I remembered. I was a little disappointed with the Dubai chocolate cheesecake this time though. It didn't even look the same as before, and the pistachio paste tasted less natural than I remembered. The service was good, everyone was friendly, and I'll definitely come back again. read more

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I don't get all the five star reviews. Went here for Mother's Day. 1:00PM reservation for a party of 21. Waited 20 minutes to get in and sit down in the back party room. No food was out except the breakfast from a private event in the morning. Instead of bringing the food into the giant, virtually empty party room, they set the lunch buffet up in a much smaller room. Around 1:45PM, everyone starts lining up. About 120 people all trying to cram into a 12'x15' space. We stood in line a half hour before we even got close to the hot food. Based on the reviews, and beautiful website pictures, I was expecting great food. Instead, we were treated to GFS frozen chicken nuggets, fries, chicken wings, some chopped up mystery meat with peppers, chicken kafta (maybe?) and some dry, hockey puck lamb burgers. Canned soda at the end of the table. Great. We were given tiny plates so you couldn't even get a meal without getting back in line again. Halfway through lunch, my sister in law asked one of the servers if they had any Coke Zero. She told her to get back in line and grab one off the table. Then she walked away. WTF? We were there for two hours. The line never went down. It was 100 people deep the entire time. People started arguing with each other and cutting the line. My wife went back to get food for her mom. She returned to the table twenty minutes later and said men were cutting in line and letting their entire families cut in front of everyone. Total chaos. Over crowded, rude clientele, poorly prepared food, non-existent service. One of the worst dining experiences ever. It was so bad. I'm convinced it was done deliberately to keep people from eating too much or lingering too long. $62 per person including the automatic gratuity for food we stood in line for and served ourselves. NEVER again. We left hungry. Went home and ordered take out. read more

3.45 Stars - Massive restaurant with a cafe and an event space attached to it. Service was friendly and attentive. I noticed a bit too late that most around us ordered a very large sharing platter with tons of food to share. We only tried the falafel appetizer and a chicken over eggplant/yogurt entree both of which were tasty. If I come back with more than just me and my gf I'll be sure to order one of the large sharing platters and update my review. read more

A Thousand Tales is a great restaurant, and they also have a coffee and pastry shop in the same building. This time, we tried the coffee shop. The pastries are plentiful and beautiful. We had a very hard decisions to make deciding what to get. I don't know what it was called, but we got something that looked like a strawberry Napoleon. I couldn't have any because of an allergy, but my wife loved it. Their coffee bar is also impressive. My wife had a latte and I had a mint tea. They make an elaborate latte. I was a little disappointed that the tea, which was not inexpensive, was made with a tea bag and not tea leaves. But it was good, so no real problem there. There was a short line to order at the counter, but it moved quickly. The people behind the counter were pleasant and seem to enjoy talking with their customers. All in all, the Thousand Tales coffee shop rates up there with the best. read more

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Last December we had the year end Yelpies at A Thousand Tales, my sister Frances was my plus one. This was the first time that she joined my husband, also a Yelp Elite, and I at a Yelp event. She was absolutely impressed by the Yelpies and the restaurant. Recently, she even hosted her birthday party at A Thousand Tales. We were a party of 10, they seated us at the first table near the host area, it's understandable, as it was during the month of Ramadan, the restaurant was busy serving buffet even on a Monday. My sister loved the menu at our Yelpies, and wanted to duplicate that as much as possible, so as to introduce A Thousand Tales to the rest of the family who live close by. She had two of each of the following dishes: Spinach Avocado Salad ($17 ea) Shepherd Salad ($15 ea) Falafel with Hummus ($10 ea) Tales Family Mixed Grill ($140 ea) Some of us ordered Fresh Squeezed Lemonade ($7 ea) Their very fresh ingredients always contribute to delicious dishes. The presentation with dry ice under the Tales Family Mixed Grill was always fun and impressive. The complimentary bread was so good, lightly crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside. It was nice that they gave us a huge pot of hot black tea after dinner. Our serving team was very friendly and efficient. Our main server, Akmaral, a young lady who's very pleasant and attentive, worked hard to make sure we had a great time. She even patiently took group pictures for us with at least four different smartphones from us. I need to mention that their very friendly manager Bugra, the owner's son, was absent for a month. When my husband celebrated his birthday here last year, Bugra was extremely friendly, generous and welcoming. He checked in on us several times and gifted my husband a piece of White Dream Cake as complimentary dessert. The presentation of the cake and fireworks candles was so much fun. When I reminded Akmaral that it was Frances' birthday so she would give her a piece of birthday cake. I was quite shocked when she responded that they no longer gave out birthday cake to the birthday person, but she would check (with her management). She came back and the answer was still not a yes. She said only Bugra had the power to give out nice complimentary birthday cakes, she asked me if a piece of cheaper milk cake would be fine. I accepted, but the happy mood of the party has been dampened at this point. It's so different from the generosity that we experienced here at Yelp events, where there were cakes and desserts galore, so much extra free food and desserts for guests to take home. Now, our server had to run around for a while to get permission for a piece of birthday dessert, something pretty standard at restaurants. When Akmaral finally came with another waitress to present the piece of milk cake, it was very fun, Turkish, and happy. It's funny that they also brought 10 forks, and the funniest was that my sister cut that piece into 10 little teeny pieces for everyone to try. It was very moist and not bad. The cake value was not important, it's the gesture and thoughts that counted. Since they don't allow outside cakes, my sister had purchased a big mango "cloud" cake from her favorite bakery, and shared that with everyone at home. I asked for Frances' opinion after the party; she said she would give 3 stars. She did like the serving team a lot, and they had been great. She said it was the hostess Altyn who seemed to be unfriendly to her both on the phone and in person, and no management or substitute checked in on us even once (although our server did). When I called to make a reservation for Frances, Altyn seemed to be fine on the phone, though. Frances was pleasantly surprised that the check was only $500 with the big amount of food, that was very reasonable to her. She said she would return when her son is in town to visit. I am glad that Frances plans on returning. All in all, everyone had a good time. Can't wait to see how another sequel continues. read more

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I love love love this placr! Service is grdat! Place is nice and you can dress up or down as you please. I have my goto food order. It will always be the Grilled platter. Its a variety of meat and its really delicious! If you want to try everything this is a highly suggested order and presentation is amazing! Definitely coming back for more! Happy Eating!!!! read more

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I came here on Christmas Eve while I was running errands in Arlington Heights. I was in need of caffeine and after attending two recent Yelp events here, I wanted to come back and support them. (Plus my Yelp bestie Stacy O. mentioned at the last event that she had a pistachio latte here before the event and it was amazing. I haven't stopped thinking about it). I got an oatmilk pistachio crumble latte and I'm not normally a sweet coffee kind of gal, but omg. It was incredible and so worth the splurge. The real pistachios as a topping was a great addition, and they topped it with a small Turkish delight. I will always come back here when I'm in the area and need coffee. Also, all their fudges are delicious, but the pistachio one might be my favorite. read more

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We came here on a Thursday after 8pm dinner to a packed restaurant & we were able to be seated with 5 minutes which was great! The environment was classy with white table clothes & all servers wearing black pants & button downs but the other restaurant goers were a mix of dressed up or casual. They give complimentary bread & olive oil. It was very addicting and could have ate all of it but saved room for the main course. We ordered Lahmacun & Beytzi Kabob then got pastries (not pictured) at the cafe next door: pistachio cheesecake & baklava. Everything with tip included was around $75. I am new to Turkish food but everything tasted amazing! The kabob was my favorite because it came with yogurt sauce and the meat was so tender. Nothing was too salty & all the flavors were very balanced. I would come here again to try more foods! read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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This Turkish café is a five star place filled with wonderful aromas, sights and tastes that awaken the palate. The food is made from the freshest ingredients and you can taste the care and passion put into every bite. I loved everything I tried, but a few of my favorites were the pomegranate walnut salad, pesto pasta and meat rolled in a thin pita with tomato based sauce and cheese garnish. Dessert was equally impressive and we tried delicious cheesecake, baklava, and profiteroles served with hot Turkish tea in elegant tulip glasses. The entire night while dining here, we felt like we were part of an exclusive family meal experience. The owner, servers and staff at the bakery counter are all fabulous and we look forward to returning here in 2026! read more

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This place is nothing short of amazing! We experienced a 4 course meal starting with appetizers of hummus, baba ganoush, grape leaves and warm bread followed by a hot tomato red pepper soup and on to a beautiful plated main entree of Turkish style roast lamb with beautiful sides. The show stopper was the flaming salt crusted turkey that a chef unveiled for us. All the food is made fresh everyday and items are all delicious with their own unique flavors. That wasn't all.. they also have a beautiful grocery shop featuring various sweets, bakery, butcher and authentic groceries. Another nice area is the cafeteria style meal place with casual seating! It reminded me of my trip to Istanbul where this is very common to have many dishes offered and you pick what you want at the restaurants. Seating was comfortable and intimate. Then they have another area separate from all this where you can try a number of Turkish delights/Lokum, baklava's and deserts with coffee and teas! Setup as a traditional Turkish tea room as well. The whole family is very nice and puts thier passion and hard work into everything here! When you leave you feel like a Sultan! read more

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Stepping into A Thousand Tales is less about eating out and more about embarking on a journey. Located subtly in the heart of Mount Prospect, this restaurant manages to feel both intimate and grand, inviting patrons to settle in and become part of its narrative. I can confidently say that this is a five-star experience, and I am already looking forward to my next chapter there! read more

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Wow grabbed some delicious baklava to take home and share with my wife. They looked so good I ate some in the car before I was home. . So good highly recommend checking out their bakery and the restaurant. Welcoming and friendly staff. Definitely a hidden gem !!! read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Nur was an amazing server, very quick, very kind and offered other things for us to try. On top of that the food was incredible. I got the chicken Shish and it was so good. My family as well got the tales family mixed grill and that myself was amazing My family and I come here very often and we would definitely come back again. The Turkish coffee was amazing too read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Awesome place to dine in. A real great atmosphere with beautifully designed ambience. Foods are so authentic and so delicious. The menu is full of a list of different turkish food and make you want to order all same time. Simply it is a place you MUST visit and and experience yourself:) read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

I've been to A Thousand Tales before and visited for a second time while visiting Illinois. It's a nice place to grab a quick bite to eat. The service here tends to be a little slow but the food is fresh. I've ordered the grilled meatballs both visits and it will likely become a go-to. They also have a cafe next door where you can order crafted drinks and pastries to go. read more

A Thousand Tales - Grilled meatballs - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Had an amazing first time visiting A Thousand Tales! The food was great and everyone here is so kind. We tried their Valentine's Day drinks, which included an iced strawberry mocha latte and love potion mocktail (a beautiful sparkly shirley temple). They even gave us a complimentary dessert. I got the chocolate mousse one and it was so delicious. The bakery connected to the restaurant also has a huge selection of beautiful cakes, chocolates, and pastries. I will definitely need to come back to try more of their bakery items! read more

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Been going back from time to time to get the Black Forest cake and mosaic chocolate. These are my comfort food. They continue to be amazing! I love that they are not too sweet. read more

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Amazing food! The restaurant is family owned by the kindest people, but every single person takes pride in their work. I recognized the fresh ingredients used in the chicken shish kebabs, fries, & pomegranate salad. Connected to the restaurant is their Delicious bakery full of fresh baked goods & desserts, including the Dubai chocolate. I enjoy the choco berry cake & visit the cafe with family for tea. They are family friendly with great ambiance. They also have snacks from Turkey and food to go! They are also listed on TooGoodToGo; Can't wait to be back for more! read more

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A Thousand Tales was excellent. The food was amazing from start to finish. I ordered a variety of spreads, salads, and kabobs, and everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. You can really tell the ingredients are fresh and thoughtfully prepared. I was very impressed with the quality of the food, and it easily exceeded expectations. I also grabbed some sweets to go, and they were all fantastic -- the perfect ending to a great meal. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend this place if you're looking for authentic, flavorful Turkish food. read more

I was invited to both A Thousand Tales and The Istanbul Cafe/Market through Yelp Elite Squad, so when a family member wanted me to procure "good coffee," I knew just where to go. Prior to the Yelpies award dinner hosted by A Thousand Tales, a fellow Yelper was sipping a pistachio latte in the cafe area and she spoke highly of it so I knew I would want to try one when the time was right. The prices of their lattes were cheaper than other cafes in the area, but that did not mean the flavors were discounted! We ordered 2 hot pistachio lattes, 1 iced pistachio latte, 1 hot chocolate, and 1 white chocolate mocha. My pistachio latte, made with oat milk, was full of actual pistachios. While the drinks were being made, I was admiring all of the desserts I thankfully got to try from the aforementioned Yelp Elite events. The ingredient lists are so simple and I appreciate that! The drinks were made quickly and packed efficiently for me to drive back home with. The cups, lids, and drink tray were all sturdy. The only thing I was missing was one of those drink plugs to keep things extra hot and to prevent splashing. I look forward to trying their Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake sometime soon! 10/10 recommend what I've gotten to taste so far--rice pudding, baklava, fudge, and their Turkish delight. I am happy to make the drive to support a kind family's business! read more

A Thousand Tales - Midye Baklava Portion - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

First time at a Turkish restaurant and it was amazing. The portions were generous and reasonably good priced. The staff were kind and helpful. The food was flavorful and comforting. I liked that at the end they had some Turkish coffee! And we got the chance to grab stuff from their bakery and then it was brought to our table. The Turkish delight was my favorite! Definitely a unique and nice place to try out some great new food! read more

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We came here for lunch. The service was great even though the place was very busy! They had a lunch menu which is good from 11 am to 5 pm (Monday - Friday), price is very reasonable and good portion size too! We ordered: 1. Lunch Beef Doner $14 - thin strips of beef with tortilla 2. Lahmacum $8 - this had two large tortillas with ground meat on top. (I like this the best) 3. Lunch Chicken Adana $14 4. 3 choices of cold appetizer mix plate $13 - baba ghanoush, beet dip, hummus (all the dips were really tasty, my fav was the beet) Then we also order the Adana Kebab -$29, not really worth it, it look the same as the lunch chicken Adana except it was double in price and it was with beef! They serve bread (very soft and good) with olive oil mixed with spices! they also serve complimentary hot tea! Overall, it was very good and definitely will come back and try other menu entrees! read more

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I love this place. Great food and great service. The ambiance is top notch. The owners and staff are super friendly. E Their bakery area has delicious items. Yum. Their lamb, beef chicken, and rice are delicious. You won't leave here hungry or unsatisfied. read more

Everything was very tasty, fresh salads, fresh cheeses, beautiful, kind waiters. Definitely return it there more than once read more

A Thousand Tales - Everything was very tasty, fresh salads, fresh cheeses, beautiful, kind waiters - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Had a great lunch at A thousand tales. The value is great as the portions for lunch specials are awesome. Great complimentary tea as well. This is hospitality! Loved the experience a sthe staff was really good and the food matched as well. Good value. It was quite busy for a Wednesday afternoon, most of the tables were full and active. We ordered mainly off the lunch specials and ate them family style because why not? We were pleased with the food, great value and portion. We had a great time. The stoneware and decor is excellent as well as they have a refined experience. I'll definitely be back. Plenty of parking and also EV charging (evgo) in the strip mall. read more

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A Thousand Tales in Mount Prospect has instantly become one of my favorite niche coffee spots. The Turkish coffee was deeply aromatic, strong without being harsh, and didn't need a sweetener to taste exactly like what I'd experienced in Turkish cafés in Turkey (grounds at the bottom on the cup and all). The chocolate croissant was expectedly amazing - huge,flaky, buttery, and generously filled. The place was absolutely packed with Eastern European families and friends chatting over coffee and pastries, which only added to the sense that this is a genuinely authentic, community-rooted cafe rather than a generic suburban bakery. Warm service, excellent coffee, and a visually stunning, unforgettable presentation of pastries (worth a stop just to see) mean I'll be back often! Next time, however, I'm going to eat at the restaurant/grill which looks like it is going to create the same level of atomic explosion in my head as this bakery has! read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish coffee and Chocolate Croissant - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

UGH! OBSESSED! A Thousand Tales is a lovely restaurant that also has a bakery/cafe. This Mediterranean spot is family owned and has so much love to it. My most recent visit was for a weekend lunch and it was paaaaacked. Service started out great but then got very slow. My friend and I attempted to get our server's attention several times but, that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. We were understanding of how busy it was so it wasn't a problem for us. We had gotten our food at that point so our bellies were happy. For food I tried the mushroom guvec and devoured it. It was full of bold flavors and was absolutely delicious. My goal was to bring leftovers home for my husband... that didn't happen, haha! I ate EVERYTHING and was so full, but, there was no sharing this meal. It was waaaaay too good not to eat in 1 sitting. DO NOT SKIP ON THEIR BAKERY!!! Even though I didn't save any room for dessert, I got it anyway. I tried a slice of the chocolate mouse cake and goodness it was moist, rich, and delicious. I would order this every single time I'm there. read more

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Went here for a quick snack on way to airport - Ohare! It's like 10 min away from the airport. They have separate dining and coffee/ dessert lounge area. We sat in the lounge. Both the areas were super busy and quite crowded. They have outdoor seating as well. In the lounge we need to order before we seat. Got two coffees and a couple of cake bites for snacking! Over all good experience. read more

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Very friendly and attentive staff. We tried the brunch buffet for $35/person. I probably would not choose that option again and just order à la carte. It was a bit noisy so talking may be difficult. read more

Came here for lunch and the food was good like usual but sad my Dubai chocolate barley had filling in it and there was so much hard chocolate! read more

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There's a thousand other restaurants from which you'll have better tales to tell. We had a 5:30 reservation, so were able to order off the a la carte menu. There was a Ramadan buffet menu starting at 6pm, $35pp, which I wasn't aware of, from reserving on Yelp. The cuisine is Turkish/Mediterranean, and there are plenty of choices. Prices are quite elevated. $17 for a mixed hot appetizer plate, which had 2 mozzarella sticks, 2 falafels, a fried meat dumpling, 2 crispy cheese rolls, and a couple dollops of hummus. My salmon was $35 and tasted very mediocre, with the few potatoes barely cooked through and the salad overdressed. My kids ordered the cheese pizza, which has a very thin crust. My husband tried the meat pide, which was like a thin meat flatbread for $23. The service was off putting, as the waiter only made eye contact with my husband and directed all comments and questions to him, despite us being a party of 4. "Anything else, sir?" "Enjoy the appetizer, sir." "Can I bring anything else, sir?" I wouldn't return to dine here, on this alone. With the food mediocre and the high prices, I definitely won't be back and don't recommend it. We tried 2 cake slices from the bakery, and it would have made sense for us to pack up our entree leftovers and clear away the dirty dishes and silverware, but the waiter brought the desserts out with everything still on the table and cluttered up. 18% gratuity is automatically added to all bills, regardless of party size. Easy parking in the big lot. The restaurant is located in a dated strip mall. I had this place bookmarked for well over a year and am extremely disappointed with the experience here. Skip it. read more

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One of the cutest coffee shops in the neighborhood with amazing Turkish desserts. Sweet tooth people s heaven. Staff is polite and helpful and also provides quick service Ambiance was cozy and comfortable. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends or a mini date. read more

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Food was good,we ordered a brunch platter , egg omelets , have good decor , it's a Turkish restaurant and do have a bakery with nice cakes

A wonderful meal at this establishment the other night. We went for a weeknight meal and I would say the place was still consistently busy even having initial sit downs even as late as 8:30pm. The space is beautiful and had a great atmosphere. Very conducive to sitting and chatting for awhile after dinner. We ordered the babaganoush and the Tales Grill to share. The babaganoush was good, you could definitely taste that it was freshly prepared. The Tales Grills is a decent portion enough for 2-3 people to share with a wide variety of grilled meats, about 2 pieces of each of the grilled meats. The flavor for each of the meats was excellent. They also give you bread to start with an olive oil dip, very good bread, not your typical complimentary bread. The service is phenomenal, the staff is very attentive but not trying to push you out or rush you. After your meal they offer tea to drink. Overall a great experience and I would love to come back to try some other items on the menu. read more

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This is by far the most beautiful café in the area, with a warm, inviting atmosphere and a cozy ambiance. We've visited multiple times and tried many of the sweets they offer -- and I can honestly say they all taste delicious! My little son absolutely adores this place; he thinks he needs to take off his shoes when he sits down because of the rug. The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming. All in all, I would highly recommend this café and wouldn't hesitate to bring any guest here if I had to choose a place that best represents this area! read more

A Thousand Tales - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

After trying A Thousand Tales Restaurant / Bakery & Cafe at a Yelp event, a bunch of us wanted to back and try some more. We got the Tales Family Grill (combination of chicken shish, lamb shish, Adana kabob ,lamb chops, beef doner, meatballs, beyti kabob, lahmacun, mix salad, rice, bulgur and French fries) to try their most popular items. This tasted just as good as we remembered. The meat was fantastic and it includes surprises like how good the bulgur tastes. After the main course, I went into their bakery and had a slice of the chocolate mousse cake. This was ok but could have had a richer flavor. A Thousand Tales Restaurant / Bakery & Cafe has amazing food and I highly recommend it. A note about service. Our waitress stood near our table all night, which was awkward, but I still had to ask for water three times throughout our meal. read more

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I've been here before for an event and I'm happy to say the place holds up! This spot is phenomenal! Amazing food and wonderful service in a comfortable space, what more could you want? I met some friends for a long overdue dinner, we had about 10 people, and we had a great time. We ordered the giant platter with everything... 2 of them actually. Love the presentation on this one, they set off some dry ice before setting it down. Very cool effect! The food itself is fantastic, all fresh and grilled to perfection. Everything on this plate is good, even the fries stand out. Some favorites of mine are the bulgur wheat and the beyti (spelling?) Kabob. The chops are picture perfect as well. Don't leave without hitting the cafe and getting some dessert to take home! They really shine with their cakes and authentic sweets, you can't go wrong here. Really I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a trek from me but worth every minute of the trip, so don't miss out and stop by! read more

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Been here twice in as many weeks and both times it was completely amazing. The service was impeccable: friendly, helpful, and prompt. The food was perfection. The shawarma was the best I've ever had, the lamb chops were perfection, the red lentil soup was amazing. Everything was delicious. The restaurant itself is cosy and inviting. A 10 out of 10. I'll be back for my birthday this year. read more

The restaurant food and bakery are both unique and incredible. This is my wife's favorite restaurant in Illinois. We're always treated very well and the food is consistently excellent. The bakery for dessert is a must. read more