Had lunch here thursday and it didnt disappoint. We did our homework before going and husband and I decided on Tales grill (lamb, chicken, beef with grilled veggies among other things). Portion was more than enough for both of us and foodwise, it was on point. They gave you bread before your entree, you might want to skip bread if you want to really enjoy your food, just a suggestion. In their menu, it mentions an 18% gratuity regardless of how many people or the amount of food you order and actually we didnt mind this. Food and ambience were great! Do not forget the bakery next door! read more

Such a cute discovery! The bakery opens at 7 and restaurant at 9. Both are very different vibe from each other~ the bakery was definitely my favorite with endless sweets to pick from. All the wooden contrast with the set up went really well! The breakfast menu is a little limited but regardless food was delicious. Will visit again to try more! read more

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On weekends they have breakfast buffet only until 12.00, for about $39. We did not want to do it but did not have option of ordering food. We were directed to their bakery. Cakes and pastries looked good but I wanted savory food. Ended up getting burek with cheese. It was okay nothing out world, but olive bread was delicious. Will go back some other time so I can order food from menu read more

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

I visited this place with my work friends and our serving staff was amazing. The dining area is nicely arranged with a good touch of Turkish vibe. Each person was patient and very kind in taking orders or bringing our food. We ordered a lot of food and everything was delicious. The platter had everything from lamb chops to kebabs to Turkish pizza. Their best part is the bakery next door which has incredible collection of baklavas and sweet treats. I enjoyed all baklava flavors and pistachio cheesecake- that was real deal! Highly recommend this place. read more

First time at A Thousand Tales and had a wonderful dining experience. It's such a pretty and spacious space. They have a beautiful outdoor patio as well. The restaurant is busy so plan to get reservations. The food is OUTSTANDING and the service is EXCELLENT. I loved everything we ordered. The portion sizes are big and the food is freshly prepared and tastes amazing. We ordered the Kibbeh, Pomengranate and Walnut Salad, Falafel with hummus , Tales Mixed Family grill, and Chicken Shish Kebab. Each of the dishes were a 10/10! I highly recommend the Tales Mixed Family Grill which has a little bit of everything. The presentation will WOW you for sure. We ended the night with some delicious dessert , Turkish chai and coffee. The dessert section is fantastic with so many great options to choose from. The Turkish chai is wonderful and the most perfect way to wind down a fantastic dinner. Loved visiting A Thousand Tales and will definitely be back again to try other things on their menu. read more

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I was in the area so I stopped in to A Thousand Tales bakery again. Need a reason? There are over a thousand tasty reasons, from the different flavors of macarons, to the baklava, gorgeous technicolor Turkish delight, cookies, lavishly decorated cakes, and rich and flaky savory pastries. There is an area with tables and seating to enjoy your goods. If you have time, the restaurant is a wonderful experience. read more

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Was not impressed with their iftar menu. Found it overpriced and limited. There was also an unexpected 18% gratuity fee that was included without prior notice. I would have rather ordered off their regular menu for my iftar meal but that was not an option. Ended up paying $50 per person with no dessert. Service was okay nothing too impressive. Cafe part always has many options which is appreciated but again overpriced and the few times I visited the staff have been very cold. Would not come out of my way to visit again. read more

One star off for adding an automatic 18% gratuity to the bill. I understand why this is standard practice for large tables, but we were only a party of 3 so I don't feel it's appropriate. At least they are up front about it and mention it at the beginning of the menu, so there wasn't really any surprise. Other than that, our experience was excellent. The bread served at the beginning was very light and tasty, and came with olive oil. We ordered the hot appetizer sample plate, and everything was very good. I wish there was a little more of it though, since they only give you 2 of most things and that doesn't divide well among 3 people. Our entrees were all amazing, and with generous portions of food. I had a lot of trouble deciding because everything sounded good, but settled on the Beyti Kabob. My dad got the Guvec and my mom had the Pide with pastrami. There is no alcohol served, but I don't have a problem with that. We shared a pot of black tea, and though it was fairly pricy (as was everything), it was good and there was plenty to go around. The service was pretty good, though it took a little while to get our check at the end (they were busy though, so it's not a problem). The bill was high, but as a special treat it's nice. I do wish they would get rid of the automatic gratuity though, or maybe only keep it for larger groups. read more

Amazing bakery and cafe. Unfortunately the kitchen closes at 9 pm so we could not dine in but the bakery was still open. Tried couple of pastries, baklawa, Turkish delights and a summer mock tail drink. Everything tasted super good. A friend recommended this place who is originally from Turkey and she said this is the closest you can get.. so had to try it for sure. We will go back for breakfast and dinner and update the review. read more

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

Let me start with the obvious: This is not your usual storefront middle eastern eatery. It's a huge space, with a bakery attached, and an ethnic market in the same strip mall. And that leads me to the food. Everything we had was just fine, well seasoned, reasonable portions. But they have to pay for the 5-6 storefront spaces they occupy, and everything on the menu was overpriced compared to other mid-eastern places where we've dined, whose offerings are just as good. The place was almost empty on a Friday night, and the waitstaff just hovered just out of earshot, making for an awkward ambiance. the bakery is just awesome, and why I'm rating them at 3 stars. without that, 2 stars. read more

Delicious food and baked goods! Looking for a quick coffee or tea run or a place for delicious food? This is definitely a place to check out. Their teas and desserts are absolutely delicious. The restaurant offers a variety of delicious vegetarian and meat options. The staff is incredibly nice. There's lots of parking spaces available and is accessible. Highly recommend dinning in or enjoy a quick tea / coffee run. read more

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Thank you so much for this amazing event! I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to taste Authentic Turkish cuisine. The staff and the owners make you feel so welcomed. You can taste the love in every bite! The food was absolutely amazing! This was my 1st time trying Turkish cuisine and my goodness I'm not sure if it will ever be topped. They were so generous with their portions and food options. I literally have NO complaints. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection and all food was organic and carefully curated. I could literally taste the olive in the olive oil that came with the welcome bread. EVERY dish & drink you see in the photos taste exquisite. My tastebuds took a trip to Turkey today and couldn't be happier. I can't wait to introduce family & friends to this Gem! Also, they had the best lemonade I've ever tasted. This place is a must! Run, don't walk to A Thousand Tales. read more

It's rare that I get to enjoy lunch out these days. I met up with some colleagues from all around Chicagoland and we picked this spot that all 4 of us could get to within 30 minutes. It was pretty busy, especially for a Monday afternoon. The menu had so much yummy things to choose from, but 3 out of the 4 of us went with the chicken shish (lunch special). And the 4th went the grilled meatballs (another special) route. While waiting for our food we enjoyed the delicious bread basket. And then my chicken shish showed up with more yummy carbs- something that reminded me of a pita bread, but better. It also came with a side of bulgar, which I had never had before, but was also really good. I got pretty full fast, but found myself continuing to eat because it was such a delicious meal. Great food, friendly and attentive staff and a beautiful restaurant (the patio looks amazing too for summertime). I wish this was closer to where I live, but a good spot to keep in mind when meeting others who don't live near me. read more

The service and food here were amazing! My friend and I ordered and split the Tales Family Mixed Grill dish and it was to die for, so good! The bakery attached to this restaurant is amazing too! I got a few desserts, one being a chocolate custard mousse cake and it was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend coming to eat at this Establishment! read more

A Thousand Tales - Tales Family Mixed Grill - Turkish Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Overall (A+) This place is awesome. The food, the service, the value are all out of this world. If you haven't been yet - go. It's one of those places you don't mind spending money at because you feel happy. Food (A+) So I had the opportunity to go during a Yelp Elite event and try a number of different item. They all tasted really good. You can tell they make the items with love and fresh ingredients. Pics below for some of the food items. They also have a bakery, so after your done eating you can get a bunch of desserts and other baked goods to go or to dine in. It is my understanding they also do buffets there. I'm going to one of those next time. Value (A) Altough my meal was complimentary. The prices seem fair for the quality and portion sizes. Service (A+) Okay so met the family and they are living the American dream. Numerous family members work in the location and take a lot of pride in offering a high quality product. The service is warm and welcoming and fast. I want to see business owners like this win. They truly want to share their food and culture and are in business for all the right reasons. Don't believe any of the negative reviews. Those are one off experiences. I love this place so much that the next time I go out to eat - it will be here. If it wasn't so far away I would have already gone back. read more

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For a Monday night this placed was packed, luckily we made dinner reservations and got seated immediately. We started off with the cold appetitive- you pick 3. We had the hummus, babaganoush, and labneh. I was a little surprised that it didn't come with any pitas or crackers, but luckily we were served a basket of bread. The servings are a bit small- so if you have a large group- you might was to order additional apps. The hummus was just okay but the babaganoush and the labneh were very tasty. We're a family of 5 so we decided to get the tales family grill that has a little of everything and can serve 4-5 people. It's come with bulgar, rice, roasted tomatoes, and salad. Then for the meats- it includes chicken, shawarma, lamb chops, beef shush kabobs, and Turkish flatbread pizza. We enjoyed our meal- and even had leftovers to take home. Service started off great. Our sever was very friendly and attentive. But after we got our meal, he checked on us once. We had to flag down the bus boys for more water, napkins, and our check. After dinner we visited the bakery/cafe and took home a cake. Be ready to know what you want or else other customers act like you're not there and barge up to whoever is available at the counter. I had someone asked me if I needed help and someone literally stepped in front of me and started ordering. The person behind the counter looked at me, like they didn't know what they should do and proceeded to serve the person who basically cut in front of me. The cake we eventually ordered, was good. It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache frosting. It was very light and airy, and not too sweet. read more

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How have I never heard of this place! The restaurant is huge with a bakery section and ample seating for the restaurant that can hold large parties. We had a group of twelve, thankfully the staff was very responsive and helpful. We got a few salads and appetizers to share; the Tales Salad and pomegranate walnut salad, both citrusy and delicious. The appetizer was a cold trio of hummus, beet and baba ghanoush. The highlight taste wise and presentation was the Tales Mixed Grill with a variety of meats including lamb, beef, and chicken as well as salad, fries and Turkish pizza called Lahmacun. We also ordered a couple pide, cross between a pizza and calzone. They even have breakfast items in the menu. Will have to go back to try other menu items. Note they automatically add 18% gratuity to all bills regardless of party size as noted on the first page of the menu. read more

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Five stars with*. The bakery is to die for although it's a little pricey, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than an airfare to turkey and believe me once you're here, you just walked into Istanbul. When was the last time you had fresh and I mean fresh Turkish delight? The baklavas looks exactly what you would see on any Istanbul pastry shop Meaning it has pistachios all over. I came here for lunch, were we started with 3 excellent appetizers of baba ghanoush, hummus and beet salad(superb). For mains we had the chicken kabob(fine) and adana kabob( gamy). Asterisk* for 5 stars is because it's pricey. read more

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After coming back from a recent turkey trip felt the urge to indulge in more Turkish cuisine However, it wasn't exactly like Turkish cuisine imo in Turkey but still good I wished the cram puffs or profiteroles had less of the chocolate sauce Eclair was okay, those two are my faves and looking for the best ones in Chicagoland read more

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Service was amazing. Just a little pricey for selection. Could have been a little bit cheaper.

Ambiance was nice. We came for their breakfast buffet which was $35pp. There were Turkish breads. Omelette and waffle station. They have a Turkish bakery inside. Restaurant has been opened for a year and a half. read more

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This is a review of the breakfast buffet. It was $135 for my 12yo, 17yo, and myself to have the breakfast buffet. The food was excellent. I am the most adventurous eater so I tried the Turkish dishes. Wonderful pastries, cheeses, dips(beet salad, carrot salad, honey and jam, olives, hummus), the lentil soup is out of this world. They have a marvelous bakery. Delicious. My kids had French fries, bagles, Nutella, sliced pineapple, and 1 waffle. They drink tea so we asked for tea, and received 2 tiny Turkish glasses of the strong stuff. Wonderful tea. However from there on out we could not get a 2nd cup of tea, I could get no tea, we never received a pot like all the other tables, our water was never refilled, and no one took away our empty dishes. So we had nothing to drink and ate with dirty plates at the end of the table. The only service we received was the first 2 cups, and the bussing service upon leaving. I would say only go with other adults who will split the check or you know appreciate Turkish specialties. It was $35/person, and mandatory 18% gratuity so $18 tip, $135 for me to try some bakey rolls and lentil soup with no tea while my kids ate continental hotel breakfast foods. It got quite busy, all interactions were courteous, the restaurant is lovely. I would go back for dinner service if I was in the area. $135 for a buffet with nothing to drink really stings. read more

Came to try this restaurant with my fiancee and her friend. They had been here before and had liked it. That day they were doing a buffet later in the evening (2 hours from when we got there). We were seated fairly promptly and our server came to take our orders. I was looking forward to try the Menemen but was told it was part of the breakfast section and couldn't be ordered any longer (which was fine). I requested a few more minutes to check through the menu and ended up picking the Chicken Ali Nazik. It took some time for them to make but was delicious. It had a good amount of flavor and is definitely a dish I'd recommend. Is a bit pricey for the portion size. I'd definitely want to come back to try a few more things on their menu, especially the Menemen. I'm a fan of Shakshouka and it appears to be very similar, so definitely curious how it matches up. read more

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

Very nice bakery, quite busy on Friday night. We stopped by for Turkish coffee, and some pastries and sweets. Liked everything. Service at the counter was friendly and efficient, the food and coffee came quickly. Plesant atmosphere and ambiance, no complaints whatsoever read more

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

The food is consistently great. Waiters do not check on you often enough, but once you get their attention the service is very good and they are eager to please. The adjoining bakery is also delicious. read more

4.5. A great overall pick. All the foods. All the desserts. All the peoples. In the burbs.

Excellent and authentic Turkish food experience. It isn't a cheap meal but worth an occasional visit. Breakfast, in particular, is worth experiencing. read more

* Food was excellent: every dish brought was unique, flavorful, and impossible to stop eating. * Service was kind, thoughtful, informative and proactive. * Ambiance: Loved the modern, clean environment, and the bakery connected had such an ornate, old Europe vibe! read more

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Food was awesome! Ambiance was awesome! Service is good. The live singer was a special touch. I especially liked the lamb on the rotating skewer- spectacular if you like lamb. Would definitely come back. read more

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It was the worst and most expensive meal I've ever had in my life. I wanted the salad myself, you didn't even give it with it. This is not Turkish pide! There is only ground beef in this pita and the dough is very hard. As a Turk, I condemn you. A lousy meal in a fancy box. I will never come again! read more

Food was fantastic. I recommend the buffet spread. Everything was seasoned well and desert options were good. read more

Celebrated a friend's birthday brunch here, and it was so nice! The food was delicious, the Turkish tea and mocha latte were both fantastic, and the restaurant was clean and inviting. The staff consistently checked in on us and was very kind. Highly recommend! read more

This place is an absolute gem. 10/10. One my favorite places to go in the suburbs. They have some of the best Turkish desserts and pastries in the Chicagoland area. The service is quick and the pricing is reasonable. This is very much somewhere people go to have breakfast, tea, coffee, desserts, etc. with their families or friends. The vibe inside the bakery is beautiful. Overall 10/10 recommend both the bakery and the restaurant. read more

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Delicious Mediterranean, Middle Eastern restaurant and bakery. Bakery has a small cafe with numerous delicious baked goods from cakes, pastries, cookies, baklava's and more!! Also serves fresh coffee, latte's, teas and more; seating area is very nice in the cafe. We went to the restaurant which had a beautiful decor and excellent wait service. The server was nice and she explained much if the menu to us. We got the falafel hummus plate, delicious, fresh and authentic. The salad with fresh lettuce, feta, tomatoes, cucumbers with a pomegranate vinegar and olive oil vinaigrette; chicken was moist, seasoned well like a kabob and portion was huge/we had to share. They also brought fresh delicious bread (focaccia-like), and a delicious dipping sauce of olive oil and zatar. We will be back. read more

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Had a fantastic dinner at 1000 Tales with my wife. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with beautiful greenery throughout. Our server, Kate, was friendly and helped us pick the perfect dish. We ordered the Iskender; tender, flavorful halal beef and lamb topped with a rich, homemade-style tomato sauce and a thick, tangy yogurt that reminded me of Arabic labneh but even better. The salad was a surprise hit, with pomegranate, citrus, and feta. An unexpectedly great combo. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality and taste made it totally worth it. Everything is halal, which was a big plus. We'll definitely be back! read more

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

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Amazing. Their weekend brunch is like dining in a fancy hotel in Turkey. Folks are friendly and service is premium. Ingredients are all delicious on their own and fabulous together. If it wasn't so pricey I'd never eat anywhere else. read more

Everything we had was top notch. From the bread and oil to start to the Pomegranate Walnut salad, to the main course. Our server didn't check on us after the food arrived, but it's new so I'm giving them a pass there. The box they bring you the check in is quite a nice touch. The attached bakery is legit, do not miss out on the fudge balls...just amazing! read more

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A true gem of Turkish cuisine! I've lived in the U.S. for 30 years and tried countless Turkish restaurants but A Thousand Tales stands in a league of its own. They've done something remarkable: bringing together authentic dishes from all over Türkiye under one roof, each executed beautifully. The biggest challenge? Everything on the menu is outstanding. Choosing just one dish feels impossible because they're all that good. Right next door is their bakery packed with traditional Turkish desserts, fresh pastries, and a great selection of cakes. Whether you're here for a full meal or just popping in for something sweet, you're in for a real treat. This place isn't just a restaurant... it's a journey through the diverse flavors of Turkish culture. Highly recommended! read more

I've had my eye on this location for a while now and they've finally opened! We found out the hard way that the Chef's Specials require one day's notice, so I was not able to get the lamb in the clay pot as I had hoped. However, the Tales Salad and Adana Kebab that we ordered instead were both very good. I also have to compliment the warm bread we received, which was excellent. They bake it on-site. Service and ambiance were both very good. Prices are higher than I would typically pay elsewhere for what we ordered. In fact, they even charge you for the tap water - very European-style. I guess think of it as a bread fee. Attached to the restaurant is their bakery, where you can get sweets and a coffee to go, or else eat it in the cafe. I think I will have to return to do that, since the environment there seems very cozy. read more

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Tonight I had A Thousand Tales for a evening dinner. I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never had a Turkish dinner before. I do love Mediterranean food however. Parking was easy, lots of available parking spaces.The atmosphere is nice, you walk in and the cafe is to the left and restaurant is on your right. Although it was very loud and lots of kids shrieking so be prepared if you come during dinner times We didn't have a reservation so we were told it would be a 45 min wait. The host took my name and said they will come get us when ready. In the meantime we decided to visit the bakery and sit at the cafe. While waiting I sampled the baklava. By far the walnut baklava was the best and I can tell you it's a bit pricey. Three small pieces of baklava cost me almost $8 after tax. After about 45-50 minutes, I decided to check back on our table and amazingly the host said it's ready, this made me wonder how long it's been ready for and they just didn't come get us. For the appetizer I ordered mozzarella sticks and the kibbeh. Mozzarella sticks were good, they come with a rich sauce but it's still just fried mozzarella stick, nothing to write home about. The kibbeh was not my favorite, it was a fried ground beef, stuffed with walnuts and what tastes like mint and other spices. By far you can taste the mint and the walnuts as you take bites. It's also a bit dry. I would not order it again. For the main course I got the kovac which was pretty good it's a lamb stew, overall the flavors are more on the mild side, watery tomato stew. The lamb was pretty soft and not gamey, but I feel like for me it was a bit too bland. That could be how this food is meant to be, I like my food on the spicy side. The other main course was the chicken kabob. And it was great. Really nicely charred chicken pieces with rice, tomato and onion. It made me really regret my choice of kovec. The service was a little slow and inexperience but our waiter did mention she's new. I also want to mention I was told the women bathroom was really dirty, smelly, and the toilet seat protector cover broken. Not sure if this was normal or just an off day. read more

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