I love to stop here even if it's just an appetizer and wine. Amina is just wonderful. I especially love the lamb shish kabob . The bread with the dried tomato oil is fantastic. I also love the hummus and the rice pudding is out of this world. I love the decor and all of the items for sale up front. Highly recommend Cafe Istanbul. read more

Cafe Istanbul - So delicious and perfectly grilled lamb - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The fact that this restaurant has been here for so long is a testament for how good it is. I no longer live in Columbus but when I come visit Easton this is a staple! Most recently came for lunch and they have a great deal for 11.95 for app, entree and dessert. PLENtY of food as neither of us finished our entrees and didn't even touch dessert. The bread that comes with the apps is awesome. It used to be pita bread which was just as tasty. Of the entrees I got the chicken Adana-- hefty lunch portion with food flavor. It was quite oily and the rice and vegetables were definitely soaked in butter. It tasted amazing, but definitely not the healthiest option. The wraps are also generously sized. Overall great lunch options given the price, and food had never disappointed! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Chicken Adana lunch portion with rice and veggies. Rice and veggies (while delicious) soaked in butter. Chicken Adana tasty. - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I'm not really a big fan of this place. The food was ok but I wouldn't go again. The falafels were decent and the chicken was ok. Nothing really exciting. The portions for the cost you pay aren't worth it. The veggies were undercooked and for frozen veggies from a bag. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Chicken Adana Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Honesty time: Café Istanbul is the only Turkish restaurant I've ever been to, the only Turkish food I've ever had. But if this place is any indication, I might have a new favorite cuisine. Seriously- wow wow wow. I'm kind of a sucker for lamb- I don't have it often, so when I do its a real treat. I'm also a sucker for eggplant, which I have at any opportunity. On both counts Café Istanbul is superlative. I had the hunkar begendi, which the waiter said I actually pronounced well, and it was delicious. I've never had mashed eggplant before, but really enjoyed it. And the lamb on top was a good portion of well-cut meat, with just enough fat to titillate. As a dish it was something to slowly enjoy on the patio, and I did so, as the sun set on Easton. I finished off with kunefe, possibly the most exotic dessert I've ever personally had: shredded phyllo dough filled with sweet goat cheese, baked to order and drizzled with chocolate sauce. It was crisp and chewy and delicious, and despite being full from dinner (and a great calamari appetizer) I finished the whole thing. Superb. The only complaint I have is that our server, while friendly and hospitable, was not often present. Glasses of water went long unfilled and one was even spilled on our table by a careless motion of the waiter. Still, the food was too good to really care in the long run- at least for me. A meal that can make this barbarian slow down and savor each bite is a rarity indeed- but this is exactly what I found at Café Istanbul. I will be recommending them to friends for weeks to come. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Hunkar Begendi (lamb on a bed of mashed eggplant) - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The service is always friendly, and the food is delicious....the Turkish bread is so, so tasty. Any time we have went the consistency of the food is always good, no matter what we have ordered. You never have to ask twice for a refill, and your food comes out quickly. The drink menu is a little on the pricey side in my opinion, but other than that, this place is terrific. read more

I have never been to a Turkish restaurant before. My culinary experience here was memorable and divine. I chose the Sultan's Favorite. Lamb stewed with vegetables served over mashed eggplant. It was so amazing. I don't know what or how they get eggplant to have that consistency but it is amazing. The lamb is tender and the flavors of the vegetables and the sauce are just so perfect. Besides the food. The restaurant is beautiful inside and out. The restaurant has the most beautiful view of the sunset and trees. read more

Disappointed in the management this evening as I was unable to speak with a manager to explain my complaint. I was shopping at Easton and called an order in ahead - for an item I wasn't able to name but the friendly waitstaff guided me through to what we Thought was the item which I'd ordered several times before. When I picked up the item it wasn't presented to me - but was already tightly wrapped in boxing and plastic. When I got home I realized that what I got was Not what I ordered. I called back and spoke to the same person who assured me that if I was willing to drive the 20 mins back they'd give me what I wanted and was put on a short hold to confirm. Upon return from hold I was told - no - there was no manager who could help me on duty and that I Would Have To Call Back Tomorrow - Friday night and no manager on duty??? The food I was given was uninspiring at best and not what I had come to expect ftom this establishment. I won't return. read more

Came here after a day at Easton and I really enjoyed our meal. We got the Shish Kebab and the Grilled Shrimp. The bread and the tomato dipping sauce it came with was delicious. I could probably eat only the bread with the sauce and be content for the night. Bread is super super good. The lamb dish I got was tender and good. It came with a side of plain rice and some steamed veggies which they could probably do more with but it was all pretty good. Bf got the grilled shrimp and it was also cooked very well and came with a side of plain rice and salad. I really enjoyed the savory flavors. Everything was pretty light and they aren't heavy on the spices. Prices are a bit higher but the decor is nice and the location is also very nice. Large amount of food too! read more

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Yum! I am so glad I visited this place with a group of eight. They did a nice job of educating and steering us into the perfect entrees, drinks and deserts that were perfect! Thank you! read more

This place has a nice ambiance, and the food is very good. We ordered the falafel, hummus, and the mixed grill kebab to share. The meal was also served with Turkish bread which was warm, fresh, and delicious. The falafel wasn't the best I've ever had. However, the mixed grill kebab was very tasty. It was served with rice and vegetables which were very simple but complemented the assortment of meats well. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area, but you could definitely skip the falafel! read more

Great authentic Turkish restaurant. The quality of the food exceeded my expectations the meEt was very tender. Portions are a lot bigger than expected. Service was great. I would definitely recommend this place for a night out. read more

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I've had better. Their sampler platter is a TON of meat- could feed 4 very hungry people for 29.95. Also their bread is AMAZING. Beer selection is normal....and wine selection is middle eastern / med wine...good alcohol prices thats for sure. Enough parking- and nicely spaced out seating. Ambiance is mild to not that great. Service is good here though! read more

A wonderful restaurant! It looks like a tiny space from the outside but it definitely has a great atmosphere when you enter the place. The ambiance is great and it starts off with being greeted by their very pleasant servers. They are also very knowledge about the different dishes and they make great recommendations. My go to appetizer is their hummus, it's very refreshing and it goes well with their awesome complimentary bread. Their bread always tastes fresh and is served warm with a dipping oil on the side which I also love. My go to entree is their lamb shish kebob, it's dry meat but they give you great portions! This place is one of the best places to order lamb from. They just know their lamb and their spices! My husband tried the lamb roast and it reminded us of a pot roast-lamb version. Their protein is always tender and juicy, I've never had a bad experience in this place! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Lamb Shish Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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It was my first time here and they definitely impressed! Beautiful interior inside, nice patio outside. Nice soft music playing throughout the whole restaurant. The servers were welcoming and friendly. They bring out bread with oil and spices, the bread was good, the oil was very subtle, but still good. The menu has a variety of choices, apps ranging from $7-$10. Entree's $16.95 to about $20. For my first time trying turkish cuisine, everything tasted absolutely amazing. You are paying for good quality ingredients and good sized portions of food. I will be stopping back pretty soon! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Sultan's Favorite $17.95 Cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, ground lamb and beef topped with fresh tomato sauce and yogurt. - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Not impressed with the food OR the service. Came in during lunch and we were one of two tables in - the reason why was evident after our meal. We got the lunch special and the Adana kebab was overly dry. I am dairy free so I couldn't enjoy any of their desserts as the server said they all contained either milk or butter, which is totally okay with me, but when I asked if I could sub it for their Turkish coffee she said "oh no that's too expensive." Coffee that's more expensive than the dessert?! Hmm ok...well, anyway, as we're getting up to leave my friend is putting her jacket on and another employee bumped into her as she was putting her arm in the sleeve. Not only did the employee not apologize, she didn't even respond when my (very polite) friend excused herself. Needless to say, this experience was not a positive one. read more

I'll be honest. Cafe Istanbul was never on my radar of places to try in Cbus but I'm so glad I finally came! I was doing some shopping with a friend at Easton during restaurant week and decided to stop in for a bite since I was starving. I was nervous that not many people were in the restaurant for dinner but the decor was beautiful and I was starved so we sat down. We decided to share an order of the hummus and I opted for the 3-course restaurant week menu: salad, Doner kabob, and custard. First off, the complimentary bread and dipping oil was so good! The hummus was even better! One of the best I've ever had. The salad app was very refreshing and I really enjoyed the dressing. On to the mains--my Doner kabob meat was perfect! It was well-seasoned, flavorful and juicy. Even the rice was tastier than usual (probably because it was cooked in oil, I'm guessing?) I was so impressed with the food, you can bet this is my new fave Mediterranean spot. read more

I wish I was not writing this review. We were a party of 4, who went to this restaurant for lunch. The waiter added 18% gratuity on his own on the bill when it was clearly mentioned that 18% gratuity is added to a party of 5 or more. Well, I did not contest that because anyways I would have given that much (or more) tip. I placed a $100 bill and kept waiting for my change. When the change was not brought to me, I asked for it. Only then did the waiter brought the change and mentioned that "he assumed that the rest was the tip." The bill was for 83 dollars including the 18% gratuity. This is not over as yet - the waiter only brought back 13 dollars without the bill, hoping that I will not remember the exact amount. I was not interested in arguing nickel and dimes with the thief so I just left. Yes, the waiter made another $5 from me, but what a short-sighted fool was he. He could not foresee the kind of reputational damage he is bringing to the restaurant. Stay away! I will surely be doing so :) Food was okay though but not great. read more

This was the worst food I've ever had in Columbus and I'm not exaggerating. Shepherds salad had no feta in it. Maybe they ran out or maybe they forgot it, but either way- bad start. The gyro sandwich is so painfully dry and the tzatziki tastes like Caesar salad dressing. The fries were soggy and cold. I don't understand the positive reviews for this place- maybe we just got it on a bad night? read more

I went for dinner on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised that there was no wait. I'm not sure why - the food is consistently delicious and the atmosphere quite charming. Our server quickly brought bread and dipping oil, which was amazingly addictive. I had the chicken delight (my usual) and my date had the steak kebab. The portions were generous and the service was impeccable. Don't overlook this gem when dining out at Easton! read more

Some of the best lamb I've ever had. Great service and nice atmosphere. A Little expensive but worth every dollar. Looking forward to going back. All 3 of us were extremely pleased with our choices and the bread was outstanding. read more

I've had pretty good experiences at Cafe Istanbul. Their food is always nicely done, and I love their selection of desserts. Their bread is always warm, and their tomato/pepper/olive oil sauce is amazing as well. I leave pleasantly full, but not overly so, as the food is not super heavy. Their hummus is delicious, and I usually get either a lamb or chicken dish which never disappoint. The interior of the restaurant is also very beautiful; you really don't feel like you're in the middle of a mall anymore. I do think that Cafe Istanbul is a bit on the pricey side for the amount of food given. The last time I went for lunch, I opted for the lunch special (1 side, 1 entree, 1 dessert for $10.50) which I felt was a better deal. read more

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The staff is ALWAYS friendly and the food is flavorful! A little on the pricey side but well worth it! You will go in there hungry and leave hating yourself because you couldn't put the food down! I highly recommend the rice pudding! Beyond delicious! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Kebabs and desserts! Simply delicious! - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

One of the best restaurants in Easton - everything is delicious although the lamb dishes and housemade bread are really standout. We tried the weekend special baby Lamb Shank which was fall-off-the-bone good! Atmosphere is cozy and inviting and our server was really helpful and friendly. Can't wait to come back! read more

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OMG! I completely forgot about this Easton Town Center gem. Beautiful decor and the friendliest staff! Being that I make a million decisions all week long, I was overwhelmed with the extensive menu of Turkish delights. However, being an adventurous person, I told our server to choose for me and don't tell me.. Our server chose the lamb shish kabobs in their signature yogurt sauce which was laid on top of their bread they make in house. I could bathe in it! Yummy!! My husband had the traditional chicken and lamb kabobs that he thought were cooked perfectly and were delicious next time you're at Easton, consider dining there! Great ambiance, Great service and awesome food! read more

Cafe Istanbul - traditional lamb and chicken kabobs - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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My mother and I came in yesterday for the first time to try something new. Service was phenomenal. Waiter always made sure we had what we needed. Bread and dipping oil was a great complimentary starter before our meals. Dishes were a bit large but I always take food home when I eat out so I expected it. You get what you pay for here and it's beautiful inside. Very rich in culture. 100% would recommend! read more

This was one of my favorite places. However, my recent visit was not that good. I'll elaborate. a) Flies in the restaurant. How can you have flies in the restaurant? One should have a fly trapper or at least clean the restaurant so that you don't have these flies. Imagine you eating something you see a fly in front of you. b) Bad/Stale food. The Falafel plate was undercooked. I could see the stuff still in liquid state. Now, I asked it to be replaced with properly cooked falafel, what I got was burnt food. I could even say anything after that. The falafel tasted bitter. The veggie platter that I took was bad as well. It kind of tasted stale. The Baba Ganoush was good. c) Gratuity. I have always tipped generously even if the food is bad because it there are people who work there, arrange, serve, cook us food. However, I noticed something here. They are charging us a 25% gratuity before hand. I did not see this mentioned any where, neither in the menu nor did anyone mention this. I am unhappy about this because the server is not going to get this as it goes directly to the owner's account. d) The full of attitude server. There were three people whom I encountered that day. The lady at the front desk, very courteous. She ensured I get a seat. The gentleman who was serving us water. He was very polite. Finally, the person who was serving us food. Well he did not care anything, neither was he courteous nor was he welcoming. He didn't even say his name, he did not tell us about any specials or if we should try something new. I would again say, this was one of my favorite places. I have been here multiple times, starting from farewell parties to meeting clients. This was a five star place, well something has happened. read more

Great food, service and overall experience. Solid 5 stars every time. I've been coming to this establishment for many years now.

Insipid food, decent service, clean but cheesy decor. The falafel and hummous and baba ghanoush don't hold a candle to Pita Hut or Brassica. The rest of what we ordered was middling at best. I honestly don't get why the ratings are so high. People need to be more discerning, I guess. read more

The vegetarian moussaka was incredible and the portion was huge!! Free bread but the prices are a bit expensive overall.

Food is great. They are accommodating and great service. I have always had a good experience here. They have a good menu selection too. Great food. They are very friendly and a clean environment. read more

Awesome food and awesome service!! Rice pudding is yummy!!! Can't wait to go back! Great place!

Such wonderful food! We consider this a super treat and they do not disappoint! Every dish perfect and served beautifully.... we had it delivered by grub hub read more

Ordered carry out. Food was ready in a timely manner and packaged conveniently. Food tasted delicious!

Good Mediterranean food. Hummus was good, albeit a bit on the bitter side. The feta rolled in phylo was excellent. Kebabs were good, chicken was moist and flavorful, but kafta was on the dry side. Good meal. read more

The service and food here is amazing! Such a friendly and warm place with authentic Turkish food and rugs! The owner was very nice and and welcoming. Service was fast and efficient. I have never tasted Turkish food so good! read more

Cafe Istanbul - A happy baby after a great Turkish meal! - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I came here on a weeknight and got the mousakka. I usually don't like lamb because my past experiences with lamb are that they are usually tough. However, the lamb was cooked very well and had more of a melting texture. The only thing I was not a fan of was the amount of cheese on the dish. However, my friend thought the amount of cheese was perfect as it blended everything well together. The service was also really good. They always checked up on us to see how we were doing and refilled our waters without having to ask. Also, the food came with delicious dipping oil and bread which was very tasty. The restaurant itself was also very well decorated which created a nice atmosphere in the place. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Cafe Istanbul - This was called mousakka. It consists of minced beer, lamb, eggplant, and mozzarella cheese. It also came with rice. - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

One of the best lunch specials in town! Three courses for roughly $10. The bread and oil served with it are delicious! I recommend the ezme and doner kebob. The patio is beautiful and the inside seating is cozy. The perfect atmosphere to take a midday break with delicious food and a book (or a friend, I guess). read more

I've had lunch here 3 or 4 times in the last month and just remembering how much i used to love this place! Honestly, i don't know why i don't go more often! Price is great! The lunches are the best! For $12 or so you get app, entree and dessert!! We get the best bread!!! So fresh and yummy! Definitely recommend it!! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Turkish Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The service is all over the place. One time the host was missing and we left after waiting 15 mins to be seated. Once you are seated, service is good but the food isn't consistent. Sometimes the kebabs are rubbery and I rarely send back food but when I mentioned it to our waiter, he shrugged and said that was the norm. For their prices, they should be the best but far from it read more

Lamp and rice were very good. Service was excellent. Good prices, too. Loved the Rice pudding.