Went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Lovely cozy ambiance and AMAZING service! The valet, hostess, server, and musician all get gold stars in my book, and that's coming from someone who used to work at a restaurant. Every staff member was friendly, courteous, and attentive. And the food? My friends and I ordered hummus, saffron rice, saffron chicken, steak kabob, chocolate mousse cake, and I believe strawberry shortcake(?). The hummus was hands-down my favorite. I do wish the saffron chicken were more moist, but the flavor was still good. You MUST try the hummus though... I've never had such a smooth/silky hummus before, and the garlic flavor in it was not overpowering like at some other restaurants. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars [or at least not yet] is because although the food was delicious, I wouldn't say it was all the best Mediterranean I've had. Still a solid restaurant, though. read more

Walked in on lunch break No one there so thinking cool Took nearly 10 mins to get a tea, ordered, guys Hispanic not Mediterranean and knew nothing about the menu and couldn't recommend anything, barely spoke English Waited 35 mins Watched people walk in , and get food I never got my food Ended up walking out and going back to work only drinking a tea . read more

This place is the spot if you want real deal Mediterranean food! Everything on the menu was delicious. The hummus really is one of the best in DFW and the babbaganoush is a great choice too! The beef was tender and well cooked. The sangria and dessert were good and the coffee was a great finisher! The best part is the staff and ownership. They will make you feel like family! read more

This was our first visit, but not our last! The wait staff was wonderful and attentive. The food was so good!!!! The hummus is fantastic!! We tried the chicken k-bobs and the pomegranate shrimp, the lamb rolls, falafel, babaganoush, and roasted veggies. All were excellent! If the wonderful food wasn't enough the live guitarist made for a fun and entertaining evening. I highly recommend! The owner even brought over the spicy eegra for us to try. It was terrific! Probably one of the highlights of the meal. Can't wait to go back! FYI- the meal for two can easily feed three or four people. read more

I really can't imagine any Medi food being any better. That alone won't get you 5-stars though. The service was top notch as well, that is what put them over the top. Came ehre to celebrate my sister's B-day while I was in town on business. She gave me a list of choices (She is a Vegan.... Nuts right?!) and I picked this place from the list based on Yelper reviews. Man.. I am SOO Glad I did!!! We had probably a good baker's dozen of different plates on the table when it was all said and done. Everything was timed PERFECTLY!!! The Hummus was amazing.. Best i've ever had (i've had a lot). The bread was kickin ass and takin names!!! Took mine matter of fact. If you see it, please return it to me. had some wine along the way. Waiter recommended some great wines based on my sister's very picky tastes. Hit the nail right on the head! Lucky guess? Doubtful. These guys are pros!!! They even brought her some cake out for dessert. I had to sing to her though, which was no doubt the highlight of her night. And most of the guests nearby. I can't wait to get back to this place!!! 6-Stars!!!!!!!! read more

We arrived on Saturday night around 8 and it was a full house. May be best to call ahead for reservations. Nonetheless, we were greeted promptly and invited to sit at the bar while waiting for our table. Although the wait was longer than we were quoted, we happily sipped Sangria while listening to some Spanish guitar. The atmosphere/ambience is the winning part for me. Low lights, romantic music, yet unpretentious or formal. Moderately loud but still like an escape to another place and time. The food is good too, especially the lamb roll and baba ganoush. Everything is very reasonably priced as well. Can't wait to go back. We did tapas but the family-style dinner sounds good too. Parking was a disaster so we went to a side street to get it done free :) Manager and staff very nice, inviting people. read more

Love this place-- probably the best Mediterranean food in Dallas, and then they DELIVER! Try the pomegranate shrimp, the date night hummus, any of the kebabs... you'll be good to go! read more

For me this place was just ok....with all of the options in Dallas, I am not sure that I'd go back here. We tried an assortment of small places. Sangria and Turkish Coffee were both really good! Things to try: Hummus, Babaganoush, Falafel, Saffron Rice, Lamb Roll!!, Coconut shrimp, piroshki, eegra Skip dessert..you will be glad you did... read more

APPETIZER: (or sole thing I would eat!) 5 stars is purely for the hummus at this place! My friend (who's a native) took me there when I visited and we ate a ton of food. However, I really only remember the hummus and the pita bread. I could live on this stuff. I've never had hummus that seemed "whipped" before...that's how light it was...and believe it or not, it travels well! She brought some out (with the pita) and while it's not quite as bang on as if you have it there, it certainly brought back the memories of the fantasmic tastes I experienced on that ever changing night. You Dallas people hands down have the BEST hummus I've ever tasted in your back yard!! read more

Incredible small and intimate Spanish tapas!! Great date spot or just a good group of friends.

This is a great healthy tapas options with awesome mid-week deals. I love tapas for dinner since it's light and flavorful. My favorite thing on the menu is the grilled vegetables, it's a big portion and I loved the grilled pineapple that adds sweetness to everything. Other good bets are the hummus, pita bread and shishito peppers, be warned they are spicy. The service needs improvement. We waited too long for a server to introduce himself, then the server didn't write our order down, and forgot things we ordered. We also had empty water glasses most of the meal. read more

Visited on customer appreciation night on Tuesday. Tapas are $2 each for the most part. We had a reservation at 8, but we still had to wait about 45 mins, so I suggest not going there super hungry as you may have to wait. We noticed several open tables during our wait, but we decided that they were left open because the wait staff was not sufficient. The hummus is awesome! There is a garlic and non garlic version. The babaganush is good too. We also enjoyed the beef roll. The seasoned peppers are VERY HOT. I do not recommend unless you enjoy very spicy food, and I mean very spicy. I recommend at least 2 visits. read more

Went to a birthday party Saturday night for my buddy; this is the second year in a row he's held it here. His group is always 16-20 strong and to have such a small restaurant offer exceptional service while seating a whole party together is exceptional. The food is on point, the delivery of entrees to all guests at equal speed is perfect, and the sangria is the best I've had in dallas. Our waiter Nick was the best parts of the night; he was extremely attentive and accommodating even to the late comers. I hope to take my wife and daughter here next year for Valentines. read more

We love the chicken kabobs here and always ordered as takeout. We haven't tried anything else here but I'm sure they're all great.

COCONUT SHRIMP, the cheese plate, and eegra are amazing!! Hummus is good too, mainly with the eegra. The waiter was FANTASTIC! He was very attentive, and said he would gladly take back anything. We let him do some of our ordering even though we have been there multiple times and he introduced us to some great dishes. read more

Our only child was developed in utero with us eating here at least once a week with a to go order every few days from the deli. The chicken salad is sublime, the hummus the creamiest anywhere (finally got the secret!!!) and everything is just so fresh and light. You can have a leisurely dinner over a bottle of wine and feel full yet not weighed down. The deli has most things available too if not enough time to eat at the restaurant Everything simply tastes good. To this day, our daughter now 12, loves Mediterranean food more than any other. Coincidence? I think not . :) read more

I think its a nice place for happy hour and they have a few decent tapas. I wasn't as impressed with the place as the reviews reflect and definitely wasn't a fan of the grilled portobello and vegetables- could tell it wasn't fresh. We were hoping to get something filling but they ran out of some of the items we were wanting to eat. The lady informed us they make them in the morning and they were sold out early? was a little confused by this concept i figured the items were fresh and the chef would be able to make something similar but i guess not...maybe better luck next time if there is a next time. read more

Been coming to Cafe Izmir for about two years now, and my experience keeps getting better and better. I usually have a great time with Beau handling our table, but since the opening of the new locations, he has been all around. Nonetheless, this past Saturday, Hadad was an amazing host! Our table was always tended to, great conversations, great service. The Food 1) Lamb chops: The best in DFW, hands down. I've been eating lamb all my life, and they cook it to perfection. 2) Meat Pirashki: This is a favorite Persian roll, similar to an egg roll. It is a must when you go to Izmir! Tender beef, crispy bread, and great veggies. Great flavors, with a kick. 3) Saffron chicken: You can't go to a Mediterranean place and not try a saffron dish. This is the one to definitely try. The saffron perfectly coats the chicken, not too much, not too little. Great with wine. 4) Meat Dolmas: rice and meat cooked at the right temperature, and the grape leaves tear with ease. Great dish I had more food (crazy, I know), but the ones mentioned still leave a lingering tasted. Now I'm hungry! read more

My family went here for New Years and found the food very good. There were many dishes that we all shared. The atmosphere is good for family and groups. Service was good. We will probably come here for my daughters birthday celebration. read more

Wow! Way better than I expected. Came here with a party of five. We were immediately seated and the place was pretty packed. The waiter was fantastic, Ivan, I believe his name was. We all ordered various tapas and The waiter choose a couple. Food was fantastic. All in all, would recommend. Definitely going back. read more

This place was pretty good. The food was good, but the atmosphere was loud and crowded. The Hummus as amazing - but has lots and lots of garlic so bring strong breath mints and make anyone you plan to kiss that night eat the hummus too so they don't notice your vampire-fighting breath. The cheese plate was pretty good - the fig- things are yummy - but it says it comes with olives and it doesn't - but they'll give you olives if you ask about it. The grilled portabello was AMAZING. (my fave thing there). The chicken kabob was good too - nice seasoning. The rice was a total waste as was the beef kabob. The sangria was OK - nothing to write home about though. The place is really small - only valet parking - the seating is crowded, but we went on Tuesday which is when all the tapas are discounted - which probably explains the crowdedness - but also helped the bill be more reasonable too. read more

Excellent sangria, hummus, lamb rolls, beef kebabs, Russian chicken salad, Turkish coffee, baklava, and other consistently good offerings. Generous daily specials... particularly Tuesday night (customer appreciation night) and Sunday ($3 sangria). One of the only places in Dallas to offer reasonably priced tapas dining. Live flamenco guitar and local art which is rotated out regularly. Good mix of music on DJ nights for eating and socializing. Nice diverse crowd of different ages and persuasions. Not too young, too old, too douchey, or too pretentious. Good people watching on the enclosed porch. The twinkly lights are a fun ethereal touch. If you are a valet-hater, I recommend parking nearby and walking to the restaurant. A good chunk of Izmir's charm comes from the friendly vibe of the owners and family who work the business day after day. I want to adopt everyone and move in immediately. Feels like my second home. Izmir is doing it right. read more

I have been going to Cafe Izmir since 1999. YES TEN YEARS!!!... and the food has remained consistent all these years. The portions are Mediterranean tapas sized and sharing is encouraged. The hummus is amazing, extra garlicy... they recently added a "date night" hummus for those who don't want to smell like a garlic farm. Tuesdays nights you will find reduced priced tapas. If you are willing to wait, its worth it. Be patient and don't throw a fit, just enjoy the wine and the company you are with.... AGAIN you might wait for an hour for a table depending on how well you treat the staff... The nicer and pleasant you are, the faster you will be served. DON'T GO ON TUESDAYS IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH. Fridays nights have a date night menu. Its a pre selected meal with a bottle of wine. Its more than enough food for two people, and you are welcomed to add more dishes (ie the hummus). Besides the hummus, I like the beef kabob and the priakshi. The chicken kabobs are a little dry for me. the food is served quickly once ordered starting with cold dishes followed by the hot dishes. The staff is hit or miss... some of the servers are extremely pleasant, and others seem to be stand offish... but the will diminish as you ask them more questions and just make small talk. All in all this place is heaven to me, and if they ever close, they might as well take my life... that's how much I like it! read more

I've been to Cafe Izmir twice now and enjoyed the food on both visits. The staff is friendly, the service was fairly quick, and the place seems to always be bustling. Both visits were "catch up" dates so we stayed awhile and I always appreciate when I don't feel rushed - especially in a place that might be live with activity. The eegra was the best thing I ate, with the hummus close behind. The tabouli was okay - the dolmas were better. The sangria gets a solid thumbs up too. The lot is small and I parked on the street my first visit...valeted the second visit as it was pouring down rain. They also have tapas specials on Tuesday nights. I will probably be back. read more

Cafe Izmir is a great date place. Wait, let me clarify that. It's a great FIRST date place, where you're too nervous to even taste anything but you want to be surrounded by cool atmosphere and have really obsequious waiters at your beck and call. Because that's the only thing we found that Cafe Izmir has over Ali Baba and Kostas Cafe. It's a very cool LOOKING place. The booths are tall and comfy, the lighting is romantic. The service is nearly overly friendly, but they manage to straddle the line well. What's missing is the awesome food. They will tell you that the hummus is the best in Texas. They are wrong. Or, I don't like their hummus as much as I like, well, pretty much any other hummus I've ever had. (Cafe Istabul in 1996 still holds that title. It was so bad and they were so rude that I have never--and will never--go back. But I digress.) The rest of the food: The cheese plate had a fair amount of cheese, but they were all kind of the Mediterranean cheeses you can find at Albertson's. The lamb chops were tasty but needed lemon (I fished the lemon out of my water; it helped) and were overcooked a little. The ziziki and rice had no flavor at all. The cabbage rolls were fine, but somehow bland and spicy at the same time. The piroshki was well-cooked, but again, heat and no salt. The sangria tasted like kool-aid but will kick your ass. After the Groupon $20 discount, the meal cost what a muuuuch more satisfying meal at Kostas would have cost. (Before the Groupon, it was just ridiculously overpriced.) So we were thrilled that we didn't have to pay full price. Wasn't the worst, but wasn't even close to the best. We won't be back. read more

I've always liked this place. They have great happy hour on Tuesday nights!!! This time, we went there on a Saturday night on a date night after watching Billy Elliot the musical. After 15 minutes of being seated, the power went out. We sat there for the remaining hour with hardly any lights. Just imagine sitting in a closed-up room without any air circulation. My biggest complaints during our experience were: 1 - when the waiter brought out our food, the food rolled off the table. Without apologizing, he walked away. 2 - there was no compensation offered for our experience. Other than our horrid experience with the power outage, the food tasted great! read more

We went here because we had a Groupon. Pretty decent meal for 35 dollars but not sure if it was worth the 20 more it would have cost. We got the dinner for two, which was quite a bit of food and too much in the end. This is a set menu so you just get what it comes with. We got: Hummus, taboule, good pita, and chicken salad that we really liked. Cucumber salad that was very vinegary, but I like vinegar. A platter of grilled veggies, a couple falafel, a couple very measly dolmas, and the three meats. The meats should have been chicken, lamb, and beef, but they were out of lamb so we got pomegranate shrimp instead. I love shrimp, but the sauce on them was so strong that I could barely eat them. The rest of the platter was good, but there were some weird things about it. The veggies didn't all seem evenly grilled, and there wasn't an equal amount that you could share of some things. For instance, there was a little corn on the cob, maybe 1/4 of a normal size...not really able to share that. The basmati rice that it came with was good. I liked this platter, but I could see some people who don't care for veggies as much as I do to think that there should have been more of a balance. The dinner did not come with a dessert. It would have been nice if the entree portion was a tiny bit smaller to accomodate some sort of dessert, like baklava. I think that would have finished it off very nicely. Overall, a nice meal, but it would have been too much money for the quality had we not had a Groupon. Warning, if you go there you have to pay $5 for valet. You can park right across the street for free. read more

Delicious. A wonderful dinning experience in Dallas where everything from the food to the staff and owner are truly looking out for your absolute best. I would recommend Izmir to anyone looking for a wonderful night out in Dallas. The Hummus, rice, and Turkish coffee are the best I have had in years. Everything else was wonder but do not miss the hummus and Turkish coffee. read more

I love Mediterranean food, and I am so happy this place is within walking distance from my apartment. Awesome points for: Playing Frank Sinatra in the cafe... I can't go anywhere it seems and listen to good music like that while I eat a lamb wrap!! The "New Lamb Wrap" is so good I had it 3 days in a row. Greek salad is tasty and the dressing is perfect. Falaffel wrap was better than I expected. I will continue to try new things. I highly recommend this little place. The staff was super friendly and the food was fresh and delicious! read more

We came here in the middle of week. The saffron kabob is well-seasoned and juicy. The waiter is very friendly and helpful.

This is a Turkish restaurant. I tried the bread, veggie sampler, grilled chicken and saffron rice. All was good but their tabulah as part of the sampler. Anyway, it is kind of expected from a Turkish place not Lebanese. What I really didn't like is parking. Why do I have to pay $5 for parking!!! By the way, you get a free Hummus by checking in Yelp. read more

5 stars aren't enough for this place. Delicious food and lovely customer service. I can't explain for you guys, that was amazing read more

people so nice there very wholesome vibes. food was so good and one entrée plus an appetizer is good enough portion for two people. but definitely will be back to try to dinner for two read more

I had forgotten how good Cafe Izmir is. I used to frequent the restaurant when it first opened in the late 90s. It was always packed and there was a long wait. It was also a simpler time when you would just say if you want meat or veggies or both. I let them bring the food to the table and I ate it all. Then, they opened their market and I could get my Russian chicken salad and hummus fix any time. I was sad to see the market close. Now, it's 2021 and I'm browsing the UberEats app and wondering what's for dinner. I didn't realize that Cafe Izmir was on it and it had been so long. I called the restaurant because I had questions about the menu, and they kindly helped me figure out what to order. I got the chicken and beef kebabs, my beloved Russian chicken salad and hummus (BEST HUMMUS EVER!), tzatziki, veggies, and pita bread. Everything was just like I had remembered it- AMAZING! I'm going to start ordering from them regularly... so happy! Thank you, Cafe Izmir. read more

RESTAURANT COMMITTING SUICIDE. Many years ago, I was at Cafe Izmir on its opening night. How charming and authentic it was, the food delicious and unique to this area and the service so gracious. It was being run by a family that was glad that you were there. We shared many Turkish coffees and apricot drinks. Many visits since then, always a full restaurant and a wonderful authentic experience. Fast forward to last Saturday evening. Three valets with nothing to do. A restaurant that was Half-empty and yet--no one to greet me. After wandering around the nearly empty restaurant, the valet guy came in and told me to just wait by the front and someone would be by. Eventually, someone showed up and asked me if I had reservations? Reservations for an empty restaurant? Because I did not, he directed me to sit at the bar and "wait." Wait for what? The restaurant was nearly empty (and on a Saturday evening!). The bar area was completely empty and no one was working there. I wasn't offered a glass of water, a glass of wine or anything at all; instead, I was ignored. And the restaurant had COUNTRY MUSIC playing very loudly! COUNTRY MUSIC at a Spanish/Mediterranean/Persian restaurant! And not good country music, but cheesy pop country music, so loud that you couldn't hear anyone. What completely disengaged staff member thought this was a good idea for the concept? What happened to the Spanish guitarist that was advertised? No one came to seat me at a table, speak with me, or in any way acknowledge me and so, I left and called the people that were to meet me and told them to head over to another restaurant. R.I.P. Cafe Izmir, you used to be great. read more

A wonderful fusion of Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine. I came with some friends in search of some good food and I wasn't let down. I really enjoy the atmosphere, even though its a really small space. The night I was there they had a Spanish guitarist playing at the bar. The outdoor patio is well lit and sets the ambiance for a good night. Kudos on the interior and exterior decorations They serve everything in Tapas, so my friends and I ordered a lot of things and shared it. We ended up getting regular hummus with pita bread, chili pepper hummus, falalfel, a sweet potato, dolmas, and pirashki. The chili pepper hummus and pirashki were definitely the highlights of the meal. The pirashki have a nice texture and have a great bold flavor on the inside. The chili pepper hummus is a little spicy, but its quite addictive after several bites. The pita bread had some chew, but it was quite soft and moist. The falalfel had great flavor but I wish it was crunchier. Albilad I think makes the best falalfel in town, but Izmir still has a great foundation in flavor. The dolmas were also good, but I wish it wasnt so chewy for the grape leaves. The sweet potatoes were nothing special, but I still enjoyed them even it was simply steamed. The regular hummus was good, but the uniqueness of the chili pepper hummus outweighed it halfway through the meal. I will definitely eat here again, although it can get pricey fairly easily (especially if you're ordering drinks on top of that.). Rant Thats Relevant But Not Really (I still think if House of Gyros was at this location, maybe then that restaurant would be recognized for its brilliance. but until then, this is a great spot for some Mediterranean food. ) read more

The Good: The food here overall was excellent. Seeing that we had a Groupon, we decided to try a little bit of everything. The Cheese Platter was a great appetizer, as well as the best hummus I've ever had. We then split five different plates. The good side of them was the Piroshki, Mom's Saffron Rice, and the Lamb Roll. As for dessert, we only got the Turkish Coffee, which was out of this world. Their sweets might be good, but coffee lovers should go straight for this delight. The service was great, and seeing that we went early, we were seated immediately in their covered patio. The wait-staff was friendly, informative, as well as always prompt. Definitely a plus for Cafe Izmir. The Bad: Alright, this might be just me, but I dislike that I had to pay for valet parking. I understand that Cafe Izmir is on a small lot, and that parking is a premium on Greenville Ave... but after spending a lot of money at an establishment I would expect at least complimentary parking. Once you pay the $5 for just the parking service, and you tip the attendants, you're out an additional $7 - $10. Also, as with any Tappas bar, the portions are extremely small for the price. Two additional dishes we ordered was the Chicken Kabob and Quail. While the Chicken Kabob was good, it only came with 3 small pieces (about 2 oz) for $5.50. That is some expensive chicken. The quail came in at 3 oz for around $9, was a little overcooked, and complimented with a bland couscous. Now don't get me wrong, we were not looking to stuff our faces for $20, but we also were not looking to be semi-satisfied for $60. Mind you, we didn't get any alcohol or drinks other than an Ice-tea and the Turkish Coffee. For that price we could have gone to one of many other Mediterranean restaurants, had the same quality of food and experience, and have left stuffed and with leftovers. The End: So I would say to give Cafe Izmir a try if you're looking for good Mediterranean food, but be prepared to pay heavily for it and wishing they gave you more of the delicious food. If you're looking for a place to hang out for a bit before a night in Greenville, go here. If you get the hummus and some pita bread, as well as a few drinks, you'll leave happy and ready for a night out. read more

We came here on a Tuesday nite because they had Tapa Specials and lo and behold we were in for a surprise because the establishment was super packed and we had like a 30 minute wait but the host was so accommodating that we didn't mind the wait. When we finally got to our table we took out our frustration on the menu by ordering several items off the tapas special menu. First thing was the Pita Bread then followed by some Hummus which was very well made, We also ordered some Russian Potato Salad which wasn't as seasoned as i would like it but nonetheless not bad. We also ordered some Zizicki sauce which went well with our Lamb Kebabs and Lamb rolls that we ordered all together. We ordered a Buttery Saffron Rice which we ate with the Lamb Kebabs and Lamb rolls which were very nice i must say. My Favorite item of the nite was the Portabello Mushrooms, They were super good and chewy and a large size i must say. We also ordered Asparagus and then an order of Grilled Shrimp in a Pomegranate Sauce. The Sauce was very unique and made the shrimp extra tasty. We also had Chicken Kabobs which by this time we were super full and just being greedy . The trick to this place is getting there early on a tuesday since all the locals know about it and the food is very good or expect to wait in line or at least the bar where you can order a cocktail to pass time. Valet is $5 since parking is almost virtually impossible on this part of Greenville. read more

Yum yum yum! I've only discovered this place hardly more than a month ago and have already dined here three times. Come Tuesday night for customer appreciation night--discounted tapas and $15 bottle of wine or sangria. They have a special Tuesday menu with discounts and anything that ends in .00 is one of the discounted items. I would highly recommend their hummus, the super garlicky one, not the date night one. Also get the beef piroshki, the Russian chicken salad, grilled veggies, and dolmas. Everything I've tasted has been great, can't go wrong here. Also on Fridays they have a date night special that includes a bottle of wine all for $50. Haven't done this yet but it's on the list! The not so good- pretty much have to valet and its $5. And it's a small restaurant with many tables packed in. Tuesdays get a bit crazy, make a reservation if you think about it. read more

I have been coming here for several years and still love this place! The food is consistently delicious and the service is always great. I think they by far they have the BEST HUMMUS in town and their russian chicken salad is insane! I will say this though...unless you go on a tuesday evening for $2 tapas night, it can get really expensive really really fast. I discovered this when we came here for my brother-n-laws birthday. I think we all nearly choked on our desserts when we were handed the bill!! So pretty much the point i am making here is....Come to Cafe Izmir! The food is awesome and the atmosphere is great. However, make a reservation and come on a Tuesday night for $2 tapas. If you don't, you might need to consider bringing a little extra money with you. That is all. read more