This is a nifty little spot. The last time we went, we got a floor seat, and it was pretty cool! I wish we had gotten there earlier so we could TRULY enjoy ourselves, but I like this place. The Istanbul pizza is SOOOO good! And they have hookah, a DJ on the weekends, and there's no cover charge! What more can you ask for? I totally suggest anyone check it out at least once.
Review Source:Cafe Instanbul is amazing! I chose a table instead of sitting on the floor. Many people were dancing on the open floor and it just makes you want to get up and dance!!! I really enjoyed the food (something new). I had the chicken cutlets. The waiter was very attentive despite it being so busy and loud. The DJ mixes up the music and gives you a taste of everything. Ill definitely be going back!!!
Review Source:I don't really know where to begin my review of Cafe Istanbul... but let me start off by saying it took me waaay out of my comfort zone in a variety of ways.
THE SCENE
This particular night out was a date night for me & my sweetie. It also happened to be a surprise birthday gathering for a good friend. We arrived early and decided to have a drink since we rarely get an opportunity to have an adults only night out. Now, I'm not much of a drinker, but decided on the Cruzan bucket. I thought this would be a good choice since it was fairly large and my wife & I could share. However, she abandoned me about two sips into the drink to handle the rest on my own. I was fairly toasted after downing that sucker, so the rest of this review may be a little inaccurate... hahaha
Our party of 18 arrived and we were promptly seated... which is a loose term considering your "seat" will likely be a giant pillow on the floor. I made sure to grabbed a wall seat so as to have something to rest my back on since we were planning to be there for most of the night. I felt like an aging contortionist whenever I had to get up and realized this was much easier when I was in my 20's.
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THE FOOD
I'll keep this brief. I had a little of everything, but I would not solely come here for the food. It's ok, just not anything I would rave about. The Meze platter was a mixture of six different concoctions... I had no idea of what I was eating. My wife enjoyed it very much. Me, not so much. They were bland, but to be fair, I'm not much of a hummus or spreads fan anyway.
The meats weren't bad. The most flavorful of all the dishes I sampled (in my opinion) was the beef on the mixed grill platter. I ordered the Beyti Kabob and I can only describe it as edible, but forgettable, just like the beef gyros. The lamb kebab was also just "meh". Â The shape of the meat reminded me too much of what this whole meal will look like in a few hours. Â *yeah, you know what I'm sayin'.* Â Â The rice is very good, but overall I wouldn't return just based on the food.
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THE ENTERTAINMENT
On the other hand, the FUN experience would drive me to return. This place is a blast and I had no idea we would enjoy it so much. We did the 'Wobble' and the 'Cha Cha Slide' as well as some sort of Turkish conga line. They really pick music that will get even a wallflower like me out of my seat. There was also special music for people celebrating birthdays that gives singing "happy birthday" a whole new Middle Eastern twist. Â
Then there was the main attraction --- the BELLY DANCER. Good thing my wife is a good sport. Great entertainment, especially when sporadic, half drunken women decided they were belly dancers too. It was a riot! I could only hold my head down in shame when the wifey got up and started doing her version of this ancient dance. Please Lord, take me now cuz I've seen too much. LOL. I swear I couldn't keep this woman in her seat all night. Guess we need to get out more.
Then there was the HOOKAH's. Again I am being pushed out of my comfort zone considering I don't smoke and this thing looked like something highly illegal. I received my own mouth piece since this huge bong was gonna be sucked on by the whole table and SURPRISE: I kissed a Hookah and I liked it!!! Just kidding, not really, but I did do a circuit or two on the 'puff-puff-give' rotation. It was interesting to say the least. I doubt if I would try it again (just not my thing), but I figured once wouldn't kill me.
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THE VERDICT
We honestly had a great time up until the point of watching a kid probably no older than my 8 year old begin to put dollars in the belly dancers G-string. Sure she was sorta covered, but I'm sorry, that made me sick to my stomach to watch. I can't tell another parent how to raise their child, but all of the sudden I felt dirty for being there and just wanted to leave... so we did. The kid got roaring cheers from the crowd when he decided to dance with the dancer after he ran out of dollars, but I just couldn't partake any longer. Sorry y'all, I really tried to get out of my comfort zone, but that was just too inappropriate for me.
Overall it was a fun evening. I would probably go back provided I don't see any more 8 year old kids stuffing money in half naked women's underwear.
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TIP
It was packed! We arrived around 6:45pm and there was nobody. By 8:30pm the bar area was standing room only for people waiting to get a table. It gets hot really quick, especially if you are having fun dancing, so keep that in mind when choosing your wardrobe. And Ladies - I wouldn't wear anything too short here unless you don't mind showing off Victoria's Secret to anyone you happen to be facing while seated on the floor. Then again, you might get a dollar from an 8 year old.
Yelp100 [52]
The people I came here went chose this place because they said it's the best for belly dancing, food, and hookah. I'm not sure if that's true since I haven't been to many places for belly dancing, Mediterranean food, and hookah. But I did have a blast.
The dining area is a sit down on the floor type restaurant. If you're not comfortable sitting in tight quarters Indian style, Cafe Istanbul is not the place for you. During the weekends, this place gets popular. So they squeeze everyone they can in the dining area. You will feel cramped. There won't be space to stretch out your legs.
I ordered the lamb shank. It came with basmati rice. I loved the buttery flavor of the rice. The rice was well cooked too. The lamb shank fell off the bone and loved the flavor. It was fatty though, but I liked it overall.
They also provide bread at the beginning of the meal. The bread seemed freshly baked and tasted good.
The hookahs we ordered was a small hookah. But it lasted for a long time. Maybe it's because people were busy eating rather than smoking, but it seemed like they packed the bowl with a lot of tabacco because the hookah lasted for a long time.
The belly dancer was pretty hot. I didn't care much about her dancing because of her physical attractiveness. Even the women seemed mesmerized by her and commented on her beauty. However, I do think the belly dancers rotate around various venues. So the same dancer might not be there all the time.
The parking felt like a nightmare. Like I mentioned, this is a crazy popular place during the weekends. Near 9-10 PM, this place gets packed. It almost turns into a night-club like atmosphere with attractive people dressed to the nines.
I did seem weird seeing people dressed in clubbing gear next to families with kids. I highly suggest making a reservation and coming early if you want to eat here on Friday or Saturday night.
Overall, I had a blast. The food tasted good, the hookah tasted good, and it had a fun atmosphere.
Overall, really disappointing. Slow and inattentive servers despite a near empty restaurant and mediocre food. Stay away if you're looking for dinner or drinks instead of just hookah.
My bf and I went last Friday at around 6pm and the place was empty. We ordered the Baba Ganoush as an appetizer and it came with flat bread. It was fine and delivered fairly quickly. However, my $8.50 Long Island Iced Tea had practically no alcohol and tasted very watery.
For dinner I ordered the Mediterranean Chicken and my bf ordered the Sauteed Chicken. I asked for a side of olives instead of the rice. After ordering, the waiter stood in the main area by the bar with a bunch of other servers and talked a lot. We were completely ignored and were both out of water.
When the food finally came out, my dish had rice and the waiter did not bring any olives. When he gave me my plate he told me he would bring me some olives and it looked like he had totally forgotten even though we were literally his only table. He did not refill our waters and immediately went back by the bar to talk to the other waiters.
My chicken was really fatty and completely unappealing. My bf's was better and he liked it fine. The rice was pretty good (as far as white rice goes). While we were waiting for the check, the waiter finally came back and brought me some sliced black olives in some oil. They were not good and way too late. The olives were listed as a side item so I was very disappointed with the quality. Â The waiter then left, again, and stayed gone until my bf went up to the group of waiters and asked them for our check. Neither of us wanted a box for our leftovers.
Needless to say, we will not be returning. I could see this place being fun if you only planned on ordering appetizers and smoking hookah, but if you're looking for dinner or drinks, go elsewhere. Either way, you could definitely find a way better hookah/Turkish place with minimal effort.
I went on a Saturday night for my sisters birthday and had a wonderful time. We arrived around 7pm. Food was great, service was prompt until it got really busy but we were having so much fun we did not mind. I really enjoyed the hookah it was my first time smoking it.  The owner walked around with a towel in his back pocket he appeared to be a very buffed cleaner (giggles), but he was welcoming and treated us with great kindness and warmth. The belly dancer was beautiful and really good, my sister and I want  to learn to dance and enchant just as she did. We positively loved her and talked about her the next day over our breakfast highlights.. I must caution that when we left there was a line and the place was super busy so I will always arrive early on Friday and Saturday. I hope you try it out and enjoy as much as we did.
Review Source:This place is dark and dimmed for a reason. Lets just say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on ME.
I've been here twice (not by choice) might I add. I've came here twice when my friends have hosteda birthday party and a gathering here.. and honestly each time I question my myself then my friends. Yes, this place sucks that much. Lets start with parking. You mean to tell me I have to pay $5 to park.. when there is a side lot where I can do your job for free. No thanks. But did I have a choice? no! The valet guy was pushy and annoying and would not let me put my heels back on. Ok I understand there were 3 cars behind me and I could have been holding the line up but its my world and your just living in it so you can wait mr. annoying valet guy!
After valeting, I walk in meet my friends who were already there at the bar with their drinks. Both of my friends were sipping on an unconventional type of drink that came in literally container. That definitely peaked my interest b/c we had just gotten back from New Orleans a few weeks back and this was reminiscent of a drink I'd get at Mardi Gras. And even more coincidental it was called the "Voodoo". I told the bartender "ok, that's what I'm having!"
Drink came out and boy was it a hit! I loved how strong it was but still tasty. I was definitely feeling Istanbul at this point. Then we walk with our waiter to the sitting area. We walk in to the main room where the tunes of fast paced Mediterranean music blared the speakers. It was really dark in there but I noticed the entire room was carpeted. Â In true Turkish style we are seated on the floor. Waiter comes with the menus and everyone places their orders.
OK, so this review is on the first time.. I mean by my second visit I already planned ahead knowing of what is to come next.
The first time I came here I came hungry. A decision I came to regret. Starving and excited about trying the much hyped about Istanbul. I ordered some lamb and rice dish. Came out 20 minutes or so later.. keep in mind I'm starving by this point. To much dismay the food came out excruciatingly cold, hard.. I mean I couldn't even stick my fork into the lamb. I ate it because I had no choice.. but boy was I complaining with each bite. PISSED!
My party also ordered about 2 hookahs. Oh erm ger. Can we say epic fail. Im a hookah connoisseur and I know a lazily made hookah when I smoke one. We asked the waiter to fix it, and he takes one puff in to the hookah and goes "whats wrong with it? it smokes fine, here you go" and hands it back to us. PISSED!
It burned out about 2 minutes later and I didn't even bother to burn my lungs with that piece of crap! If it wasn't for my Voodo drink which by this time I ordered another I would have really been angry. Luckily alcohol saved the day but it did not save this place from a one star rating.
If you must host a party here I would eat in advance, the belly dancers that come out are a nice treat and gets the crowd going yes, but the food and service is lukewarm at best. AVOID IF POSSIBLE!
This is a fun place!!
First time I came here for a friends birthday and It was my first time at a Turkish restaurant so I felt very skeptical about trying something. I am very not adventurous with food. So just had some beer and nothing else.
Second time I brought my mom and aunt here hoping they will enjoy the belly dancing and the ambiance. But was a little worried about food, but since my mother is advantourous with food, I thought I would go to have fun with them. Â The waiter was really nice. He suggested we order just 2 mixed grilled platter instead of three different dishes for us three. He brought them to us in a huge plate all filled with lamb, beef, chicken, potatoes and rice. My mother, aunt, and I really enjoyed the food. We had some wine and some desert afterwards also. Â
I think our bill was around 50 dollars or little more? We were stuffed with leftovers, had some wine, little bit of desert and belly dancing for all that,,,, it was a good deal. And they really enjoyed the food and the belly dancing..... So I was happy!!!!
I'm not an elitist. Granted, I enjoy nice restaurants and pretty things, but I can dig a hole in the wall. Cafe Istanbul, however, took me over the edge. Never. Again. Upon leaving I realized that the lights were so low as not to startle the guests with the layers of grime covering everything. Our server was mediocre at best--he actually spilled my food off of my plate, and asked if I wanted them to remake it. If you have to ask, then no. Speaking of food...I ordered the manti. The best thing I can say about it was that the grimy table added flavor. It tasted like soggy hamburger helper. Little steamed pockets of goo stuffed with "lamb." I advise you to save your time and eat at McDonald's. At least you can see their health score.
Review Source:My legs still hurt from sitting on the floor with them intertwined in the table. Ow.
Went here Friday with a party of seven, we called ahead to reserve a spot (highly recommended unless you like waiting a LONG time), and carpooled because the parking lot is tiny. Two very important things to know. They also valet on weekends, so have a few bucks on you to tip. Otherwise it's easy to get in headed intown, otherwise you'll have to u-turn at the QT and head back. It's not the best looking place outside, but it's just due to age, it's an OLD building.
Walking in you'll find a patio area the length of the place, narrow, but suited for small groups or just people smoking/drinking, inside the main door you'll find the bar and a few hightop tables right in front of you, the bar is small and was packed by 7:15pm. We got seated quickly and the first thing you realize is how dark it is inside, like super dark, dark enough to want a flashlight. You sit on the floor here, and if you have long legs like me, you're screwed. I adjusted a dozen times during the two hours and never got comfortable, nor found anyway to sit and reach the table at all. The tables have really cool ironwork around the bottom but it leaves little room for anything else. Minus one for that because with a group, you're left squashed up or your legs in someone else's lap.
Drink menu is catered to the cocktails, they have some wines which are pricey and the beer list is small with just typical Macro American beers and a few Imports. Food menu is bigger, (impossible to read though, again you need a flashlight) with a good amount of traditional Turkish plates. We got three apps to share, two orders of bread, and then our entrees, me being a picky eater I skipped the apps, liked the bread, but found my entree quite bland (Mediterranean Chicken), lacking the spices they advertised, and a bit burnt on the ends. Minus one more star there, the rice was ok but I honestly lost my appetite after the chicken.
The bellydancer was awesome and there was a bachelorette party that joined in with her, turning the room into a club almost, very crowded with employees having to walk over patrons to get to tables. This was disappointing because the nice, relaxing Turkish music was quickly replaced with thug BS. That was our cue to leave.
Was here for a friend's birthday party. Â The atmosphere is very nice. Â Dark and cozy. Â Most of the seating is on the floor but they do have some tables if you need it. There is also hookah if you want it. Â This evening (IDK if it is every evening) featured both a DJ and a quite talented belly dancer- the entertainment was great.
The food on the other hand wasn't so great. Â I tried out the lamb saute. Â I was quite disappointed. Â I ate enough to fill me up a bit, but that was it. If I were to return, I would try out the kebabs. Â I think that would be a safer bet.
One thing I didn't like was the no self parking option. Â You drive into a very small parking lot and a right away directed to the valet who then moves your car like 6 feet to park it. Â Please. Â Just make the lot self parking and get rid of the valets. Â Just seems very pretentious for this sort of place.
Very fun place to have dinner with friends or family. Going with a group is great because you can share dishes. It's easy to pick dishes because the food is very accessible - though I'm sure they have even more exotic choices for those who want them.
We went on a Wednesday night and they had several tables even early.
They have a full bar and some "specialty  cocktails" but we stuck with beer and wine. The service was good and attentive enough and we had a great time.
You'll be sitting on pillows on the floor so my advice is to skip the skirt and stick with pants for the ladies - getting down there in my fitted sundress was a little tricky.
The dancer the night we were there was lovely and had a great figure - not one of the big belly belly dancers. And unlike Leah's review, this dancer did not consider tippers to be morons at all. She not only welcomed tips - she encouraged them. She came out with a few bills in her waistband and encouraged people to put tips there. I handed her our tip and despite her urging, I "let" her put it in her waistband herself. :)
Sit on the floor, watch belly dancers, eat some awesome middle eastern food, and drink! Â
Great place for a group of friends on a weekend or for a date night during the week. Â I have been coming here since before they expanded and I am impressed with the new decor and how much they have grown. Â Make sure you make reservations because it can get packed on the weekends.
The belly dancers are just plain ole' american girls but who cares?! It's fun and the food is delicious. Â Be sure to not be afraid to ask questions about the menu, the wait staff knows the food well and can guide you to making the right decisions.
I still like this place. I like the fact that it's open late hours and offers a bit of variety in Decatur. Yeah, I know it's not one of those fancy places full of Persian rugs found on Roswell Rd. But I'm happy to have this Turkish option at 11pm. It can still make for a fun time just being in this environment. I wish there were more Turkish/ Persian/ Middle Eastern options in the Decatur area...
*Update* Just saw that there is a new Persian restaurant opening in Decatur in the former Zucca's. Hmmm... Maybe someone heard my pleads?
I like entertainment with my meal. At Cafe Istanbul, you get belly dancers. Not to be confused with exotic dancers. I was actually a teeny bit embarrassed for the first dancer we saw, as some moron parents handed their kid some money to stuff in her skirt. It ain't the Pink Pony, folks.
We were there on a Saturday night, and it was pretty packed. We had a reservation, though, so no big deal for us. There were lots of groups, and maybe I'm just being a stickler here, but I noticed lots of people with kids. Yeah, it's fun to sit on the floor and eat or whatever. But really, there's also hookah smokin' going on, and dudes drooling over the hot belly dancers. I know it's not Cafe Istanbul's fault, but we unfortch had a family next to us who thought it was okay to let their kid breakdance on the floor right behind our table. He's lucky he didn't end up kicking me in the back, otherwise I woulda turned into scary Medusa lady, complete with whirling head. The waiters were having to step over him. It was terrible. Parenting 101: don't take your kid to a restaurant and let them crawl around on the floor. Idiots...
ANYway....I had the most amazing appetizer: Sigara Boregi. It's like the Mediterranean version of Italian cheese sticks. And, it is SO GOOD. Get you some of those. The whole table was makin' the "mmmmmm" noises after tasting those suckers.
We also ordered the Meze plate so we could try out their other dippy dishes. Whatever the red sauce in the middle of the plate was set my mouth on fire. I still ate more of it, though.
For an entree, I went with the vegeterain stuffed budemjune. It was pretty good. I didn't feel like I was eating eggplant. It had rice, two different cheeses, and came with a side salad and some of that yogurty sauce. No complaints here!
All in all, I thought the food was pretty good. I didn't like having to literally track the waiter down to get more drinks, water refills, and the check, though. We wanted to use a Scoutmob, but when we showed it to them, they acted like they didn't know what it was. Shocking.
Went on a whim and realized there was a Scoutmob, which was needed, being that their drinks are $7,8,9 Bucks. Waiting in the bar area was a bit disorganized, but after 20 minutes we were taken to our floor table. If you are tall (6ft and over) it will probably cause you a leg cramp, However, the cushions were very comfy. We only had two appz  (the yogurt and the hummus) and a bottle of white wine. We saw the belly dancer, and also got to dance a couple of rounds with the Dj. Booty Music, and even Reggaeton! Very worth it. There is Hookah inside, but for someone as hateful and allergic to smoke as I am, I did not notice nor get bothered with it!
Our table tab was $28.00 after the Scoutmob (for my bf and I!) one of the cheapest dates we had were there was actually more than just eating and drinking. Definitively will be back. Will skip the $9 Grey Goose drinks *(Miami Beach prices!).
Positive Feedback: (1) AMAZING FOOD!! - everything our group ate was perfect. (2) AMAZING SERVICE - All of the servers are on top of it with refills and keeping the table cleaned. (3) The environment is very interactive. (4) Great music. (5) Great seating.
Negative Feedback: (1) They shouldn't play any American music, it takes the experience away. (2) Pricey. (3) Might be too loud for ones that like quiet environments. (4) Only valet parking available :o/
The thrill is gone. Dust and crust alert. The lights were on brightly tonight, so I could see the layers of schmutz on everything. Not a lovely realization when I'm about to eat while sitting on cushions on the floor.
We ended up with a few odd dishes tonight. Falafel were flattened disks of pureed chickpeas (unlike any Falafel I'd eaten, but edible), and the lentil soup was a watery puree/broth.
Not running back anytime soon, but still somehow appreciate the bizarre atmosphere (crust and all). I give them credit for unique design and painting, but question putting a giant vaginal flower on the ceiling.
Cheers~
This place is entertaining for a night out with a big group. I'm not a huge hookah-bar fan, but with the right crowd it can definitely be a blast (hence our ridiculously huge wine bill).
We arrived around 9 p.m. on a Friday night and there was a line of people waiting (I didn't know they take reservations...good idea). Luckily, a friend knew someone who worked there so we managed to get seated without having to wait much longer than about 15 minutes. Seating is basically on the floor, so if you're in a large group at a crowded table, I wouldn't recommend a short skirt.
We ordered a ton of different foods off the menu and I enjoyed mostly everything I tasted. I tried the hummus, stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoush, taboule, Â zatar bread...a ton of stuff! My absolute favorite thing was the Lamb Iskender. I would never have thought to order it myself (I'm on the fence about lamb in general), but after tasting a friend's dish, I wanted an entire plate for myself! It was so tender and delicious, the flavors of it were amazing. If that's any indication of how other entrees on the menu taste, then I'd vouch to say they offer an excellent Mediterranean meal.
The hookahs are fun to share with friends, but were kind of a drag on the total bill. Select carefully. I remember the watermelon flavor tasting just like Bubble Yum gum...kinda fun. The service we had was pretty good and we rarely were waiting on much. We were actually the last table to leave and (enter 10 bottles of wine later), were all about dancing with the belly dancers for a number before the night ended (I'll spare everyone any photo evidence I possess of this).
Check it out for a different night out. If I had a big group interested in going, I'd head back another time to check it out again.
I really enjoyed Cafe Istanbul. We were in a large group but had a reservation, so there was no wait for our tables. Service, perhaps the only rough point of the evening, was always friendly, if not particularly efficient or responsive. We had to ask multiple times for things like water, lemons, forks, etc., and our drink glasses were cleared a few times before we were done with them, our protests going unheard over the music.
The belly dancing was excellent. I cannot say enough good things about the dancer, especially compared to experiences at other area restaurants where the dancers do little more than move their arms and sway through the room. She was clearly a professional and even invited our guest of honor to join her. It was the highlight of the whole experience.
The drinks were tasty, and not ridiculously pricy ($9 for a martini - I recommend the Abra Cadabra which was not, as I feared, cloyingly sweet but very well balanced). The hookah was great, and they brought us additional coals when ours burned out. The food was tasty and the portions very generous. I split one entree and one appetizer with another person and we were both perfectly satisfied.
Overall, I had a great experience at Cafe Istanbul. I would definitely go back!
Cafe Istanbul is no good. I was severely disappointed.
I love trying different ethnic foods but I felt like the quality wasn't there.
I tried the lamb beyti kebob, which is grounded up lamb rolled up in flat bread. They put way too much sour cream and it tasted like a Mexican burrito. Isn't this suppose to be Turkish food? The bed of rice they served it over tasted like minute rice. This is a big No-No.
The chicken kebob skewers were dry. Their chicken saute with garden vegetables wasn't anything special. Tasted like chicken, garden vegetable stew.
I was disappointed because I could tell it lacked quality and it didn't taste authentic.
I also came here during lunch and my friends and I were the only ones in there but the service was SOO SLOW. I hear coming here at night is better because of the belly dancing but because of the lack of quality food, I don't think their atmosphere would make it any more enjoyable for me.
Last week, my friend Angel gathered a group of her friends for a trip to Cafe Istanbul to eat Turkish food and watch Mazneen, the belly dancer for that evening. Following ordering, we received our food after a noticeable--but not excessive--wait. Â Unfortunately, all in our party found our respective orders ranging from lackluster to unappetizing. As others have mentioned, the atmosphere here is impenetrably dark and certainly not conducive to reading the menu, much less seeing our respective meals; I'm sure the inability to discern what exactly we were putting in our mouths contributed to our hesitation in finishing our meals, all of which were left half-eaten.
Throughout the evening, Mazneen would come out, and the music would crescendo to nearly-painful levels. Despite the volume, however, Mazneen's performance was splendid--her movements dynamic, propulsive, and lyrical. Sadly, apart from her presence in the restaurant, I can find little else to recommend here.
The service has really gone downhill since the last time I went. This used to be a regular spot for all my friends to hang out during the early years of college (like 5 years ago). Everyone should check it once just to say they have been there. I would give it one star, but I'll give it 2 because of it's glorious past.
I went last weekend and no one was willing to help me get a table. After trying to get someone's attention by making strong eye contact (I have very expressive eyebrows), someone FINALLY helped but awkwardly ran off to the table with me to follow at a normal walking pace. Our waiter was not very attentive, food took forever to come out, another waiter was all about a female customer and couldn't stop drooling as she danced, etc.
- Hummus - ok
- Bread that comes with hummus - really good
- Lentil soup - not good (but I'm really picky about lentils)
- Pizza - really good, especially with lamb
- Hookah - had better elsewhere
Not very impressive to me....it's just an experience.
Honestly, go make some Persian friends, this place can't compete.
We had a party of 3 and went- the entire place was PACKED. I waited for around 20 minutes, awkwardly huddled in front of the restaurant. Since there was no parking, we had to trek across the street to park (ladies, this place looks a little like a no-no zone, be sure to have friends/sturdy looking guys) in HIGH HEELS.
Ok, once we were seated it took them like 25 minutes to get our order in. Between all of us we ordered the shish kabob,grape leaves, and some spicy lamb kabob.
The appetizer (grape leaves) were really good, but there were only 4 of them. The bread they gave us was also pretty good, but there wasn't much.
Took them TWO hours to get us our food. Then I guess they forgot, because it took them another HOUR to get us the food.
The food was iffy, some chops on a skewer with couscous salad and regular mid eastern salad. But for 16? Skoot over and let me do the cooking!
It was hard to talk since it was so loud, the lovely smell of hookah was ERRWHERE. I am SO glad I'm not asthmatic or anything. There was one belly dancer there, that was pretty cool.
In the end, server apologized and took 15% off our check. Ehh, I'm not so eager to return next time.
Ooof, it pains me to have to write this but in fairness I must.
There is nothing more disappointing than taking friends to a place you brag about and having the experience be less than stellar. The atmosphere itself was still great but the food was a partial let-down.
This past Friday night (11/27) it was packed with the usual mix of dating couples, young friends and families, which was cool because that's always part of the experience. Hookah to the right, belly dancer to the left and FABulous music.
The bread was still a hit but the Tahini Red Snapper I'd loved so much the last time and recommended to my cousin was disappointing. The fish itself was actually well-seasoned but it had practically none of the delicious lime tahini sauce that made it so great the first time. What little sauce was there had a grainy texture and floury tase, like they really didn't have any tahini and were trying to improvise. No hint of lime whatsoever.
So, it was embarrasing that my cousin ordered this for her bitrthday meal and I knew it wasn't all it could be. Her friend ordered the Chicken Iskendar. It came out looking like a crust-less frozen pizza made up of flat, 2-inch square pieces of chicken topped with sauce and a yogurt drizzle.
The fiance said right away it was not authentic and the person eating it said the sauce tasted like canned marinara. He didn't even eat a third of it before giving up and resorting to the bread.
I don't know what was going on in the kicthen that night but at this point I have to say consistency is a problem. Thank goodness the Mezze plate was great. I hope to be able to update again with a review of redemption for the kitchen.
cafe Istanbul is an Ok place. I love the atmosphere, the dancers and the drinks. I never tried to Hookah (i'm a non-smoker and haven't got the nerves). this seems to be a very popular place. When i left at 12, people were still coming in. I went on a Saturday and it was a wait list for seats. You should get a reservation. When diners come they stay a while. We stayed 3 hours!
i was so excited to taste the food, as I love Mediterranean food. Their bread was good. I ordered the Mediterranean chicken, which they advertise as having 9 unforgettable spices-HA! i couldn't taste not one spice. I won't be getting that anymore. My friend had the Gyro...not good either. My other friend tried something else, she said it wasn't good. We all had a greek salad...not good. Are you sensing a pattern yet?
The waiter took FOREVER. we had to yell and waive our arms in the air (like we just didn't care) just to get on his waiting list of diners needing assistance. So ask for 2 waters/refills at a time and hope he remembers to bring you everything when he comes back (good luck).
The belly dancer was good, but she only came out twice while we were there. I wish she would have come out more often.
I really enjoy home-style ethnic food and having a good time in a relaxed atmosphere, and that's why I love Cafe Istanbul. Â It's true to the spirit and cuisine of Turkey, and if I squint my eyes enough, I feel like I've gone back.
For starters, make sure you get a dish of Borek, a kind of Turkish spanakopita (spinach, feta, wrapped in phyllo dough. Â These melt in your mouth like butter.
For entrees, we usually get the Choban Kavurma, chopped lamb on a skillet with onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. Â
The Chicken Choban is another excellent choice, marinated chicken in place of the lamb above. Â
Another favorite is the Iskender, bread with gyro meat, tomatoes, and cheese on a skillet -- not too far from pizza, if you want to order something the kids will like.
The entrees are served with zatar bread, basically pita bread spiced with thyme, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Â You can always find this at the Mediterranean Bakery off Chamblee Tucker, or make your own with fresh bread and spices from Leon's International Foods (a Lebanese-owned grocery) off Pleasantdale next to I-85.
The service is relaxed and not hurried, because these guys are actually from Turkey and not your typical pretentious  Decatur haute cousine staff dressed in black.
As an after dinner lounge for drinks this place is perfect. I went for my first time this past Friday night for dinner and drinks with my boyfriend. The food was good. He loved it more so than I. He is also a true meat eater. I was a vegetarian for 10 years, so all the red meat was to heavy and too much. The rice was great! The bread they serve is awesome. AWESOME.
I went back the next with two girlfriends for their birthdays. We showed up fairly late for drinks and hookah, and were seated between two parties, not sure if it's the atmosphere, or the drinks but everyone was very friendly. Â I think this is a cool lounge/bar. I'll definitely go back. Especially since they are open to about 1.
I've been a fan of Cafe Istanbul since I first tried it. I always make reservations and haven't had an issue getting a great seat. Last night was no exception, 6 people at 8:00 PM and we were seated immediately at a round table in the corner, perfect. The waiter came out quickly took our drink orders, appetizer orders, gave us a couple of minutes to select our entrees and took our order. The appetizers arrived promptly and so did the food. We order chicken, beef, and lamb kebobs and everyone ate the meats and said they were delicious. I ordered the Iskander and it was okay, I was hungry so my plate was clean.
The ambiance was great, music, lots of people looking like they were having a great time. The belly dancer was a nice touch, the only problem there were the dudes that would dance around with her. Hey guys, let the lady do her thing.
The hookah was fun too and relaxing.
I'd come again with a group, especially for those that never experienced this type of restaurant.
People are giving this place bad reviews for service, and I guess it can be on the slow side. Â Despite what other reviewers have said, I have never noticed any cleanliness issues. Â This restaurant is in a tiny strip mall and has small, single-person bathrooms. Â However, my food has always been excellent and I've never felt the place was dirty overall.
Service may be on the slow side if you come at night. Â If you're looking for a good meal rather than an experience, I recommend lunchtime instead. Â At night, there are belly dancers and (I think) modern belly dance music. Â It's very loud, and while I have never partaken of the hookah myself, I hear people enjoy it. Â
The hummus is to die for. Â As for entrees, I almost always order the exact same thing (Iskender), because it is yummy, gyro-y, tomato-ey, garlicky yogurt goodness. Â However, my dad recommends the kebab.
Edited to add (1-17-09): Â I am sad to say that I am bumping Cafe Istanbul down from a "5" to a "3" based on my last experience there. Â The service was even slower than normal, the portions had magically shrunk, and there was not enough garlic sauce on my Iskender. Â I will update this rating if I go again and it seems better. Â I'm really hoping this was just a freak occurrence.
Went here with some friends on a Saturday night at around 8 and waited in a line. By 10 pm we are still in line but further back?? Everyone seems to know the waiter's brother or his brothers mothers grandpas friend or something. Â Definitely NOT worth waiting. Make reservations if you do decide to go, otherwise there's a Waffle House across the street.
The food is nothing to die for. Dinner was fairly inexpensive, but I guess you get what you pay for. I wouldn't have minded paying a little more for some friendly/faster/cleaner service.
Definitely think there's a lot of hype about this place. I'm reading some of these reviews and just wondering if these people are talking about the same place.
We had a great time here for a friend's birthday party. Â from the outside and surrounding neighborhood, you would never think that this little place would be so cool and the food was actually really good. Â
Definitely make reservations if you're planning on a big group and don't expect this to be a place that your parents or grandparents would enjoy---unless they're really healthy and can still hop up and down from the floor! Â Seating is on pillows on the ground! Â I've uploaded some pictures from our party--good times!
Cafe Istanbul is...one of a kind.
Yes, there are other hookah restaurants in Atlanta. This one's different because it doesn't really attempt to be upscale.
It's in a cruddy shopping area, with horrendous parking options.
I imagine that if the lights were bright, people would shudder at the building's shabbiness.
They are horrible about refilling your water glass. They pretty much refuse to, actually. Service altogether could make this a one star review.
Lastly, there are these old men who always hang out there, as "friends of the owners." They are shady. If you are friendly back they will not give you peace. You are warned.
However, there is hookah. Delicious double apple or mixed fruit hookah. Other flavor options exist, but why mess with a good thing.
There is also really good hummus. It's regular style (no red pepper hummus here!) with a couple of diced tomatoes and olives on top and lots of warm pita. I always order this.
The kebabs are great. The pizza is different but a winner. A friend likes their rice pudding.
Ordering food here would be fine and dandy if they actually brought it out. Forgotten and tardy orders are a problem. That one star service situation rears its ugly head!
This place is also just fun.
If you're lucky you get to sit in the seating area with pillows at low tables. The belly dancers do their thing in the middle of the room, so customers sit against the walls; this makes for prime people watching. Sometimes there are random drummers who hit it to the beat of the sound system's Arabic music.
If you're very lucky, drunk white people will dance to the music. I Â think they attempt belly dancing. It's hard to tell.
A little warning though: I've been here many times with girls, and we've ordered lots of things on the menu, it was fine.
I double-dated here ONCE (keep reading). The other girl and I were having a great time. The night was just getting started. Or not. The boys both said they were ready to leave. Yep, they'd had enough. We go our separate ways.
I find out the next morning that both of them got ridiculously sick that night. Not puking. The other varietal. Yeah.
They refused to go in again. I don't even know what it was that they'd eaten, but it was one rough night for them.
So you're warned. Enjoy.
Too bad I could not select a 0 for the rating or even minus -50 for the cleanliness. I cannot believe that we are talking about the same restaurant. I do have to admit the food was good and oh what an experience that my wife and I had. This was an experience that I hope that no one ever has.
My wife and I finally got out just to two of us, something that has not happened in a LONG time. My wife and I were driving around trying to find somewhere nice for dinner to relax and talk, so she said lets go to Cafe' Istanbul. We pulled up to this restaurant, I said no, lets go, it looks very dirty in there! My wife said well, we don't eat on the outside, lets go in and see, so I said ok, sure it is our night out.
I should have listened to my gut feeling to leave. We sat on the floor. We were talking, we ordered, the food came out along with a roach on the wall. The roach walked down on my wife's pillow top. She yelled, I took a napkin and killed it. We were grossed out, but said anything could happen. All of a sudden my leg started itching like crazy, so I lightly scratched it and felt something wet. I looked down and I had three bleeding red marks where something had bitten me. I was really upset. I didn't want to make a big stink because my wife and I were on a date so to speak away from the kids. So we continued to eat when another roach walked onto the table. She yelled again, I took another napkin and killed it, I said BULL, LETS GET OUT OF THIS FILTHY DUMP. We called the waiter over, as he was walking to us, another roach crawled across the table.
At this time the waiter had heard my wife scream and heard us talking about the roaches in this place. Not ever did this guy said that he was sorry or there was a problem. The waiter said your food was no charge, have a good night. All of a sudden he could not speak English, when he was talking our order he spoke perfect English with a slight accent.
I went home, looked up the board of health and called them the next morning. I told them what had happened the night before. The inspector said she would call me back with her findings. Not more than a few days letter, I received a call from the inspector. She told me that as soon as she walked in this restaurant she said the roaches on the wall. She moved around the pillows and found much more. She told me that this restaurant has a serious roach infestation problem and she recommended for the to shut down until this problem is cleared up. She also said the owners of this Cafe' Istanbul said they will close to remodel, I have not yet seen this place close for remodeling. She also told me that the day before that I called and the day after that I called there were two other people calling to file a complaint about the roaches in this restaurant.
It is your choice if you wish to go here, but we will never step food in this place again. I did forgot to mention that around 45 minutes after eating here, my best friend became the toilet for another hour at least.
For those who don't believe what happened to us, I personally invite you to call the Decatur, GA board of health and see this 3 complaints in a row about roaches. I am sure there will be much more complaints other than our 3.
This place is filthy and should not be open for business until they clean up their act.
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