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Cafe Gulistan
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
13581 Red Arrow HwyHarbert, MI 49115
(269) 469-6779
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 1 pm - 10 pm
Wed-Thu 4 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Cafe Gulistan
Review Highlights
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"...in garlic-mango-walnut cream sauce, with Basmati rice." In 3 reviews -
"...served over a bed of Basmati rice, and garnished with our..." In 4 reviews -
"They pull of the Turkish food without flaw." In 10 reviews
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Gretchen D.
Grand Rapids, MI
5/25/2012
Oh Yelp, you've done it again. We're on the road, looking for dinner. Fire up the smartphone and start looking for places on Yelp. Up pops Cafe Gulistan.
It is clean. It is nice. The service is good. the food is EXCELLENT.
We had the falafel appetizer and the feta salad. All good. the feta was fresh and fabulous.
Mom had the wedding beef stew. Can you make it without the mushrooms? No problem. It was delicious. Hubby had the lamb stew dish--he loved it. I had the hummus and tabbouleh platter.
Everything was great.
As someone else noted, the colors and presentation are well-done.
This place is a class act. -
Review from Susie I.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012
You don't expect there to be a Turkish restaurant in the middle of Harbor Country, but right there on the Red Arrow Hwy, there it is. A dear friend suggested it to us, so on a weekend jaunt to the area, we stopped for dinner.
It was fantastic.
Yes, I'll agree that at first our server wasn't the warmest bun in the basket, but after a couple of trips to our table she became downright perky. Maybe our reaction to the food was contagious.
First, as a visual artist, I am finally understanding how colors on a plate can stimulate the appetite. The appetizer we ordered couldn't have been more beautiful! And it was delicious.
Second, I would usually turn up my nose at any kind of pickled cabbage, but the red color of this cabbage made me want to eat it, and am I glad I did! It was phenomenal. Crunchy and fresh with just enough pickling. It was in our appetizer (shrimp) and in my felafel platter. The felafel was like none I had ever had, too. I am a regular felafel eater, and this had some flavors in it you don't usually get, very subtle and gentle and delicious.
Third, when my boyfriend requested a dessert menu, our now cheerful server said "We've been told our baklava is the best" and he said "sold" and handed her back the menu without looking at it. Good suggestion. Again, a winning course.
I love Harbor Country, mostly for the Lakeside Inn we stay at, the wineries, the fires on the beach, and the hikes at Warren Woods and Warren Dunes. Cafe Gulistan will also become a spring-time ritual. -
Review from constance k.
Chicago, IL
5/3/2012
I Love Cafe Gulistan!!! Amazing food, lovely ambience and good service.
My favorite dishes are Falafil, Pesto Pasta & Ispanak!
Be sure to call ahead, their hours change seasonly. -
Review from Henry C.
Elmhurst, IL
5/7/2012
Can you say " diamond in the rough " --- Amazing Turkish food in New Buffalo, Michigan? Really? YES, YES, and YES!
When my wife and I have any chance to flee Chicago, we head to southern Michigan with our two kids. A stop we never fail to make is Cafe Gulistan. I would go here just for the "Oz" service. This young man must be the owner's right hand but his genuine and sincere service is second to none. In fact, when we enter Cafe Gulistan we request that Oz be our server.
This weekend and after a year of not going to New Buffalo, he remembered each of my familys' names and asked for their well being. The food -- OMG! Th food is fresh, bountiful, and made from scratch. Did I mention delicious.
The location -- IDEAL! Off Red Arrow Highway - "steps" away from Lake Michigan.
Support this restaurant - tell your friends about it - Cafe Gulistan, you are a gem!
And Oz, thank you for making our trips to New Buffalo, Michigan such a truly wonderful and cultural experience. -
Review from Kshitij N.
Amherst, MA
5/20/2012
we were driving back from chicago to Detroit when we just found this place on the GPS. We were just expecting to have a quick meal before getting on our way again. But the ambience and the food was so good that we ended up spending a lot more time. The Ezme (similar to spicy salsa) was amazing. We also loved the mango cheescake. Next time I would also like to try the wine
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Review from Rodger W.
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Probably 4.5 stars, but the being the best cuisine in a beautiful location earns the extra bump.
I am quite familiar with most Near/Mid Eastern cuisines, but Turkish/Kurdish was new for me. I started with a Shiitake Mushrooms appetizer that contained shiitakes and basil sautéed with a walnut-tomato chutney in a red wine and soy sauce. It was very delicate and delicious. The main courses that we enjoyed were Ispanak, which others have mentioned in other reviews: Crispy chickpea patties topped with sautéed fresh spinach, mushrooms, onions, peppers, in a garlic-mango-walnut cream sauce, served with Basmati rice. Quite sweet and savory, with great texture in the patties. I had the Gulistani, New Zealand ground lamb sautéed with spices and spring onion, served over a bed of Basmati rice, and garnished with our house special sumac salad. It looked a lot like an Indian queema, but with a unique, delicate spice profile. The rice was lightly dilled and perfectly cooked.
The baclava was honey based and home made. Not as sweet and crunchy as the reference Shatilla Bakery in Dearborn, MI, but served with strawberries and chocolate sauce. A winner.
Also, they served Shorts beer. Excellent! The server was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. -
Review from Julia W.
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh, Cafe Gulistan, I'm still so curious how you came to Harbor Country, which doesn't exactly scream Haven of Incredible Turkish and Middle Eastern Food. My father, who lives in the area, has enjoyed your delicious presence for many, many years now and I'm so glad I've finally had the pleasure of dining there, too.
It's hard to choose at a place like this. I've been to many Middle Eastern places and gorged myself on appetizer combo platters of hummus, babaghanoush and falafel, so this time, my husband and I decided to just stick with babaghanoush. It was a good choice, as the serving was large and in charge--garlicky good with a nice smoky undertone from the roasted eggplants. I was disappointed that the pitas were just regular ol' pita pockets instead of freshly-made ones, but the babaghanoush saved the day. We also had a grilled Tiger shrimp dish served with sesame seeds and an apricot sauce--perfectly cooked shrimp and lovely flavor profiles.
My entree just about made me lose my mind, it was so freaking delicious. I ordered the Ispanak (without mushrooms) - falafel with sauteed spinach, onions and peppers in a garlic-mango-walnut cream sauce. Shut. The. Front. Door. Amaaaaazing. The sauce was absolutely dreamy with a luxurious texture and incredible flavor. I was full after the first falafel, but soldiered on just to get another glorious taste. Holy cow. That was fantastic. So much so that I suggested we get it the next day for dinner again (we didn't; we were heading out of town--BOO). My husband had a lamb dish he really enjoyed, but even he had to pause and say "wow" when he tried a bite of my dish.
I had to try the baklava, of course, and it did not disappoint. Flaky, sweet, crisp--quite tasty and a nice treat. I would've taken another serving of the Ispanak, though. :)
I don't get to visit the area nearly enough anymore now that we've moved to St. Louis, but trust that I will be on Cafe Gulistan's doorstep the next time we visit my dad. Have the Ispanak ready, Gulistan. -
Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 6/18/2011 2 photos
Summer's lease has all too short a date. In between the many rains of June, a few sunny days dawned, and we trekked back to SW Michigan in search of, among other things, a few good meals.
I ate in Cafe Gulistan twice within the same week, a Thursday night dinner with the very-cool Purple Grandma, and a late Saturday lunch with the Sibling and the PhD. We explored the vegetarian entrees, so I cannot tell you anything about the dead flesh on a plate. However, if you believe that care in preparation, beautiful well-balanced ingredients, and attention to detail can translate across menu items, you should definitely give the dead stuff a try.
We had excellent food, drink, service, and atmosphere. What's not to like?
Believe it or not, SW Michigan is not swimming in good restaurants. Oh sure, you won't have a problem finding pizza, burgers, or Olive Garden-style Italian places. But really good food? Cafe Gulistan has it; not many others do.
* Sultan's Tava - fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, carrots and chickpeas, sauteed in curry-garlic sauce, with Basmati rice;
* Ispanak - chickpea patties with spinach, mushrooms, onions, peppers in garlic-mango-walnut cream sauce, with Basmati rice
* Falafil platter - chickpea patties served with Basmati rice, sumak salad (red cabbage), garlic-dill-yogurt sauce, and seasonal vegetables
* Pasta pesto - penne pasta in garlic cream sauce with basil-almond pesto and topped with parmesan cheese
* Fattoush salad - romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, in their homemade dressing.
For drinks, I can't tell you everything. We had three different reds, and a Turkish pilsener beer. The PhD had the beer; he said it was fine, a pilsener, nothing to rave about. The girls, who had the wines, were all happy. They do have some interesting selections that are available only by the bottle, but we were trying to stay mostly sober.
There are tables in front of the building. Yes, they face the Red Arrow Highway, which is pretty busy, but there is a beautiful herb and flower garden in front and to the side, which makes the experience of outdoor dining even better. The weather was so nice, we ate outside each time.
We had a lady server on Thursday, and a man server on Saturday. Both did very well - no problems, questions, or complaints with the service.
The best meals we've had in SW Michigan. By the way, I almost strayed from the True Faith and ordered the Chicken Kabob, when I saw it being delivered to another table. But I succumbed to peer pressure and stayed meat-free. Well, it's only June. Plenty of time to get back and enjoy the bounty of Cafe Gulistan again.
I've eaten 3 times at Cafe Gulistan, and had three good experiences. Highly recommended.
I will try to post some photos, so you can see how gorgeous this place is.Listed in: Highlights of Southwest…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/22/2010
Oh boy, did we have a good dinner at Cafe Gulistan. We shared a mushroom appetizer, a vegetarian… Read more »
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Review from Louis P.
New Buffalo, MI
9/27/2011
The service and cheerful staff is tops.
Love the lentil soup, babaganush, falafil, hummus which are all outstanding. In fact we have been their with lots folks who order different things including a varity of lamb dishes and everyone is very happy and satisfied with their meal and experience in this mideast type restaurant -
Review from Dean U.
Chicago, IL
3/6/2012
Great Food! Relaxing atmosphere. The owner Ibrahim is as kind and caring as can be! Love Cafe Gulistan and look forward to eating there again soon. A must eat, in South Western Michigan.
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Review from Andrea J.
Chicago, IL
10/7/2011
Absolutely amazing food, and a breath of fresh air for a vegan visiting this otherwise non-veg friendly area. My husband had a lamb dish and I had the tava. Both were incredibly delicious. Our server was attentive, but not overly so, and had a hilarious attitude about life that made dinner fun. The atmosphere was inviting and the wine was cheap (and good!). We'll definitely be back.
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Review from George H.
11/14/2010
Incredible food and great service!
It was the best Turkish/Kurdish food my wife and I have ever had. The rack of lamb (as everyone recommended) was delicious, tender and PERFECTLY cooked and the side of rice and the chutney were great.
The Ispanak was also delicious and the sauce was incredible. I wish I could get the recipe! -
Review from jamie k.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 6/13/2008
Well, after my last visit the stars almost slipped down to a ... 2.
Yikes.... bad bad service. I would chalk it up to one person, who obviously had no real interest in the vibe of the place. After spilling a glass of white wine on my friend (which totally happens, and is an accident, believe me I understand) -her reaction was only a tad tad apologetic...after seemingly annoyed by my friend and her laps attraction to wine, she sopped some of it up, only to return 5 minutes later...
No glass of wine in hand to replace the entire glass that was emptied, no nothing - most importantly - no true apology...
and just strange...after waiting a good 15 minutes to pay our check as she swooned over the large group of obviously wealthy vacioners, I went inside to pay -- being 3 people, we all paid with 20's...yes, one extra..she came back and declared she could not break the extra 20. huh?!
Sighhhh....I only minused one star, because I do love this place - the food is still amazing! But invest in better wait staff ... it's important.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/14/2008
What a gem! I went here with a group of friends during a weekend away in northwest Michigan, and… Read more »
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Review from Amy C.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2011
We ate at Cafe Gulistan last night and it was terrific. We wanted something different, not just another burger or American food. Cafe Gulistan was just what we needed. Here's what we had and our opinions:
Appetizers:
Ezme - it was like a Mediterranean salsa, eaten on pita. The flavors were really good and blended nicely. Very fresh tasting.
Calamari - delicious tomato-based sauce. Cooked perfectly.
Entrees:
Chicken Dolma - loved the sauce
Stuffed Rainbow Trout - very good
Whitefish (Special) - the sauce is great
Kavurma - the lamb was very tender
Dessert:
Baklava - sooo good. Very light, but still very flavorful.
Coffee - had the one with honey. Delicious and the flavor was not overpowering like other Turkish coffee can be.
Service was good. Our waiter was very friendly and the right amount of attentiveness. Highly recommend. One of the best restaurants in the area. -
Review from Chris S.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2008
I had been told of a great Turkish restaurant in the vicinity of New Buffalo, Mich, and I had to go there the next time I was in the area.
From the moment I walked in in the door, I and my party was welcomed and given nothing but attentive service that went beyond out expectations. A history of the restaurant and owner was offered after we asked a couple questions. Can't decide between the 2 soups of the day? No problem. We were brought a little bowl of both to help us with that decision. Our server seemed happy to have us there, as if we were company that had just dropped in. This warm feeling accompanied us throughout our meal.
The food was great, and portions were huge. To-go containers were needed. This place is a great Turkish restaurant, right where I wouldn't expect one. I'll be returning, I'm sure. -
Review from Jason L.
Chicago, IL
5/30/2011
This place is superb.
The style of the place seems to be from the Southeast region of Turkey. The ingredients are almost all fresh, many of them locally sourced, and they take on a flavor that seems very earthy.
For example, in other places, the tabouleh is often dressed with too much strong acidic vinegar which overpowers the vegetables and demotes them to nothing more than a crunchy element. However, at Café Gulistan, they put just the right amount of a lightly flavored dressing so that the delicate flavors of the greens and other veg really comes out.
Other notes:
The basmati rice is quite sweet while still retaining its grain identity.
The hummus features the chickpea's actual flavor instead of the common strong smokiness or spiciness.
The fatoush was exellent in that the eggplant was the star of the dish.
The coffee is exactly what you would expect from Turkey: strong and bitter --- how it should be.
The lamb shank special was incredible. It fell right off the bone and just shredded with every turn of the fork.
This food is all about the ingredients. This is a rare gem in a region in which the Yelpers frequently rate fast food mega-chain restaurants five stars. -
Review from Jerod C.
Wheaton, IL
8/27/2010
Splurge for the rack of lamb. It was cooked perfectly and the nut chutney was awesome. Salad was great too with a yummy yogurt and honey dressing.
Sat at the bar with great service. -
Review from carmen o.
Stevensville, MI
4/9/2011
Good service! Beautiful atmosphere! This is a great place to go if you feel like something different! I went for lunch, so the prices were much lower which was nice. This was my first time eating kurdish food so my husband and I split the sampler platter. I enjoyed everything on our plate.
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Review from Natalie S.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2009
After reading other reviews on this place, I see a common "bad service" theme so I should have been prepared when we went. We were staying in the area at the Rabbit Run Inn. The owners recommended this place and since my husband and I are from Chicago and "ethnic eaters", we figured we would give it a try.
It took a little longer than normal for a server to come take our order. No biggie. We ordered an appetizer plate and two entrees.
Waited.
Waited.
Then suddenly had two entrees in front of us. No appetizer.
Since my husband and I each used to work in the service industry... big petpeeve of ours.
We mentioned it to the server. She kinda blew us off. Said the kitchen was swamped. That didn't really explain why it is our entrees came out and our appetizer didn't, but whatever.
What bugged me was that was her reaction to our situation... and that was it. We finally had to ask to see a manager. He is the one who finally apologized for the mixup, got me another glass of wine on the house and brought out the appetizer plate a few minutes later, free of charge.
Our entrees were delicious. Our appetizer plate mediocre. The babaganoush (sp?) was REALLY awful. The humus and falafel were ok... nothing remarkable.
We were on vacation in the area which is why we went. I'll bet that if I lived in the area, I would give them one more shot. I think it's pretty silly for one server to turn you off a place forever. -
Review from Christina M.
South Bend, IN
7/6/2009
After an afternoon of lounging on the beach at Warren Dunes we decided to drive aimlessly along in hopes of stumbling on a restaurant. This place looked intriguing so we decided to pull a u-turn and give it a try. We were definitely not disappointed. In spite of our beach bum appearance we were greeted cordially and seated on the patio. A lovely garden separates the dining area from the small highway, improving the view immensely.
We opened the menu to find that this was a Middle Eastern restaurant, but with specialties beyond the usual kebab and falafel. Our server suggested that we start off with the appetizer sampler plate, which we enjoyed with 2 glasses of a delicious Turkish red wine. The soft red wine complemented the delicately spiced hummus and tabbouleh perfectly, setting the stage for a great meal to come. And I can't forget to mention that the homemade pita is great!
I wish I could recall the name of the dish I ordered - it was described as a "Kurdish wedding dish" and consisted of tender chunks of lamb with a thick tomato and green onion sauce, served on fragrant basmati rice. Again, the wine was the perfect accompaniment, and I was in heaven.
My husband ordered one of the evening's specials, a quail dish that he enjoyed. The only sour note for him was the aioli which he said didn't go well with the quail and tasted of "deviled eggs." Oh well.
Our server was attentive and gracious, and knowledgeable about the wine and food. It's very rare to stumble across such a gem, and rare that service, food, and atmosphere combine to make a restaurant experience so enjoyable. We will definitely be back - and hopefully dressed a little more appropriately next time! -
Review from Jeffrey D.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2010
My wife and tried Cafe Gulistan a few weeks ago after my wife went there by herself a month or so ago on one of her trips to SW Michigan. Enjoyed the place very much.
We ate on the outdoor patio which is just lovely and overlooks a beautiful landscaped area with a pond with live fish. Was end of very warm day and buggy during the day, but due to the insect burners did not experience any issues.
We split one of the salads and one of the lamb dishes. Since I love lamb, no brainier. Both were terrific with just the right amount of spices and taste. Overall, hard to go wrong.
They pull of the Turkish food without flaw. Will be back soon. -
Review from Ben S.
Madison, WI
7/18/2011
Some excellent vegetarian choices: The falafil platter was very good. The Ispanak was extremely tasty (almost like a curry). The pesto pasta was fantastic--a creamy delicious pesto with nutty richness. All the food was fresh and tasty, with well-balanced flavors and nice presentation. We are looking forward to our next visit!
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Review from Paul L.
Chicago, IL
8/5/2009
The only reason this place was docked a star was for our server, Ms. Woe-is-me, but that's the unimportant stuff. What is important is that this little cafe can be missed if you're not on the lookout for it. It's very cozy with summer people and locals alike, and the food is worth bragging about. We stuck with having a few appetizers so I can't comment on the entres. However, if they're anything like the appetizers with the fresh local veggies and tender meat, then they're amazing.
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Review from Jean Z.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2006
Wonderful sampling of turkish cuisine while on the right side of the lake.
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Review from Deb M.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2011
This is a really great place, beautiful patio, one of the best restaurants we know including better than most places we go in Chicago! The mixed appetizer plate is great, the tabouli is so fresh, best hummus and baba ganoosh, and I have never had a better falafel than here. Gulistan gives new meaning to the dish, they are wonderful. Great meat dishes too; lamb, chicken. A lovely location, sitting out on the patio overlooking the garden, sipping crisp white wine and enjoying some of the best mediterranean food you will find anywhere! Great service too. And very down to earth. We went dressed "as is" after a day of gardening.
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Review from S K.
Michigan City, IN
4/9/2010
I've eaten at Gulistan many times over the years.... it's a simple, no-frills, good food place. Like the cuisine, the atmosphere is relaxed. I've never had any memorable bad service experiences. It's a strong consideration any time I'm up the Red Arrow.
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Review from Susan G.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2010
This restaurant is run by very nice people and so I think that the reviews are a bit more charitable than they should be. Over a 3 year period we have eaten here probably 4 or 5 times. The food is okay, but nothing special. As you would expect the lamb dishes are probably the best items on the menu. The hummus is pretty good. However, I can't figure out why everything seems to be swimming in oil. I've been to other turkish/persian restaurants and have not seen this. We continue to come here with friends who are looking for something a little more different in Harbor Country. The prices are reasonable or quite honestly we wouldn't come here. Per person (including a glass of wine by the glass) is about $25.
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Review from L. R.
New York, NY
6/8/2008
This place is absolutely fantastic!!!! Can't say enough about it. The food is delicious. The service is excellent and the owner of the restaurant is a wonderful person. The food is very different (Middle Eastern) but comforting. It's great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. I love the veg entrees, my husband loves the lamb. You won't be disappointed. Sit by the garden-side window and watch the butterflies flit about as you enjoy your meal.
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Review from Kate X.
Chicago, IL
10/8/2009
This is the only healthy restaurant I have found in "Harbor Country". I have been there more than five times. We have ordered Sultan's Tava which is a kind of a vegetable stew, but super good. The appetizer platter was great. As vegetarians, they had something that was GOOD and on the menu. We took our inlaws here who are serious meat and potatoes fans. He ordered chicken and she got lamb and they both commented on how they liked it. The coffee with cardamom is a great ending-they were out of the baklava.
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Review from Tom K.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2010
I wish they delivered to Chicago because they are way better than my local middle eastern restaurants! Had the Feta Salad, Combo appetizer, Izgara Lamb & all were great. Highly recommended. Supreme lamb & sweet atmosphere. Great staff.
