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Cafe Istanbul
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
5 reviews for Cafe Istanbul
Cafe Istanbul follows through with good Mediterranean food, good wine, friendly service, and a fun environment. We stopped here after our first visit to the Newport Aquarium. I was impressed at how many people were walking around at the restaurants and shops at the Levee, contributing to a festive and fun atmosphere. In the roomy outdoor patio at Cafe Istanbul, you can relax by the fountain and enjoy people-watching while you eat.
We ordered a tasty appetizer sampler that came with hummus, tabouli, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, baba ganoush, ezme (a salsa-like salad), and fresh pita bread. Everything was good, and the hummus and tabouli were excellent. They have a little bit of spice, and a little more flavor than you sometimes find in those standard Mediterranean dishes. The grilled vegetable entree was also very good. Spiced carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, green beans, peppers, and asparagus served with some uniquely tasty rice.
The only disappointment was the dessert. The tiramisu is more like a pudding than I care my tiramisu to be, and not very espresso-imbued. It was more of a let down than a pick-me-up! I did see some good looking baklava that I will try next time.
Love it! I can't believe it's been there all this time and I haven't gone! I like it much better than Andy's...yum! Can't wait to go back!
If presentation was everything, Cafe Istanbul would still leave a lot to be desired. When you eat Turkish food you go in expecting a little spice, a little mystery; or at least a really good kebab. Cafe Istanbul doesn't have much to offer except for the kebab.
But it's not really this restaurants fault. It's just the latest Americanized ethnic food chain. Tempting enough for the Disturbia set, but not up to par with anyone who likes Turkish food... or food with taste.
However, the server staff was VERY friendly. The wine list was decent for a chain. And the atmosphere overall was nice. If a touch bland.
In the end, that's exactly what you'll get from Cafe Istanbul. A nice night, but a little boring.
One of my favorite Levee restaurants, Cafe Istanbul has received recognition in local magazines and media for its Turkish cuisine. Nice outdoor patio, popular in the warmer months. Beautiful interior decorated with stone tiles, Oriental carpets and lovely chandeliers is divided into smaller, cozy seating areas. Not a place where you expect to grab a quick meal, but the food is consistently good, whether it's a kabob, lamb shank or fish entree.
The owner of Cafe Istanbul is one of the nicest people I've ever met. As has been discussed in many of my yelp reviews, my summer in Turkey has put me on a permanent quest for really good Middle Eastern food, so Cafe Istanbul's existence in my hometown is really exciting. A long conversation about life in Istanbul with the owner when I wandered in was even more exciting. Sadly, the food...not as exciting. Decent baba ghanoush and a fantastic shepherd's salad, but the hummus is too salty for my taste and the kebabs are nothing particularly special. Still, you could do much worse for Middle Eastern food in Northern Kentucky and I want to drum up more business for them, so they can get better and continue to grow-decent Turkish food is better than no Turkish food at all!
