- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Cafe Istanbul
Categories: Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Middle Eastern Turkish, Middle Eastern
7300 Lone Star DrSte 160 C
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 398-2020
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
54 reviews for Cafe Istanbul
Review Highlights
-
"Excellent Mediterranean food at the Shops at Legacy." In 8 reviews -
"I had Bursa Iskender and it was very delicious." In 2 reviews -
"Pita bread is heavy but this is perfectly light." In 4 reviews
Loading...
54 reviews in English
-
Review from Ryan W.
Plano, TX
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great little spot.
The patio has great shade, comfortable seats and is great for people watching :)
Good: Food was great, you get lots of it and the service was semi-promt and polite. Manager checked in on us and all was great.
Bad: beer select is next to horrible. A selection of 4 bottles, but wine and martinis out the wazoo!
I recommend for a date or to take the parents. Not great for kids, not room to move and others are trying to have a romantic night. -
Review from David D.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the pleasure of celebrating my sister's birthday here on December 24th. We had a great time and the food was excellent. We received excellent service from Natalie which included accurate descriptions of the food. She suggested the family style dishes and that was an excellent recommendation because it allowed all of us to sample the various dishes.
We enjoyed the entertainment and would highly recommend this place.Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 1/3/2012
Thank you very much... We look forward to having you again.… More » -
Review from Katie S.
Irving, TX
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really like the feel of this place. The inside is comfortable and there is outside seating as well. We came here on a weekend for lunch and for a while my husband and I were the only patrons inside. There were about 4 tables seated outside...but it looked about to rain so we opted to remain sheltered. We really wanted to get a good sample of the food served here so we ordered a few different things. The appetizer sampler is a good way to do this. The babaganoush is amazing! There pita comes out hot and puffed. We loved the meatballs and the lentil soup. I'll definitely be coming back. Another plus: our waitress was fantastic! May have had something to do with so few customers but I still think she was excellent. They also appear to have a ton of wine, though we didn't have any this time around.
-
Review from Julie S.
Frisco, TX
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
My favorite restaurant in the world. Food-perfect. Turkish wine-decadent. Service-prompt, friendly, and knowlegable. Ambience is upscale and relaxing. I wish I could move in there.
-
Review from Victoria W.
Dallas, TX
3/31/2012
Really great food. I had the hummus+pita, and falafel sandwich. The pitas and hummus were some of the best I've ever had, and I frequent Mediterranean places quite frequently.
-
Review from Bruno M.
Austin, TX
3/21/2012
Great food, great prices, and best of all the never ending pita bread that is served fresh from the oven!
-
Review from Snow W.
Dallas, TX
9/8/2011
This was a place that I sought to go since I was craving Turkish; I bet you don't hear many people say that.
Service / Atmosphere
It was a gorgeous day in the afternoon, and they weren't too busy. They have a pretty nice cozy patio area, which my date and I chose. Service was extremely prompt, waitress was attentive. She mentioned that it was happy hour and drinks were half off. I wanted a glass of their Turkish wine, which she said they only served it by the bottle. I decided since it was half off, why not order the whole bottle. The waitress kept the drinks refilled, and food was out surprisingly quick.
Food
I want to precursor that I lived in London for quite some time where you could get doners as fast food. You could see their slabs of meat roasting away dripping with juicy goodness.
What was presented to us as our meals was a far cry from the grab and go doners I ate in London. First of all, the meat was dry, flavorless and slathered with a bitter tomato sauce. I could not tell the difference between what was beef or lamb. Second, the description said my meat would be layered on top of pita bread... It look like they had taken a bread loaf cubed it just to give the impression I had more than what I had on my plate. The rice pilaf tasted like it was 5 minute rice it was so gummy.
The redeeming attributes of the meal. Their courtesy bread is a floury sesame puff of delight. I probably would have been happier eating their $7.95 hummus with the puff bread rather than the two meals that were ordered. The other thing that actually activated my taste buds was their Turkish cherry juice; it reminded me of sweet tart morello cherries.
The wine left me thinking I've had better, especially for the price.
Damage
I get the bill, and I see that my wine wasn't half off. I ask the waitress about it, and she said only the martinis, cocktails, and glasses of wine were half off. Yeah, she failed to mention to me that the bottles were not part of their promotion. Since I wasn't expecting to pay $32 for a bottle of wine I ask if there is anything that she can do at this point. She then went into how "it's part of the pitch for happy hour..." I then ask if she could at the very least take off the $4 cherry juice, and she's telling me how the manager barely speaks English and probably won't.
Total meal cost:
2 entrées
1 bottle of wine
1 beverage
-1 cherry juice
Tax =
$75.27 not including tip
Total assessment
Maybe it was what I ordered, but the food was completely not worth the price tag, especially all the other wonderful choices around that area. -
Review from Tracy T.
Plano, TX
7/31/2011
Blind date here last night.
Seated promptly when we arrived.
We started out with the kisir appetzier, cracked wheat with spices. Never had cracked wheat before but this is the way to have it. They're flat bread is so yum! All puffy when it comes out, you rip it apart and it deflates perfectly. Pita bread is heavy but this is perfectly light.
Bursa Iskender/Chef's Special 1 - which was lamb and beef in a tomato butter sauce over a bed of diced pita bread with grilled tomatos, a pepper, side of rice and yogurt. Very tasty. I ate all of it. I'm persnickety - so I was expecting the meat to be chunks of lamb and beef - and it was lamb/beef meat mix combined which I'm not that huge of a fan of. But like I said - very tasty I ate all of it.
Dessert - KUNEFE - this is so different! And amazing! Our waitress said they sell like crazy. The Turkish woman comes in at 7am in the morning to make these. It's butter, sugar, goat cheese (never had goat cheese like this) and and cracked wheat in a combination I never thought would work but is so rich and yummy. A must!
Service was excellent. One of those places where you reach for your glass and it's been filled without you noticing. Haven't come across that in a while. And they had a belly dancer last night - she was very engaging.
A good time. Wondering when I can make it back ...Listed in: The F Word, The Places I Go Out
-
Review from Janet P.
The Colony, TX
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went last night. First love the outside dining area and the inside is very cozy. The Place was pretty empty so our service was really good. I like the menu. Everything is homemade and it had a lot of choices. The Pita Bread is amazing, but it doesn't come with any kid of dipping sauce which it screams for. We ordered the Tazikki but I think we were charged $4.00. It was really good. Food came out pretty slow. I understand it's cooked to order so no big deal. We waited 40 Min for food.I had the lamb Shank. It was a bit tough. Probably needed to be braised a little longer. The tomato sauce it was in lacked flavor. It was very bland and onions and peppers very under cooked. Almost raw. I didn't enjoy that. It came with egg plant while good it had the skin on it which I don't enjoy.
Husband had the Lamb K-bob. It was really good. Cooked perfect and tender. Daughter had a sandwich also very good. The server brought her French fies free of charge which was nice as she didn't like the side salad of onions and tomatoes. I would be giving 4 stars except my meal was a little dissappointing. I want to try it again though because the menu is great.Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 3/17/2012
Thank you very much for your comments. The appetizers and… More » -
Review from Arjun M.
Sugar Land, TX
9/11/2011
Came here for lunch, ordered the Doner sandwich.
The bread, forgot what its called, that they brought while we waited was good. Staff was nice. Nice seeing the owner? or manager? standing there and smiling, making sure all customers are doing OK.
Sat outside, weather was perfect. Felt like I was either in LA or actually in some nice small gem of a place in Europe/Turkey.
Food came, it was delicious. Wish they had more meat in the sandwich, but its all good.
Can't wait to come here for dinner and have at it with their kabobs.
THIS PLACE IS AWESOME, yall should all def come here.
Only complaint is the damn bees when you sit outside....they don't leave you!Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 10/3/2011
Thank you very much for your comments. The bread is called… More » -
Review from Jasmine T.
Dallas, TX
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I first came here ordering the kebobs, hummus, and the wine during happy hour and it was delicious. Beautiful decor and ambiance, great service.
However the second time I came, the disappointment came on a Friday for lunch and my friend and I shared the doner dorum which is a wrap that had beef and lamb with yogurt on the side and tomato sauce.
The beef and lamb were okay, but underneath the wrap were just cubes of bread which I thought potatoes would have been better. Also, the tomato sauce tasted as if they were instantly made instead of from scratch.
Oh well, I guess I could have stuck with the kebobs next time.
All in all, I don't mind coming here again. :) -
Review from Coolden J.
Dallas, TX
5/25/2011
We were in Plano for a house hunting. I wanted to eat mediterannean restaurant and we found this place. We had many Turkish food before and I was excited that there is a Turkish restaurant in Plano.
The place is located in a very nice neighborhood, where my office is currently being built. They had a very good service. It was weekend evening, so there were many people there. We ordered corba(soup) for appetizer and it was good. I had Bursa Iskender and it was very delicious. It was cooked to perfection.
Turkish is mostly Muslims, so originally I thought the food would be halal (kosher). However, I am not sure if the meat here is halal. It would be great if it is. They have wine on their menu so I do not think it is halal. -
Review from Julie M.
Coppell, TX
7/14/2011
Enjoyed a ladies' lunch here today. Excellent, attentive staff, comfy decor, and delicious food. I can't pronounce most of the dishes on the menu, but I had a wonderful salad of fresh, diced cucumbers, chopped tomatoes, red onions, roasted peppers all toosed in a light, herbed vinagrette & served ice cold with huge, spicy shrimp. The hummus and soft flatbread were also delicious.
Patrons included a mix of professionals, couples and families. A refreshing meal inside a cool hideaway. Outdoor seating available, but here in Texas, that option would be best enjoyed in the fall. Valet or self parking options are available; self-parking is only a short walk away. Great location inside the Shops at Legacy complex. -
Review from Niki S.
Murphy, TX
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent Mediterranean food at the Shops at Legacy. The first thing I noticed was the decor- very upscale and sets a great impression without being kitchy. Outdoor seating looked nice but I forgo dining al fresco during the summer in Texas.
Had a Turkish beer at the bar while waiting for a table but the wait was minimal. I appreciated the fact that the menu gave detailed descriptions of each item. The kebab plate was delicious, everything tasted freshly made and had the perfect amount of spice for me. The baba ganoush was also very good.
A belly dancer came out and definitely wowed the crowd with her show. My only two warnings are that even though the air was on the doors to the patio were kept open. It wasn't a huge deal for me but it did get a little warm. I will definitely return to Cafe Istanbul again. -
Review from Lorin C.
Denton, TX
1/20/2012
This is my mine and my best friends place to eat and catch up!! Its atmosphere, services and food is all so wonderful! She is from Turkey and she says it is very much the same! The manager was very sociable with us this past time... I love the belly dancers too!! cultural, not sexual!!
-
Review from Avanti k.
Dallas, TX
3/23/2012
Disappointing...Do not waste your money... If u want good food try some other place....They have just changed their menu... I think they lost it all... Me and my husband were regulars here.. But recently we went for dinner and the food was total disaster...So my husband sent his dish back...What annoyed us most was they made us pay for the dish we sent back... They created a ruckus out of that whole thing... poor service...!!!
-
Review from William B.
Glendale Heights, IL
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
in town for 2 days for work, went here for lunch with collegues. Kind of pricy for persian food, especially for lunch. But the definitely fancied it up well; was worth it. If I am ever in the area again, I would likely try this place again, as this is one of my favorite ethnic cuisines.
Had the falafels & hummus appetizers, and the chef-special #1, which was ecommended by the server as the most popular dish. tWhile outstanding, I felt that the taste of the shwarma was overpowered by the sauce, and not sure why it was served on cubed bread chunks; would have been much better on pita, with sauce on the side. Oh, and the lavash was outstanding.Listed in: falafel fan!
-
Review from Kiran C.
The Colony, TX
6/28/2011
The waitress was really pretty. Even my wife was admiring her. If you ever go there ask for Lisa as your waitress.
And the service was very good too. The only disappointing thing was that, the portion size was very small compared to any other Mediterranean restaurant. The food was great, the drinks were great, the service was great.
Oh yeah, and they have Belly Dancing. Good treat for your eyes.Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 9/10/2011
We actually increased our portion sizes in July. Thank you… More » -
Review from liane c.
Plano, TX
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bad fish! Unforgivable for shops at legacy. So not worth $$$. Better food elsewhere. They didn't even comp my meal. Check out the other bad reviews on here. They're so spot on. I suggest they get a better chef.
-
Review from Steven D.
McKinney, TX
12/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Food was great. The service was slow. I will be back.
Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 12/23/2011
We are sorry for the slow service. We will make it up to you… More » -
Review from Todd S.
Plano, TX
12/12/2011
I didn't know what perfection was until I experienced Cafe Istanbul. A little pricy but worth it.
Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 12/23/2011
Thank you very much, it's great to hear that. And we are… More » -
Review from Athena H.
Dallas, TX
8/26/2010
I have been to Turkey and yet to find "true" Turkish food ANYWHERE in the US. I"ve tried restaurants in NY, LA, Chicago, and Portland. Usually, they are typical Mediteranean food, not really Turkish until I went to Cafe Instanbul. The dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) were perfect as was the babaganoush. Everything was good, but these are the things I initially judge in all Mediteranean food. They were definitely Turkish and not Greek or generally Mediteranean.
Definitely will go back again! -
Review from Jaya F.
10/13/2010
Shops at Legacy comes alive on Saturday nights and this place is no exception.
The place was packed. The hostess was very warm and welcoming. We were seated inside after a very short wait.
Our waitress was cheerful and her laughter was so infectious. When my hubby picked up a 'hard to pronounce' wine from their selection, she let our a loud laughter trying to pronounce it herself and all 3 of us were laughing so hard. We did attract a lot of attention but we enjoyed it all. It was a good start.
Now for the drinks and food.
The complimentary bread they give is so fresh, fluffy and huge.
I ordered their Turkish specialty drink called Raaki. It tasted like sugared cumin with alcohol which was rejected by my taste buds. Different but not for me.
Beyti was the entree I ordered - minced spiced up chicken stuffed in rolls and covered with yogurt sauce. It was so yummy. Hubby ordered a lamb dish (forgot the name, maybe the raaki did its trick ..hahaha) and it was very flavorful though I should say the quantity was less for an entree.
A very cool place with good tasty fresh food and friendly service.Listed in: Shops at Legacy
-
Review from Darin M.
McKinney, TX
I have been dining at the original Lovers Lane location for about ten years now, and was very excited about the Plano site. It did not disappoint. The service was excellent. The food was even better, if possible.
Our table shared the "pick four" appetizer platter. We had hummus, dolmas, spinach pie, and falafal. All of which were very good. For my entree, typically, I order the Iskender Kebab, which is a can't miss. I wanted to try something different this time, so I had the lamb shank with whipped potatoes and eggplant. Greatness!! For dessert, we had the baklava and Turkish coffee. The perfect end to a fantastic meal.
They offer a full bar, and normally I order the Turkish Pinot Noir, but cold beer sounded better. I tried the Efes. It is from Turkey. It is mild and had an aftertaste like dates. It may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it personally.
My only complaints (trust me I'm just nitpicking here) are that the decor doesn't offer the same old world charm of the original location, and the staff was not properly trained to be able to describe all of the dishes. If the menu description doesn't offer enough info for you, then you may be in for an adventure. If I had never been to the Lovers Lane location, I would probably not know to have these minor problems. As is, I will definitely return. -
Review from Lily M.
For starters, the service here is great. My waitress was very helpful in the menu selection process and was quite patient being that we weren't in a hurry to order. I started with the humus, which was amazing. Along with that came this huge plate of bread that is pretty scary for only two people to eat. However, the bread was so thin that the size of it was more deceiving to the eye than anything. Next out came the Kiymali Borek (meat pie) which tasted very well. Finally, my chicken wrap came out with a garlic sauce that was excellent!
I sat out on the patio when I dined here and had a very relaxed afternoon here. I will definitely be back to try something else off of their big menu. -
Review from HAWK o.
Frisco, TX
8/8/2010
Cafe Istanbul is the holy grail of goot eats in Plano. I have nothing negative to say about this place, as it is greatness. When you go there, you must order the following (thank me later):
Appetizers:
- Kisir (Tabouleh)
- Beyaz Peynir (Feta cheese)
- Lahmacun (this one's a hot appetizer the other 2 are cold)
Entree:
- Adana or their Beef Wrap (get the dinner version--trust me)
Dessert:
- Baklava + tea.
Also, don't listen to the clueless bimbos who gave this place a poor rating. These are the same chicks who gave Chilis and other obnoxious establishments 5-stars. Cafe Istanbul is awesome!
Pros:
- Everything--particularly the menu set-up above
Cons:
- It's across Ra which is douche-bag/cougar city. It's hard to enjoy a meal while looking at 45 year old botox infested cougars trying to get it on with wannabes in their Affliction gear. -
Review from Stacey T.
2/28/2011
We went for lunch. It's nice that they bring you a huge piece of hot, puffy lavash when you first sit down. Nothing to have it with initially, but it's good with their hummus.
Today I had the chicken salad I always get because it never fails to taste fresh and healthy. The chicken is marinated in something savory and sweet, too. Very good. I decided to try the Lentil Soup before that and it was only so-so. Wouldn't order it again unless I was cold; they serve it piping hot but it has little flavor and it isn't thick at all. I've had better.
He had the lamb kabob plate, which I believe he liked. The lamb was good, although our server needed a reminder to bring the yogurt sauce that came with it. He liked my salad as well.
I've had some catering experience with Cafe Instabul, and I think the appetizers and baklava are pretty good. The sit down dining left a lot to be desired though. Sometimes I give three stars with the full intent of returning to the place, but this is not really one of those occasions.
$40 for two at lunch (no alcohol, appetizers, or dessert) -
Review from elena s.
Plano, TX
9/13/2011
Love the food here!!!!!!! I just came back from Turkey month ago and decided to go check out this place with my bf!!!! We love everything there!!!!Staff was super nice,food was delicious I felt like I am back to Turkey. Oh and I love real turkish coffee!!!!!
Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 10/3/2011
Thank you very much. Hope to see you again... More » -
Review from Grant L.
Plano, TX
5/6/2009 1 photo
Mojo factor:
Tex Mex, Burgers, Steak and endless chains of Sushi houses are all fantastic however these taste need an occasional wake up call with some erotically exotic middle eastern food.
Legacy Shops Northside latest addition of culinary hang outs is Café Istanbul. Finalising my desire avoid a potential DUI and to never have to leave my zip code.
The diverse menu is rich with choices that are not only tasty but also hellishly good for you. If you don't know what you want then the staff will happily whip up a sampler plate of appetizers
Who would've thunk that mint, parsley and smoshed up chickpeas could taste so damn good. This is also a great venue for satisfying a lamb craving too. That's right Lamb in the great state of Texas ... brilliant.
When you've finished dinning like the sultan of decadence, save space for deserts. I had the Armut Tatalisi ; Pears stuffed with Walnuts mmMMmmm.
Don't forget to top that off by slamming down a couple of shots of Raki (Ouzo and Sambuca is for wimps - Raki is where it is at). The bar staff like to try and tip you over with his stuff. Bring it!
Wines include Californian, French (and god bless them) some of my New Zealand favs are there too.
The staff had a little screw up with my last meal, and with no prodding required it was promptly replaced - fresh... I dig places who like looking after customers. Props Waitress chick - (it was her first day on the job - I think I frightened her)
The cultural irony of the maitre d' being armenien was not lost on me, proving that all is fair when it comes to food and drink.
Disappointed that there is NO Turkish delight, who knows praps this is too cliché
Whats it good for?
The amazing thing about this place, is you can eat yourself crazy WITHOUT blowing the budget. Appetiser around $5 and Entrees $12-15 quaffable vino @ $30 bottle.
The surroundings are themed ... well sort of Turkish like, modern and comfy. There is a great patio area where you observe the drunken antics across the road at Ra, and often there is a street band playing to fil the evening with hopefully a few decent tunes.
I didn't notice any Shisha or Hookah pipes but I didn't look too hard. The Patio would make a great venue for this, however Im certain local by-laws probably prevent the owners from offering this.
By last count I think Ive gone back 3 times
Great choice for the price conscious, first daters might even get a seconds date. Good place for veggos.
Bar Pick-Up value: Move along nothing to see here, but you can monitor the cougar count at Ra.
If the food at Samalclar prison was this good Billy Hayes would not have tried so hard to escape.
PS Im still waiting for belly dancer night -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Plano, TX
8/8/2009
I've been a couple times now, and think you definitely need to try it out. It's such a different place compared to every other trendy, uppity place in Shops at Legacy. I've had several of their appetizers, several types of their pizza, and the mixed grill. All of it was good, although we go back for the pizzas and appetizers, honestly.
Appetizers I've had that were really good:
Acili (Spicy) - Fresh blend of diced tomatoes, bell peppers, parsley, mint leaves, olive oil and garlic
Beyaz Penir (Turkish Feta Cheese) - Medium soft brined Turkish feta cheese slices with tomatoes, lettuce and Turkish olives.
Every pizza I've tried (most of the ones on their menu) has been really good.
Not impressed with the Baklava, though--pieces are tiny and not buttery enough. -
Review from Dave L.
7/21/2010
I am writing this review to do two things. Brag about how I was on vacation in Turkey in May, and to let everyone know how much I liked this place.
I had the Dolma (grape leaves stuffed with rice) which were awesome, and I had the Manti (dumplings with yogurt sauce). Both tasted great! I think next time I go I'll try the Turkish pizza, or a kebop. Price was right too. If you've never had Turkish food definitely check this place out! -
Review from Baron C.
Bossier City, LA
8/13/2011 1 photo
Great waiter and service and a cool atmosphere. The food was very very good.
-
Review from Chris D.
Carrollton, TX
6/5/2010
Great atmosphere, great location, good food and attentive service
We were big fans of Cafe Istanbul on Inwood so we were very excited to learn they opened a place in Plano. While the food is not quite up to the standards of the Inwood location, in my opinion, we keep finding ourelves going back time and time again, so there is a lot to like here.
We generally start with the Mezze sampler with Hummus, Ascili, Babbaganoush and Tabouleh. Their recipes have changed over the years, and not for the better. The Tabouleh is not as "lemony" as it should be and has an odd redish tint. The hummus is not as good as mine, but stll flavorful. The Ascili, a spicy, red mixture of peppers and tomatoes is excellent as is the Babbaganoush.
The highlight is the Lavash, a huge puffy loaf of fresh pita-like bread for scooping up the various dips.
I have tried many of the main courses, and all have been good, but none really outstanding. The Turkish Pizza is excellent, but that is what my girlfriend usually orders.
This is a great place for Mezze and a glass of wine during happy hour. -
Review from Natasha B.
Dallas, TX
11/17/2010
A friend of ours lives at the Shops at Legacy in Frisco, so we have passed by this restaurant quite a few times. We finally had a chance to try it this weekend, and are glad we did.
They have a lovely patio and had it been a bit warmer we would have sat outside. Inside, the restaurant was fully booked and somewhat busy, but we never felt neglected nor overwhelmed by noise or bustle. Our server was very gracious and accommodating.
They start you off with a fresh, hot, puffy lavash. To go with it, our party of three ordered the appetizer platter, for which we chose the following 4 items: humus, babaganush, Turkish feta cheese and dolma. I'm not a fan of eggplant, but the babaganush was very good - creamy and not bitter. The dolma was tangy, and the leaves tasted fresh rather than preserved. The humus was more tahini flavoured than garlic, which was just fine by me!
For dinner, I had the spicy lamb kebab which was delicious - well marinated, spicy and tender. I should have ordered the yogurt to go with the this dish - next time!
My husband ordered the slow cooked lamb shank sans the eggplant; they substituted it with grilled peppers for him. Although he found it tasty, he said "it was a lot of work to eat the meat" because it was a little stringy and fatty. He said would not order it again.
Our friend ordered the stuffed chicken. I tried a little bit of it and although he enjoyed it, it was the only thing that I did not like. I can only explain it by saying it had a bit of a freezer burn taste, and the sauce was overly rich.
The pièce de résistance was the Kuenfe. Served hot, it was like very fine shreds of Shreddies layered with a mild sweet cheese, baked and topped with a sweet syrup that sort of soaks into it and makes it a divine desert. With Turkish coffee......mmmmmm.
When we go back (because we will go back), I will stick basics, because that's where I think their strong suit is. Also, they have a well priced menu. -
Review from Evan F.
10/29/2009
We had a really great meal here. I can't corroborate the bad stories of the other posters because our food was great the service was better.
I actually just got back from the middle east last week and this was on par with what I ate while over there. There were 4 of us and we ordered a mix of the cold appraisers, hummus, Baba ghanoush, dolmas, etc
All of these were outstanding and came with their fresh flat bread.
For dinner we ordered a variety of different meats, to tell you the truth, I don't recall what they all were, but I liked them all.
Desert included a cold rice pudding and some sort of cake filled with sweet cheese, both were great.
While we did order a lot for a party of 4, it was still rather expensive, $30 a person with appetizer, dinner and desert and some drinks.
We will go back. -
Review from Ashle P.
Rockwall, TX
1/19/2012
We used to go all the time to both locations. We loved the belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. We recently found out that they change belly dancing companies and these other girls are HORRIBLE! The previous company (the same girls that dance at Stratos) are so talented and beautiful. They were stupid to let them go. We will stop going now. It's a shame since we used to bring big parties to them all the time!
Comment from Berna O. of Cafe Istanbul 3/17/2012
Well, I think this is something related with likes and… More » -
Review from Rock S.
Plano, TX
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Liitle on the expensive side... but food is decent
-
Review from John O.
Updated - 7/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I recently been coming back here a trying new dishes. The babaganus is delicious and the felefel warp I had was one of the best I've have had so far. Both dishes are also vegetarian.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/12/2010
I took my mother here for her birthday and we all loved the food here. They make amazing varied of… Read more »
-
-
Review from kat m.
Plano, TX
11/21/2010
If I could give a half a star I would. BEWARE MY FELLOW YELPERS THIS PLACE IS FULL OF CREEPERS! The staff just stands outside on their mini patio and stares over at Ra Sushi jealous of their business and consistent fans that rave over the sushi over their. The servers seem like they have no training experience like they have never worked in the service industry before and a friend told me when they visited there, they asked their server what beers they had and they said they "didn't know" and had to come back with the answer...Really???? I wonder how much longer this place will last. At least if you don't enjoy your experience here, Ra is right across the street to make it better!
-
Review from Shawna B.
Wichita Falls, TX
2/13/2011
The most awesome meal ever! The staff was exceptional! The service was fast and friendly. If you come please don't get in my way! I may have to knock you down to get to the delicious puffy and slightly crusty lavash (that our waitress told us was cooked in a stone oven) and babaganoush! The Turkish Tea was also hot and deliscious. I will definately be going back very soon.
