Better than restaurants in Turkey. If you want to taste Anatolian food go to Gulistan. Ibrahim adds his history into the kitchen and you can smell Anatolia from the food. Can't wait to go there again. read more

We came here on a recommendation and I'm glad we found this place! It's authentic-feeling and comfortable. Not that I would know authentic Kurdish food from non. But I do know delicious! This place qualifies for sure. Our server and hostess were pleased to keep a 2 year old happy with crayons and a little serving of hummus. We ordered drinks - wowza! Strong Old Fashioneds. But that didn't affect my review, just made the whole dinner a tad bit more hilarious. We ordered different plates so we could taste around - I got the special Ispanak ("spinach sautéed with mushrooms, onions, and peppers, in garlic-mango-walnut coconut cream sauce, served on crispy chickpea patties"). I really didn't want to share but I did give some across the table in exchange for some of the Falafel Platter ("Crispy chickpea patties served with Basmati rice, sumac salad, garlic-dill yogurt or tahini sauce and seasonal vegetables") which was also great. Falafel differs in preparation around the world - these were definitely crispy, a nice change. Others at our table got the Pasta Pesto (Penne pasta sautéed in garlic feta cream sauce with fresh-basil almond pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, spring onion and topped with parmesan cheese) and two apps: the Gulistan Appetizer ("Grilled vegetables topped with seasoned ground lamb, beef, and garlic-dill yogurt sauce") and the Shiitake Mushrooms: ("Farm fresh shiitakes and fresh basil sautéed with a walnut-tomato chutney in a red wine and soy sauce"). I really enjoyed all the complex flavors. Sometimes I was reminded of curry, sometimes middle-eastern, but all delicious. If you are ever in the area, be sure to try it out. There's also a lovely patio for warm weather feasting. read more

Cafe Gulistan - Ipanak - Middle Eastern Near Me - Harbert, Michigan

We thought this place was not as good as several of the other reviewers rated it. The food was average - not as good as others in the area. The atmosphere was fair, at best. And, the service was below average. If you've exhausted your other options, it is worth a visit, but wouldn't be our first choice. read more

The food tasted homemade and fresh, which comes as relief after dining at least 20 other restaurants around. I enjoyed the patio and the Chicken Antepli Yahnisi. They have food for kids too. read more

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. read more

Delicious food! Get the falafel. My husband had the Ispanak and cannot stop raving about the sauce. If you come sit on the outdoor patio to soak in the views of the gorgeous gardens out front. 5 stars for food but probably more like 3.5 or 4 for service. Very nice girl who served us but it took a long time for her to attend to us often times. read more

The food was fantastic! My husband and I live in Albany Park in Chicago, where we have several Middle Eastern cuisine options. I would put this right up there with the best! The service was very good and the ambiance was pleasant, too. I would recommend the starter sampler...the falafel was our favorite. I also liked how they gave both regular and fried pita (fried for the win). Our entrees were also delicious...we got the chicken dolma and Gulistani. I think next time we'll try the Lamb Izgara based on other reviews. If you like spice, ask for a side of their HOT SAUCE. It added that extra kick and great flavor to everything we put it on. After loving everything we tasted, I had that "aha moment" that this place was getting a 5 star yelp review and we need to spread the word. Try it for yourself...delicious!! read more

What a gem of a find! We had the falafel appetizers, which had a smidge of a kick among some great flavor! The lamb was amazing! Probably one of the best I've ever had. And the side dish of cabbage on the plate could have been served to me in a huge bowl, it was so good. Also try the mango martini--yummy!! read more

Delicious middle-eastern type food. The falafel were perfect. For my entree I ordered the Pasta Mediterranean, a dish consisting of spinach fettuccine, dried apricots, tomatoes, green onions, and shrimp in a garlic wine sauce (I ordered it without the feta). Very fresh and delicious. The reason it got 4 stars is because for the price, it seemed the atmosphere could have been more refined. It felt like a northwoods fish fry mom and pop restaurant, as far as decor. That said, the restaurant's surrounding gardens and ponds are very pretty and peaceful. Make time to take a stroll through them after your meal. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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. read more

While at my vacation home in Harbor Country, I have driven past Cafe Gullistan many times but never stopped in. Last night was it! Many of the dishes were completely "foreign" to me so went for a safe choice, which was probably a mistake. I chose the Falafel Platter and it was fantastic. The Falafels were obviously home made. The dish came with basmati rice along with a mixed vegetables aide. Both were fresh and appealing. Each vegetable in the medley still retained its distinctive flavor! The service was exceptional with the manager twice to make sure I was being cared for and the dish met my expectations. Will I return? You bet, only next time I will be more adventuresome! read more

I ALWAYS get chicken dolma without the chicken. It is the best sauce in the whole worldddddd. If I could put TEN stars I would. I love their fattoush salad too! Rock on, Ibrahim!!!! read more

Excellent place for good, delicious food. Worth it for sure. The portions are a bit small for the price but the taste more than makes up for it and so does the service. The staff is friendly and the manager (who I believe is the owner) incredibly nice and accommodating. They messed up one of our orders due to an error in communicating what exactly was in the dish and its quantity. It was a pricey dish that they brought out and clearly not what we were expecting. However, they rectified the situation and got us not only two separate entrees but also let us keep the erroneous pricey dish free of charge so we could eat with our friends. Super nice. Oh and their lamb shank special is really really good. Do try it if you get a chance. Enjoy. read more

A really enjoyable restaurant that we will certainly return to again and again as we travel between Chicago and Michigan. Our group had the falafel platter, Gulisani and beef kabob. Everything was seasoned nicely and presented beautifully. The falafel came with red cabbage slaw, sautéed vegetables, rice, five falafel patties and yogurt sauce. The Gulisani (ground beef and ground lamb blended with seasoning) was served on rice, and the kabob was nice lean slices of beef on rice. Both the dishes were garnished with red slaw and sautéed vegetables. We also had a side order of the creamiest babaganoush Ive ever had. Be sure to try the Kurdish coffee latte with honey. YUM read more

Cafe Gulistan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Harbert, Michigan

Food is excellent! We had the scallops special and the rainbow trout and EVERYTHING was delicious. The service is great. We will be back!!

This place is such a gem! We stopped here after a day at the beach and before getting on the road to come back to Chicago. The food was fresh, satisfying, and delicious. The patio was relaxing and extremely pleasant. We had the combo appetizer, which has about 5 or 6 different dishes - everything was so distinctive and tasty.Then I had the salad with lamb. The meat was very high quality and cooked perfectly. The sumac dressing on the greens was slightly spicy and very delicious. Some friends had another lamb dish that was tomato-based and served with a fragrant rice, which they really enjoyed. In short, we will definitely be back! This place is out of this world!! read more

Only came for a latte and baklava. Wonderful server. The boss came out to personally make a dairy free coconut milk latte. Everything was delightful. Next time I'm coming back for dinner too! read more

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. read more

My husband and I were in the area for our anniversary and went to Café Gulistan the first night and were so disappointed. First off the food was overpriced for the quality and quantity. The only dish I enjoyed was the shrimp appetizer for about $10 but they only gave you 4 pieces! We then tried to order the dish again because I did not like anything else there and the waiter told us the kitchen closed (we ordered at 10:15pm and the restaurant closes at 11pm). He tried to make up for it and gave us a really good baklava dessert which was really kind of him! Overall, we left hungry. read more

Amazing service, fresh food with surprising tastes! Beat medditerranean and I live in Chicago. Come eat here and you won't be disappointed! Such a special meal with my husband an I! Get the baclava!!! read more

Have been to Cafe Gulistan and have always enjoyed the unique food. Nice to sit outside in the summer time. Right off of Red Arrow Highway but don't recall ever noticing the traffic when eating out. You won't find burgers and steaks here so make sure you know what you're coming for. If you do, you won't be disappointed. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Hard to recommend a particular menu item because it really depends on your tastes. I've come to this area for years and only discovered it due to my nieces suggestion. Service and food were very good. read more

This was an outstanding meal on a lot of levels. We enjoyed the savory and hearty yellow pea soup, the hummus was fresh and high quality, the pita was warm from the oven, the lamb shank special was tender and flavorful, and the ispanak was one of the best things I've eaten in a while. It was a sweet coconut vegetable curry over chickpea fritters, and I would order it again in a second. The service was friendly and efficient, and the setting was charming. We enjoyed our meal on the outdoor patio alongside their lovely garden. This is a return visit, and we were just as pleased the second time around as the first. read more

Our favorite restaurant in the area. I love the beef kabob and my husband loves the rack of lamb. The combo appetizer platter is great. Great atmosphere but they also offer takeout. The combo appetizer is great to snack on while watching football. read more

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. read more

What a jewel! Everything was to die for! The ispanek was wonderful, and the tabuleh and babaganush where fresh and light! Perfect closing for a day in the beach! read more

Lovely cute little restaurant, I love the peaceful music in the background and beautiful scenery. Will absolutely come back whenever I visit Michigan. read more

A real gem in an unexpected place! The service is always warm and friendly. The food is very good and there are decent options for a vegetarian meal. You can sit inside or outside on the patio overlooking the colorful garden. Very pleasant and always on our list when we visit the lake. read more

Excellent lamb dishes. Went with some foodies from Chicago and all liked it. Reasonably priced wine list.

I stayed right by the cafe on a recent trip. I looked up the menu and was surprised to find out it was Kurdish fare. I brought my wife and kids for dinner- after some initial skepticism by the kids, I ordered them a sampler platter appetizer. All of a sudden, they are raving about him much they like tabbouleh,filafil, hummus, etc. I had the Kevin special, it was great- and my wife had s curried whitefish. Very satisfied! read more

Amazing food! Went there for the first time today, and will definitely return often. Had a hard time deciding what to order because it all sounded delicious. Once the food arrived, we were both blown away by how good it was. read more

Fabulous Turkish food with a Kurdish influence! We tried the top two vegetarian dishes on the menu, and we loved them both. My husband enjoyed the top Lamb dish, but the serving of vegetables accompanying it was sparse. Definitely need to try the shiitake mushrooms appetizer! read more

The food here was amazing! We had shitake mushroom appetizer which was outstanding! Also the garlic chicken is a must. This is a special place and well wortha visit. read more

Excellent basmati. Lamb, beef, chicken and shrimp grilled just right. But I'd go back for the hummus and pita alone. read more

Cafe Gulistan - Baklava and Turkish latte - Middle Eastern Near Me - Harbert, Michigan

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Work on the A/C please !!!. Even one of the waitresses was even fanning herself. Food was pretty good. Had a soup, appetizer and split a meal with my partner...(all were tasty and homemade). Only negative was the uncomfortable temperature and no air movement. read more

We oredered falafel, hummus and pita, chicken izkara. Food was great but quantity is less.

Had a great experience there. The falafel starter was not bad. We had 2 lamb dishes, one of which was the rack of lamb and they were delicious! Also had Lebanese red wine. Who would have thought the Lebanese made delicious wine! read more

We were incredibly disappointed in our entire experience here. The food was mediocre at best. It was bland and under spiced. As far as we could tell, parsley was the only herb at play. The shiitake appetizer was ok. The vegetarian entree of sauteed veggies over chickpea patties with a mango walnut coconut cream sauce was unbearably sweet. The Kurdish wedding dish had the same palate range as the appetizer and the lamb cubes were over cooked. To top it all off, our server Aleisha never asked us once how our food was even though we ate less than half of our entrees. We thought it was WAY overpriced for the quality and left hungry. Thankfully Soe's is right down the street: same price range but SO much better! read more

My review of Cafe Gulistan.. I love this place. standard and specialty dishes...most good. Nice atmosphere both inside and outside. Ibrahim is a gracious host. My big gripe...If you order take out, the portions are WAY to small on the entrees...this has happened two times and it really makes me crazy.. Ibrahim? are you listening...make the portions more generous... For the price you are asking for a chicken kabob..you can double the amount of rice..seriously. Both times I was left unsatisfied and pissed off... otherwise great place in SW michigan on the old Red Arrow Highway. read more