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. read more

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 read more

Picked up a to-go order with a friend on an evening that I wasn't feeling well and not up to cooking. When we called in our order we were told it would be 40 minutes until it was ready. It was a Friday night during tourist season, so fairly understandable. I was very surprised that the total came to $43 for two appetizers and an entree. The two appetizers and entree were all much smaller than expected. The pita was stale, the shrimp had a faint metallic taste (which means they were going bad and shouldn't have been served). The falafel was fine, but nothing spectacular. As it was a to-go order so I can't really comment on service. Overall, I'd be willing to give this restaurant another try, I'll just be keeping away from the seafood. read more

One of the top places in the area. I think I already said that in another review, oh well. Here is the review again. This is my favorite restaurant in this area. They have an absolutely GORGEOUS outside seating area, its like you are eating in a garden. There are frogs and streams, love it. The food is top notch, I am always comparing this place to any other place in the area and they all pale in comparison. The owner is hands on and inviting, the staff is nice and attentive. I am so glad they are doing well. read more

WE LOVE TURKISH FOOD!! Stopped here today in the late afternoon with a friend for a light bite. We each had a house salad and we split the Gülistan Appetizer and a bottle of wine (wine prices are very reasonable.) Our salad was delicious! Fresh, light and crisp!! The Gülistan Appetizer was AMAZING!! The lamb, grilled veggies and yogurt sauce were a wonderful combination!! The service was great! Very attentive and considerate ( he allowed us to sample the Turkish wine before we ordered.) I think we're going back tomorrow for dinner!! Hopefully, we can sit outside on the patio near the garden (tonight was a bit too cool!) Cheers!! read more

Fantastic! Being vegan in SW Michigan can be a challenge when you go out for dinner, buy Cafe G makes it so easy! Felafel plate made to order for vegans is amazing! Tons of veggie friendly options and they don't mind walking you through the menu! read more

I got the Izgara Lamb and hubby got the steak kabobs. We both gave a our plates an overall 4/5 stars. I hate Lamb with mint, and this didn't come with any mint so I thought I would try it. I'm really glad I did since I really try to expand my food repertoire even though something I had prior wasn't that good. Since the owner is an immigrant to our wonderful country, and I've been to Turkey and experienced excellent Turkish food, I picked this place because I like to support immigrants and help their success. The particular male waiter we had could be a bit more attentive and it wasn't busy that night, but he did have time to say to the young female bartender, "I wish I had my old crew." Visited end 8/2017. read more

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Wonderful sampling of turkish cuisine while on the right side of the lake.

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. read more

Amazing food, great customer service! I enjoy coming here on a weekly basis, and I love to support this phenomenal establishment. read more

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. read more

Had a good dinner and enjoyed the food. Waitstaff very accommodating. I had a chicken dish and my girlfriend had beef kabobs. I'll go back read more

Cafe Gulistan - Just me - Middle Eastern Near Me - Harbert, Michigan

I had the chicken dish, and the flavors were really good. The rice was quite tasty as well. The hummus had a distinct Turkish twist to it, this isn't your standard Lebanese hummus. The only down-side is that this place is quite expensive. Overall, 4-star food, but loses a star for higher prices. read more

Love this restaurant, Ibrahim is a wonderful person and has such good food. He is kind and welcoming! We have eaten here ever since he opened 20+ yrs ago the food is fresh and delicious! He grows his own herbs which adds such flavor to your meals! The atmosphere is wonderful and the gardens are beautiful. Can not say enough good things about this place! read more

I was pleasantly surprised to find this special restaurant on Red Arrow highway in Harbert the other day. It was early around 5:30pm so the place was quite. In addition, this is the off season for this popular summer destination area and things are generally quiet and often restaurants close for the entire fall/winter season. It is nice to know they are open year round. The restaurant is surrounded outside by wildflowers and grasses and will make the large patio so nice when it opens in May. The restaurant is woodsy and warm with comfortable upholstered chairs. They have an extensive menu and a full bar and plenty of room with lots of windows overlooking the gardens. The gentleman seated me right away there were a couple other tables with diners. The menu is very extensive and has an entire section with vegan and vegetarian dishes. I ordered the baba ganousch appetizer and it came with the pickled red onions and side of pita. It was very tasty. I could not decide between the two curries on the vegan section. He suggested the sweeter one with curry and mango and walnuts. So I tried it. It was so delicious. A flavor I don't think I have had before. It had peppers and onions, mushrooms and walnuts all in a delicious creamy coconut mango curry sauce and with tasty falafel underneath. Served with a side of basmati rice there was much more than I could finish even though I could barely stop eating it because it was so good. I took some home to share with the family in order to entice them to return soon. This cafe will definitely be in our go to list when we are in SW Michigan/Harbor Country. Can't wait to go back and enjoy the patio. This is a great option for vegans in the area. read more

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The owner is a very cool guy, and I support his cause fully. Besides that, this place is pretty mediocre. I can see how self-important jump-on-the-bandwagon trustfund FIP dorks would flock here, with the jacked up prices and everything, but this is pretty standard Mediterranean food with a few twists. read more

Fantastic food & great take out service. Love the falafel plate & chicken dishes. All staff wear masks, felt safe eating outside there too.

Best rack of lamb chops I have ever had. Better than greektown in Chicago. Service is great and the staff wonderful.

Absolutely outstanding. Every single dish we ordered was incredibly packed with flavor.will definitely be going back soon!

Food is good but so over priced for what you get. I think they're banking on the fact that there isn't much competition in the direct vicinity. Service was poor the second time there. read more

What a gem! Harbert, Michigan is probably the last place you think you'd find a great Kurdish and Turkish cuisine, but this place is MONEY, BABY! The owners are so friendly and the food is out of this world. Truly authentic and flavorful. Interesting wine selection to mirror the unique menu. Service was prompt and lovely. read more

My favorite, authentic little middle eastern wonderland that feels hidden just off the quiet portion of red arrow highway. They have renovated it significantly since I used to go here more often in my teens. I kind of miss the old, rough around the edges feel it had before renovation, but I always prefer the old to new. I highly recommend going here even if it's far trek from where you live! It's a special place. read more

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. read more

Just 4544 miles from Istanbul, Turkey, Cafe Gulistan is offering great Kurdish dishes right here in Union Pier. The grilled lamb over rice and veggies was delicious. The garlic chicken was also very tasty. Other vegetable dishes at our table also got great reviews. We shared a nice bottle of white wine from Turkey. (Try to get that anywhere else in southwestern Michigan). The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, more like a supper club with some Turkish decor. The owner was friendly and attentive. If I were a local I would be a regular. read more

Excellent middle eastern food. Best falafel ever. We've tried beef,seafood chicken, lamb and various veggie dishes with no dissapointment. We planned our trip to be able to stop here for a meal and Will again. read more

All the other 5 star reviews are for a reason: This place is excellent. I've had a lot of middle eastern food living in the Metro Detroit area all my life and working in Dearborn for a bit. Cafe Gulistan is the first Kurdish style I've had. The different seasoning is very welcome. The staff is courteous. They have an herb garden and must grow some of their own seasonings. I saw basil, thyme and rosemary from my table next to a floor to ceiling window overlooking the garden. My wife says the staff was helpful but not overbearing. You should go to here. My daughter says it is good. You should eat here every day. read more

Amazing lamb chops, falafel and fatoush. This is our favorite spot when in Michigan. Great patio seating too!

This is a welcoming and homey place and we were excited about the vegan and vegetarian options as we had a large party of vegetarians. Despite being so large and not making a reservation in advance, we were warmly welcomed. The food was ok/good-- the portions were really small and the main plates all seemed kind of simple (you had to order special sauces on the side which seemed counter-intuitive and strange) and mostly like things that one can easily make at home, ie, the sultans tawa was a simple stir fry mixture and some nicely cooked basmati rice. The mezzes all tasted very fresh but again the portions were super tiny. The fattush salad was weird-- it had a sweet dressing and croutons and not pita chips. read more

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. read more

Best place in harbor country and I only eat the veggie options! Plus plenty of top notch carnivore based meals (if you're into that kinda thing). Falafel is enough for two people. Feta salad is amazing. Staff is friendly. Their food actually makes you feel better. read more

Ordered garlic chicken. Had it been a few degrees warmer I would have sat at one of their outdoor tables. But, in this time of COVID I had to settle for take out. It travelled the 10 minutes home quite well. Meat and veggies were tender. Amount of sauce was perfect. Kind of expensive for what it was. After all, chicken and rice are two very economical ingredients. I was very disappointed that I tasted no garlic in the garlic chicken. While it was tasty, I wanted garlic. I'll go back and try something else but this visit could have been more satisfying. read more

Sat outside in the cold, Damn COVID. This restaurant was awesome. The service was good, but the food, the food, too delicious. I will be back. Thank you. read more

Cafe Gulistan is by far my restaurant of choice (sadly I don't have opportunity to dine here often). The food.. The drinks.. The atmosphere.. The staff. All wonderful. I could attempt to describe it more in depth but my lowly words would detract from their quality. Writing this makes me really wish I could stop in right now. read more

Everything was delightful! The mango cheesecake was Devine. The stuffed trout and the wedding lamb dish were absolutely delicious. And he Kurdish latte and the surprise lattes were Devine!! read more

I agree with another reviewer. The front garden could use some tending to. Nonetheless, it was quiet and rather peaceful. Mosquito repellent available for outdoor seaters. Appears as if you are allowed to sit at the patio with your well behaved dog if you have one. The background music was authentic. The basmati rice was delicious and the portion of Sultan's Tava did not leave me overstuffed or wanting more. Wonderful vegetarian meal. Seating hostess could have been more friendly. I will be back for a glass of wine with my next meal! read more

I wanted to love this restaurant. I didn't. And I really don't understand why it gets rave reviews. If you don't know Middle Eastern food very well, you might like this. 'Cause this place is not Middle Eastern, its Turkish, and they are NOT the same. Gulistan is not posing itself as anything but Turkish. But what we ate? Blech. Pretty. Nice natural landscaping. Well appointed. That's what I liked. What I didn't like: mediocre food, unreasonably high prices, surly waitstaff, and a meal that took much, much too long because ... well, I don't know why it took so long, they had only a four seated tables in the place at the time. I cannot stress this enough - the service is terrible. Uninterested. Rude. All the employees payed attention to a few particular individuals at one table, but not the other three tables. My husband got up, walked over to our waitress to ask for some water because our glasses were empty. All four of our glasses. So was our wine. She came over and filled HIS, but nobody else's, and went back to the table to laugh with the other table. REALLY??? My husband hollered over to her and asked if were possible that she could fill our OTHER glasses? It was then when I ordered a second glass of wine. It arrived at the END of the meal. After a second request for it to be served. What gives? There were only three other tables seated? They just didn't give a rat's ass about us because they had never seen us before, we weren't regulars. I've heard that about Gulistan, if you aren't a regular, good luck. I wonder why anyone becomes a regular? Fatoosh - are you kidding me? It was inedible. First time ever I could not finish a salad. The dressing is not good. It was awful. The thing was tiny too, so that should make it clear how awful it was. That Falafel was good, but c'mon, I know for a fact that it costs less than 25¢ to make one of these things and the prices Gulistan charges are ridiculous. The hommos and baba ghannoush were fair, but dang it, I sure expected more on the platter. The lamb was tough and dry - perhaps reheated from another day? Let me put it this way: our family of four ordered two appetizers and four adult entrees plus salads. My kids are kids, not adults. We were still hungry at the end of the meal and had to order more. We're not big people either. The portions were so small, it reminded me of that old Clara from Wendy's, "Where's the beef?" Maybe they gave some of our portions to the regulars or to the people who were more dressed up? I love to support our local, independent restaurants. Unfortunately, I can't give my money to Ibrahim. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Pretty solid place! This is a nice unique option in an area that has one too many cookie cutter restaurants. We ordered the appetizer sampler which was delicious, and I had the pasta penne for my meal which was one of the most interesting and flavorful pastas I've ever had. Service was good, ambiance was a little lacking. I suggest sitting outside if you can. A little pricey too, but everything is very flavorful and authentic. read more

Absolutely the most delicious Middle Eastern food I've had in my life and I've been to the Middle East many times. There are so many wonderful dishes at this place, but I have to say that the Garlic Chicken is the absolute best! The service is great and the atmosphere is very welcoming. read more