I ordered the zucchini pancakes and there's so much batter on them it was almost inedible. Service was okay and the atmosphere and seating great. read more

See all

We did not have a good lunch experience. The room temp was cold when we arrived, enough to keep jackets on. The server was cold too, as in not welcoming. The lentil soup arrived with no bread or even crackers of some Kind, but it was hot. Two dishes we wanted, vegetable stew and zucchini pancakes were not available. We ordered sigara borek instead. Very salty. Yes feta is naturally salty , but this was like eating just salt. 2 soups, 1 app and tip was $30. Not worth it, even if the decor is appealing. read more

Another hidden gem brought to us via Yelp. Had never heard of this place, but stumbled upon it while driving to Columbus to explore a new to us place we found it. Had not had a lot of Turkish food before, but we absolutely loved it. Everything we ordered was simply amazing. read more

When my wife and I are looking for a great meal with excellent service we go to Cafe Istanbul. They serve healthy fresh ingredients. Give it a try. Located at Easton Center. read more

I've driven by the Bexley Cafe Istanbul so many times and thought I NEED to go sit on that patio. Last night we made it happen. The patio is picturesque and also dog friendly! I'm not sure if it was temp controlled or something but it was very comfortable despite the hot weather. Great wine prices (~$30 bottles) and a large menu with something for everyone. The complimentary bread was some of the best... warm and soft and comes with a flavorful dipping oil. Food prices are on the higher end for what you get (i.e. $19 for my chicken salad) but the quality was good. Service was a bit clunky... I think they were short staffed. read more

See all

Another great meal. PS. Their new patio covering is in place and beautiful. Man was it crowded on a beautiful Sunday night in October. Istanbul is always a go-to for us and our friends. read more

Moderately priced restaurants good menu, , delightful ambiance and good service. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable.

The food here is really absolutely delish, and the patio is awesome. It provides a large shaded awning space for cover in warm weather and there are tons of tables, so you can always get one. I've had the salads, shrimp dishes, some kebab dishes, and the awesome bread, plus the hummus plate and it's really all super tasty every time. All the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are there. Some of it seems slightly expensive at times, but usually worth it. The traditional dessert cake we ordered had the best honey sauce and crunch! Service can be hit or miss. Sometimes I've had great service, but another time I was left waiting at my table for so long and told to wait when I inquired that after about 25 minutes of no real attention to my table, I ended up leaving. Still, it definitely is delicious so I'll probably be back. read more

See all

As a visitor from New York City, I have very high standards. I am happy to report that this restaurant exceeded my hopes. The patio was warm and enchanting and the food was excellent. In particular the dolmades and babaganoush are splendid, paired with crispy pita chips they make on site. Delicious, romantic and quietly festive, the restaurant reflected well on Columbus. As did the Blu Note close by. Next time I am in Columbus, I will definitely eat there again. read more

Made a reservation weeks ago to celebration my graduation with my family. Showed up when our reservation was scheduled for and the hostess said we would have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table. After waiting 30 minutes we went back to the hostess to ask if any tables had become available and she told us it would likely be another 30 minutes. When we asked what the point of making a reservation was she walked away. I like the food here but this experience was disappointing for me and my family and makes me not want to come back. read more

My husband and I ordered take out from here and the hostess Amani was very rude and unprofessional. We received a call when we were almost home and it turns out she forgot to put our debit card into the folder as we were closing out . We then had to return to the restaurant for our card , she was on a FaceTime call while dealing with us ... but I was sure to mention the unpleasant experience. Bad service can be a deal breaker for me personally. read more

Wandering around in Bexley and I came across this tiny place. It's actually deceptively small from the outside. The food was incredible! I ordered the appetizer sampler and every component of it was superb. Wonderful service and very friendly host; he and the chef are from Turkey. What a fabulous find! read more

We drive by cafe istanbul often and i wondered what it was like, well, i do now. We were greeted by Secil, who asked where we would like to sit and he would be taking care of us. The restaurant was tastefully decorated, not too much, not too little (very cozy for a date or a quick lunch) The bread and hummus were a delicious appetizer! I could easily eat the bread for dinner! I got the adana kebab with steamed vegies and rice , which were done perfectly. I topped the night off with a couple pieces of baklava and a turkish coffee, which was on point! (Still riding the caffeine high 2 hrs later). Definitely coming back with friends and family! read more

Food was wonderful, service and atmosphere was very good. The okra and lamb stew my husband had was yummy. I had the trio of shish Kabobs so so good!! . I will definitely return. read more

Love the patio in the summer and their appetizer platter. If you love lamb and eggplant, they have tons of options for you. That said, the main dishes are solid but nothing super exciting. The inside is super tiny and dark so dining in during colder months isn't my favorite. Service has always been friendly and prompt. read more

It was my first time trying this place & I wasn't impressed. The okra stew lacked flavor. Very bland. It definitely didn't "taste" like it was made from scratch. Every piece of okra was tiny. Didn't enjoy the salad either. Maybe I'll dine in & order something else another time. This place has always caught my eye. I'm not going to let one meal cancel them out for me. read more

See all

Amazing food and the service was wonderful. The outside atmosphere was a wonderful experience.

If I could do zero stars I would do that. It's unfortunate as the restaurant has the capacity to do better. The waiter seemed untrained or new, lacked customer service experience or was overworked, and the food quality was terrible!!! For the okra stew we ordered was made with canned Campbell's soup as the sauce. I had to add salt and pepper for taste. The chicken kabobs we bought had a sauce with it. When we asked for extra sauce, twice they never brought it out. When asked about it again, there was no apology. I will never come back and would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. As I mentioned my true rating here is zero stars, but that wasn't an option!!! read more

shrimp casserole was excellent calamari was excellent bread and dips were excellent service and atmosphere were excellent can wait to return

So excited to see they have a heated patio so I could eat outside. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the zucchini pancakes for an appetizer and the chicken kebab. The chicken was nice and moist and the portion was perfect! read more

The food here was soo good and filling. I will be going back many times. The staff were kind and helpful. The food came out fast and the temperature was great! The atmosphere was wonderful! read more

See all

Absolutely the best Turkish in the Columbus area! Excellent food is just the beginning, the location is beautiful and has a warm feeling. The Service was amazingly fast for a Friday night and my daughters and I had a wonderful time. Secil, you have quite a jem!! read more

This place has gone down hill. Staff is rude and sits around on their phones instead of doing their job and waiting tables. I ordered a salad to go and paid an extra $10 to add grilled chicken for a total of $23. What I got was about the size of a small side salad with 2 small nugget sized pieces of chicken. Tried to call the restaurant and no one answered the phone. Never ordering here again. read more

Fresh tasting and amazing! Sat on the patio and enjoyed lunch. The bread and oil was also delicious.

SEVEN WORDS: CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT WITH STYLISH BISTRO AMBIANCE. . We ordered simply: a Stuffed Grape Leaves Appetizer + a shared plate of a Grilled Salmon Entree - and then followed that with a Calamari plate. . We do this because everything we've eaten here has been hearty, delicious, and filling. . This trip, nothing was different. . The Grape Leaves, which came stuffed with rice, tasted earthy and warm, like a well-vooked cous cous. The Grilled Salmon was divine: crispy grilled crust and a solid (not flaky) inside was incredible by itself; a light greens mix dressed with Balsamic Vinegar finished the course PERFECTLY. . Luckily, with a shared appetizer+entree, that left room for their Calamari appetizers. The rings are thick and meaty. The breading is flaky and delicious. We are in love with this place! The atmosphere is romantic yet laid-back, cozy but upscale, and comfortable while still being classy. You can wear Army fatigues or a three-piece suit. That's how great this pla e is. Although our bill came to $48 for 2 Apoetizers, an Entree, and two Sodas, it was worth every penny. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Grape Leaves - Wrapped Around a hearty rice that almost tastes like cous cous, with a nutty/earthy mix that is simply heavenly. - Turkish Near Me - Bexley, Ohio

See all

A wonderful little place for lunch or dinner. Everything has been fresh and delicious. Apple tea is nice with just about anything. Outside seating was lovely. Not a very busy midweek visit is recommended. Weekends are busy and busy in Bexley in general. read more

See all

There are three Cafe Istanbuls in Columbus and this has been my fave in terms of the taste. It is the smallest indoor location but its perfect for lunch break or a good dinner date. I love their lahmacun which is known as the thin crust turkish pizza thats wrapped like a burrito. Its got all kind of spices with meat spread on a thin crust. So delicious! Also like to order some appetizers like baba gannoush and cacik. The turkish tea is a must if you are going for the full Turkish experience it also c with free refills a read more

Cafe Istanbul - Ezme , babagannoush and cacik - Turkish Near Me - Bexley, Ohio

We had the best service! We opted to sit inside. Our waiter was so kind and was able to tell us about the entire menu. We went for dinner. They do have outdoor seating and live music. The bathrooms are clean and open. read more

See all

I always liked this place, as well as their Easton location. Food is great, outdoor patio very nice, service fine. But I was shocked tonight when the dinner bill reflected my iced tea with one refill at $6! Seriously, who does that? read more

Nice atmosphere and lovely service but the food tasted like it came from a frozen TV dinner and was extremely expensive.

they are kidding we just very small ayran They are also very expensive and not hospitable at all read more

Cafe Istanbul - Turkish Near Me - Bexley, Ohio

So wonderful food, super kind service with a smile! Excellent COVID precautions, we felt very safe in our decision to eat here. Order the Lamacun, but everything is very fresh and tasty. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Pretty outdoor area! - Turkish Near Me - Bexley, Ohio

Good, but not as good as I'd expected. I'd seen all the reviews and love (though also noted that the overall rating is about 3.5 stars.) And it was Restaurant Week and they had a deal, and my mom was in town and perked up at the sound of the name. So, off we went. Parking lot is tiny, and there's not much else available (a Bexley issue, not theirs.) The place has a large patio, and smaller seating area inside. The booth was cramped, and with the high table and low high chair, Baby K could not find a good position to sit. Not that they're not welcoming of kids, just that the setup is not very practical for them. Better for date night. Dark, cozy, booth works well for 2, less well for 4 plus a toddler. The RW menu seemed like too much, and the lunch specials seemed perfect. And are, in a way- cheap, good food. But small portions, so I left hungry. Sweetie got the chicken pide, kind of like a pizza or stromboli, and liked it. I had adana (lamb) kebab- small portion of very good meat, some very good rice, and small pile of lightly sauteed veggies. You choose your entree, and also an app, and get the dessert of the day. I chose hummus- again, fairly small portion, no seasoning. The dessert was excellent rice pudding. My mom got zucchini pancakes to share- very good, get these! A larger order of hummus, which came with oil and seasoning. And tabouli, which generally had more cracked wheat, but this version (different because it is Turkish?) was almost entirely parsley. I barely saw any wheat. It was fine, but totally unexpected. We shared all of her stuff. My aunt had the chicken vegetable soup and loved it, and a chicken entree that I did not hear the name of. So, food was pretty good, with a few standouts. Price was high for the portion sizes. Table was cramped- too many people and plates. Service was great. I doubt we'll be back for anything other than a date, and even then, I didn't love it enough to be eager for that. read more

We stopped here this evening in a whim to try Turkish food. We met a co-owner who helped us pick out a couple delicious items to share. I had a chicken Kabob my wife had the chicken pida. The pida was much like a calzone; but filled with thicken, mushrooms, cheese and served with a chicken based sauce that was spot on. My kabob was cooked perfectly, with w unique blend of spices! Both were terrific! They had fragrant spices that were tasty and yet foreign. We will be back to try something else soon! read more

I was.on a quest of looking for some hummus on my way home from work which was in Hilliard. I was trying to find a location that was on the route home so I stopped at this place. I walked in and the woman almost looked frightened. I am not sure of why she had a frightful look on her face. I am a black woman but nothing threatening about my appearance. I asked her for a menu and explained I was wanting to order some hummus. She immediately turns to some guy and ordered him to get the hummus. She seemed relieved when I ordered. I received a prepackage container of hummus and a small warm roll instead of pita bread. I was very disappointed. The price was outrageous and I will not go back or suggest this restaurant to anyone. read more

The food was terrible and the manager was rude and mad when I did not eat the dish. She insisted I get another dish. I will not come back

Food was great. Service was atrocious. The general Manager here needs a serious reality check and also needs to learn proper customer service skills! Other that that chicken kabob was great as well as the rice the vegetables were rotten and spoiled. The manager did not offer a gift card or a refund and instead made fun of me over the phone for getting sick from the food! Will never come back! read more

My go to place every year for my birthday! I like to spend my bday alone, going out doing nice things for myself. CIB is always on my list of places to stop. It's so peaceful (as long as other patrons use their inside voices) & the food is light but great. The bread & oil is the star of the show. I eat here a few times a year aside from my birthday & always get some extras bread to go. It's amazing. That being said this place has definitely changed a little in the least year. I think the biggest noticeable change is them hiring local younger college students. Not the most pleasing servers. The regular gentleman that refills the water is the nicest man on earth. I look forward to his hospitality & make sure to tip him personally. Great place. Really hope the college student employees don't start rubbing off on the place though. read more

Loved the lentil soup and the poğaça (bread). The adana kebab I think would be great in small doses, but an entire entree of it just wasn't my speed. The rice pudding was acceptable. The night I was in, the staff was crazy overstretched so either they are understaffed (a bad sign for longevity) or someone didn't show up for work. Either way, it prevented excellent service. Though understandably. The atmosphere reminds me of small cafes on those luxury midsize cruises. Almost everything wood and well appointed. Cozy for sure. read more

Having been to the Easton location a number of times, I am not entirely sure why I had not visited the much more convenient to me Bexley location, but had heard it was not as good. I was pleasantly surprised, though parking is not abundant per se, the space is nice, the food is just as good as it is at Easton, and the service was perfect. I met a client here just before Thanksgiving, and would reasonably have expected folks to be somewhat rushed, especially considering we closed the place down. It was quite the opposite, the hostess was very welcoming, our server was just fantastic, kept the drinks coming after their closing time even. I had never had their appetizer sampler; I am so glad my dining companion ordered it before I got there because I want to go back just for that, it was amazing! Not to mention, practically a meal. Everything was absolutely fantastic, she ordered the Mousakka, I ordered the sauteed shrimp, delicious. Another noteworthy item is they list the country of origin on the wine list, and besides the typical countries along with Turkish wine of course, you'll find Georgian wine on the menu! Can't say enough good things about it, can't miss! read more

See all