Stopped here after our trip to the Columbus Zoo. I was a little under-dressed based on the décor, but they didn't seem to notice. They start you with bread and a dipping oil that is complimentary. It is very tasty. I had the appetizer sampler as my meal and my SO had the Doner Wrap. He really enjoyed it. Break down of the appetizer plater: Hummus - not bad, but nothing to write home about Babaganoush - this was FABULOUS. I wish I had gotten double of this and skipped the Hummus Stuffed Grape Leaves -- I am not sure what the spices are, but they are not ones that play well with me. It probably has both allspice and cinnamon in it. Ezme - This was tasty Tabuli - not enough bulger in my world, but certainly within the range. Better than the time I had it in Philly. Pinto Beans -- tasty Labne -- this was really good. I wanted more of it as well Eggplant with sauce -- also tasty. I also had the falafel -- very tasty. No pita, but extra bread was brought out. It seems a little weird to be honest. If I were to order again, I would likely get the Babaganoush, Labne and Falafel and would have been very satisfied. read more

Wonderful ambiance and service and food. We sat in an outdoor area overlooking the river and had violin music. I enjoyed the cacik, fresh bread, kofte kabob, and shared a rice pudding for dessert. Service was great and courteous. read more

Went there for dinner with a group of friends, the food was amazing 10/10. I would recommend the stuffed eggplants and the tilapia, they also have amazing appetizers. Service was very good and friendly though a little slow, the place is very clean. The seating outside next to the river cannot be beat. Would definitely recommend going there, the prices were a little high but reasonable for the experience and quality of food read more

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I can't recall the specific dishes but the one nearest the camera was a shrimp, spinach & cheese entree that was out of this world. The bread & numerous delicate options of toppings & oils were just so delectable. Also, the service was the perfect amount of attentive & gracious. I cannot wait to go back to try more of the menu! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Shrimp Spinach Casserole - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

I have driven by it many times and finally went for dinner to check it out. It was such a lovely evening and we were able to be seated on their patio which overlooks the river. They have a very cool retractable roof, and it was so much fun to be eating al fresco. One of the nicest patios I have seen in Columbus. We shared the kebab and tilapia entrees and both were perfectly cooked. Service was warm and personable. One of the owners/managers came over to ask us how we enjoyed our meal, which you rarely see done at restaurants anymore. This will quickly become one of our new favorites. Bar area looked very inviting, and I look forward to coming back to have a cocktail. read more

We dined at this location for the first time. Really enjoyed the meal and the service. Great eatery and we will be coming back. Thanks read more

The patio is beautiful. The drink was delicious. The food looked great, but I've definitely had much better. The Greek salad dressing is sooooo bland. I know that plain olive oil may be authentic, but why can't you make a really outstanding, flavorful dressing for this salad? Would make such a difference. read more

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Poor service on Mothers Day. Half empty dining room but we waited 45 minutes for our entrees to arrive without even so much as a glance from our waitress. We had ordered an appetizer sampler so we were not in a rush, not starving, but waters were not even refilled. After 45 minutes, we eventually became hungry again and had to stalk the staff. If they had at least come to tell us that there will be a delay or at least acknowledge us, I wouldn't be so irritated. The kids were complaining about the taste of their waters, which I found unusual. Maybe it was the styrofoam cups? After I tasted it myself, it smelled like toilet water. My grilled shrimp and salad were overly salted, to the point that they were not edible. At this point, it wasn't worth it to send it back. With 3 little kids and such a long wait, the kids were starting to become unhinged. In the end, we were comped 2 desserts. They get 5 stars for the view and overall pleasant environment. Better just to leave and not look back. read more

waitress fatshamed me and asked "are you gonna eat all that?" when i ordered 2 dishes off the menu. like yes i well who tf do you think you are #weird read more

Hadn't been to Cafe Istanbul on Riverside Drive since pre-Covid. I've been there twice recently. Once for lunch and once for dinner. Food and service both were awesome. The restaurant has been completely renovated with spectacular results on what used to be a dingy old patio. New version has casually sophisticated decor and high tech open/close panoramic windows. Had a great time and will return often read more

Woohoo! Went here for lunch today and it was amazing. They have a lunch special for $10.95 that comes with an appetizer, I chose the hummus, then the main course was these chicken skewers which can be served in a wrap, with fries or with rice and veggies. Prior to your meal they serve this AMAZING fresh bread with an oil to dip it in. Then a lot of the appetizer choices you'll be able to dip the bread in as well. For the dessert, they have a few different puddings they rotate between. The other main courses range from a variety of meats and they have a few vegetarian options as well. Now the final comment is about the awesome view! It is right along the Scioto River. I can't wait to return in the summer and eat on the awesome patio. read more

I'll start with the good. The patio is spacious and has a good atmosphere. Definitely a family friendly restaurant atleast on weeknights. There were lots of kids running around all the tables. The bread and oil served at the beginning of the meal was the highlight of the meal. The not so good.. the service was extremely slow. I understand the service industry is severely understaffed right now so I try and give everywhere the benefit of the doubt but it was beyond slow with around an hour of waiting for our entrees. We were there for over two hours and my water glass was only refilled once. The food was underwhelming. The hummus was average.. it was odd to me that it wasn't served with pita. My boyfriend and I both ordered the kebabs and felt that the sides of rice and vegetables lacked seasoning. I would recommend Aladdins, Mazah or Lavash if you're looking for Mediterranean food in Columbus. read more

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It was a nice place to check out. A girlfriend of mine arranged for us all to hang out here for the Derby. Surprising in more ways than one. This location has flipped restaurants over the years and hopefully this one will stick for awhile. :) Great drinks - Mediterranean Sunset holy cow that was amazing! Calamari was divine. Steak Kabob was outstanding and enough for my husband and I to share. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised. Well decorated, the staff is outstanding and the event was fun. Would go back! read more

Great food. Inconsistent experience. I placed a large order on Mother's Day through Uber Eats. It was accepted and messaged that a driver was assigned and would arrive at 6:50pm. At 6:23pm the order was canceled. Talk about a last minute cancellation. After ordering here weekly for the past few years, I'll never order from this restaurant again. They literally can't care less for ruining a family event. read more

This is one of my favorite area restaurants and I love bringing out of town guests here for lunch or dinner. The view of the Scioto River is amazing and the restaurant atmosphere is very cozy, interesting and inviting. It's really the food that makes everyone (including me) rave about the experience, though. The delicious meal starts with their incredible pita bread and oil served at the table after you order. The bread is served hot and delicious hot, warm or room temperature dipped into that delicious seasoned oil. I prefer dining for lunch to take advantage of the 3-course lunch menu ($11 for an appetizer, entree and nice little almond pudding for dessert) but I am absolutely in love with their grilled vegetable platter, served with white rice. It is seasoned to perfection and so satisfyingly delicious. They are probably most well-known for their kebabs, which are also marvelous - but I adore a vegetarian diet and this restaurant is very vegetarian-friendly. ... the bar also has a really great cocktail menu. I highly recommend their old-fashioned. Delightful. read more

Finally tried Cafe Istanbul for the first time this week! I ordered using Grubhub so unfortunately cannot comment on their physical establishment. They have an extensive menu with plenty of appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Meditarranean food is generally a great option for vegetarian and GF folks, and this certainly rings true here. Their falafel is tragically not GF, but almost all of the kebabs are as well as many salads, seafood options, and apps. I ordered the appetizer sampler which comes in 2 sizes, small and large. It consists of Hummus, Babaganoush, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Ezme, Tabuli, Pinto Beans, Labne and Eggplant with sauce and comes with pita on the side. Everything was absolutely delicious. I think that it holds true that this is an appetizer and not a main course, so I would recommend splitting it with someone else as opposed to getting it for your whole meal. Excited to come back and try more of this incredible menu! read more

Cafe Istanbul - Appetizer Sampler - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

First time here . My daughter and I went here for a bite to eat. I had the caramarie which was very good and she had a salad. The patio is beautiful with all the flowers and view of the river . The menue was interesting with Mediterranean food that we never have had. Will be going back to try some of it , the patio was very unique with the retractable ceiling and the different flexibility of the outside walls depending on the weather. It seems to be a popular place as I see a lot of cars there when I go by in the eve. The inside dining room is very nice also with large windows looking out over the trees read more

Always great! This is one of the prettiest restaurants around. Beautiful view from inside and on the outdoor patio. Iskender is our favorite but yesterday we visited for lunch so we ordered the doner wrap, which is just like a gyro. It came with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and sauce with crinkle fries on the side. I also ordered a shepherds salad and lunch portion of the doner kebab with veggies and rice. Hummus and labne are our favorite appetizers here. Also, you can get a free Turkish coffee by checking in on Yelp. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Shepherd Salad - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

Love the Dublin location! Really table makes you feel special. I love the bread and oil more than anything else, but their menu is wonderful. Growing up eating Mediterranean food they have kept the essence of the cuisine and not tried to add any crazy flare - Thank you! We have had almost everything by now on the menu and it is all really good! Ask if you are unsure the wait staff will help! read more

The view here is everything, we come just for that. The restaurant is situated right along the river. Sitting next to the windows can be cold in the winter. The bread is amazing and it comes with sundry tomato oil. The hummus is also great. We have gotten the lamb shank, lamb chops, sirloin sauté and all were incredible. I really like the interior design. The atmosphere is very inviting and cool. Highly recommend this place for a nice experience in the Dublin area. read more

Dinner reservations for 4. Friendly hostess. Seated outside quickly. Nice setting overlooking the Scioto River. Food & drinks were of average quality. Prices were reasonable. The service was dismal. Although the restaurant was not extremely busy, we experienced unacceptably long waits between ordering & delivery of everything- drinks, appetizers, & entrees. One of our party received her entree 8-10 minutes before the rest of us got ours. Our server must have had tables in another room as she would disappear for extended periods without checking on us. We asked her to bring salt & pepper, & she still had not brought them by the time we finished our meal about 15 minutes later. She said that she had been too busy. A poor excuse. She could/should have asked a colleague or the manager to help. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience. Needless to say, we won't be returning to Cafe Istanbul. read more

Terrible and Very Disappointed! Mother's Day weekend, Saturday, May 13th, I treated my mother to a day of pampering which included going to our favorite restaurant, Café Istanbul, in Dublin for lunch. We frequent this location and are considered weekend regulars as the service has always been fantastic and the food remarkable. Unfortunately, I can not say the same for this visit. Everything about it was terrible from the moment we walked in. To say that it didn't get better during our visit is an understatement. This is what transpired while we were there: After being seated, no one brought as water or asked us if we would like anything to drink for 30 minutes. When we were asked, I ordered an Expresso Martini and my mother asked for water, lemon wedges and Splenda. Upon receiving our drinks, the server forgot to bring Splenda and we waited a good 15-minutes before a server brought any and the only reason we got any was because I went to the front of the restaurant and asked if somebody could assist in bringing some to our table. The martini has always been phenomenal as I get it every time we visit the Dublin restaurant, but this time it was not. It was watered down and had a taste that was like it was old/stale and water based. We ordered an appetizer to share, and it took 40 minutes before it was brought to our table. When we placed our order for our meals, I was asked how I would like my meat (steak) cooked, I requested medium rare. When it arrived, it was warm not hot, and it was medium not medium rare as requested. When I brought it to the attention to our server, he appeared bothered that I told him it was overcooked and not how I ordered it. He asked if I wanted the kitchen to re-make it and I said yes, as I couldn't eat it the way they prepared it. He said he would, but it would take 35 minutes. My mother and I shared our extreme dissatisfaction with his response that it would take that long. We already waited long enough to receive our orders to begin with. Unfortunately, my mother's food was just as disappointing. Her food was cold. She ordered the Tilapia which she's ordered before and loved. It has always been flavorful when ordered. She has ordered it in the past and that is why she ordered it again, this visit. She thought it would be just a delicious as before. That was not the case. When it arrived, it was cold, had absolutely no flavor and was mostly raw (not cooked all the way). She took one bite and saw it was mostly raw and cold and she could not eat anymore. At this point we just wanted to leave as it was one disappointment after another, we were not able to eat our meals and we had other appointments scheduled and we did not want to be late to them. It was a disappointing day. We were so hungry that day that we ended up stopping at a fast-food restaurant to order food to take home. We would like to know what you are you going to do to remedy this? I feel that, under the circumstances we deserve a refund for the two meals we could not eat. read more

First off, they have huge windows in the dining room so you can see the river. It's a great view. They serve complimentary bread and oil. I would go there just for that. It is amazing. The hummus is very fresh. I got the chicken kabob with rice and veggies. It is served with a yogurt sauce. It's delicious. They also have a full service bar with signature cocktails. If you are looking for a meal with a view, look no further. read more

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The food was just amazing. The service was great too. We came for dinner on Thursday and the place was not very busy. We had lamb sauté (served with steamed rice), Doner kebab and cheese pide. All for 2 adults and 1child. The food was delicious but we still didn't manage to finish it. All this food and drinks (non alcoholic: Turkish tea, Ayran and apple juice) was total for around 60$. Note- they don't have a separate kids menu! read more

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great service, food, atmosphere even on a busy prom night. we'll done. Everyone working kept a positive attitude even though it was busy and made it a great night for our large party. read more

Came here for a late evening dinner for 2. The food was amazing, top 5 I've had in Columbus. The waitress we had was super sweet, the decor around the bar was super on the mark... and if I could recommend this place any more I would!!! read more

The decor and feel of this restaurant is quiet classy as per the normal standards of Columbus OH. I was expecting amazing Turkish food here, although it did not disappoint me so much. Probably it is just me who is comparing the taste of Turkish cuisine from some cool restaurants in kuwait. Anyhow we ordered Falafel, Iskender kebab, Shepherds Casserole, Adana Kebab and Kunefe for dessert. (Don't think i am a glutton, we were a party of four ) 1. Falafel - Was pretty average, i have eaten better at Pita Hut-N-Grille (look it up on yelp) 2. Iskender Kebab- Was good, but could have been better, because the kebab should be submerged in the yogurt sauce ideally. But here these two items were separate. 3. Shepherds Casserole- Full marks to it 4. Kunefe- was awesome, definitely a try. In short i will definitely go back to try out other items on the menu, and maybe i may improve my rating over here. But you must go to this place to check out for yourself. P.S posting the only picture i could take there, as i was in my birthday mood and i wanted others to take pictures of mine read more

Cafe Istanbul - Decor feels - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

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Very good Mediterranean foods, many choices and reasonable prices for a white tablecloth restaurant. Semi-casual atmosphere. Generally fast service and knowledgeable staff. I love this place. You can't go wrong! read more

Turkish cuisine takes me back years ago to childhood and my earlier days. Being of Mediterranean roots, I am naturally familiar from upbringing with all the names and dishes. I'm glad that Columbus has Istanbul Cafe to offer. It definitely stands out in the crowd of other similar venues whether Arabic, Greek, Persian, etc. For the starter course: For an appetizer I had a the dolmas, stuffed grape leaves. They were nice, fresh, moist and on point. Well balanced in stuffing, the rice, seasoning and grape leaves wrapping. I can tell they were made in house and none of that canned stuff. For the main course: I had the Iskandar with adana kabob option instead of doner, as it is traditionally supposed to be. I don't recall it offered with doner... regardless, it was good ... but I remember the Iskandar presentation looked different in the past. The adana or doner was supposed to be submerged in the yogurt and tomato sauce as I recall it. I assumed this is slightly different arrangement. Also, in previous occasions, it came with rice underneath the yogurt, tomatoes and adana. This one instead had bread bits which were still good. I am not sure if this is just a different recipe altogether, but it was not what I expected. Nonetheless, it was good and filling. My friends had different assortments of dishes. Shish Chicken, Doner, Adana, and they all liked their meals. The table looked fantastic and colorful. For the dessert portion: I had the custard azandibi and it was phenomenal. The waiting staff was very attentive, and the venue itself was fancy, classy, with a nice intimate ambience, dim lights, nice background music, etc. I'm a fan and will definitely be back. read more

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I had been here before, long ago, when it was built as another restaurant and I lived nearby. Kinda forgot about it, and had no idea what was here until I used my trusty Yelp app while shopping nearby. I decided to come here since the clerk at Meijer had just asked if I was Arab. I passed on the cafe at the retirement community across the street. When I walked in I had to wait for someone to notice I was at the hostess station, which made me wonder if that was a bad sign. But it was only a few minutes, and they were pretty busy. I was seated, choosing a table by the windows. The view is great, and the building is very cool in general. Service from that point was excellent- friendly, helpful, efficient. I went with the lunch special, though I was very hungry and wondered if it would be enough. It was. I stayed simple, starting with hummus (you choose an app, an entree, and a dessert for $9.95.) The hummus was good, with a nice seasoned oil and plenty of bread. I had the doner kebab next, and it was incredible. Sort of a deconstructed gyro with flavorful meat, rice, sauce, and veggies. Between that and the hummus I was stuffed, but I had to try the dessert. A creamy rice pudding, it made a nice cap to the meal. Excellent food, excellent service, a cool place, all for a reasonable price. I'll be back. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Doner kebab - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

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One of the best restaurants in Columbus... IF you like Mediterranean food. Go. Just go. Go in the winter and sit in the bar next to the indoor fireplace. Go in the spring, summer and fall, and sit outside on one of the best outdoor decks in the city. But GO...!!! This is some of the freshest and healthiest food you will ever have at a restaurant. Have the Shish Kebab. The first thing on the menu at top-left. This is the finest lamb, the most delicious lamb, the most perfectly marinated lamb you will ever, ever, ever have. Eat it with the rice. Get the Labne - house made yogurt with dill and walnuts and wonderful deliciousness. Awesome. Have their bread - among the best I've ever had. Have a wonderful, strong drink in the large bar. Go. Just go. I'll see you there... read more

Cafe Istanbul - Cafe Istanbul Dublin's patio - one of the best and most beautiful patios in Columbus...!!!! - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

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EXCELLENT food options! Humongous portions!!!! So glad my man and I shared the Kebob..it was enough to share AND take home. Yes for two people. Not on a Skewer, just a huge pile of lamb and beef. Lightly roasted veggies and herbed rice as well. EXCELLENT Bread and Seasoned Olive Oil... I would pay for it!!! EXCELLENT prices! EXCELLENT service...Thanks Rose! EXCELENT view...beautiful hawks circled our heads high above. The river is within view but only if the trees are trimmed back. EXCELLENT Turkish coffee presented and a YELP "check in" gets it to you for free! read more

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Fried lamb liver is my favorite food there. Their food is good. But desert quality used to be better.

The interior decoration is so ethnically beautiful. The restaurant has an outside view of the Scioto river, so it has a very naturist and peaceful atmosphere. The staff is friendly and helpful, esp if you have any questions about the menu. The food is very delicious, such as the lentil soup, even the bread. The Turkish coffee is memorable. I highly recommend checking out this restaurant read more

Cafe Istanbul - lentil soup - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

I've only been here twice but I really love this place. First of all the views are unmatched. Yes the river water isn't always the prettiest color but you can't say it isn't nice to look at. First time I went was for my parents anniversary and we all had a great meal including desserts. This time was for my birthday! The 7 Hills drink is my absolute favorite and I've gotten both times. For appetizer we had the Sigara Borek and we all enjoyed them! The flavor was a bit different from what I expected so they weren't my favorite but that's not their fault. My entree was a kebab combination with chicken and steak, extra rice instead of the vegetable because it's my birthday, why not? The meat was perfectly cooked, so juicy and flavorful. The rice was simply made by the gods, I know it's hard to think rice can be that delicious but it was heavenly. We didn't get dessert this time since we had birthday cake at home but their desserts are phenomenal. Only thing that went wrong was a bit of (I think) a miscommunication between one of the members of my party and the server which resulted in the person in my party getting a meal they weren't thrilled for as it wasn't what they expected/wanted. But we will still return because the food is simply that good. read more

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Food is always amazing and fresh. I usually go to the one in Easton but this time I tried the Dublin one and it didn't disappoint

Drove by so many times and finally walked in and had a dinner with my girlfriend and other friends. The food was awesome and the drinks were very tasty too. Some of the drinks were sweeter than I was expected. The server didn't check on us frequently so I had to wave at him all the time. Other than that, it's all good. Nice environment, plenty of parking space. read more

Cafe Istanbul - Turkish Near Me - Dublin, Ohio

Delicious! Decided to try something new from DoorDash last night and went with Cafe Istanbul. I'm a huge hummus fan, so I had to snag some. I also ordered the vegetable stew, and my boyfriend ordered the mixed kebabs. We shared baklava for dessert. The food was warm, filling, and well seasoned. I ate until I was sooo full. Will definitely be visiting again! read more

I've been there several times now. I've taken my wife there, other family, been there with business colleagues, even taken a job candidate there. This place is reliable. The food, consistently, is very good. The service, consistently, is very good. To my knowledge, Cafe Istanbul the only west Asia restaurant in the Columbus area. In this city, to my knowledge, there's no good Georgian or Uzbek cuisine. Given the lack of competition, some outfits might not be great. Cafe Istanbul steps above and is one of the best restaurants in this area. And it is a bit more economical than its nearby competition. We'll continue to visit them from time to time, because they really are very good. read more

Good consistency meal every time you order. But the do not accommodate nearly any changes/substitutions. I have tried 4 times to get the sultan's delight with grilled vegetables instead of meat and every time been told no. even offered to pay more, still no. But pricing is reasonable and service is good. watch out for the hot tea it is overwhelming strong especially if your used to Persian or english tea read more