It's a lot fancier inside than I was expecting. It's a great ambiance with scenes from Turkey and soft Jazz streaming in the dining room. The staff is very accommodating. I am delighted that they have vegan and vegetarian options. Parking is on the street on Penn Avenue. Everything is delicious and I will definitely be back. read more

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Good stuff. Restaurant needs to be a little bit cleaner. Near the door there were "blow ins" from the street (cigarette butts, leafs) .. and we were seated there. They had somehow made it around the corner and under our table.... Enjoyed the Malbec. Nice to see a Mediterranean place offering wine. The "mezze" plate was a meal in and of itself. If you want a quick snack or light lunch with a partner, I recommend ordering that alone! It's all you need for a nice meal. We also came back and tried the lamb, very nice! I got the Beyti and it was very good, though I wished it had come with a salad. My wife did not like her lamb shish as much as my meal, but I think overall we liked both. read more

I was in town on business and the strong Yelp reviews convinced me to give this place a try. The reviewers weren't wrong. It has a charming interior and my server was very cheerful and prompt without hovering. The soft jazz they play sets a relaxing mood. I ordered the Chicken Kebab and it was perfectly cooked. The added vegetables were limited but the side salad was delicious and filled the void nicely. The spicy Ezme was delicious and the pita bread was very fresh. I hope to have a chance to come back! read more

All in all, Instabloom was a pleasant experience for dinner with friends. The staff was pleasant and helpful in guiding our dinner selections, including my gluten-free needs. The food was fresh and attractively plated, though my grape leaves and Piyaz were a little bland. Most of the group took leftovers home, which says something about the portions. The restaurant has a pretty limited wine and beer selection, but they don't mind if you BYOB. read more

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Service was awesome - food was so tasty. We even tried the Turkish white wine which was light and delightful with the food. Will be back to try more! read more

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Awesome relatively new spot for Turkish and Mediterranean food. This owner is the same as a few other spots around Pittsburgh which are all great. I got to try their chicken Adana, white sauce, haydari, and chocolate baklava. Everything was great and super, super fresh. I loved the chicken Adana. Juicy meat, super well seasoned, hint of spice, but not excessive. Very solid portion as well. Rice was fluffy, vegetables were crisp and well charred, with some pickled vegetables on the side as well. Very generous and flavorful. And the white sauce is nice too. The haydari was also very good. Creamy and a pretty good portion. The bread it came with was amazing, super fluffy and went excellently with the yogurt. Finally, the chocolate baklava. Also really quite good but I think I do prefer the regular baklava or other more traditional desserts over this one. Still, very nice, and an all around amazing restaurant. read more

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This is exactly what Bloomfield needed! A hole in the wall Mediterranean restaurant with a cozy and yet sophisticated atmosphere with a clean white table cloth look. The owner is extremely nice and you can tell they take pride in the place. I ordered the chicken kebab and the haydari which is like labneh but a little less thick and slightly more tangy. Will be back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Istanbloom - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A friend and I went on Friday night around 6pm and got seated right away without reservations. There wasn't anyone there when we walked in but a few people slowly trickled in over the course of our meal. The inside is deep and narrow with table and booth seating and has some cute decorations. Our food was pretty good and came out reasonably quickly. The mixed grill was really good and we enjoyed it. Unfortunately we didn't have room for dessert afterwards. Our server was really nice but not very attentive which wasn't a big deal to us. read more

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Excellent service, great food, and a very kind host! Definitely will be coming back here soon! read more

Istanbloom - Excellent service and really great food!! Definitely stop by! - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wow! Istanbloom surpassed any expectations we had. Bright, clean interior with friendly, quick and helpful staff. We started off by ordering the falafel and hummus appetizer. I always forget how good fresh hummus is compared to store bought. Delicious creamy hummus served with warm Turkish bread. The falafel was excellent, served with a small side of hummus. Perfect combination of bright and savory with all the fresh herbs and a crunchy exterior. We also ordered the doner kebab and chicken kebab entrees, which came with rice, a salad and grilled veggie. The chicken kebab was prepared perfectly, juicy and flavorful chicken breast. My fiancé very much enjoyed the doner kebab as well, which was also served with a yogurt sauce. Overall an amazing meal and we will definitely be bringing friends and family here when we have guests in town. read more

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A friend and I ordered takeout from Istanbloom on a Saturday evening. Online ordering was super easy and our food was ready in about 25 minutes. When I went to pick up the order, the restaurant was fairly busy for the small space it's in. We ordered the small mixed appetizer which consists of 5 cold appetizers, chef's choice. For our entrees, my friend ordered the beyti kebab and I ordered the salmon kebab. Everything we tried was delicious. I can see why this place has such a high rating. I'm a fan. I will definitely be back again! read more

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A wonderful neighborhood addition! We came in on Monday evening and found it welcoming. Service was amazing. We did appetizers (hummus and baba ganoush). The bread it comes with is delicious and warm! I had the Iskender Kebab. The yogurt it comes with is quite tasty. There is a layer of bread underneath the lamb. The tomato sauce is well seasoned and not spicy from a heat perspective. For dessert, we shared chocolate baklava. It comes out warm and is fluffy. Definitely check it out! read more

Istanbloom - Chocolate baklava - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Nice little space with a good collection of Mediterranean food. We ordered takeout, and they didn't appear to have a web site or any online ordering mechanism at the time. Now it looks like they have both. Either way, it was pretty easy to place an order over the phone. In terms of the food, everything was well executed. The shepherd's salad was subtle, but with an excellent balance of flavor and crispness. The grilled vegetable platter was nicely done, but could have used a few more vegetables. The falafel was exactly what you would want it to be, and was likely made in house. The various cold appetizers were spot on in terms of what they were aiming for, but I sometimes found myself thinking that some sort of hot sauce or other accent on the side would have been an improvement. Regardless, they all paired very well with the fresh flatbread they were served with. All told, this was a nice destination that seemed to put some care into turning out solid Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. I'm definitely looking forward to checking it out once they've been open a little longer. read more

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Food is spectacular! Super cute restaurant with incredibly nice employees. Got the lamb mixed grill and got to try a little of everything, since I genuinely couldn't choose what looked yummiest. The dips and appetizers are amazing as well. read more

Istanbloom - Mixed Grill, haydari, hummus - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Happened to crave Adana kebab and ended up here. Food was fresh and kebab was amazing. Owner is very hospitable and welcoming and ensured that everything was up to par. Will absolutely be coming back again when I'm in town. read more

We celebrated valentine's day here last night. The tables were decorated with rose petals and heart balloons. So cute! It was reservation only and the place was packed. Our server was awesome - such a nice guy. The people there are the best. Our food was delicious as always. This has become one of our top five restaurants. We love istanbloom. read more

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The food was delicious. I had the lamb kebabs which were cooked perfectly. The rice, charred tomato and pepper, and the salad complimented the lamb well. All the veggies tasted fresh. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

If you like Turkish food then this is the place for you!! I have visited Istanbul numerous times and travel often for work. The food here is the freshest, most authentic and flavorful. Each bite is a culinary treat. So if you live in Pittsburgh, PA or if you travel here often for work or family then put this restaurant on your agenda. Sercan, my server, was extremely helpful and went above and beyond serving me and my friends. He told me about each dish we inquired about and when I commented on my enjoyment stating it is the best Turkish food outside of Istanbul, he simply explained their fresh standards. He said they make their bread in-house in a brick oven and all ingredients are fresh and never frozen. He made me feel as if I was one of his regulars in the establishment. The restaurant is a quaint place with charm. This restaurant has only been open for a year but they do have a sister restaurant in Pittsburgh named Pasha Mediterranean Restaurant. I can definitely say if they are 1/2 as good as Istanbloom it will be worth checking that restaurant out as well. I will definitely be a patron of Istanbloom when I travel to Pittsburgh and visit friends or conduct work events. I hope everyone I know in PIT will check them out. I promise you will not regret adding them to your culinary list. https://istanbloom412.com read more

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My family is Croation/Italian so this cuisine is definitely in our wheelhouse. The atmosphere is truly amazing with cloth tablecloths and glass stemware turned upside down. The food is absolutely amazing, every dish presented artisan style. Quality and quantity of dishes was outstanding. My children all enjoyed their meals as well! Our kids had calimari, chicken, shrimp! I shared the meat platter which was delicious. My husband and I enjoyed a Turkish coffee after which was beautifully presented to us. The owner Gazi is very gracious and kind. He treated us like family. I highly recommend visiting his restaurant. We will be returning soon! read more

Everything was great from service to the actual food but to me, the highlight was the buttery rice in our entrees. It was so perfectly rich and delicious. We ordered the branzino and lamb mixed platter along with the veggie appetizer combo to experience a nice variety. The chicken kabobs were so juicy. We were impressed that it was so juicy since most chicken kabobs tend to be a bit on the dryer side of the scale. We enjoyed the branzino as well. It tastes very clean but you should totally leave the head and tail on for authenticity. The restaurant is clean, neat, great for date night or family dinners. Very very close to children's hospital and surrounding lovely neighborhood read more

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Rally nice new Mediterranean restaurant near Children's Hospital. Service was nice and friendly. Ordered the chicken adana wrap and fries come with. The wrap was very good with a nicely spice chicken. The fries ware firm and good too. Really a good choice for lunch. read more

We had an excellent meal here. Some of the best baba ganoush we've had. Lots of good vegetarian options, too. read more

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My sister and I visited Istanbloom for dinner recently. We came on a Sunday and there were only two other tables when we arrived around 5:30pm. Service was friendly and quick! It was a more simple restaurant with a few tables and booths. We ordered baba ganoush, chicken kebab, and the lamb kofte. Everything was excellent! All the meat was tender and juicy. The flavors were all fantastic--amazing Turkish food in the 'Burgh. We will definitely be back here! read more

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Incredible menu of authentic Turkish food and kind staff. This restaurant is owned by the same family who operates Pasha Lounge in Shadyside. I recommend splitting the appetizer sampler plate with your table! Everything was tasty and came in big portions. They also have lots of vegetarian options, as well as an array of meat. read more

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Istanbloom's so good it makes us want to go to Turkey!! The owner/server was a great host-- telling us about the (delicious and plentiful) house made bread, helping the three of us to order a large mixed appetizer plate and a mixed grill and assuring us it would be enough. The restaurant is described as "Mediterranean" instead of "Turkish" because they wanted people to know it was more than just shish-kebabs. All the recipes are from the family-- and everything we had was delicious! read more

Istanbloom - Large Mixed Appetizer - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Popped in for a lunch yesterday, and what a treat it was! The busy street outside, a bit of a grungy-looking stretch, belied the tranquil interior. We actually spotted a former host at a restaurant from our neighborhood helming the ship at the front of Istanbloom and had to go in and try this place knowing he has excellent taste. We weren't disappointed - though I do want to go back for a full meal. We ate pretty light. Adem- the host - brought us some Turkish tea, the warm, strong liquid so appreciated against the frigid outdoors. We tried - at Aden's recommendation: babaganoush (chunky & flavorful), hummus (somewhat smooth & tasty), and a mix of cheese and spinach borek. The latter was really good. The flaky, hot cigars packed with flavorful stuffing. We had to try the rice pudding, and boy did it not disappoint. Creamy and chunky and utterly divine. Can't wait to return and try more! The place must be doing quite well. It's packed to the gills for Valentine's Day. Probably a good idea to make a reservation for dinner! read more

Istanbloom - Interior - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We went on a Friday night with a group of 6. We were seated right away in a charming dining area. Prompt and friendly service. Excellent food! I had the shrimp kebab and it was cooked perfectly and served hot off the grill. The hummus and babah ganosh (?) appetizers were also flavorful and freshly made. We will be back! read more

I've been here twice now, both times cleaning my plate and in a good mood from the nice experience. I've loved all I've had there: the falafel, yogurt dip, French fries (served fresh and hot) and baklava they brought on the house once. Uncrowded and unrushed. They brought a pull-apart warm flatbread for the dip that was awesome. Waiters have been really friendly but not intrusive. Last night i practiced a tiny bit of Turkish with a waiter and he indulged me. I'll go back once I remember more. read more

Went when it first opened and was blown away by the chunky and delicious baba, grape leaves were the good kind that didn't taste like vinegar, and the kebab was generous and worth the price point. The staff was very grateful for us coming in. Ambiance was wanting. Tried take out about a month later and it was like a completely different restaurant with completely different dishes (in a very bad way). The baba was clearly store bought I.e. purée, grape leaves were sour and soggy, and the fatoosh salad was some romaine, oil and feta, very disappointing. I gave it one more try via door dash and the bad experience repeated. DO NOT DO TAKE OUT OR DELIVERY. Order from Ali Babas instead read more

Loved this place! Would go back in a heartbeat. The food was amazing and so flavorful!! Wish it was closer to home in seattle!

Amazing! After seeing all the 5 star reviews, we ordered takeout on a Friday night and it did not disappoint. We ordered grape leaves and spinach borek for apps in addition to doner kebab and izgara kofte for our entrees. I really liked the fact that they included a side salad of pickled onions, cabbage, peppers, and shredded lettuce with our entrees along with grilled veggies and plenty of rice. The pita that came with it was seasoned with black sesame seeds and was so fluffy and soft. I appreciated the fact that their takeout came in aluminum containers and not styrofoam. I can't tell you how many times we've had hot food served in styrofoam takeout boxes and it leeches to the point where all you taste is the styrofoam - right in the trash it goes. The only thing we would do differently next time is order more sauce because the cacik sauce they served with the spinach borek was so good for dipping the lamb and pita. Next time for sure! Thanks for the amazing meal, Istanbloom - can't wait to order again! read more

Istanbloom - Doner Kebab, Grape Leaves, Spinach Borek, Izgara Kofte with side salads and fresh pita included with order. - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amazing warm bread. Service impeccable. Mixed appetizers and grill dishes with salad excellent. Loved all the desserts, especially the chocolate baklava. read more

Not sure why this place gets such high ratings. The food was mediocre with overly dry doner kebab, that should have been moist and juicy. Neither of us got what we ordered exactly but we ate it anyway just to get out of there. No sound damping and there was a large group with little kids crying and running around like it was their private dining room. Large party behind us talking probably OK, but with nothing to reduce the sound, they seemed incredibly loud. Overly lit. The restaurant's bright sign in the front kept flashing and you could see it through the window. They didn't know how to stop it. Incredibly distracting. One couple came in, sat down, and left within a few minutes probably because they realized the atmosphere was so bad. The bathroom was dirty and the knob for flushing the urinal was detached and not operative. Otherwise it was fine. read more

This place is SO great! Make sure you start with hummus and their fresh, light baba ganoush (smoked eggplant dip, has the be tried to be believed). House made oven warmed bread comes with everything and is a must. There are photos and art all around evoking the restaurant's Turkish roots. Try the haydari (yogurt with garlic and walnuts) for another appetizer or the stuffed grape leaves. The doner kebab is a classic and is highly recommended - great seasoning, interesting spices, generous portions. Lots of gluten free and veg (and a decent handful of vegan) options (also great meat / fish choices). We will be back! read more

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The food was perfect. Parking was tough, but so worth it. We ordered the cigarette borek, mixed grill, and the Kazandibi. As a certified snob, it was seasoned so well, balanced. Food felt light while also being very plentiful(fed 2), every flavor complimented each other so well. Idk anything about "authentic turkish" food, but this felt like an awesome introduction into the cuisine. The service was quick, helpful, and just nice. The ambiance was cool, felt like i was in a different world. the music was a little dramatic but it wasnt bad. Would come here again. read more

Probably some of if not the most beautifully seasoned and fresh turkish food I've had in the city! Can't wait to come back! read more

Istanbloom - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Excellent meals. We will definitely be back. Set an was extremely nice and helpful, as was the staff. Having just returned from Istanbul, our bar was pretty high and the guys at Istanbloom did not disappoint. Had the large mezze platter, chicken and filet kebabs and Lamb meal. Homemade bread was outstanding. Very good! read more

Such a wonderful new place off Penn!! The food was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group enjoyed their selection among a variety of lamb & chicken dishes. I ordered the chicken kebab which was a standout. Truly the best kebab we've ever had - deliciously flavored and very tender. read more

super delicious chicken kebabs and great hummus. Super friendly staff and great, quick service. read more

Istanbloom - Chicken Kebab - Turkish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is a GREAT restaurant. The food was amazing. Very fresh and cooked perfectly. Homemade bread is served hot and is a wonderful compliment to the appetizers. Looking forward to returning. read more