Amazing little authentic Turkish restaurant that packs the most amazing food made with love! Taner, the chef, is a master culinary guru! He was absolutely precise with each ingredient that he put forth and made every allergy accommodation I requested. The lamb chops were exquisite and the homemade mezze dips were colorful and full of soul. This is one of the best Turkish restaurants we ate at and we've had food at the top restaurants in turkey. The hoist was Norten was pleasant and friendly! Cannot wait to eat here again. You will be satisfied and a regular customer. read more

We were there on Saturday night,every thing was so good."CIGER" was delicious,porsion was full, service was great.Worker was friendly.We also stop by bakery section,bought some sweet and simits.We already told other people about Istanbul Cafe.I only didn't like about decoration of the store,need little bit nice touch up.We will definitely come back again.Thank you. read more

Came here with friends on a Wednesday and was surprised to see how lively the restaurant was! Lots of birthday dinners happening, but luckily we were able to get a table fairly quickly. The staff were kind and attentive. I tried the chicken gyro, which came with such a large serving. It was delicious and flavorful, would definitely come back for it again! They also served complementary bread with oil that was such a fun surprise. read more

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Saw the good reviews. Been meaning to pay a visit for a while. Finally made it here and was not disappointed. The food is top notch. Clean, friendly environment. Nice service. We did take out. I had the mixed grill with lamb, chicken and beef. All done to savory perfection. There is also an amazing bakery on the premises. Sweets to die for lol. Definitely making a return and will eat in. Find yourself in Centereach this is the spot! read more

Istanbul Cafe - Istanbul Café Mix Grill. Superb! - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

We are a fan of their tres leches, delicious, moist and light. Sometimes we just stop by to pick this up but then we always end up picking up more desserts to try new ones. read more

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Bon and I were in Centerreach for Dr. Appt..finished up and we're hankering for vittles..Istanbul cafe only 5 minutes away and off we went. Been awhile since last visit and time for revisit for Turkish food. Arrived, settled in and perused the menu. I had been craving liver and their fried Liver was outstanding! Tender and tasty..Yum! Forr mains Bon got Gyro Plattet and i had Daily Special..meatloaf and mashed potatoes ..delish! For dessert we shared Baklava washed down with potent Turkish Coffee. Great service,quality ingredients and preparation..Mmmm.. read more

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The Honey and I have ordered take out from this establishment many times. Tonight we decided to sit down inside the restaurant to enjoy dinner. We called and made reservations for 8:15. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. In addition to the seating area to the right as you walk in, the restaurant has an area to the left that houses the kitchen and a long bakery enclosure. This is filled with all sorts of yummy traditional desserts. We ordered our usual of lamb soup, it's packed with chunks of lamb and seasonings! It's my favorite soup to get here. And on a frigid night like tonight, hit the spot! We both had the lamb shank entree. Tender fall off the bone meat with carrots and potatoes. Served with your choice of rice or salad. Warm homemade bread is served with melted butter....delicious! Friendly but slow service resulted in this only being a four star review. After our meal was done and leftovers bagged, no one asked if we needed anything else. And we even sat there ten extra minutes waiting for the check. The quality of the food is excellent and overall our visit was a pleasant one. read more

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Food was good, Lentil soup and Doner plate. This was my second time here and definitely will be back again. read more

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I've never had Turkish food so I wanted to give this place a shot to get it going. I had their mixed meat platter to sample their range of offerings. My favorite meats were the grilled chicken breast (chicken shish?), chicken adana, lamb patty, and shaved lamb. All fantastic, very well seasoned and pair great with the included white sauce. As for the lamb shish and singular lamb chop, not a fan. Both were dry and gamey, the lamb chop had some chewy unrendered fat as well. I also found their bread lacking, stale-like in texture and not optimal for stuffing with food. Their rice was lovely but the accompanying salad that came with the meal had practically no dressing on it and was quite unremarkable. When it comes to portions though they have you set, I was able to make two hefty meals out of this. This platter was suitable for my higher protein needs but it was certainly not memorable enough to get again, I'd rather opt for a platter with the meats I enjoyed. read more

Istanbul Cafe - Istanbul Cafe Mix Grill - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

This the spot I keep coming back to and honestly don't want to gatekeep. The pastry case is always stacked, and their baklava? Forget it. Best in Suffolk. Crispy layers, not drowning in syrup, and it actually tastes fresh (which is rare around here). When I sit down for a meal, it's lahmacun on repeat. The lahmacun is thin, flavorful, and exactly how it should be. The branzino comes out so fresh and seasoned just right. Full disclosure: my boyfriend's Turkish, which is how I got hooked on Turkish food. Now I'm the one dragging him here. My little weekend ritual is grabbing fresh açma and simit in the morning. Don't blame me when you get addicted too once you have them warm with tea or coffee, there's no going back. read more

Excellent food,ok service, authentic Turkish ambiance. very informal, reasonable prices.

The food was delicious - we enjoyed chicken sishi meal, sukuk pide, complimentary bread and spreads (babaganoush, eggplants spread hummus etc.) We couldn't resist a serving of baclava to go either. Staff was excellent- attentive, fast , patient and we observed how warm they've were to some people who were clearly regulars. Made us want to become regulars too! We ate on the more casual side of the restaurant but the main dining area looked very nice and very busy on a Friday night. The carry out business was booming too tonight. read more

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Exceptional Turkish cuisine! My preference is the lamb shank, which is outstanding. The servings are generous and the price is very competitive. read more

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We had a lovely lunch at Istanbul cafe! Dropping my son back to school and we're surprised by this lovely establishment. We were greeted by a nice young g man at the door. He welcomed us in Turkish. Then escorted us to view their specials of the day! The place was very clean, the food was delicious the service was prompted , and the experience was lovely. We can't wait to go back again! read more

Istanbul Cafe - Best Turkish tea! - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

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The food is amazing, and freshly made immersed in flavors! Service was fast, and the ambiance and everyone inside is super sweet!

I searched for the best baklava in Suffolk County, and the results came back with Istanbul Cafe. I read the reviews and most of the reviews were mixed. The negative reviews focused on restaurant food quality, not being great, and more importantly, customer service was quite rude if you are not of Turkish descent. However, since I am not of Turkish descent, and I was greeted with open arms, and the representative explained in detail everything that I was looking at in the bakery and was extremely helpful. as far as the food quality, it looks OK and tasted like any other baklava that I've had, so nothing special to write about. Definitely not worth me returning, but if I lived local, then I might choose this location to try different options. Other than that, it tasted like baklava that I've had anywhere else, except for a bakery in Istanbul, lol. read more

Istanbul Cafe - Pistachio & maybe walnut baklava - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

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Great value and very good food. Really enjoyed everything we ate and we are a lot. Reasonable pricing. Reminder: Bring your own alcohol. read more

After all of these years we decided to give this old fav another. SO glad we did. What amazing food, service. It was just fabulous! For the price you get exceptional quality, well-prepared, delicious food. They give you a generous portion of bread and olive oil to start. Everything was fabulous; babaganoush, falafel, I had the whole branzino, husband had chicken. All so well prepared. Our only comment: the music was great--authentic and perfect. Now, if you get some nice lighting to accompany it, you'll create such an inviting mood to dine with! read more

Before my trip to Istanbul, I decided to try some authentic Turkish food as a precursor. To my amazement, the food here was fantastic! I tried the chicken Adana Kebab and Turkish tea. The food was delicious! The meat wasn't salty at all, it had the perfect flavoring and the rice with the yogurt sauce is just to die for. I loved everything I had eaten and so did my nephew who had the gyro meat with rice. The restaurant is clean and has a really nice ambiance. The pictures of Istanbul on the wall were beautiful and added to the authentic feel of the place. Service was good as well. Next time, I'll try their bakery section. It seemed extensive and there were many great items to choose from. read more

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Food was so fresh and tasty. The staff were so accommodating and welcoming. This is a hidden gem if you need some great Turkish food. read more

I've been visiting this place since the early 2000s, and unlike many spots that tend to decline over time, this one keeps improving. I really enjoy their food, especially the hummus and Adana kebab--though I do wish there was an option to make it spicier, like in Turkey. I usually order tea as well. The food is always fresh, and the service is excellent. read more

Istanbul Cafe - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

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Loved the food , service was excellent too! I had the mixed meats platter that the server recommended... the lamb gyro was to die for! Their dessert selection is incredible... had to take some to go. I will definitely be back! read more

Istanbul Cafe - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

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Came here at 10:30pm on a weeknight to curb my craving of Turkish food. Unfortunately the hostess ignored me and talked to her friends for the next 10 minutes and then disappeared. She didn't even give me a menu. And yes, I greeted her and she saw me. RUDE! maybe it's because she only takes care of Turkish guests and I don't look Turkish? Eitherway I will never come here again despite what people say about the food. I can't support a local business that can't respect their customer... read more

So my wife and needed a gyro fix so we decided to give this place a chance and boy are we glad we did! The chicken gyro and the lamb gyro we ordered were great! We also got an order of baklava and they were so sweet but not too sweet! We would gladly driving here again for a late night snack, but we are going to come for a sit down soon because the menu looks really good! read more

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Dinner was great! The lamb soup is outstanding! The fried liver is the best that I have ever had. read more

From the food, to the service, Istanbul Cafe is 10/10. They offer a wide-variety of foods but my absolute favorite is this Mix Cold Appetizer platter to share. It's served with warm bread and each of the dips did not disappoint. I have visited many times and would recommend checking out the baked goods and trying the coffee. read more

Istanbul Cafe - Mix Cold Appetizers - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

The Istanbul Café was an outstanding experience. The service was exceptional. Each of the people I engaged with were super friendly and attentive. The restaurant is bright and nicely decorated. It's a great spot for small or large groups. The food was amazing and exceeded my expectations. The Manti was possibly some of the best I've ever had. The Adana Kebab was equally delicious and a great side. I probably ate more than I should've, but there was no stopping once I started. The only sad part was that I didn't leave room for dessert. They have an incredible selection of Turkish and Mediterranean style desserts. I cannot wait to come back. read more

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They are nothing but thieves. The "large cup" of lentil soup is a medium cup. The first time I ordered 1 large cup of lentil soup from them, I was given 2 medium cups. I was surprised but accepted it. The next time, I ordered 2 large cups of large lentil soup. I'm supposed to get 4 medium cups. They sent a large piece of bread meant for 4 cups of soup, BUT 2 cups. Uber Eats didn't give me my money back, and sided with them. Today I Uber Eats and this restaurant is doing the same . Your business won't prosper like this. Give me my money back!!!! read more

Istanbul Cafe - Where is the other 2?! - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

This establishment not only has amazing food and tea, the service was amazing! I will definitely be coming back.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Istanbul Cafe based on years of enjoying authentically prepared meals and friendly service. They never disappoint. I can tell because, more and more people are finding out about this restaurant. Tonight it was packed! Yet they still prepared my meal quickly. I love the chicken shish platter with red rice, the red lentil soup, eggplant with sauce, and the various pide specials. The desserts are awesome as well!!They have a nice fresh bakery with changing items. I know the strawberry Dubai chocolate pudding cup has been a popular dessert recently! Their various cookies and cakes please every taste, as well. read more

The food is delicious and the staff is so friendly and very helpful my favorite is the it's like a Turkish pizza that they make fresh when you order it read more

When I tried to order strawberry chocolate cake the guy was very nice and served us upfront and then when he inspected the cake he told me he didn't like the way it looked and recommended me another one. Great guy. Very clean and smells very nice in there as well. I can tell everyone is proud of where they work. read more

Istanbul Cafe - Turkish Near Me - Centereach, New York

Amazing pastries & sweets, tasty food and friendly staff. Open late for a nice treat. read more

Consistently good food. Quick, prompt service. Open really late. Desserts galore to grab and go. Must try.

Love Istanbul Cafe! We've been going for the last 16 years and they are better than ever! They expanded to a big beautiful dining room and a massive delicious dessert area! The owner is one of the best!! read more

Particularly loved the desert, customer service, ambiance , and their well marinated chicken. Highly recommend their Turkish tea and baklava for dessert read more

Just as good as the first time I was here. We ordered a bit more to try other things on the menu. We had our usual: - Beyti Special - ground lamb meat mixed with spices, garlic, parsley, wrapped and sliced in bread topped with tomato sauce with red rice and salad - Chicken Adana Kebab - finely chopped chicken mixed with spices and grilled on skewers with red rice and salad This time we added: - hummus - chickpea purée and tahini sauce seasoned with garlic and olive oil - Turkish cigars - feta cheese blended with herbs, wrapped in thin dough and fried (soooo good) - Ayran yogurt drink. This was my first time having this. Though very salty, it is packed with electrolytes. This drink is meant to be useful against dehydration. It's slightly tart/sour from the natural yogurt, but the biggest surprise is the saltiness. To give you a better picture...there is over 1000mg of sodium in this bottle alone. I sipped on this throughout dinner. The food is very good here. I do plan to come back and try out the cafe side. read more

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Everything always goes beyond well. !!! The best Turkish food in western Suffolk County extraordinary desserts Service superb casual, and always treated as family not to be missed!! read more

The food is good here. It's light and flavorful. I lreally enjoyed the special beyti kebab. The cold mezzo was tasty and refreshing. The soup was okay but if order it again. The cheese sausage pie was good but I wish it was crisper and that the cheese was less and the sausage more. We also ordered lamb chops but they were overcooked, well flavored but too done. Lamb shank was very tasty. All the food was really good and made for a tastier lunch the next day. read more

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Restaurant has a nice design and atmosphere. Music playing at a nice level. Food.was spectacular. Had the Turkish cigars, feta cheese rolled up in Philo dough. Turkish version of Greek tzastiki sauce. The complementary bread was crispy and delicious along with the melted butter. The lahmicun ultra thin crust pizza dupe is phenomenal. Ask for it cooked well done. Enjoyed the chicken shish kebab which is perfectly seasoned chicken chunks. The pide, a boat shaped 'pizza' is great. Dessert- a full bakery on site leave many options. Finish with Turkish coffee or tea. A win win place. We WILL be back. read more