Istanbul Grill Virginia
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Hospitality: 10 stars. I think it's the owner we interacted with - he was sooo hospitable toward us and our dog (who we sat with on the patio). He was able to change the calf liver appetizer to be dog friendly so that my pup could have a tasty birthday meal too :) My partner and I shared the doner kebab, iskander kebab, kunefe, and ayran. The iskander was my absolute favorite. I could devour a whole dish of this on my own. I was surprised that the bread in it was like bread cubes - kinda like a savory meat bread pudding. But it's much tastier than it sounds I swear!! The doner kebab is good but less flavorful than the iskander. I did like the sides that came with it - fresh whole foods. The free pita and olives were tasty as well - the pita was a little dense but it's 100% homemade. The ayran brought me so much comfort!! I could sip on ayran for the rest of my life and die happy. It is like meal-level heavy though, so only an occasional treat for me sadly. If you're not familiar with it, it's a slightly salty rich yogurt drink. And last but definitely not least - the kunefe stole the show of course. It was perfectly gooey and sweet. What a treat. It did take a while to come out (like 35 min) but was worth the wait. I would come more often if the prices were slightly less inhibitive. Our total for the beef liver, two kebab entrees, ayran, and kunefe came out to be just about $100 after tax and tip.
From fish to fries, this restaurant is a good experience. The fry chicken 7p was amazing, came out flavorful and hot (carrots and celery were delightful also) Clean, and if you like drinks, there is a bar too! The service was quick and respectful Also, the ambience was delightful with the cultural music in the background
I know everyone like Turkish food! Kebabs, mezzes, doner, iskender,... This is the place that you can find all the kebabs, mezzes and dessert! Also you have try Raki, traditional Turkish alcohol if you are stand up to! It's pretty strong! But goes together with the mezzes. This is how we do in Türkiye. "Raki- Mezzes" or "Raki- Balik" (fish) You have to try iskender and adana kebap here for sure! All the mezzes nice and fresh! Try Ayran instead of coke. Ayran is traditional Turkish drink! Health and fresh! Make by yogurt. And this is a little advice you have to add it your diet instead of any other soft drink! Aaand try baklava for sure because they make it here! One thing rice pudding was a bit thick and less sweet for me. I prefer a bit liquid and more sweet... Service always fast, nice and clean! Ambience also nice after they chance the decoration! I like that huge Bosphorus photo on the wall! They have patio and car parking
Istanbul Grill is good...but 4.5 stars good? Respectfully, not in my opinion. But first the positives I noted: * Attached parking lot. Blink and you'll miss it, so be sure to be on the lookout as your driving up, for the small-ish parking lot off the side of the restaurant. In this part of Arlington where parking is a premium, it's a nice benefit for diners. * Menus are...iPads? I think its kitschy, but ultimately a cost conscious decision that this place uses iPads to view menus. The devices have a ruggedized rubber case for protection (since, no doubt they've been dropped before) and it is smart to use electronic devices to updates menu offerings and prices instead of constantly having to reprint. So-So notes: There were about 8 of us in our group, so I ordered the mixed cold meze platter, which was a sampling of dips such as hummus, baba ganoush, etc. It was served in a star shaped platter and was accompanied by a bowl of warm pita bread, and small plate of olives. Overall, I thought the meze was good...not outstanding but good. The baba ganoush was probably the best of the bunch with a nice smoky flavor and the eggplant was grilled to a nice soft consistency. Bread was fresh enough and was perfect for ripping into pieces for sharing. I forgot to take pictures of my entree, which was the mixed grill; but there are plenty of other pictures of the dish on the Istanbul Grill page. Kabobs were well seasoned but slightly dry and chicken thighs needed salt. Otherwise all of the meats had decent char flavor and grilled marks for effect. Also bonus that the serving size was large enough to save some of my meal for lunch the next day. Service was attentive with water glasses being filled and dishes cleared in a timely manner. And we definitely appreciated the fact that the restaurant didn't make a big fuss about breaking the bill into separate checks. I guess with such as high rating I was expecting to be blown away by the food and experience but TBH, everything was just "okay." Meal with entree, splitting the cost of the appetizer, and just water for beverage, with tax and tip came out to about $50.
While the food here is fairly good, there's essentially one dish that really grabs me, and that's the iskender kebab. I've had a few other dishes, and while there's plenty of meat / food, I don't think the flavors "Wow" me. On top of this, I think given the environment, service, and flavor profiles, I do believe the prices are high. Service is ok, but again, given the prices, I think service is lacking. This last trip my wife and I split our meals, sharing an iskender kebab and an arugula salad, partly due to price and partly to balance our meal with having some greens. My son had the Adana kebab.
Istanbul Grill is a bit further west from Ballston on Wilson. I came here with a few friends this past Friday evening for dinner and had a decent experience. We were given water and complimentary pita (came with olive oil with olives!) pretty quickly. The pita was good, but a bit dry. The olive oil was very fresh, but we found the olives themselves to be a bit bitter. RED LENTIL SOUP - 7 This looks small, but it was pretty filling. Lots of flavor and it went well with the pita bread that we got. If I was looking for a light meal, I could just get a lentil soup, enjoy it with a couple pieces of pita and be satisfied. I'd recommend giving their lentil soup a try -- it's very hearty and delicious. LAMB SHANK - 25 My friend and I shared the lamb shank since we weren't too hungry. The lamb was so, so tender. It fell off the bone so easily and had a good balance of meat and fat. The tomato sauce was pretty good (not my favorite, but I acknowledge that it's good) and had a variety of veggies (carrots, peppers, etc.) mixed in. There's also a small bed of seasoned rice that you can enjoy with the meat and veggies or on its own. We thought the lamb was pretty under-seasoned and bland, but its tenderness made up for it. Overall, this was OK. Our other friends got the CHEF'S MIX GRILL which had a lot of differently seasoned meats which were good. The steak was super tender and well-seasoned. We thought the kebab was too salty. The thin piece of meat (I think beef) was good. It also comes with a lot of veggies. Overall, glad I finally got to try Istanbul Grill. It was a good experience.
I stopped by Instanbul Grill for take-out. When you first walk in, you enter at the bar. I walked in and they were quick to greet me. I asked for take-out and asked if I could wait at the bar. They said sure. I sat at the bar and it was confusing for a moment, so I asked if I could see the menu and they handed one to me. I had a question about an item and the gentleman there was very delightful and welcoming! He recommended the Doner Kebab and described it as being sliced lamb and veal, very delicious, like gyro but freshly handmade, not frozen. He said it was a very popular item on the menu, so I got it! I also got a side of zuchinni fritters and baklava for dessert. I had a cup of Turkish tea while I waited. As I waited, I noticed plenty of people were coming in for both a sit down meal and take-out. The tea had very good flavor and it was served in a pretty crystal-like glass. Once I got home, I tried everything out and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, the zuchinni fritters were overcooked and had a burnt taste to it. The meat was seasoned a little heavy with salt and pepper for my liking and sort of overpowered the meat. However it still had very good flavor. I really like the bulgur which I think was cooked in a light tomato broth. Thr bulgur was quite tasty. The small side salad was packaged in the same container alongside the hot food. There was an onion salad with herbs in it, maybe chopped parsley, partnered up with either a red cabbage or beet salad, and a handful of chopped romaine lettuce. There was also a chunk of fire roasted green pepper and one half fire roasted plum tomato. The meal came with freshly made bread. Yummy. The baklava was delish, soaked in a delicious sweet syrup type of sauce and sprinkled over with minced pistachio. I would have given 4 stars, however the zuchinni was overcooked. Also, when you check in on Yelp, you get one free dessert. I mentioned I was ready to select my dessert and she said baklava. I asked if I could select it, she said no. So I said I can't chose, it's baklava only? She said yes. I thought that was interesting because it does not say baklava is the only option as the one free dessert. Nevertheless, I would like to go back and dine in, and try a few other items on the menu. I would love to dine outside on the cute patio.
Had seen and heard good reviews of Istanbul Grill so I decided to drop by on my own. The place was spacious. Service: 5/5. Service was awesome! The waiters were so kind and helpful to show me popular dishes. They were also prompt and food came out within 15 mins. Good: 4/5. The bread was pretty fresh, which I appreciated! I got the HUNKAR BEGENDI, which was good but could've used a little more flavor/salt. Overall, it was good and the portion was large, but I do wish it was flavored better. I did take advantage of the free dessert on Yelp and for myself a dessert! That was a huge plus!
Great Ambiance. The chairs are so comfortable, the dining room is relax and very relaxing. The service is wonderful and the servers and manager are very accommodating and take their time with explaining the menu and answering any questions you have. The food is very tasty and they have a variety of appetizers/starters and their main courses are authentic, fresh and very deliciously created. Highly recommend.
Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the authentic Turkish food, friendly and attentive service, and an inviting Turkish ambiance.
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7 months ago
This is my second time eating here. I loved how authentic and flavorful everything tasted. The kebab was the best lamb I've ever had! The service was great, they helped us explore the menu and I loved that they had outdoor seating for when it gets warm. read more
Hospitality: 10 stars. I think it's the owner we interacted with - he was sooo hospitable toward us and our dog (who we sat with on the patio). He was able to change the calf liver appetizer to be dog friendly so that my pup could have a tasty birthday meal too :) My partner and I shared the doner kebab, iskander kebab, kunefe, and ayran. The iskander was my absolute favorite. I could devour a whole dish of this on my own. I was surprised that the bread in it was like bread cubes - kinda like a savory meat bread pudding. But it's much tastier than it sounds I swear!! The doner kebab is good but less flavorful than the iskander. I did like the sides that came with it - fresh whole foods. The free pita and olives were tasty as well - the pita was a little dense but it's 100% homemade. The ayran brought me so much comfort!! I could sip on ayran for the rest of my life and die happy. It is like meal-level heavy though, so only an occasional treat for me sadly. If you're not familiar with it, it's a slightly salty rich yogurt drink. And last but definitely not least - the kunefe stole the show of course. It was perfectly gooey and sweet. What a treat. It did take a while to come out (like 35 min) but was worth the wait. I would come more often if the prices were slightly less inhibitive. Our total for the beef liver, two kebab entrees, ayran, and kunefe came out to be just about $100 after tax and tip. read more
3 months ago
From fish to fries, this restaurant is a good experience. The fry chicken 7p was amazing, came out flavorful and hot (carrots and celery were delightful also) Clean, and if you like drinks, there is a bar too! The service was quick and respectful Also, the ambience was delightful with the cultural music in the background read more
2 months ago
24 days ago
4 months ago
I know everyone like Turkish food! Kebabs, mezzes, doner, iskender,... This is the place that you can find all the kebabs, mezzes and dessert! Also you have try Raki, traditional Turkish alcohol if you are stand up to! It's pretty strong! But goes together with the mezzes. This is how we do in Türkiye. "Raki- Mezzes" or "Raki- Balik" (fish) You have to try iskender and adana kebap here for sure! All the mezzes nice and fresh! Try Ayran instead of coke. Ayran is traditional Turkish drink! Health and fresh! Make by yogurt. And this is a little advice you have to add it your diet instead of any other soft drink! Aaand try baklava for sure because they make it here! One thing rice pudding was a bit thick and less sweet for me. I prefer a bit liquid and more sweet... Service always fast, nice and clean! Ambience also nice after they chance the decoration! I like that huge Bosphorus photo on the wall! They have patio and car parking read more
Istanbul Grill is good...but 4.5 stars good? Respectfully, not in my opinion. But first the positives I noted: * Attached parking lot. Blink and you'll miss it, so be sure to be on the lookout as your driving up, for the small-ish parking lot off the side of the restaurant. In this part of Arlington where parking is a premium, it's a nice benefit for diners. * Menus are...iPads? I think its kitschy, but ultimately a cost conscious decision that this place uses iPads to view menus. The devices have a ruggedized rubber case for protection (since, no doubt they've been dropped before) and it is smart to use electronic devices to updates menu offerings and prices instead of constantly having to reprint. So-So notes: There were about 8 of us in our group, so I ordered the mixed cold meze platter, which was a sampling of dips such as hummus, baba ganoush, etc. It was served in a star shaped platter and was accompanied by a bowl of warm pita bread, and small plate of olives. Overall, I thought the meze was good...not outstanding but good. The baba ganoush was probably the best of the bunch with a nice smoky flavor and the eggplant was grilled to a nice soft consistency. Bread was fresh enough and was perfect for ripping into pieces for sharing. I forgot to take pictures of my entree, which was the mixed grill; but there are plenty of other pictures of the dish on the Istanbul Grill page. Kabobs were well seasoned but slightly dry and chicken thighs needed salt. Otherwise all of the meats had decent char flavor and grilled marks for effect. Also bonus that the serving size was large enough to save some of my meal for lunch the next day. Service was attentive with water glasses being filled and dishes cleared in a timely manner. And we definitely appreciated the fact that the restaurant didn't make a big fuss about breaking the bill into separate checks. I guess with such as high rating I was expecting to be blown away by the food and experience but TBH, everything was just "okay." Meal with entree, splitting the cost of the appetizer, and just water for beverage, with tax and tip came out to about $50. read more
While the food here is fairly good, there's essentially one dish that really grabs me, and that's the iskender kebab. I've had a few other dishes, and while there's plenty of meat / food, I don't think the flavors "Wow" me. On top of this, I think given the environment, service, and flavor profiles, I do believe the prices are high. Service is ok, but again, given the prices, I think service is lacking. This last trip my wife and I split our meals, sharing an iskender kebab and an arugula salad, partly due to price and partly to balance our meal with having some greens. My son had the Adana kebab. read more
6 months ago
Istanbul Grill is a bit further west from Ballston on Wilson. I came here with a few friends this past Friday evening for dinner and had a decent experience. We were given water and complimentary pita (came with olive oil with olives!) pretty quickly. The pita was good, but a bit dry. The olive oil was very fresh, but we found the olives themselves to be a bit bitter. RED LENTIL SOUP - 7 This looks small, but it was pretty filling. Lots of flavor and it went well with the pita bread that we got. If I was looking for a light meal, I could just get a lentil soup, enjoy it with a couple pieces of pita and be satisfied. I'd recommend giving their lentil soup a try -- it's very hearty and delicious. LAMB SHANK - 25 My friend and I shared the lamb shank since we weren't too hungry. The lamb was so, so tender. It fell off the bone so easily and had a good balance of meat and fat. The tomato sauce was pretty good (not my favorite, but I acknowledge that it's good) and had a variety of veggies (carrots, peppers, etc.) mixed in. There's also a small bed of seasoned rice that you can enjoy with the meat and veggies or on its own. We thought the lamb was pretty under-seasoned and bland, but its tenderness made up for it. Overall, this was OK. Our other friends got the CHEF'S MIX GRILL which had a lot of differently seasoned meats which were good. The steak was super tender and well-seasoned. We thought the kebab was too salty. The thin piece of meat (I think beef) was good. It also comes with a lot of veggies. Overall, glad I finally got to try Istanbul Grill. It was a good experience. read more
9 months ago
4 months ago
I stopped by Instanbul Grill for take-out. When you first walk in, you enter at the bar. I walked in and they were quick to greet me. I asked for take-out and asked if I could wait at the bar. They said sure. I sat at the bar and it was confusing for a moment, so I asked if I could see the menu and they handed one to me. I had a question about an item and the gentleman there was very delightful and welcoming! He recommended the Doner Kebab and described it as being sliced lamb and veal, very delicious, like gyro but freshly handmade, not frozen. He said it was a very popular item on the menu, so I got it! I also got a side of zuchinni fritters and baklava for dessert. I had a cup of Turkish tea while I waited. As I waited, I noticed plenty of people were coming in for both a sit down meal and take-out. The tea had very good flavor and it was served in a pretty crystal-like glass. Once I got home, I tried everything out and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, the zuchinni fritters were overcooked and had a burnt taste to it. The meat was seasoned a little heavy with salt and pepper for my liking and sort of overpowered the meat. However it still had very good flavor. I really like the bulgur which I think was cooked in a light tomato broth. Thr bulgur was quite tasty. The small side salad was packaged in the same container alongside the hot food. There was an onion salad with herbs in it, maybe chopped parsley, partnered up with either a red cabbage or beet salad, and a handful of chopped romaine lettuce. There was also a chunk of fire roasted green pepper and one half fire roasted plum tomato. The meal came with freshly made bread. Yummy. The baklava was delish, soaked in a delicious sweet syrup type of sauce and sprinkled over with minced pistachio. I would have given 4 stars, however the zuchinni was overcooked. Also, when you check in on Yelp, you get one free dessert. I mentioned I was ready to select my dessert and she said baklava. I asked if I could select it, she said no. So I said I can't chose, it's baklava only? She said yes. I thought that was interesting because it does not say baklava is the only option as the one free dessert. Nevertheless, I would like to go back and dine in, and try a few other items on the menu. I would love to dine outside on the cute patio. read more
3 years ago
Had seen and heard good reviews of Istanbul Grill so I decided to drop by on my own. The place was spacious. Service: 5/5. Service was awesome! The waiters were so kind and helpful to show me popular dishes. They were also prompt and food came out within 15 mins. Good: 4/5. The bread was pretty fresh, which I appreciated! I got the HUNKAR BEGENDI, which was good but could've used a little more flavor/salt. Overall, it was good and the portion was large, but I do wish it was flavored better. I did take advantage of the free dessert on Yelp and for myself a dessert! That was a huge plus! read more
Great Ambiance. The chairs are so comfortable, the dining room is relax and very relaxing. The service is wonderful and the servers and manager are very accommodating and take their time with explaining the menu and answering any questions you have. The food is very tasty and they have a variety of appetizers/starters and their main courses are authentic, fresh and very deliciously created. Highly recommend. read more
1 year ago
6 months ago
2 years ago
The ambiance was nice. It's a beautifully decorated restaurant. One can tell that they took time to design the interior. The service was fine. I enjoyed that they provided electronic tables as the menu. Something I haven't experienced before. Concerning the service, they were kind and respectful. Didn't check up on us as much, but I'll admit that it was busy when we were there. I ordered the iskender kabob and it was good. Solid 4/5. Flavor was there, sauce was good. The base was nice with a yogurt taste and the bread. It was a lot of food for me but it made for good leftovers. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
We have been to the Istanbul at least six times. Their Lamb Chops are the best in all Virginia. Service is perfect. The Owner and Executive Chef have come to our table each time we have been in his restaurant. The décor - ambiance is authentic Turkey. I lived in Turkey for two years.' This is the real deal. read more
3 years ago
I came here with a couple of friends plus my 3 month old for drinks/dinner. The staff offered us a high chair when we arrived and gave us the choice of a few tables. The restaurant isn't huge, but has plenty of space and it's own parking lot (plus a patio when it's nice out!). We ended up splitting a bottle of wine, the mezze platter, and grape leaves. We fully intended to order entrees as well, but the starters were so filling that we stopped there! I'd definitely return to try more of their menu. read more
Cool interior with Turkish design. Service is super nice as well. The food was delicious. I enjoyed the cold mezze platter with dips, especially the hummus. The doner kebap was flavorful and portions were well sized for the price read more
This place is a secret rockstar of the Arlington food scene. On one hand, the food is simply amazing. I've tried a number of dishes here (the cold mezze, the lamb shank, etc.) and they were all to die for. The Turkish tea alone is worth a visit here. On the other hand, you have genuinely super-friendly staff who go out of their way to make your experience pleasant. If you are in the area, you owe it to yourself to try this place out! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
10 months ago
Honestly I came into this restaurant with high expectations because I'm Turkish and I missed the food so much; however, it was kind of a disappointment for the reasons mentioned below. It is overpriced. I grabbed an Iskender Kebab with meat for $24 and baklava dessert for $8. If the quality is was high and taste was great I would not mind spending that much money but the price is very high for what was offered. Additionally, they asked me for drinking tea which is a Turkish tradition and clearly I'm a fellow Turk, but they charged extra $3. Not the price but that made me feel outsider to my own heritage. If they didn't offer me, I would not even mention because they are located in the US and I get it but it doesn't make sense to offer and charge me for it. So, I spent total of $46.20 including Iskender kebab, baklava, turkish tea, taxes, and %20 tip. When I got to the place I informed the business owner who opened the door this was my first time and he acted rude to me. He welcomed me in a non welcoming way (almost as if acting like the restaurant was only for Americans) which was surprising because it was afternoon time and there were not even a single customer around other than me. The business owner told me that "I am gonna sit down on a table and they will serve me" in a sarcastic way. The young lady on the other hand was going above and beyond-- she was great! The quality of food was definitely a 2/10. The Iskender usually is not that wet. It was also simply very plain-- no taste at all. I was actually disappointed because I don't get to eat Turkish meal very often and the amount of price I paid was a joke. Overly priced restaurant for the quality of food they serve. Seriously! It was not delicious at all. I eat Iskender all my life, their Iskender was lacking ingredients and taste. Sorry! Ambiance was just okay. It's ideal for large groups of people. Parking would never be an issue I thought. They have a giant parking lot as well. Overall, hated spending +$46 and not enjoying the food. It sucks, unfortunately. read more
I ordered takeout at Istanbul grill and it met the mark. I will say, I have dined in the restaurant before and the experience (like most) is definitely enhanced from the dining in restaurant experience. I ordered the Doner Kebab and it was tasty. Decent portion for the price, I think $22 goes a little further in the restaurant than in the takeout plate. However, it was still delicious. We paired our meal with some delicious, and warm bread. Perfect complement for the meal with the white yogurt based dipping sauce. Because we ordered takeout I can't really talk on the service or ambiance from this experience. I will say that the time from order to delivery was quick and timely. If you take anything away from this review it's that you should go into the restaurant to enjoy a meal here. The service, ambiance, attention to detail is second to none. I am going to make sure I do the same the next time I enjoy Istanbul Grill. read more
2 years ago
The service was excellent! The decor makes you feel you stepped into Istanbul. I got the Iskendar kabob, its different all the meat is on the top drizzled with tomato sauce and bottom has chunks of bread soaked in a cream or yogurt sauce, the owner said it was his own creation; i needed more sauce and red pepper flakes what made it taste even better was the drink salgam i got the hot version! My fried got res lentil soup and grilled veggies. I also git the Turkish tea which was so soothing! read more
Iskender kabob Other than incredibly delicious, it's hard for me to put this dish into words. Imagine a thinly sliced lamb served over Turkish feta and eggplant cubes (I think)? With a tangy red sauce. One of the most unique flavors I've experienced in a long time. I highly recommend! read more
4 years ago
Not the best mediterranean food and quite expensive. Lamb smells very strong. They give more than 1/2 of the ate as veggies although the price was like $23. In the photo it looks like a lot of meat but they just not folded well on top of each other. Service was great though. It's clean too. read more
3 years ago
We had a wonderful Sunday brunch. My husband and I split two appetizers and a kebab and it was the perfect amount of food. Great, authentic food and drink selection. The chef came by to make sure everything was ok. Great customer service. Free parking. There's patio seating for warm weather. There are large tables for big parties as well I was very happy with our experience. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
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More info about Istanbul Grill Virginia
4617 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203
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(571) 970-5828
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https://www.istanbulgrillvirginia.com
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