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    Istanbul Grille

    4.4 (29 reviews)
    InexpensiveTurkish
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    a plastic container with a variety of food items
    Kranthi Kumar B.

    This is my first time here. I came with my colleagues on team lunch. We ordered Lamb with rice and salad. Taste was good and yah we really got satisfied with the taste. Price was reasonable. I would suggest the restaurant guys to serve a little more hot food than right now. The hot food will taste yummy and satisfying when they eat according to my opinion. Check the picture which I ordered. Whenever you're here try this restaurant for sure. Everyone who's serving is kind and friendly.

    Meatballs with bulgar rice, beets, cucumbers and kalamata olives.
    Tina B.

    Whatever you may have heard about Istanbul Grille, chances are it's all true! And if you haven't heard of Istanbul Grille, get there. Food is fresh, flavors are balanced and portions are huge. Coming here for the first time can be a little intimidating because the menu is basically Meal #1, Meal #2 and Meal #3. Really ambiguous, right? Especially when there are a dozen hot items to choose from and twice as many cold items. But just ask the workers and ultimately, it boils down to: you pick a main item, whether it be a protein or vegetable, and then you pick two sides. Easy as that. I ordered the meatballs atop bulgar rice with two cold sides: beets and cucumbers. The cold sides were served atop a salad. You also get a choice of hot sauce or cream sauce. I got the hot sauce which wasn't very hot at all. Meatballs were moist and flavorful. The cold sides were a nice refreshing touch to the comforting meatballs. My reason for docking a star was they really need to take down the Keystone Cafe signs as it really confused my lunch mate. From the outside, there isn't much that says Istanbul Grille. The old awning reading Keystone Cafe is still up and so is the lit sign in the window. At least unplug the lit sign, but the Keystone Cafe sign was still well-lit when we went there. This really led my coworker to think I was taking her to the wrong place. So if you're wanting to give it a try, just go in! All the signs for Istanbul Grille are inside! Other than the sign situation, which I'm sure will be remedied over time, food was great and affordable. I will definitely be back.

    "Meal 3" - Vegetarian. Delicious!!
    Ali N.

    I had always wanted to go to this restaurant for lunch, but never quite seemed to make it over to the USX tower. Imagine how excited I was to find out that they moved a 2nd location into the old "Keystone Cafe" (Which I thought sucked, anyway. Glad THAT's gone!)!! A few of my coworkers went earlier this week and described it to me as "kind of a buffet," which I was glad to hear because that means that there would likely be more offerings than what you typically see in chain restaurants that serve food from this part of the world. (e.g. gyro meat, hummus, yogurt, etc) And I was right! Upon walking in, I saw that there were at least 12-15 side dishes - some I knew, some I did not. Here's the cool part: when it was my turn, I told the guy how happy I was that they opened in this location and that I was very excited to try some new things. I ordered "Meal 3" which is supposed to be a salad with 3 cold sides, but I ended up with a sampler box! He generously gave me little spoonfuls of almost everything on the serving table, and he was funny and charming while doing it! I ended up with this: The "base" was a green salad with a very light but very flavorful vinegar-based dressing, cucumber salad, yogurt with dill and pine nuts, grape leaves, chic peas with tahini, beet salad, roasted red pepper and jalepeno sauces, hummus and spicy roasted eggplant. The food itself is clearly planned and prepared by people who know Turkish food, and it is out of this world! The service, the food, and the price were right. I will absolutely go back to Istanbul and will recommend it to everyone I know!!! 3/9/2016: UPDATE I went back today and the owner was just as friendly and funny as last time! He truly treats customers like friends! I wish I could work for this guy!

    My partner got Meal 1. Half meatballs, half gyro meat, with four cold sides.
    Linda K.

    I had lunch here for the second time today, and the food tasted just as fresh and flavorful as I remembered. However, during my last visit I was told Meal 1 came with three sides, but this time I was told Meal 1 came with just one side. Please make your menu and pricing clearer!

    Chicken w/garlic sauce and hot sauce, bulgar rice, hummus, seasoned cucumbers, carrot slaw, and chickpea salad
    Billy D.

    Fresh, flavorful, and filling! Outstanding food and service. The gentleman in front of me today did not know it was cash only, and the owner told him he could pay double next time. This kind of service is what brings people back! Although I would come back even if the service was terrible, bc the food is outrageous. Currently my favorite lunch spot in Pgh. I love all the sides you get. The carrot slaw, cucumbers, hummus, chickpea salad, lentil salad, etc. all deserve to be on my platter. Well done!

    Chicken pita and sides
    Rob A.

    First time here(this location). I have been going for years. I remember when Josh was where Yovi's used to be on liberty. I frequent USX several times a month. This is much more space. The food is just as good. No falafel when I went? The chicken pita was great. Josh has best baba in Pittsburgh. Don't leave with out trying some sides. Nothing to be intimidated by, everything is great. If you are vegan many options and even a vegan baba. Keep up the passion for great food. A definite gem in the Pittsburgh culinary scene. If you leave here hungry you must never get filled up.

    Josh behind all the great choices

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    9 years ago

    Simply put, this is the best food that Downtown Pittsburgh has to offer. Go. Get. Now.

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    10 years ago

    Excellent food. I live nearby and I'm a huge fan of this place. The owner is welcoming and generous.

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    Aria Persian Cuisine & Turkish Grille - Large Mixed Appetizers Platter

    Aria Persian Cuisine & Turkish Grille

    4.4(187 reviews)
    2.6 miOakland
    $$

    Nice find. Some items on the menu were better than others, but the overall quality was very good…read more We ordered takeout, and the online ordering process was fairly straightforward (though it didn't accept PayPal or Apple Pay). The space is tiny and unassuming, and the restaurant seems to be a family run operation. The interior is much more nicely kept than you might guess based on the outside of the building. The staff were very friendly, and all of our food was well packaged. I strongly suggest taking a look at the "Persian Cuisine" section of the menu; in many cases, that section is more interesting than the Turkish grill. In terms of food, things ranged from excellent to pretty good. The hummus was good and nicely textured, but not exceptional. The kashke ve bademjan was excellent, particularly when paired with the nicely toasted flatbread it arrived with. The Mediterranean salad and Tabouli salad were both nicely done, with a nice level of lemon acidity and some shredded cheese on the side. The veggie kebap was fine, but generally flat in flavor: it really needed some of the sides and some hot sauce to fill things out. The red lentil soup was simple with a subtle spicing but ultimately deeply flavorful. The ash reshteh (noodle soup with beans and spinach) was generally good but would have benefited from toppings that would have probably been provided in a dine-in environment. All told, this was a nice little establishment with some excellent Mediterranean and Persian style cuisine. They seem to churn out some high quality food from what seems like a very small kitchen. I could imagine eating in or ordering takeout, but note that the interior space is fairly small with a limited capacity.

    Deceptive menu pics and descriptions + nothing Turkish here and it is unreasonably expensive for…read morewhat you get: --Unlike the menu claims, what they serve as Adana Kebab is NOT lamb + flavor was not remotely Turkish. Not authentic at all. -- What they call Turkish rice can't even be called decent rice -- Persian menu items however were good -- Lentil soup was a good soup but it was not an authentic lentil soup at all. Don't expect the traditional flavor -- Unlike the pics, salad mix in your Adana will arrive in a tiny, disposable clear plastic -- You will eat at tables covered with sticky, clear nylon table "cloths" -- Your water will be served in disposable plastic cups -- Your food will be served in acrylic-plastic cups, including the hot soup -- Now the value: Soup is $10, Adana is $22, Kobideh is $25, a cup of Cay / hot tea is $3.50 (almost all Persian/Turkish restaurants serve this as a complimentary item -- Lastly they will charge you an extra 3% for paying by card Decision is yours... We will not go there again.

    Photos
    Aria Persian Cuisine & Turkish Grille - Inside dining area - Cute!

    Inside dining area - Cute!

    Aria Persian Cuisine & Turkish Grille - Lamb Shish Kebab

    Lamb Shish Kebab

    Aria Persian Cuisine & Turkish Grille - Turkish Grille Mixed

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    Turkish Grille Mixed

    Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine - Falafel lunch specials

    Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.3(477 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
    $$

    4.5 stars. Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine opened in 2013 and serves Turkish cuisine for lunch,…read moredinner, and special events. The menu lists many meat, seafood, and vegetarian options, and the chefs can accommodate customers on gluten-free and vegan diets. Examples of menu items are lentil soup, babaghanoush, falafel, shepherd salad, lamb chops, many kebabs, sea bass, sautés, house-made desserts such as baklava, and non-alcoholic beverages. My husband and I ate one lunch here. Indoor and covered outdoor seating was available. The employees promptly greeted and seated us, and I appreciated that they recommended specific menu items to help me choose. After a reasonable wait, the foods were brought to our table. Here are my ratings for what we ordered: Grilled Shrimp - 5 stars - Several large, juicy shrimp were on skewers and had been perfectly cooked. Sides were mixed vegetables and a mix of rice and bulgur. Chicken Shish Kebab - 4 stars - The chunks of chicken were large and juicy and had a mild seasoning. On the side was rice pilav. Turkish Tea - 4.5 stars - This black tea was a good size and was served hot. Packets of sweeteners were available. The total price was $55 plus tax and tip.

    Service was super friendly. I did not like my salad (Shepherd Salad) and they offered to make me…read moreanother salad. They were so nice. Ambience is fine. Clean and tidy. Falafel appetizer was very, very hard and chewy. Even with a serrated knife it was difficult to cut! Shepherd Salad was fresh but was mostly red and green bell peppers. Very little tomato or cucumber or onion which I was expecting. Not their fault but mine for not knowing about this salad. Again they were super nice and offered to take it back. Donor Kebab was over cooked. Dry. Chewy. Tzatziki sauce was fine. I ordered two extra mini-cups of tzatziki to help me finish the donor kebab. (Extra $1). Bread was very good. I ordered the Turkish Tea but it never came : (

    Photos
    Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine - Custom setting for your party's needs

    Custom setting for your party's needs

    Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine - Chicken shish lunch special

    Chicken shish lunch special

    Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine - Lamb/beef Adana kebab lunch special

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    Lamb/beef Adana kebab lunch special

    Alihan's Coffee and Breakfast - Chocolate and banana topped oatmeal

    Alihan's Coffee and Breakfast

    4.6(145 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
    $$

    I really love Alihan's. Celebrated birthdays at their main location. So when I heard about their…read morebreakfast spot, I knew I had to check it out. Of course, it did not disappoint. I got to try their menemen, ayran, and sweet pogaca breakfast pastry. Everything was wonderful across the broad. Truly one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The menemen was so flavorful. Tons of tomatoes, some spice, some other vegetables, fresh eggs. And the lovely fresh bread that accompanies it is just out of this world. So soft and perfect. Soaks up that delicious sauce. You must try this. The pogaca, I initially thought might be basic or overpriced, but I was proven wrong. It was so, so good. Another must try. So soft as well. I had the sweet version with honey. The honey is excellent. Even on its own this pastry is amazing, and it's just next level with the honey. Finally, the ayran. It was at this spot that I discovered I love ayran. It is just so perfect. Amazing portion, great price too. Best balance of saltiness and creaminess. So so so good. I can't recommend this place more highly. Definitely have to try it out for authentic Turkish breakfasts in Pittsburgh!

    Alihan's had been on my "to-go" list longer than I'd like to admit. Don't be like me--go sooner!…read more Maybe my new favorite breakfast place? Don't sleep on the Turkish breakfast for two (choose the menemen--trust me.) Turkish coffee is a necessity and spending the extra couple dollars on the Sultan version (comes with a piece of baklava and Turkish delight) was absolutely well worth it. The veg was fresh and the flavors delightful. The cheeses were incredible and I could never decide what my next bite was going to be, I wanted it all. Alihan's has been moved to my recommendation list for Pittsburgh and I'm so looking forward to my next visit!

    Photos
    Alihan's Coffee and Breakfast
    Alihan's Coffee and Breakfast - Turkish pastries baked fresh in house from scratch

    Turkish pastries baked fresh in house from scratch

    Alihan's Coffee and Breakfast - Chocolate and banana toppings on waffles

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    Chocolate and banana toppings on waffles

    Istanbul Grille - turkish - Updated May 2026

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