Visited Cafe Istanbul and tried a pretty wide range of dishes mashed potatoes, lahmacun, the…read moreseafood mixed grill, chef's mixed grill, and kuzu şiş. I was surprised by how heavy the soup was at this restaurant, it is quite a large space and a handful of exotic items on the menu. Overall, the food was genuinely good. Everything came out flavorful, seasoned, and cooked nicely. The seafood and kuzu şiş especially stood out. Don't skip the desserts, they were awesome! Friendly, fun waitresses made the experience even better, and there's plenty of parking right next to the restaurant. Cafe Istanbul is easily one of the best Turkish restaurants I've been to in the U.S. Everything we tried was delicious. I'm not an expert in the cuisine, although I have been to Istanbul a few times, but from what I could tell everything seemed fresh! Highly recommend!

The Sunday Bruch is a Scam! We went to have lunch, they gave us a Brunch menu which is $30 Per…read moreperson and not Turkish... the only option they offered at 11AM in an empty restaurant was the Dinner Menu. The lunch Menu was not available, which the lunch menu is identical to the Dinner except for the Dinner prices being higher and the portions being larger. SCAM! Then when the check came a forced minimum 18% tip included... I normally tip 25% for good service but to be forced is unacceptable! Also the food tasted like it was from a steam table and not made to order... Cannot recommend!

Chris!!! And family!!!! Our first time there was awesome…read moreand beyond!!!! We made it home safe!! Thanks for the tea recommendation. The fabulous food , and drink will have us coming back! Phil and Isaac (Cincinnati )

I had the Beef Doner Wrap and the Lahmacun oven special. To be honest, I've tried much better…read moreplaces for wraps and pide. The wrap was extremely dry and hard to enjoy, and the meat had a strange smell. We ordered beef, but it had a very strong lamb smell and taste for some reason. The pide was also disappointing. Even though it had parsley inside, it lacked flavor. It mostly tasted like bread with a bit of tomato paste. Considering the high prices, it's definitely overpriced for the quality. Very disappointing experience overall. PS: But service is amazing. Thank you for our waitress for the best service.

Staff is a 10/10, super kind and understanding. They answer all questions and really help you…read moreunderstand what you're ordering! The food tastes lovely and the portions are beyond fulfilling. They have a variety of different dishes and lots of flavors. The atmosphere is pretty nice and rather comforting. The music is calm, the lighting is bright, and overall it makes the meal that much more enjoyable! Highly recommended!

When I tell my friends in other cities that Chicago has the best ethnic cuisines and they only…read morevisit downtown Chicago, this is the type of experience they miss out on that transports you to another culture without needing a passport. We had wonderful service, excellent food, enjoyable atmosphere and highly recommend Antelope for an authentic Turkish meal. And don't forget to grab a box of delicious baklava on your way out.

Beautiful restaurant located inside the Hoxton Hotel in Chicago, and the space itself sets the tone…read moreright away. The atmosphere is lively yet intimate, perfect for a date night or a special dinner without feeling stuffy or overly formal. Service was great - attentive without being intrusive, and our server checked in just enough to make sure everything was going well. Hummus: 9/10 Not much to say other than it was incredible. Smooth and flavourful Falafel: 9/10 Perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It was paired with pickled ginger and carrots, which complemented the saltiness of the falafel beautifully and added a nice brightness. Lamb Kofta: 9/10 So much depth of flavor with a great texture. Somewhat firm but not dry with a nice bounciness that made it really enjoyable to eat. Pistachio Ravioli: 10/10 my favourite dish of the night. The ravioli was cooked al dente with just the right amount of filling and paired with an orange blossom sauce that surprisingly worked perfectly with the nuttiness of the pistachio. Steak Skewers: 8.5/10 Cooked to perfection and incredibly tender. The beans served alongside were amazing as well. My only complaint is that the steak was slightly lacking in flavour, it could have used a sauce to elevate it but it was still excellent on its own. Lamb Chops: 9/10 Perfectly cooked and packed with flavour. Came with a lamb sausage spanakopita that was delicious. My only disappointment was that there were just two small chops. Rice Pudding Brulee: 7/10 Not bad. I'm not a big dessert person in general, but this was decent. Not too sweet, and the texture of the rice was really well done. Salted Tahini Ice Cream: 7.5/10 A mild, nutty flavor that was unique and interesting.

Came here right after brunch and honestly had such a good experience overall. We sat at the bar,…read morewhich ended up being one of my favorite parts because the bartenders were super nice at the beginning and made the whole vibe feel really welcoming and relaxed. We ordered the Crispy Falafel with garlic yogurt, seasonal pickles, and lemon oil, and I was actually obsessed with it. I've never had falafel before, so I didn't totally know what to expect, but it was absolutely delicious. The garlic yogurt added such a good flavor to everything and tied it all together perfectly. My only tiny complaint is that I wish there had been a little more of the yogurt because it was that good. For drinks, I got the Tequila Sunset with tequila, saffron liqueur, orange, grenadine, and lime, plus a mimosa, and both were amazing. Super refreshing and perfect for a brunch into afternoon drinks kind of day. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that the service towards the end wasn't the best, but honestly, it still didn't ruin the experience for us. The food, drinks, and overall atmosphere still made it a really fun spot, and somewhere I'd definitely go back to again.

I co-hosted a bridal shower for ~30 people at Turquoise and it turned out great. The owner, Ezgi,…read morewas so easy to work with. The buffet lunch was plentiful and delicious. We had so many different foods to choose from including: cheeses, eggplant salad, hummus, delicious bread, homemade jams, crepes, cheese spring rolls & potato pastries, menemen, chicken kabobs and more. The space worked well for our party and they let us bring in a cake from outside (they did charge a fee to plate and serve it for us). I would definitely go back to Turquoise and would consider it for another event.

Got takeout and received so much food! Everything was great. Friendly service upon arrival. Huge…read moreportions. Will be back!

This place is good. Legit good food. Went for the first time the other night and was very happy w…read moreservice, food, atmosphere etc. Will be back for sure.

The kitchen slaps. Meats were perfection. Dessert was crazy good. Everything else was quality as…read morewell. The staff are friendly and the decor works (goos vibe)...but the kitchen is what makes it happen.

My cousin Mickey and his wife, Minnie, drive from Skokie twice a month because of their love for…read morethe place. It's more fast food than dining room, even though there are tables and chairs, if you prefer. The döner sandwiches are something special. It's clear they use fresh ingredients and put a little tlc in every one they prepare. If you're into baked potato check out the build your own Kumpir. Butter drenched potato with your choice of veggies and proteins added. A meal in itself! I sampled and loved their Red Lentil soup and Bulgar dishes. The big winner this night was the Ćevapi sausages in their special flatbread. Pro Tip: consider splitting something. The portion size is impressive. If you like leftovers, ignore my tip and get two completely different dishes that you can share the next day. Actually, that's two tips in one. So Pro Tips! The cost was fairly reasonable and the waitstaff very efficient. Cousin Mickey (his name is Michael, her's is Amelia; they DID have the nicknames before meeting each other) spent two years traveling back and forth between Germany and Turkey and he claims this fare to be very authentic. 09/25

One of the best meals in the city. Authentic doner with fantastic sauces. I took my wife here and…read moreshe was extremely skeptical because she doesn't like Mediterranean/schwarma. The entire meal she was saying how good it was. Highly recommend.

I'm very happy that I closed out my visit to Chi-City at this amazing gastronomy destination! Made…read morea last minute reservation, and the magic unfolded. Beverages: 5/5. I don't see the drink I ordered online and I forgot to take a picture of the menu. That said, it was a superbly blended craft cocktail with whiskey. Cuisine: 5/5. The stuffed chicken was recommended by the waiter and it was superb! Flavorful, filling, and just the perfect meal after walking miles around the city. The milk pudding was a solid closer, but I'd probably order one of their other desserts next time. Service: 5/5. Efficient, which was impressive, given the dinner rush. Ambiance: 5/5. Classy space, nothing to dislike. Buen provecho.

I have since returned twice for dinner. We had a lovely meal 3 years ago and returned lat night…read morereminiscing about it. We found the service to be incredible - warm, sincere, helpful. The staff genuinely cared to deliver a positive dining experience. Our water glasses were always refilled (so many restaurants these days don't do it). The menu is marked so well for allergens - my friend is vegan and I am vegetarian gluten-free - I was able to enjoy the soup, appetizers, and salads. They prepared a vegan cous cous for my friend. I recalled the salads being better - it was mostly greens with very little of walnuts/ beans, etc - the other ingredients that had previously made these wholesome and enjoyable. I might suggest cutting back on overall size of the salad but not on the ratios of the recipe. The soup was flavorful and they provided me with gluten-free bread. And my friend absolutely loved the cous cous - generous portions, flavorful spices. My husband had had the lamb shank last time which he found a bit dry. Last night he gobbled up the stuffed chicken delightedly.

This meal was so good, filling, and FLAVORFUL! Their dolma dish was really good, and the sigara…read moreböreği was so flaky and delicious. I got the Oda combo grill because I wanted to try all the meats, and I definitely chose correctly -- they were all seasoned and cooked so well. The rice and veggies were the perfect sides for the protein, and the portions are pretty big, so we had leftovers. We tried adjaruli khachapuri for the first time, and it was amazing. Once the egg is mixed in, it takes the dish up 5 notches! The drinks were well mixed, the ambiance was dimly lit and nice, and the service was attentive and amazing.

I've always thought that having a great restaurant within walking distance of where you live is an…read moreundervalued property perk. We are lucky to have a wide range of cuisine options near our place in Andersonville, and now we can add Turkish-Georgian fusion to our regular rotation. We had a wonderful meal there--I took advantage of the Restaurant Week menu and ordered cioppino. Half the time I order seafood in a restaurant, I end up with rubbery shrimp and tasteless fish. Not at Oda. Their seafood stew was filled with great stuff. My wife had tokat chicken, which she also enjoyed. The humus, Khachapuri, salad and dessert flight were also excellent. It would be fun to go there with a group. It's an ideal place for a shared-plate night out with friends. But there is one thing--like most restaurants in the city, the tables are close together, which is totally fine. We're not looking for Applebee's-type table separation when we go out. Even when you get a table a few inches between two others, it takes about 30 seconds to isolate your own conversation and enjoy your meal, unless you're next to a table where the diners are essentially yelling at each other. I'm not talking about a couple fighting about money or a bunch of 30-somethings getting rowdy on Moscow mules and umami burgers during a night out without their kids. I'm talking about two people yelling--in a friendly way--about the most mundane subject of all: their coworkers. We noticed as soon as we sat down but by the time we considered asking to be moved, the three tables nearby were filled. No big deal. It was kind of entertaining, in an eardrum-splitting way. Their conversation was shockingly loud. And not just the statements, like "SHE THINKS SHE'S IN LINE FOR HIS JOB," but also the brief conversational acknowledgements, like "YEAH! FOR SURE!" It was like sitting next to dueling car alarms. If you're familiar with Pee-Wee's Playhouse, picture the obnoxious salesman who loudly blah-blah-blahs his way to a quickly slammed door, courtesy of Mr. Herman, but two of them whose faces are two feet apart. And we had no door to slam. All that being said, this isn't a knock on the restaurant at all. And since Oda is so close and so good, we'll be back. And hopefully by then, Josh from accounting figures out how to use Smartsheet--"RIGHT? IT'S RIDICULOUS!"--so if we do end up next to the Decibel Duo, we'll have a new workplace dilemma to listen to.

I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!