Cafe Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine

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#57 of 2,332 Restaurants in Columbus$$ - $$$, Mediterranean, Turkish, Vegetarian friendly

+1 614-473-9144+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Mon

11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Tue

11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Wed

11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Thu

11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Fri

11:00 am - 10:30 pm

Sat

11:00 am - 10:30 pm

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

149 reviews

#57 of 2,332 Restaurants in Columbus

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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CUISINES

Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Halal, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

features

Location and contact

3983 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219-6117

+1 614-473-9144

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Does this restaurant offer delivery?

Yes

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Details

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CUISINES

Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Halal, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

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4.5

149 reviews

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TravelingPirate13

Columbus210 contributions

Wonderful service and great experience!

Jul 2020 • couples

Wonderful service and great food! Stopped there on a whim while shopping and so glad we did. The service was impeccable - it was a hot day and my water glass was always replenished. We got the lunch specials and it was so much food for such an affordable price. Plus there’s complimentary bread and olive oil before the meal that is to die for. There’s a little patio out back you can sit at but it’s right next to a parking lot, so we’ll probably sit inside next time. Great place for vegetarians! Will definitely be back!

Written 2 July 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Malla

3 contributions

Large potions & very hot food

Oct 2021 • none

The staff was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The bread and oil was very good (hot & fresh). Both the lamb & beef mousakka and the vegetarian mousakka were served very hot and the portions were huge. The chicken saute was delicious. The portion was large (enough for 3-4 people). Had we known the portions were so large we would have shared. Prices were reasonable.

Written 23 October 2021

Michele G

264 contributions

Unexpected authentic experience

Jun 2021 • family

A wonderful surprise. Big fan of middle eastern food and this met my expectations as the portion sizes were HuGE but the food was very authentic. Great, speedy service with both indoor and outdoor seating. Overall just really enjoyed the authentic food here

Written 7 July 2021

Traveler65

423 contributions

Great in May, disaster in October

Oct 2021 • family

This was our second visit to the same location at Easton Mall. The first visit was in May. For that visit, we ordered Lahmacun (3 huge flatbreads with ground lamb), falafel, fried calf liver cubes, Adana kebabs and lamb kebabs. All great! This time, we ordered Sigara Borek for appetizer, it was supposed to be feta cheese wrapped in phyllo, but came deep fried and tasted very sour (spoilt). We couldn’t eat it; told the server and he took it off the bill. We also ordered Lahmacun and Adana Kebab again. The Lahmacun was ok but lukewarm so not as tasty as the previous visit. The Adana Kebab was edible but not particularly good, unlike the last visit. Instead of buttered rice it was served with plain rice. The Iskender Kebab was a disaster; slices of tasteless Doner kebab (think gyro) over charred pieces of bread covered in a strange tomato sauce. It is sad when the best tasting food of the meal was the complimentary bread and dip. We won’t be back.

Written 2 October 2021

rewolfson

13 contributions

Good Service, Bland Food

Dec 2023 • solo

I am a vegetarian (not vegan); I do eat foods made with milk and eggs. I was at Columbus Easton for a business conference and remembered eating at Cafe Istanbul several years ago. I enjoy and am familiar with Turkish and Middle Eastern foods as many are good choices for my diet. As a solo diner, I was seated quickly and treated respectfully (some restaurants dislike singles). Service was attentive and knowledgeable. I started with lentil soup and had a small appetizer plate and zucchini pancakes. The soup was overprocessed, that is, the lentils were indistinguishable, just a soupy mush. Herbs were visible, not flavorful. It was a hot bowl of texture. Bread was soft white with a pita-like crust, again flavorless. The zucchini pancakes were lightly fried and doughy with visible threads of zucchini and herbs, but little taste. The same was true for the hummus, baba ganoush and diced eggplant. The platter had a lovely presentation but no flavor. I checked my taste buds (I didn't have olfactory covid) on the Turkish tea and pinto (not fava) beans and tabouli: all three had flavor but bland. I did not have the hot vegetarian dishes like moussaka and would have had dessert had I any confidence in the kitchen; I did not. My overall impression was that I have had far better vegetarian middle eastern/Turkish food at more unassuming restaurants. The promise of Cafe Istanbul was swallowed by its location in the upscale surroundings of a glorified shopping center.

Written 15 December 2023

Rachel W

Grove City201 contributions

Fresh & flavorful in a relaxed atmosphere!

Oct 2024 • couples

We had Sunday evening dinner reservations, were seated and waited on promptly. We started with the Falafels, which were crispy and flavorful. Their complimentary bread was absolutely delicious and came with dipping oil that had spices in it. I had the kabab combination with chicken and beef tenderloin. Both meats were quality, perfectly seasoned and tender. It was supposed to come with rice pilaf but mine appeared to be white or jasmine rice. My husband had the Mousakka, followed by the Sutlac (Rice Puddding) for dessert. He loved it all! I had the Keskul (almond pudding) for dessert, which was light and not too sweet. They have a full bar and a large variety of wines. I had a black raspberry type of Merlot which had a medium to full body and was on the sweeter side. It was very good. When you go, plan for a relaxed dinner that may take a bit longer than other establishments. All our food was outstanding, so I do highly recommend Cafe Istanbul.

Written 17 November 2024

appledude1221

Cleveland318 contributions

A delicious delight in a gorgeous setting

Jun 2022 • family

Today we came to this joint. We ate there many many times before. They never fail to disappoint. I got doner and it tastes delicious. Staff are super polite. This is the best Mediterranean cuisine we ever had. I highly recommend this place if you are in the Easton area.

Written 25 June 2022

Melinda f

Athens156 contributions

Lovely lunch

Mar 2022 • none

My mother and I had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon and it was very good. Despite many restaurants having long waiting lists, Cafe Istanbul was getting people in and seated in a timely manner. We were seated immediately and quickly had water brought to the table. We had zucchini pancakes for an appetizer. They were served with yogurt and it was a lovely compliment to the interesting flavor of the pancake. For the main meal we had Labne and Moussaka. Though the Labne was an appetizer it was of sufficient size that my mother had it for an entree and it was plenty. The Moussaka was also a large portion. The only negative was that the center was a bit cool. It had good flavor to the sauce and all of the vegetables were cooked well- even the eggplant! I sometimes find eggplant slimy, but this was done perfectly, no slime! We couldn't decide what we wanted for dessert- so we ordered 3 for the 2 of us! The Sutlac (Rice Puddding) was delicious with the right blend of cinnamon and other flavors. The Kazandibi (Milk Custard) was very mildly flavored and not really something that we enjoyed- but that was just a matter of taste. It was good, but just not for us. Finally the Keskul (almond pudding) was also very good, flavored well and good consistency. Service was spot on- refilling our water, making sure we had bread with dipping oil, getting boxes for left overs.

Written 8 March 2022

Katya

Columbus2 contributions

SENSATIONAL RESTAURANT - NEVER DISAPPOINTS; MY GO-TO FOR DECADES!!!

Jun 2020 • none

I have been coming to Cafe Istanbul to dine for at least the last 20 years and it remains one of my favorite restaurants not only in Columbus, Ohio, but in the world. I have nothing but the absolute best of things to say about this beautiful restaurant. As soon as you walk in, you feel that you are transported to another time and another place. The decor is so beautiful that I feel as though I do not need to leave Columbus in order to experience an exotic destination. In fact, when I upload pictures from my dining experiences at Cafe Istanbul, I am often asked if the pictures were taken in Turkey or Morocco. After sitting down at the restaurant, you immediately begin to appreciate the authenticity of the place, I always find myself feeling relaxed as soon as I get to my table and I begin to listen to the beautiful Oriental music playing in the background. My go-to menu item choices are shepherd salad, liver cubes, sigara borek, lamb, and my recent favorite - sautéed shrimp. I always accompany my meal with my favorite Turkish wine - Yakut. If you are a red-wine lover, you are in for a treat! At the end of your dinner, do not forget to try Cafe Istanbul's renowned custard with a cup of chai or Turkish coffee! I felt particularly compelled to write this review because this is the first time that I have ventured out to dine in the last several months due to COVID-19. I must say that Cafe Istanbul truly impressed me with the precautions that they are taking to keep their customers safe - you can tell that they care greatly about their patrons. Every employee was wearing a mask, and social distancing policies were stringently adhered to throughout the entire restaurant. No two tables were placed too closely together. I have loved Cafe Istanbul for many years and seeing the recent accommodations that they have made in these unprecedented times has made me appreciate this hidden gem of a place that much more. Lastly, please do visit Cafe Istanbul's pretty patio! It is a delight to sit out there, and it is covered and heated. Thank you for all of the wonderful years of service, delicious meals, and for always being my number one go-to place, Cafe Istanbul! I cannot wait to return again.

Written 17 June 2020

mb1973

Scott Depot180 contributions

Good Turkish Cuisine - not great

Mar 2020 • family

The food was good, but not great! I’ve had better. The baba was good and the bread was great. I had the Kabab sampler and the meat was good......the Kafta was the best. Would try again in the future .

Written 29 February 2020

brian_va

Oberlin131 contributions

Absolutely Worth a Five Hour Round Trip Drive

Dec 2019 • none

There's only one thing wrong with Cafe Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine: it's a five hour round trip drive from Oberlin, Ohio! Other than that, this restaurant has it all: exquisite Turkish decor, fine service, excellent food, Turkish music. I felt that I was back in Turkey. This is one of the very few restaurants in which I don't just enjoy a good, or actually great, meal, but leave with my spirits lifted. Some of the best Dolmas ever (do ask that they be served just barely heated), the best Mousaka I've ever had, excellent Baklava and Turkish coffee. I do wish they had a Turkish/Greek style salad that included all of feta cheese, kalamata olives and pepperoncini, but that's minor and I've since noted the invitation to create your own salad, so maybe that's on me. I drove down the first time just to put miles on a new car, but returned for the dining experience, and will definitely continue doing so despite the distance.

Written 13 December 2019

DC_Suburbanite

47 contributions

Fantastic dining experience

Jul 2019 • none

Sizable portions of great, authentic Turkish cuisine. The appetizers can easily serve as a meal. Meal is served with a variety of delicious Turkish breads. The ambiance and decor of this restaurant contributed to making the dining experience special. Even the bathroom mirror was outlined with Turkish tiles. Our friendly Turkish waitress provided us with information that added to the dining experience. We made the mistake of parking in one of the Easton Center garages, not realizing that there is ample lot parking in back of the restaurant.

Written 21 July 2019

aundraya H

Walterboro16 contributions

Underrated!

Jul 2019 • couples

We went at lunch time. They had a special for Monday through Friday, during lunch hours, to receive an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $11.95. Everything was great. We will for sure be back.

Written 14 July 2019

Karpathos1977

Sarasota160 contributions

Bread amazing! Service amazing!

Jul 2019 • family

The food was excellent my kefta great chicken kebab great rice great yogurt with cashews star of the show! We will be back.

Written 14 July 2019

115HarbourKey

Pittsburgh62 contributions

Don’t miss this hidden gem!

Apr 2019 • solo

Here shopping for the day, I wanted lunch someplace unique. This place was worth the walk. The ambiance is very appealing. My appetizer platter was fresh, delivered fast within minutes and more than I could eat alone. There is a selection of Turkish wines, too. I tried the white select. The pour was very generous. I’m not expert on Turkish cuisine but I’d call this a hidden gem.

Written 13 April 2019

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