Cafe Istanbul

On January 1, 2010 I took 9 people to Cafe Istanbul for the evening, because I heard it was up to par, but with a better atmosphere, with Cafe Agora. Six of us (6!) got food poisoning that night and January 2nd was spent in bed and the washroom. Of the 9 people, 6 are of Turkish decent, so it's not like our stomachs cannot handle the food! The experience was awful and I have no intent to give it a second chance. I am still sick and so are three others! Pros: Nice Atmosphere Cons: Food was awful more

I am just returning home from this place, and I have rushed to my computer to write a review because this place is getting totally misrepresented on city search! I read all the one/two star reviews before going, so I was nervous about how the food and service would be. Boy were these people wrong! The food is good, the service is great, and the atmosphere is even better. If you gave this place one or two stars you must have been looking to complain and have a bad time, or completely culture-less or ignorant. I don't see how one could go to this place and not enjoy it. I went on a Friday night around 9:30. Its good to either make a reservation or get there before 10 to get seating. (We were sat right away) It's middle-eastern style floor seating with decorative cushions and rugs. The hookah flavor was delicious. I had one called X on the beach. For food, I had the Turkish meatballs. It was good. I don't know if it is the best Mediterranean in Atlanta, because I have not had enough to judge, but it was very satisfying. It was NOT ""greasy"" or undercooked like some others have said. I loved that everyone was there to have a good time. No fights, and no snobbish looks. The music ranges from Persian to Turkish to Indian to Arabic with just a few pop/dance hits. The crowd was mostly 21-30ish but I also saw a few older folks (40s/50s) having a good time. I would say at least try this place before you knock it. It will be louder than your usual restaurant, but they turn the music down in between sets so it was a good balance. Some people say it was overpriced, but remember that you are getting more than just food. ( Atmosphere, decor, BELLYDANCER, a DJ, etc.) Also, to note: you are going for a holistic experience: It is best enjoyed with the whole nine yards: IN other words, don't come on a night when you don't have enough $ or aren't in the mood to do it all: Be prepared to eat, drink, chill, smoke, watch, AND dance! Pros: music, culture, atmosphere more

I used to love going to Cafe Istanbul back in 2005 and 2006 when it was not as popular. I liked the atmosphere and how I could sit down on a pillow and relax while puffing on a hookah. I went there again last week for the first time in almost 3 years and I was really disappointed. I felt like I was in a touristy section of Turkey where everything was whitewashed. Their menus had ""Om"" signs on them!!! I mean its ridiculous and it does not make sense. Their food was not even that good. The only good thing about the place now is their hookah and their flavors of tobacco. Its a shame, I really liked this place in the past when it was less popular but now its just annoying. Pros: hookah Cons: The food, how the place has become too touristy for my taste more

food is terrible, overpriced, service staff is rude, greasy and uncooked food. this place is no way close to turkish cuisine. my day started with craving for turkish food and ended up with stomach ache. eating cheap frozen food at home is better than this. I have read the bad reviews here and they all sound correct believe me. more

This place is terrible. I complained about the poor service and owner began violently yelling at me and my date. He told me not to come back and that he didn't need my business. This was because I was given something I had not ordered. It was a very scary experience, not to mention that the food and service was terrible. Pros: You can leave eventually, the owner cant yell at everyone Cons: everything about it more

We visited this place on December 11th. The restaurant was dimly lit, and a bunch of staff members were sitting about, chatting. The service was friendly, but distracted... too many friends hanging out. \r \r The food was lousy. As the husband of a Turkish person, I know Turkish cuisine, and this was terrible-- the meat was greasy and chewy, the tea lipton and obviously not Turkish, and the eggplant - ground beef dish was totally unremarkable. The ayran, according to my wife, was nasty. We ate as quickly as we could and left, pursued by the worst kind of Turkish folk/pop music that inevitably rings in the ear long after it has ended. \r \r All of this would have been slightly more tolerable if the atmosphere wasn't so uninviting. The only thing worse would be to light it with bare fluorescent bulbs-- in our side of the restaurant the only significant source of illumination was a single bare incandescent lightbulb. We simply could not see our food. \r \r Its a shame that this restaurant is so highly rated. It suggests that Atlantans don't really know good Turkish cuisine. Cafe Istanbul leaves a lot to be desired! Pros: quick service Cons: lousy food, nightmarish atmosphere more

If for nothing else you should go for the experience is the best thing I have to say about the Istanbul Cafe. Pros: great ambience, lots of fun Cons: not enough parking more

I've been to cafe Istanbul once to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'd go again. I really liked it - for the food and the atmosphere. I remember meeting the owner because he was really friendly and he and some of the male wait staff danced for us. (The dancing was amazing, that night I literally felt as though I'd been transported to another country) They had a belly dancer there too and she was really good (not obscene or anything). I like any restaurant where the owner comes and mingles with his customers. On the night I went, the crowd was very mixed and I liked it. One family there contained at least three generations, so I'd say it is a family restaurant. They do have hookahs there, but they serve fruit flavoured tobacco. It's interesting to read some of the negative reviews here. It seems to me as though some of the negative reviews aren't really critiquing the food, but are more of a way for over-inflated egos or just flat out prejudiced folk to let off steam. (You are not Turkish, how dare you 'capitalize on Turkish name'....whatever, you made me wait and you didn't stroke my ego, so I'll vent my frustration by writing negative reviews about the restaurant) Personally, if I have a poor experience at a restaurant, and it was bad enough to not go back, I don't kid myself that my no longer dining at a restaurant will cause said restaurant to close down. But then again, I do try my best to keep my ego in check, I also try to treat others as I'd like to be treated. I understand that sometimes, especially if the restaurant is popular, I might have to wait to be seated, even though I've made a reservation. The folks at Istanbul treated me very well, I felt as though I got a taste of their culture and I'll spend another evening there again soon. Pros: Great atmosphere Cons: The parking lot at the side of the building is too dark more

Actually to comment back to the review from mr./mrs. jacksonviga, the owners are quite nice, i have never heard them yell at anyone or be rude to any of his customers, we have been going since they opened 10 years ago. You never find anything in ur food like slugs or insects, the atmosphere is amazing and looks like ur going to turkey in the two hours that you are sitting and enjoying the wonderful food, hoouka, and belly dancers. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, MAKE A RESERVATION AND YOU WILL BE SEATED WITH IN 15 MIN OF YOUR RESERVATIONS TIME BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES IT THERE THATS WHY THERE IS A WAIT!!! Pros: EVERYTHING Cons: NOTHING more

I have been a regular customer at this restaurant for over two years, I can not imagine how a slug would turn up in ANY restuarants kitchen! Cafe Istanbul is one of the more popular restaurants in Atlanta and getting a table on the weekends is a waiting game. I have had a reservation before and still had to wait an extra hour, however, it is worth waiting for. The restaurant has expanded and the waiting has become much less. I have yet to go there and eat a bad meal, it is nothing but fun and dancing on the weekends and everyone wants to get a seat, so if the last reviewer is upset for having to wait for a long time for a table, its just something you need to do to get into a popular restaurant any where in Atlanta. Please lets not make up stories to slam my favorite restaurant. Pros: The freshest ingrediants. Cons: busy more

That should be all I have bad to say about the restaurant, but it is not. First, I went there last night. My friend had heard it had gotten better and expanded. We made a reservation for 730 because I waited for a table for two hours the only other time I had gone. A 730 reservation became 945 before we even sat down. When I tried to speak to the manager about the situation. He was extremely insulting telling me I did not have to eat there and he did not need my money. ( actually, he does) I told him it was 945 where else should we eat. He said ' I really do not give a sh*&*&. I own the place and I can do whatever I want."" We had no choice. When we finally got our food I found a slug in it as I was eating. When I showed the manager he said"" it is part of culture to eat slugs"" and he started laughing as he walked away. the food was not authentic. I have traveled to Malta and Turkey. I know the people would be ashamed. Yes, you can eat a pizza abd hooka however, you do not have a table. Some guy Mustafa was our waiter, but he never filled our drinks. When I was going to the bathroom, i sawing him ashing a cigarrette on a plate. THe bathroom is gross. The flush is held together buy a cloth that is wet and unhygenic. The place smells like urine and trash. And they did expand by two feet. And if you are falling over people because of the tight space then at least have air conditioning that works. And to top it all of, as we were leaving the waiters were in the back fighting yelling obsenticies and drinking. Who wants to see all this when you are simply going out to eat?This is really the wordt place to eat ever. The manager really needs to consider what he is doing? HE does need us and our money because he would be closed down otherwise. Pros: NOTHING Cons: food service environment price owner more

I was surprised to read some of the poor reviews. What do you expect when a huge group goes to share one pizza and has two hookahs for the table. I am not sure that any other sit down restaurant would allow this. I have been going to Cafe Istanbul for years. Every time I take people that have never been there from Atlanta or even from out of town, they have an amazing time. Food is fresh and authentic. The Kurdish/Turkish actually cook the food themselves. I do like the variety of music, Turkish, Arabic, Indian mixes. It all goes well with the dancing customers and at times the owners/employees. I have yet to visit a place in Atlanta with even a similar environment. The staff and customers are one with the restaurant. This place is popular and with the new expansion, after several complaints of a long wait, it is even better. This restaurant will easily become anyone's ""Cheers."" A home away from home. You can just come in and relax. You can dance and drink or you can sit back, relax, smoke some hookah, and drink some ""chai"" (tea) or wake up with a jolt from the traditional Turkish coffee. This place also makes one of the best pizzas in Atlanta. Try the Adanna Kabob, Mediterranean Chicken, Mezza Plate, Cheese Bread, Lamb Pizza with Hummus, or if its your first time, ask Mustafa what you normally like and leave it up to him to give you the best. more

If you are in the mood for a romantic dinner, or a great place to hang out w a group of your friends, this would be the place to go!!!!!! The Turkish Kebobs are delicious and their appetizers are awsome!!! You definately enjoy the atmosphere and your food at this restaurant, and a tip.... ask the owners to dance for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pros: The place to hang out with your friends or your date. Cons: Crazy packed on the weekends. more

Atmosphere ok, good crowd (mostly college students) but the parking was terrible, the food not of good quality, only beer and wine served, and the belly dancer while pretty was not all that good!! The service left something to be desired. I never felt welcomed or comfortable. We constantly had to ask for service and waited forever for our food. It seemed like they could not wait for us to leave!!! The rice was greasy and the meat not well cooked. I have had mediterranean and turkish before and this was quite shameful!! Pros: hookah and good hang out if in college and looking for something a little different Cons: Don't go hungary for real authentic foods more

This place gets worse and worse everytime i go! The food is horrible and the service is even worse, plus they just expanded the resturant but were still crammed in like sardins, your litterally on top of the table next to you! it is supposed to be a turkish and med. restaurant but it seems like all they play is indian music! whats the deal with that, the owners are turkish and persian and the music is indian!!!!\r they need to make alot of changes before i go back Pros: HOUKA, BELLY DANCER, ATMOSPHERE Cons: FOODmore

This was my first time to a turkish restaurant and it was okay. The place was much smaller than I thought it would be, but we were seated fast (make prior arrangements) and our server came to help pretty soon after that. The food was pretty good but I think next time I will try the kabobs instead. Atmosphere was nice, everyone was just very close to one another. Pros: belly dancer Cons: seating to close to other patrons more

I love this place, It was my first time going here on one of my breaks at school and me and my friends wanted to experiance something new so we came here. At first we were a little weirded out but then we began to enjoy it more and more. The belly dancer would come out and she grabbed one of my friends to dance with her and we eventually all got up and started shakin it. haha. The food was great and inexpensive. We just all shared a pizza and got two hookahs to smoke while we enjoyed our time. Those were interesting part of the night. And its really fun to take pictures. We got a little carried away and ""camera happy."" Overall i would tell you to go there and the people are nice and stuff. But one thing i dint like is that they didnt refil our drinks once Pros: hookahs, belly dancers, pillow seats on the floor, cozy, fun. loud, relaxing, good food Cons: waiter didnt come back too uch, no refills more

There are Kurdish cultured people from Turky, they are born and raised Turkish, just because your heritage is Kurdish does not make a born and raised citizen of Turkey any different. I am a regular customer of this restaurant and have been for the past eight years, this is the original Turkish restaurant that opened in Atlanta, since then many Turkish restaurants have come and gone but in my eyes and my taste none of them can compare. The only problem is that this place has become so popular that even on weeknights you need reservation to get in. The ambiance and food in this restaurant make me feel like I am once again a tourist in Turky, I love this place and I recommend it to everyone to try!!!!!!!!!! Pros: You feel like you are dining in a Turkish house more

The Kurdish owners capitalize on Turkish name and heritage. Food is mediocre and overpriced. The place caters to pothead college kids during the day with hookah pipe service. more

Istanbul Cafe is an exciting dining experience. The food is wonderful. We always start with the appetizer sampler with hummus, tabouli and bean salad. The pizzas and kebabs are always good. But, it's the extras that you can't get at other restaurants that make this place stand out - the belly dancers, the hookha pipes with fruity Turkish tobacco and the very sweet and strong Turkish coffee are all awesome. Pros: belly dancers, hooka pipes, Turkish coffee Cons: overworked service more