Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s great
cusines and has a long and complex history.
Some of the recipes collected here were
developed in the kitchens of the Ottoman
sultans over five years ago, where, with the
infinite variety of fish, fowl, meat, fruit,
grains, and vegetables that were available,
chefs completed to create innovative dishes.
The result is an array of recipes that are
as healthy as they are delicious.
Appetizers
Humus,
Imam Bayildi,
Patlican Salata,
Ispanak Ezme,
Yaprak Dolma,
Mücver
Entrees
Lamb Kebab,
Tavuk Kebab,
Adana Kebab,
Musakka,
Sebzali Güveç,
Hünkar Begendi,
Kilic Şiş,
Levrek Izgara,
Alabalik
Salads
Coban Salata ... $7.50
Literally translated as "Shepherds Salad," this is Turkey's deliciously light combination of fresh cucumber, parsley, plum tomato, onion, mint, vinegar and olive oil.
Ahtapot Saiatasi ... $11.00
A wonderful salad prepared from char grilled octopus
and acombination of fresh cucumber, parsley,
tomato, onion, mint, Vinegar, and olive oil.
Green Salad ... $8.00
Red cabbage, lettuce, carrot, feta cheese, cucumber,
tomato and house dressing.
Soups
Turkeys soups are renowned for their
subtlety and their diversity. The winter
season brings thick, hearty broths with fresh
vegetables, while summer months see
lighter, more delicate like yogurt-mint and
tomato soups. Please ask our staff for
today's specialty..
Red Lentil Soup: $5.00
Appetizers
Many Turkish appetizers are naturally vegetarian. Be on the lookout for our vegetarian dishes, indicated with a . All appetizers are served with our fresh baked bread.
Yaprak Dolma ... $7.00
Delicate grape leaves stuffed with a heavenly blend of rice, lightly browned onion, fresh dill, pine nuts, sweet black raisins and mint, cooked in olive oil and heated on a gentle fire to perfection. A delicious and unique vegetarian choice.
Ispanak Ezme ... $6.00
A spinach puree prepared with a thick creamy
yogurt. Spiked with hints of garlic and basil,
this choice is zesty and nutritious.
Nohut Ezme (Humus) ... $6.00
Turkish humus, a rich chickpea and tahini paste, is prepared with garlic, lemon and olive oil.
Patllcan salata (Babaganushl) ... $6.00
Charcoal grilled eggplant dipped in lemon
juice, cooked until tender, and then pureed
with garlic, vinegar, and olive oil until creamy.
A delightfully layered taste experience.
Antep Ezme ... $6.50
This wonderful pureed spicy salad is named for
the Eastern Turkish city of Antep. Prepared from
finely chopped tomato, cucumber, onion, parsley,
green pepper, and walnuts. The salsa-like salad
is held together by a lightly seasoned body of olive
oil and tomato paste and then sharpened with
lemon juice.
Cacik ... $5.00
As far as we know, Turks discovered yogurt.
Cacik, a cool cucumber salad with yogurt and
mint, is the flavorful and time-honored result of
that discovery.
Carrot Ezme ... $6.00
A carrot puree prepared with creamy yogurt
spiked with garlic. This choice is delicious and
nutritious.
Mücver ... $7.00
Brimming with fresh zucchini, crumbled feta cheese, and dill, our zucchini fritter is a rich and delicious source of vitamin A.
Sigara Borek ... $7.00
Boreks, delightful savory pastries, are the perfect
Turkish snack food. Made from delicate layers of
thin dough and stuffed with feta cfleese, parsley,
and egg, their luxurious crispness melt in your
mouth.
Imam Bayildi ... $8.00
Baby eggplant browned in olive oil, stuffed with
a blend of green pepper, sautéed onion, garlic,
tomato, and parsley, and then sprinkled with
pine nuts, whose smooth texture and subtle
taste beautifully offset the deep, warm tastes
of the eggplant and olive oil. Legend has it that
a Muslim cleric once ate this dish and was so
overwhelmed by its splendid taste that he fainted.
Hence the name, which "Swooning Imam".
Kalamar Tava ... $10.00
Fresh calamari battered and fried until crisp and golden. Served over a
bed of lettuce with our special Turkish house sauce, and then garnished
with lemon and a sprig of fresh parsley.
Soquk Meze ... Small $15.00 or
Large $19.00
Translated as a "Cool Spread," this combination appetizer platter is the object
of widespread appeal among Turks. It offers you the chance to sample a
wonderful and diverse selection of our following
vegetarian appetizers: Nohut Ezme, Patlican Salata, Antep Ezme, Ispanak
Ezme, Yaprak Dolma and carrot salad which is not listed on the menu. It
is designed to be shared and arranged in a thick, colorful ring. This dish
is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.
Specialties and Entrees
Hunkar Begendi (Sultan's Delight) ...
$16.00
Choice of lamb, chicken or vegetables ()
Luxuriate in the rich, tomato-marinated lamb and creamy smoked eggplant of this most classic Ottoman dish.
Yayla Tava ... $16.00
Choice of lamb or chicken. Tender morsels,
simmered extensively in its own juice along
with sauteed bell pepper, tomato, onion, and
parsley. Served with rice.
Vegetarian Musakka ... $15.00
Layers of eggplant, zucchini, carrots, peas, red &
green pepper, onion, tomato and potatoes topped
with béchamel sauce and cheese and then baked
in a casserole. Served with rice pilaf.
Patlican Musakka ... $16.00
A dish of pan-fried eggplant laden with a rich
meat sauce, decked with potato, tomato, and
sauteed onion and then smothered with melted
cheese. Served with rice pilaf.
Istanbul Café Güvec ... $15.00
Choice of vegetarian (), chicken, or lamb.
Adelightful entree of vegetables sauteed
eggplant, zucchini, carrot, green beans, tomato,
potato, broccoli, and green pepper, and your
choice of bits of lamb or chicken. Served
steaming hot with rice.
Etli Bamya Guveci ... $16.00
Lean cubes of lamb or chicken with rich okra in a
tomato-onion sauce and then baked with cheese
on top. Lively and satisfying, this casserole also
comes with rice.
Enginar Guveci ... $17.00
A classic entree with lean cubes of lamb or
chicken simmered with artichoke in a tomato
onion sauce with cheese on top (optional). This
casserole also comes with rice.
Seafood
Turkey is surrounded by sea on the Northern,
Western, and Southern coasts. Turkish culture
is steeped in fishing, and our seafood dishes are
renowned for their unique touch.
Kilic Sis ... $19.00
Cubes of swordfish marinated with our chefs
special ingredients and then grilled to
perfection on a skewer, where the tangy
swordfish is flanked by grilled tomato, green
pepper, onion, and bay leaf in a mouthwatering
shish kebab.
Lavrek Izgara ... $19.00
A delicious entree of fresh baked sea bass.
The smooth, buttery sweetness of the fish
enlivened by scallion, parsley, and just a hint
of paprika. Adorned with slices of
Albalik ... $18.00
Delicious boneless brook trout dusted with
com meal and pan seared. Served with a
light, seasoned salad of greens.
Karides Guvec ... $18.00
Jumbo shrimps cooked in aslightly spiced
tomato sauce with onions and green peppers
tapped with melted cheese and baked in a
casserole. Served with rice.
Ahtapot Güvec ... $18.00
Fresh octopus, mushrooms, tomato, onions,
peppers and garlic baked in casserole.
Served With rice.
Kebabs
All Kebabs are half portion and half price
during lunch time
Istanbul Café prepares a variety of different kinds
of kebab entrees to meet the demands and the
curiosity of your discriminating palate. Our chef
offers chicken and lamb kebabs in a variety
of traditional styles. Most kebab entrees are
served with rice pilaf or spiced bulgur, and are
accompanied by fresh greens.
Tavuk Sis Kebab ... $15.00
Tender pieces of hand chopped chicken breast
seasoned in a lively marinate of Turkish spices
and then char grilled on skewers. Served in
simple, juicy perfection with rice and greens.
Kuzu Sis Kebab ... $16.00
Lean cubes of lamb marinated and grilled over
acharcoal fire. Its simple preparation allows you
to savor the exquisite, flavor of the coal-fired
lamb. Served with rice and greens.
Adana Kebab ... $15.00
The darling of kebab lovers. Rumor has
it that cooks in Southern Turkey regularly
make Adana Kebabs up to thirty six feet
long. Delicious, lean lamb tinged with a spicy
vegetable juice, skewered, and cooked with
specialcareoveracharcoal fire and served with
rice.
Pirzola ... $17.00
Delectable lamb chops prepared in uniquely
Turkish fashion over a charooal flame. Served
with rice and greens.
Karisik Izgara Kebab ... $19.00
Four different kebabs in one dish! An inviting
combination of lamb chop, (weekends) doner
kebab, lamb, chicken, and Adana kebabs cooked
to your desire and served with rice and greens.
Aluxurious treat for any lover of kebabs.
Yogurtlu Kebab ... $17.50
Our house special Yogurtlu Kebab is home
made Turkish fare at its best. Your choice of
chicken, Jamb or Adana kebab is laid out
over our home-made fresh bread and
generously laden with spiced tomato sauce
and cool yogurt.
Istim Kebab ... $18.00
Broiled lamb shank wrapped with eggplant slices
and then baked. It is as healthy as it is delicious.
Served with rice.
Yaprak Doner Kebab ... $15.50
Served only on Friday and Saturday
Delicious lamb marinated in its own juices and
cooked on a rotating skewer. Shaved in thin
slices and served with rice pilaf and greens.
Iskender Kebab ... $17.00
Served only on Friday and Saturday
Enjoy tender lamb shaved from a rotating skewer
on top of lightly buttered bread with cool yogurt
and a tangy tomato sauce. One of the Turkeys
most loved specialties.
Desserts
Baklava ... $6.00
In this classic Turkish dessert, delicate leaves
of crisp, golden filo are layered with a tempting
mixture of crushed walnuts, pistachio, sugar and
clove. Laden with rich, sweet, home made syrup,
our baklava is virtually irresistible.
Künefe ... $7.00
Baked shredded filo dough with lor cheese filing,
sweetened with our chefs special home made
syrup and served hot.
Sütlac ... $5.00
A delectable light pudding of boiled milk, rice, and
sugar, flavored with cinnamon, baked in the oven
and then cooled in a clay bowl.
Kazan Dibi ... $5.00
Upside-down pudding, traditional Turkish style
milk pudding, make it from scratch. Served lightly
tapped with ground pistachio.
Beverages
Hot
Turkish Coffee ... $3.00
Famous the world over for its luxurious thickness
and unique potency. Turkish coffee is served in
small porcelain cups.
Turkish Tea (Cay) ... $1.00
Turkey's own blend of aromatic black tea leaves,
brewed fresh and strengthened to your taste.
Turkish Aromatic, Natural Herb Teas ... $2.00
Apple Tea, Mint Tea, Lemon, Berry, and Sage.
Coffee ... $2.00
Decaffeinated Coffee ... $2.00
Limonata ... $2.50
Turkish style home made lemonade, made fresh
by kneading amixture of whole lemons and sugar
until asweet zesty paste is created, then thinning
with cold water.
Ayran ... $2.00
Salted yogurt drink, served ice cold.
Coke. Diet coke, Cranberry Juice, Ginger Ale,
Seven-Up and Sparkling water
... $2.00
Vegetarian item
Menu listings and prices are subject to change
Thoroughly cooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish and eggs reduce the risk of food borne illnesses.