Salads
Coban Salad ...
Literally translated as "Shepherds Salad," this is Turkey's deliciously light combination of fresh cucumber, parsley, plum tomato, onion, mint, vinegar and olive oil.
Cacik ...
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. Laced with olive oil and garlic in customary Turkish style. then sprinkled with paprika for a burst of color.
Patlican Salad ...
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 ...
This wonderful pureed salad is named for the Eastern Turkish city of Antep. Prepared from finely chopped tomato, onion, cucumber, parsley, and green pepper, the salsa-like salad is held together by a lightly seasoned body of olive oil and tomato paste and then sharpened with lemon.
Yesil Salata ...
A green salad with romaine lettuce, red lettuce, carrot, onion, parsley
and Turkish cheese.
Soups
Turkey's soups are renowned for their subtlety and their diversity. The winter season brings thick hearty broths with fresh vegetables, beans, tomato and lamb, while summer months see lighter more delicate selections like yogurt — mint and tomato — lemon soups. Each day Istanbul Café features a unique soup for your delectation. Please ask our staff for today's specialty.
Soup of the Day ...
Red Lentil Soup Served Daily ...
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 ...
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 ...
A spicy spinach puree prepared with a thick, creamy yogurt. Spiked with hints of garlic, crushed basil and ground red pepper. This choice is both zesty and nutritious.
Nohut Ezme ...
Turkish humus, a rich chickpea and tahini paste, is prepared with garlic, lemon and olive oil and garnished
with black olives and paprika.
Mucver ...
Brimming with fresh zucchini, crumbled feta cheese, and dill, our zucchini fritter is a rich and delicious source of vitamin A.
Sigara Borek ...
Boreks, delightful savory pastries, are the perfect Turkish snack food.
Made from delicate layers of thin dough and stuffed with feta cheese, parsley
and eggs, their luxurious crispness melts in your mouth. The name of these
finger-sized delights translates literally into "cigarette pie" because of
their shape.
Imam Bayildi ...
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. Legend has it that a Muslim cleric once ate this dish and was so
overwhelmed by its splendid taste that he fainted. It is a rich vegetarian
choice.
Kalamar Tava ...
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.
Ahtapot Tava ...
A wonderful salad prepared from char grilled octopus and a combination
of fresh cucumber, parsley, plum tomato, onion, mint, vinegar, and olive
oil.
Soquk Meze ... Small or Large
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
Istanbul Café Guvek ...
A delightful entree of spiced lamb and sautéed eggplant. With bits of carrot, green bean, tomato and green pepper worked into its lively tomato based sauce.
Hunkar Begendi (Sultan's Delight) ...
Choice of lamb, chicken or vegetables ()
Luxuriate in the rich, tomato-marinated lamb and creamy smoked eggplant of this most classic Ottoman dish.
Sebzeli Guvec ...
A vegetarian dish very popular in Turkish villages. Traditionally prepared
in a small earthenware casserole, it is made up of a seasoned tomato
sauce that holds together a tender blend of eggplant, green bean, zucchini,
potato, carrot, green pepper, plum tomato and onion.
Vegetarian Musakka ...
Layers of eggplant, zucchini, carrots, peas, red & green pepper, onion, tomato
and potatoes topped with bechamel sauce and cheese then baked in a casserole.
Chicken Oriental ...
A delicious oriental dish prepared with grilled chicken, Turkish sausage, mushroom, green pepper, and tomato and then baked with kasar cheese.
Patlican Musakka ...
A dish of pan-fried eggplant laden with a rich meat sauce decked with potato, tomato and sautéed onion and then smothered with melted kasar cheese.
Etli Bamya Guveci ...
Lean cubes of lamb simmered with rich okra in a tomato-onion sauce and
then baked with cheese on the top. Lively and satisfying, this casserole also
comes with rice.
Yayla Tava ...
Choice of lamb or chicken. Tender morsels, simmered extensively in its
own juice along with sauteed bell pepper, tomato, onion, and parsley. This
dish is served with rice pilaf or spiced bulgur.
Seafood
Our country 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
Albalik ...
Delicious boneless brook trout dusted with corn meal and pan seared. Served with a light, seasoned salad of greens.
Kilic Sis ...
Cubes of swordfish marinated in a blend of onion, garlic, lemon, olive oil and bay 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 mouth-watering shish kebab.
Lavrek Izgara ...
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 lemon and accompanied by fresh greens.
Karides Guvec ...
Jumbo shrimps cooked in a slightly spiced tomato sauce with onions and green peppers topped with melted cheese and baked in a casserole.
Kebabs
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 light tomato-spiced bulgur,
and are accompanied by fresh greens and traditional sumac-sprinkled, sliced onion.
Tavuk Sis Kebab ...
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.
Kuzu Sis Kebab ...
Lean cubes of lamb marinated and grilled over a charcoal fire. Its simple
preparation allows you to savor the exquisite, smoky flavor of the coal-fired
lamb.
Adana Kebab ...
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 special
care over a charcoal fire.
Yogurtlu Kebab ...
Our house special, Yogurtlu Kebab is homemade Turkish fare at its best.
Your choice of chicken, lamb, or Adana Kebab is laid out over fresh Turkish
bread and generously laden with spiced tomato sauce and cool yogurt.
Istim Kebab ...
Broiled lamb shank wrapped with eggplant slices and then baked. It is as healthy
as it is delicious.
Pirzola ...
Delectable lamb chops prepared in uniquely Turkish fashion over a charcoal flame.
Karisik Izgara Kebab ...
An inviting combination of lamb chop, lamb, chicken, and Adana kebabs served together with rice pilaf and a salad of greens. A luxurious treat for any lover of kebabs.
Yaprak Doner Kebab ...
Served only on Friday and Saturday
Delicious lamb, marinated in its own juices and cooked on a rotating skewer. Served in thin slices and served with rice pilaf and a salad of greens.
Iskender Kebab ...
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 Turkey's most lived specialties.
vegetarian item
Menu listings and prices are subject to change