Ískender's Turkish Cuisine & Lounge — Restaurant in Niagara Falls

Verdict: FOOD - So-so; STAFF - AWFUL // 0 STARS I am on a month-long trip to several places and went to this restaurant last night to pick up some take out. I was wearing a baseball cap and a KN95 mask, as I had recently been diagnosed with COVID. I'm improving, but didn't want to infect anyone if I was still contagious (likely). From the time I got there, despite their smiles, the staff treated me as thought they were afraid of me (or at least highly uncomfortable). I ordered the lentil soup ($13) and a salad ($18) - a pretty sizable price, even if in Canadian dollars. I specifically ordered these to aid in my recovery. When the order came out, it was in a bag, which the "boss" jerked up on, as if to settle the contents, then stapled the bag shut, as if to make it less likely I would look inside before I left. I thanked them and left the restaurant to go back to my hotel, about two blocks away. When I reached my room, I realized that the bottom of the bag was wet. When I looked inside, the lid of the soup container had been left ajar, so the soup spilled out into the bag and was also melting the styrofoam container with the salad. The $35 dinner (with tax) was a complete mess, with only about 15-20% of the soup left in the container. I was able to salvage most of the salad by putting in the plastic bag they give you in hotels to get ice. Given the sequence of events, I firmly believe that the lid to the soup was left unsealed on purpose. Why; was this done? Is it because I am 71/white/male? Is it because I am an American? Is it because I am a Baltimore Oriole fan? Or is it because I was wearing a white KN95 mask? I believe it's the last of these. I did not wear the mask because I am a criminal. I did not wear the mask because I am an immigration agent. I did not wear it because I have some facial abnormality. I wore the mask to PREVENT. YOU. AND. YOUR. CUSTOMERS. FROM. BEING. EXPOSED. TO. COVID! To perpetrate such a cruel (and expensive) prank on me, simply because you didn't like the way I looked, truly speaks to how small and pathetic you and your staff must be. My first thought was to come in today to tell you this in person, and to take off my mask and have several deep breaths. I'm sure you would have appreciated this, as you and your customers became ill, as I had been, just from eating at your restaurant. Also, again, the food (what I had of it) was so-so. It's clear that your restaurant's talent is in marketing, not necessarily in the kitchen, and certainly not among...

I’m a fan of Turkish cuisine and frequently visit Turkish restaurants, but unfortunately, my recent experience at this particular restaurant was very disappointing. We ordered a platter and I specifically asked the waitress if it would be enough for 5–6 people. She assured us that it would be, but when it arrived, it was clearly only suitable for 4 and didn’t come close to meeting the needs of our group. She also didn’t mention the price in advance, which turned out to be $200—a surprisingly high amount considering the portion size and quality, especially since it wasn’t listed on the menu. We also ordered a mixed meze platter, but unfortunately, the quality was poor, and some items smelled stale or off. Service was another major concern: my son had to wait over 5–7 minutes just to get a glass of water, even after multiple requests. The staff seemed inattentive and not well organized. To make matters worse, we were charged an extra 10% for being a “large party,” even though we were only five adults and one child—something I don’t believe qualifies under most restaurant policies. When it came time to pay, the waitress strongly encouraged us to tip 15%, which felt uncomfortable given the overall experience. Afterward, I tried contacting the manager to discuss these issues directly, but no one returned my call. It’s disappointing to see a business operate this way, especially when a bit of care and transparency could have made a big difference. I hope they take this feedback seriously and work on improving both their service...

Best Turkish food I’ve had. On vacation at Niagara, we were blessed to find this new restaurant that’s been open for just 2 weeks. We started with the baba ghanouc, which was the best, freshest I’ve ever had. It was delicious with the light bread, also can be combined with a yummy dill yogurt sauce, spicy sauce and olive oil. Husband and I ordered the featured dish, Iskender’s Kebop, so amazing with the combination of beef slices in a tomato-based sauce over bread, with melted butter poured over. With the roasted tomato, pepper and condensed yogurt, the dish was a heavenly blend of savory, tangy and buttery that just melts in your mouth. The Turkish tea was gentle and soothing. My children had the Urfa kebab which they loved and ate every bite; my son who doesn’t normally like vegetables enjoyed all of the veggies combined with the kebab and pita. A demitasse of Turkish coffee was the perfect ending for a stellar meal.

The owner and head chef was very kind and came out to speak with us and made sure all the allergies at our table were addressed and that those who had allergies ordered dairy-free options. This family business brings the best flavors to an otherwise very “commercial” area by Niagara Falls. I wish we had this restaurant back in the Princeton/PA area! What a delightful surprise to find such delicious, authentic...