Istanbul Grill Virginia — Restaurant in Arlington

If you’re looking for a taste of Turkey with an authentic vibe right in Arlington, Istanbul Grill VA is the spot you need to check out—and trust me, it’s worth every bit of the hype! The moment you step in, you’re greeted by cozy Turkish decor, with intricately designed furnishings and warm lighting that create a welcoming atmosphere. The chairs are incredibly comfortable, inviting you to settle in and enjoy every moment of your meal. The service is one of the highlights here—the staff and even the manager went out of their way to explain each dish and offer recommendations, making sure every detail of our experience was perfect. Their warmth and friendliness added to the entire experience, so by the time I got to my main course, I felt like a valued guest, not just another customer. Starting with the Cold Mezze Platter was a fantastic choice; the hummus was incredibly smooth and flavorful, while each of the six appetizers brought its own unique taste. You really get a sampling of everything Turkish cuisine has to offer. For my main course, I went with the Adana Kebap—a signature dish that’s a must-try if you’re a fan of rich, bold flavors. The kebap was grilled to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning, and the portion size was generous enough that I was left perfectly satisfied without feeling overly stuffed. Now, here’s where it gets interesting—if you’re up for an adventure, ask for Raki, a traditional Turkish drink known for its strong flavor. The staff recommended pairing it with watermelon and white cheese, which turned out to be an incredible combination that cuts through the intensity of the Raki while enhancing its complex taste. It’s definitely an experience, and you’ll feel like you’re enjoying a traditional Turkish meal right in Istanbul. And don’t even think about skipping dessert! The Kunefe was a crispy, gooey, sweet delight that paired beautifully with their Turkish tea—a perfect end to a vibrant meal. This place isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a little corner of Turkey right here in Arlington, a place where you can slow down and enjoy authentic flavors and genuine hospitality. If you’re looking for more ways to extend the fun, don’t forget to check out Pull Up DC for your cannabis needs afterward—just to keep that relaxing vibe going a little longer! They’ve got an assortment of strains that make for the perfect wind-down after a great meal, turning a fantastic dinner experience into a...

While the food here is fairly good, there’s essentially one dish that really grabs me, and that’s the iskender kebab. I’ve had a few other dishes, and while there’s plenty of meat / food, I don’t think the flavors “Wow” me. On top of this, I think given the environment, service, and flavor profiles, I do believe the prices are high. Service is ok, but again, given the prices, I think service is lacking. This last trip my wife and I split our meals, sharing an iskender kebab and an arugula salad, partly due to price and partly to balance our meal with having some greens. My son had the Adana kebab.

Solid food. Relatively good service and this place can get busy. The environment is very nice, and the staff are very friendly. Parking is free but based on how many people are at the restaurant, parking might be hard, but not impossible. I think the prices are slightly high but you do get a lot of food which makes up for it. This last trip I had the manti, which was pretty good but not completely what I expected. My wife had the lamb shank, which she enjoyed. And my son the iskender kabob, which was delicious. A definite keeper.

Overall good food and worth going to. Service is great, with warm, welcoming, and friendly staff. The atmosphere is nice. Casual enough for family, friends, or someone special (but not that first date maybe). The food is good with a wide selection. I had the doner kebab plate, which was good, and very filling, but did not compare with doner I’ve had in Europe. It’s worth trying because it is good but just didn’t scratch my doner itch. My wife absolutely loved her dorado (fish), while my son and I weren’t particularly impressed by his hunkar begendi (lamb with a “blended” eggplant base). We book-ended our meal with atom for an appetizer (has some heat to it but didn’t WOW me) and kunefe for dessert (solid and a must try). So in sum, consider...

We went there for first time with friends and we don’t recommend to nobody and eat there.

1st- The bread so bad and zero fresh. 2nd- I ordered for two people beef, rice and something else but she brings one plate with little rice, and two pieces of the beef’s, and the rest is all salads and onions and she charge me 68$ for the plate and not even hoot, all cold. 3rd - My Son ordered chicken on sticks with pomfret and she bring chicken two pieces of legs and little pomfret and still cold. Terrible

4th - The Server she need more training to be Food server, she doesn’t know how and where to put food on table and she put food on my napkins omg without asking or anything, and she just come behind my back and i don’t even see her and she just doing without sorry can u move little or anything Nothing. Terrible.

And we was there one hour probably and for this Time how many times she dropped forks or spoons on floor i can’t believe. omg.

I told her bring me please fresh bread not this trash old five months probably and she took 20 mins to bring other bread fresh and not even fresh omg. Terrible. Terrible. Terrible. We padi over 200$ for two adults and two kids and we still come out Hungry i swear to God. Terrible. I heard some other people they are talking and complaining about same issues what we got today. omg. terrible.

This place looks Nice and they need better servers who knows how to work and they have To expensive Food and not even Fresh or they didn’t come what they should be come the amount.

Never ever Again. And i Don’t recommend to nobody.

I understand he will respond here im Sorry to hear that but sorry don’t change anything, thw owner have to change this and fix this. all if they want people to...