Istanbul - Turkish & Greek Cuisine — Restaurant in Ormond Beach

This is a mom & pop style place which I like to try and support, but I don't appreciate price gouging. We ordered off the menu on line, and when we paid, several of the dishes were much higher priced than on the online menu. When we said something, the owner made the excuse "Oh, someone else said that. The computer menu must not have updated". Yeah, because YOU as the owners, are responsible to update the computer menus. It's not automatically done by robots. As far as the food, some good some bad. All decent and edible, but not the best Mediterranean food I have had, by far. Orlando has much better options. I don't get why this place has a 4.8 rating which is why we decided to try it. All I can figure, is people in this little beach town don't know what actual great mediterranean food tastes like, so they are wowed by the novelty? The lamb and the "meatballs" (which were actually like little tiny burgers with grill marks" were both quite dry. The lamb had a good flavor, the "meatballs" were just "meh", tasted mostly like hamburger and not mixed with lamb as advertised. At least, I couldn't taste any lamb flavor,..and very flact and dry, as I said, like little hockey pucks. We were both supposed to have a cabbage salad with our meals. We had some kind of salad, but barely a strip of any cabbage to be found. I love cabbage, so I was quite disappointed. The hummus was shockingly bland. I mean, what is easier to make flavor in than hummus? Just completely flat and no taste at all. The eggplant side was better, and it had a good smoky flavor, but it was a weird slimy consistency like I've never seen or eaten for babaganoush in any restaurant. It was hard to dip on the extra pita bread we ordered as it was so slimy and thin and liquidy. Another sad lacking thing here, NO lavash. What? How can this be? Unfortunately, the pita was also dry and burnt a bit. We were two people eating 2 entrees, 2 sides and an extra order of pita bread. We also ordered the Kunefe for dessert which was pretty good. It maybe the best thing there even though I've had better, bigger versions for the same price that weren't as oily as this one. We had NO drinks. NOTHING else. Our bill was over $75 and my mouth dropped. If only the food had been better, I wouldn't have said anything at all. But I am writing as the food was nothing special, and not only did they "pass the buck" with the price discrepancies online, but they also emptied our pockets of all our bucks. In Orlando, this meal would have been no more than $50. I would see no reason to...

Review for Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently had the pleasure of discovering Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine, and I can’t quite articulate just how delighted I am with this gem of a restaurant. I had my first visit just two weeks ago, and since then, I find myself returning almost weekly—three times in total, to be precise! From the moment I stepped through the door, I was enveloped in a cozy and inviting atmosphere that immediately felt like a home away from home. The decor beautifully reflects the rich cultural heritage of Turkey and the Mediterranean, creating an ambiance that is both relaxing and vibrant.

Now, let’s talk about the food, which is nothing short of sensational. Each dish I’ve tried has been bursting with flavor, showcasing the authenticity of Turkish cuisine. The kebabs are grilled to perfection, tender and juicy, while the mezes offer a delightful variety, allowing you to experience an array of tastes—all expertly prepared. The freshness of the ingredients is evident, and you can really taste the love and skill that goes into every plate.

However, what truly sets Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine apart is the customer service. The staff is incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They made me feel valued and welcomed, always ready to offer recommendations and ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of excellent.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine to anyone looking for a wonderful meal in a warm and inviting setting. Whether you're a fan of Mediterranean food or a first-time explorer of Turkish cuisine, this restaurant is sure to impress. I can’t wait for...

Istanbul is worthy of 10 stars! Don’t miss out on this amazing food. For years we have been lookig for a Mediterranean restaurant, and we have definitely just found it! The place was a quaint little place and the owner was so kind and thoughtful.

On to the food… We got the Baba ghanoush as an appetizer, but didn’t tell our 10 year old son that it was eggplant. My son asked for more, and didn’t believe us when we told him what it was. The Pita Bread that was served with it was warm and cooked to perfection. We ordered the Chicken Kofte and Beef Kofte platter, which we split between my son, my husband, and myself. The chicken was probably one of the best I’ve ever had! Juicy and full of flavor. The beef was equally excellent. It was very hard to decide which one was better. The rice that was served with the two platters was creamy and so fragrant. Each bite impressed us more than the last. After becoming members of the “Clean Plate Club” - it was time for dessert. We decided on Baklava, which was flakey, buttery, and so yummy. The sweet owner brought us the baklava in addition to another special pumpkin dessert she had made (on the house). We looked at each other and thought pumpkin dessert? It was going to either be really good or really really bad. But yet again Istanbul impressed us and left us wanting more. We can’t wait to come back again. They have made us customers for life!

But don’t take my word for it, you must try it out for yourself. Istanbul will not...