Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market — Restaurant in Tampa

This past weekend, my sister and I tried this place for the first time! It was amazing! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would! It's a combination Turkish restaurant and market. Their selections of authentic Turkish food is amazing. It's NOT like other Turkish restaurants that have weird things on the menu like chicken tenders or pasta or BBQ ribs. This place is the real deal! First of all, there is indoor and outdoor seating, it's very clean, and the service is amazing! Can (pronounced like John) greeted us and was super friendly and fun. Serdar was our server..we just loved him. He is so kind... We wanted to try lots of dishes...he recommended amazing items and even helped my sister (who is going to Turkey in two weeks) with a list of places she should visit and a few Turkish words to help her get started. My sister doesn't eat any meat but it was no problem since there are many meatless options on the menu. First, we got the Shepherd Salad with feta cheese, the Cheese Cigars, and the Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolma). The Shepherd Salad was so fresh and delicious... The popular mixture of tomatoes and cucumbers, lightly dressed with that feta on top! The Stuffed Grape Leaves were the best I have EVER had. Ever. And the Cheese Cigars were crunchy...the cheese used is top notch! A basket of fresh bread with 2 sauces was placed on the table. The bread looked like it was going to be solid and heavy, but it was light and crispy and amazing. The 2 sauces were tzatziki and a garlic yogurt sauce. I could not stop eating the garlic yogurt sauce. I dipped not only the bread but a few other items in it too! Next we ordered the Kasarli Pide(Cheese Pie)...the mixture of that crust and the high quality cheese was sublime! A must try. My sister wanted the Pistachio Baklava...we were stuffed already so we just ate one piece each. It was Heavenly! And I have to tell you when we pulled the leftovers out of the refrigerator several hours after we got home, those Pistachio Baklava were insanely good cold! The tea in the Turkish tea glasses made the Turkey-obsessed-me so happy! And the tea was so flavorful. It is no surprise that I loved this place so much when we went last weekend that I went again last night by myself and got the Chicken Adana....I threw that picture in with this review too. It is spiced incredibly and a few bites in, I couldn't stop eating it. I put some of the garlic yogurt sauce on my plate and ate it with the rice. Amazing! Don't forget when you go....because you MUST go...to check out the array of selections in the market. There is everything from Manti to beverages to olives to spices to Turkish tea and coffee and let's not forget the Turkish delight! Check it out! And Enjoy!! I...

If you're a fan of Mediterranean cuisine and are looking for an authentic and delicious dining experience, look no further than Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market. This amazing Turkish restaurant is located inside a grocery store, which only adds to its unique and authentic charm.

One of the standout dishes at Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market is the lamb gyro. The succulent lamb meat is cooked to perfection and served with fresh pita bread and a variety of flavorful sauces and toppings. The dish is both hearty and flavorful, making it a must-try for anyone who loves Mediterranean cuisine.

Another highlight of the restaurant is the Turkish tea, which is served in traditional glass cups and is the perfect way to cleanse your palate between bites. The tea is fragrant and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness to complement the bold flavors of the food.

But it's not just the savory dishes that shine at Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market. The dessert menu is equally impressive, with a range of sweet treats to choose from. The standout dessert is the kunefe, which is a traditional Turkish pastry made with shredded phyllo dough, cheese, and a sweet syrup. The dessert is both rich and satisfying, with a unique flavor that will leave you wanting more.

What makes Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market even more special is the fact that it is located inside a grocery store. This means that you can explore the aisles and stock up on all of your favorite Turkish ingredients and snacks while you're there. It's a truly unique and immersive dining experience that you won't find anywhere else.

Overall, Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves Mediterranean cuisine and wants to experience it in a unique and authentic way. From the delicious lamb gyro to the fragrant Turkish tea and sweet kunefe, every dish is crafted with care and precision, and the setting inside the grocery store only adds to the charm and appeal of this...

Food was good, plentiful. Service had some room for improvement. I think there was a breakdown in communication between servers when ours left for a meal break. We did finally go ask for someone else and they were very nice about it. We didn’t get one of the appetizers we ordered but we had plenty of food and just asked them to take it off the bill. Part of the problem with that might have been in the meal break confusion. Regardless we didn’t get it and just asked it be taken off the bill. No problem. It isn’t a bad atmosphere, just different with the market. I might not have noticed but we were by the checkout location so it was more apparent. Togo orders were picked up right next to us as well. It’s very clean, pleasant eating space. Nice decor and open to food prep which was nice. Homemade bread is very good, Iskedar (sp.) was very good. Falafels were fine. I didn’t like the grape leaves, too “sweet” for me even when I put lemon juice on them. I ate them, just wouldn’t get them next time. My husband liked the kibbeh. I got the manti, never had it before. It was Interesting, but the oil in/on it just wasn’t to my liking and way way too much of it—and it didn’t really taste like anything. My first taste was promising but after that what I ate I ate because I was looking for the “meat” flavor and it just wasn’t there. We will go back, it was good, we liked the gentleman who ran the kitchen and took phone orders. We didn’t really chat with him but he did check on us after the service confusion. He was very pleasant and obviously...