Cafe Istanbul — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Hey, Cafe Istanbul. We need to talk.

So, let's start with the good. I've been here several times in the past, and the food is always delicious. I've come with friends and with a Time Left group, and I've never had a bad meal here. When I've taken home leftovers, they never last more than 24 hours before I polish them off. Last Thursday the food did not disappoint.

Where things get sticky, unfortunately, is the pricing. Now, in the U.S., consumers expect to pay the price on the menu, plus tax and tip. Sometimes a credit card fee if the restaurant is especially nickel-and-dimey. These are just part of the experience of eating at a sit-down restaurant.

However, when a restaurant throws on an 18% service fee, and then sets the tip auto-calculations to show that this was not the tip, and that the expected tip is still 18%-22% on the whole bill, including all taxes and fees, the way those percentages compound, including tax, the consumer ends up paying 61.3% more than the menu price.

This is not an acceptable level of unwritten cost and in fact passes the boundary of "hidden fees." At that point, why even bother having prices on a menu at all? You could replace the numbers with emojis and they would have about as much meaning.

Personally I prefer knowing the cost of something I'm buying before I make the choice to purchase, not while sitting at a dining table having already consumed the goods. The number on the check I received last Thursday night was so significantly higher than the number we ordered (and therefore consented and agreed to pay) that I thought I dreamed it until I woke up the next day and still had the screenshot.)

If the 18% is an autograt, then it needs an appropriate label so that people do not tip twice. (To be clear, given that tipping is a necessary evil to protect workers from the evils of wage theft in the U.S., I do support autograt. However, I do not support being swindled into double-tipping). If it is not an autograt, then it needs to be removed and the menu prices appropriately adjusted to meet the cost needs of your business so that people can make informed decisions about what they would or would not like to purchase before doing so. It is not acceptable to essentially dupe customers in this way.

Please don't respond saying you'll "take it under consideration" as people have been complaining about this since 2022, and you've been giving the same canned reply. If I've already read it, I have no need to read it again. Actions speak louder than words. Do better, please...

Let's get the good out of the way. The server was nice, food didn't make anyone sick, and the place wasn't inherently filthy.

Ok that being said we arrived at 9 pm on the dot for a restaurant that closes at 10 pm on a Friday night. Half full and tables came in after us yet we still had the chef looking out and checking his watch. OK whatever. Sat down, server was nice but thats pretty much all we saw of him. Took our order, went and made our drinks (which were horrible) then the food came out (all 7 dishes) at the same time. Salads, hot food, hummus etc etc. Absolutely no coursing. OK whatever. Then we never saw him again. Not lying. No check back on drinks, no 2 bite 2 minute check back, never dropping the check nada. We had to ask another server for the check and when we told him everything was terrible he just smiled and walked away saying thanks hahaha like he was used to it.

Anywho, food was bland. Hummus was palatable but store bought seemingly. Zucchini cakes were 100% microwaved. Salad was absolutely devasted with balsamic. The calamari tasted like hush puppies. Just gross food. Really boring, rushed, gross food.

Some fun views from our table, -Server dusting the ceiling while tables were eating. -heard our server tell the table behind us they over cooked his medium well steak when asked why it was taking so long. Watch the server go to the computer and ring it in never talked to a chef. He forgot. Which is ok but just be honest. our server told us it was their worst drink after he dropped it off at our table. Which is was wretched. -watched a team of servers bus a table and just dump the drinks on the sidewalk on division street. Disgusting but also a healthcode violation. I have a video of it.

Bathrooms also have moth balls in the sink to cover up smells and they looked like they were not attended to all day.

Just a low class money grab establishment, with very unprofessional servers and bad food. Reminded me of a tourist trap place. Avoid at all costs. Had worse but not many in my life. There is so much better food on division.

Lastly, thanks for ruining a last night of a family member being in town. We owe...

Growing up in Germany with a rich heritage of Turkish cuisine, I've always had a special place in my heart for the flavors and aromas that remind me of home. Recently, my curiosity led me to Cafe Istanbul in Chicago, a place that consistently tops the list when you Google "Turkish restaurant in Chicago." Despite my initial reservations, I decided to give it a try on a warm Friday evening.

Upon arrival, we chose to sit inside despite the open patio due to the short-staffed appearance of the restaurant. Despite its quiet ambiance, the lack of staff did not deter us from exploring the menu. Having been familiar with Turkish cuisine since childhood and having a basic grasp of the language, ordering was a breeze for me.

However, my experience took a turn for the worse as I couldn't help but notice the unwarranted stares, snarks, and laughs from some of the patrons. While I'm no stranger to judgmental glances, the atmosphere at Cafe Istanbul became increasingly uncomfortable. Undeterred, I ordered the Lahmacun, a dish I know well. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations, tasting surprisingly bland.

Despite my initial excitement to explore more dishes, the judgmental atmosphere created by what seemed to be regular patrons became too much to bear. The constant stares and subtle mockery made the dining experience less enjoyable. As a result, I decided against ordering more and opted to pay and leave.

In summary, while the food at Cafe Istanbul was passable, the overall experience was marred by the uncomfortable atmosphere and the apparent disdain from some of the regular patrons. It's disheartening to have such an underwhelming experience in a place that should celebrate the joy of sharing culture through food. Perhaps, with improvements in both service and ambiance, Cafe Istanbul could become a more welcoming haven for those seeking an authentic Turkish dining...