Cafe Istanbul Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant of Plano

10/19/09

Best in Texas and the only one

by tomi123 at Citysearch

Just loved the place...Have been there a few days ago and the whole restaurant is one huge enjoyment,startin with the warm welcome,the freshly prepared food,with the most tender lamb i have ever had...and the top of the line is the dessert with Turkish coffee.I will reccomend this restaurant for everybody and rate is 5 star service and food wise...

09/03/09

Little info on turkish food

by wendyyork1 at Citysearch

If you are unsure what turkis food is , here is a little history. Love the spices and the true enjoyment of the food and the people from this country:

Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines.[1][2] Turkish cuisine has in turn influenced those and other neighbouring cuisines, including that of western European. The Ottomans fused various culinary traditions of their realm with influences from Middle Eastern cuisines, along with traditional Turkic elements from Central Asia (such as yogurt), creating a vast array of technical specialities- many with strong regional associations.

A cup of Turkish coffeeTaken as a whole, Turkish cuisine is not homogeneous. Aside from common Turkish specialities that can be found throughout the country, there are also many region-specific specialities. The Black Sea region's cuisine (northern Turkey) is based on corn and anchovies. The southeast—Urfa, Gaziantep and Adana—is famous for its kebabs, mezes and dough-based desserts such as baklava, kadayıf and künefe. Especially in the western parts of Turkey, where olive trees are grown abundantly, olive oil is the major type of oil used for cooking.[3] The cuisines of the Aegean, Marmara and Mediterranean regions display basic characteristics of Mediterranean cuisine as they are rich in vegetables, herbs, and fish. Central Anatolia is famous for its pasta specialties, such as keşkek (kashkak), mantı (especially from Kayseri) and gözleme.

• Pros: 100% Authentic Turkish food

08/12/09

Fantastic Turkish and Mediterranean food

by bettieo at Citysearch

If you are looking for the best Turkish restaurant or the best Mediterranean food in Plano and Dallas, go to Istanbul. I ate here for the first time last week and had an amazing feast. The lamb shish kabobs, the lavish choices of bread, the hummus and tubule. All excellent! The Friday and Thursday night crowd get a special treat of belly dancing at 8:30 and excellent service all week long. I really can’t say enough about this Mediterranean / Turkish restaurant in Plano. They also have a location in Dallas on Lovers, so go to either of these Turkish / Mediterranean restaurants and feast on life and amazing food!

• Pros: service, experience and food!
• Cons: none