Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Market

This place is an absolute gem--truly one of the best Mediterranean experiences I've ever had! We ordered the grill sampler, and let me just say, the portion size is double my face! SO MUCH MEAT. Every single bite was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and full of flavor. It's a carnivore's dream come true.We also tried the pide with meat and cheese, and wow--talk about a masterpiece. It tasted like a spiced Mediterranean pizza, and the size? It was literally the length of my arm! The complimentary bread was divine too--fluffy, warm, and the perfect accompaniment to the meal. Everything was made with so much care, you could taste the quality and tradition in every bite.The ambiance is unique; it feels like a market that's been transformed into a bustling restaurant. But that only adds to the charm--it's busy and vibrant, which is always a good sign. The staff? Absolutely incredible. They were so friendly and accommodating, even with how packed the place was.For dessert, we grabbed baklava and kazandibi to go, and both were phenomenal. The baklava was buttery, flaky, and sweet without being overwhelming. The kazandibi was a creamy, dreamy delight. They made for the perfect ending to an already amazing meal.On top of everything, the value is unbeatable. The portions are so generous, you're guaranteed leftovers, and for all that food, we spent just $84. Other places would charge easily over $100 for this kind of feast. Istanbul Mediterranean Grill and Market is a stunning experience from start to finish. I can't wait to come back and try even more of their menu!

The food was fantastic. A little pricey for lunch, but we split the entree.LahmacunShepherd SaladMixed Grill to shareSparkling water and Coke Zero were $3 each.Went on a Saturday about 2pm. It was pretty busy and they had tables booked for reservations. We ended up eating outside - busy/noisy street but the weather was pretty decent. Parking lot was packed. Service was very prompt - the check took a little while to settle - but overall lovely experience and would easily return.

a friend took us to a almost hole in the wall kind of spot that looked rundown. tables and seats were kinda old school, and the menus didnt make sense but that was part of the charm. we were greeted by our server who might have had a sharp tongue but again, part of the charm. the food was out of this world, we were hungry granted but the food was still amazing. the spicy ezme had a nice heat to it and really contrasting flavors that worked well. spicy, sour, sweet all in one. the baked hummus with cheese was a game changer. ive had hummus with meat on top but never cheese that was then broiled. amazing! i got the beyti and althought i hate yogurt, this didnt have the pungent yogurt smell. devoured the entirety of it and the rice was sooo fluffy and flavorful!would love to come back here on my next visit to tampa to try their other items

The best babaghanoush and meat skewers in all of Tampa! Checking out this restaurant/market should be on every foodies to-do list. I have dined in and done carry-out multiple times from here, and it never ever disappoints. The food is always so fresh and authentic. The service within the restaurant can vary. I've had experiences where the server was super attentive and brought out the complimentary tea at the end of the meal, and i've had other experiences where I had to go up and ask for the bill or ask for the tea. But it's never deterred me from coming back, and given the style of establishment, I don't expect white-cloth service.Food: The babaghanoush is out of this world. Seriously some of the best I've tried. I recently ordered the hummus and was surprised it was on the more textured side and not as creamy. The taste was still there though. I enjoy the traditional Turkish bread as opposed to pita (keep in mind this is a Turkish restaurant so cuisine will not be the same as in middle eastern restaurants. The different regions bring their own touches on cuisine!) The falafel is admittedly not my favorite. The chicken skewers are so flavorful and perfectly cooked! The best. I also tried the adana kebab and the meat mixture was seasoned to perfection. I do think with the chicken or beef plate you get more meat though. The rice is great and I enjoy the pickled side salad! I've had the chicken gyro and mixed gyro before but much prefer the meat plates. Will try out the rice pudding one of these days.Drink: The mint ayran is great! Also enjoy the complimentary tea at the end of the meal! Make sure to request it if the server does not bring it.

People that rave about Istanbul, obviously have not been to the many other delicious and wonderful Turkish restaurants in Tampa Bay.The reason why people come here is because they either live nearby or don't know about the other, better spots because they don't know how to Google "turkish food."It's a small cafe that is mostly tables inside of a grocery store, and outdoor seating in direct sunlight.I've been here multiple times over and the food is still lackluster to me, mostly not tasting fresh. Portions are smaller and service is nonexistent.Dishes are not well spiced, bland, and expensive. Some of the dips even had canned vegetables in it.Bread is not fresh and delicious like other Turkish restaurants in the area.You will see Istanbul heavily hyped because the work with social media influncers and other businesses don't.

Service was excellent. The owner met us at the door had a seated right away by the window. Our waiter came over and gave us a beautiful basket of bread and the complementary Turkish tea. We enjoyed a beti, lamb gyro, kibbeh and hot hummus, covered with cheese.There is a small market in the back of the restaurant which has a full selection of feta cheese, frozen products, as well as soaps, teas, cleaners, toothpaste, etc. Be sure to grab yourself some baba ghanoush take away as well as some of the fresh breads that are always put on the table.Plenty of parking on the side of the restaurant. The menu items are beautifully displayed with photos. Makes ordering easy.

Boy, my visit tonight was not as good as my first visit.We were greeted immediately when we arrived and seated. That's about when service was best. The place was about 1/2 full and there were 2-3 people waiting on the guests. After about 10 minutes of waiting for someone to get our order, our 'server' arrived. Since we waited so long, I gave him our drink (coke and a tea) and food order. Our appetizers arrived:-Lentil Soup...Barely warm and very watery. Last visit it was amazing as it was hot, thick and a ton of flavor, OPPOSITE of what we were served tonight.-pFalafel...EXCELLENT, PERIOD!When we were about 1/2 through our apps, we flagged down another server to find out what happened to our server and drinks. She told us that he was on break!!!!! So we asked her if she would get our drinks, she came back with my coke and told us that the tea was still brewing. We asked for a water for nowEntree:-Grilled Meat Platter...AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!!! AWESOME AWESOMENESS. A HUGE serving of perfectly seasoned grilled meats: 5 total.As we were eating the tea showed up, we never did get the water.We then had to literally get up to flag down someone to get us our check. I soooooo wanted Baklava but service was so bad that I just wanted to leave. There was NO pre bussing. We got the check and after sitting there for someone to get it, I stood up and walked over to the register. We NEVER had anyone stop back to our table to check on us.Food was 5Service was 1Overall 3You guys need to have servers who Understand Customer Service, even if they never worked in a restaurant before. Just treating their customers like they would like to be treated.

Consistently Delicious! The quality of the food and service is exceptional. Everything is freshly made. The gyro meat is authentically carved from the spit . The pistachio baklava is perfectly crafted. The market has a large variety of delights to try at home.

We had wonderful food, attentive service and a memorable evening at Istanbul. It was my friends' going away dinner actually. My first time there and the food was just as fresh as I hoped it would be. It truly did remind me of Istanbul!

The food was very good. I got the chicken plate and my husband and daughter got the mixed wrap with homemade pita. Even as delicious!