The Authentic Turkish Joint

If you’ve been living in Houston and like Turkish food, you’ll be happy to know you can get the authentic experience at Istanbul Grill.  It’s the first Turkish place that opened here and has been pleasing customers for 15 years.  International flavors are part of what makes Houston great and with this menu it’s hard to go wrong.  Try out Turkish pizza, the classic kebabs, sandwiches, and desserts.  Just walking by the restaurant will probably be enough to bring you in, as the aroma of Turkish cooking seeps into the street.

Oh, the Appetizers

The appetizer menu is a great place to get started and it’s where you’ll, of course, find the classic hummus everyone is craving when they are at a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eatery.  You’ll also find other classics like tabuli and several eggplant sauces.  If you want to get a little bit of everything check out the mixed meze which includes a selection of eight delicious appetizers including hummus, dolma, eggplant salad, tabuli, and more.

Hooray for Weekend Specials

Coming in on the weekend is always a good option because you’ll be able to enjoy one or all of the weekend specials.  There’s three of them and the handmade lamb-stuffed, Turkish ravioli is to die for.  Equally tempting are the lamb chops and sultan kebab, each of which offers you more delicious ways of enjoying lamb with accompanying sides.  It’s tenderly marinated in spices or char-grilled on the skewer.

Nice Atmosphere, Great Outdoor Patio

You can choose to sit inside with the cozy atmosphere and watch the lamb cook or you can enjoy your meal from the excellent patio seating area.  It’s an enclosed area that works well all parts of the year and it even has heat lamps to keep you warm, when it gets a bit chilly.

Try a Turkish Beer

Pair up your meal with alcohol beverages from Turkey.  If you are feeling indecisive the wait staff might let you have some samples before you make your decision.  The Turkish beer is definitely different from American flavors.  You’ll find it to be much lighter and sweeter than what you’re used to.  Not for you? How about some of the white Turkish wine, which is quite good.

Vegetarian Friendly

Just ignore the giant skewers of meat turning around if you’re a vegetarian because you’ll find plenty of options sans meat as with most Mediterranean style restaurants.  One of the favorites is the vegetable lahmacun with its light and thin crust or you can try one of the vegetable kebab options available.

Good Price Selection

There’s a nice range in the price selection so you can get something a bit on the cheaper end if you just want to grab a bite.  The sandwiches are all less than $8 and a reasonable size if you’re not super hungry.  You can also go all out with bigger meals that can be paired with accompaniments of rice, pide bread, and sauces.

Turkish Hospitality

The owner and the wait staff really want to live up to the Turkish hospitality standards so they’ll make you feel like part of the family.  They are very good about offering suggestions and even pieces of Turkish wine history if you ask.  Most the time you’ll find them very attentive and ready to go over the menu options.