Cuisine:

• Turkish
• Coffee Houses

Istanbul Cafe Description:
Late night,Live entertainment,Private rooms,Kid Friendly
Reservations: Recommended
Cross Street: College St.
Dress: Neat casual
In New Haven, you'd expect a Turkish joint to draw an eclectic collegiate crowd that creates a lively atmosphere. Istanbul Café delivers. And since chef Adnan Efe purchased the restaurant in 2004, the oomph is all over the menu too. The shepherd's salad is a fresh and bright blend of cucumbers, parsley, plum tomatoes, onions, fresh mint, olive oil and vinegar; grape leaves stuffed with rice, onions, pine nuts, raisins, dill and mint are somehow delicate. The house specialty is the Istanbul Café Guvek---spiced lamb and eggplant sautéed with bits of carrot, green bean and green peppers in a zesty tomato-based sauce. Desserts are standard (syrupy baklava and kadayif); a better choice would be a shot of hair-raising Turkish coffee.


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