Good food. Usually gives me leftovers for the next day and I require major calories. There is literally nothing that is not great on the menu. Only knock is that I can't always get in touch when I'm looking to order to go.
Robert M.
Fantastic food and service. Quaint little restaurant with food that wows! The food is prepared with much flavor and if you like hot sauce you have to try their dual homemade hot sauces.
Allyssa M.
I never had Turkish food before trying it at Istanbul Grille...I absolutely loved it! The waiter appeared to be from Turkey due to her accent, was one of the owners, and she was very friendly. The food was freshly made, home cooked, and seemingly authentic. I still have cravings for the food I got at the restaurant, and it's been over a month since I've been there! If I lived closer, I would definitely be a regular customer. The dinner was savory, with a beautiful melding of flavors. 5 stars!
Kevin C.
This our go to place. Delicious mixed grill and cold appetizers. Lamb chops are fantastic. It is BYOB, but if you forget your own there is a bar next door
X D
The owner was very welcoming and accommodating, even though we came an hour before closing and she was already working with a large party. She even gave us a dessert on the house! The food was very tasty and filling and I would recommend!
Audrey Jiang
The food is amazing! I especially recommend the Shepherd Salad with feta (my personal favorite) as it is so delicious and refreshing. The lamb chops were great too. The three milk cake (tres leches) was fantastic!! Staff was super super friendly!! 13/10 would recommend and would go again.
Andrew G.
Truth be told, I had given up on finding great Middle Eastern food in Pittsburgh. Salem's in the Strip was the most hyped restaurant but I found it to be just ok and nothing to write home about. I had tried another place in Squirrel Hill that also felt underwhelming. When Istanbul Grille popped up with its great reviews I wanted to try it to redeem the 412's Turkish food scene. And it sure did! I ordered the beef doner and it was fantastic. This was some of the best seasoned meat I've had in the Burgh plus a generous portion of pita bread, rice and salad. Everything was clearly fresh and homemade, including the delicious garlic yoghurt sauce and hot sauces that accompanied the meat. The prices here are on the higher end compared to other Turkish spots in Pittsburgh, but it shows why in the food - the quality is much higher. I would highly recommend this to anyone and am looking forward to coming back to try the kofte. I got the baklava for dessert - I enjoyed it but would probably try the three milks cake next time as it was a bit heavy on the pistachio flavor. Note: BYOB but there's a beer store one block away if you want to wash down your meal with a beer. Also, this place was really busy on a Friday night with everyone enjoying their meals so consider a reservation if you have a larger party or are coming during peak hours! Also
Melanie C.
As an artists a great meal on the road can give you the strength to push through. I came here after a show and the food was delicious. They were basically closing and still fired out a gorgeous chicken platter (with perfect salad and rice) and fresh pita. The coffee at the end was the perfect addition to keep us up as we drove to our next city. Thank you for making food with love and dignity!
Dave D.
Large portions and tasty salads together with great service and reasonable prices you get one of the best restaurant in the Burg! Highly recommended
Joshua Garber
This place was simply awesome. We’ve had lots of experience with Turkish and Middle Eastern food, including in Turkey, and this is some of the best we’ve ever had. The falafel is off the hook, and each of the 10-tapas sampler items was delicious. The person serving us was super friendly and made great suggestions. I will absolutely come back next time I’m in Pittsburgh.
It’s a family business and it is a cute one in the town. One of the owner (Ikjah) is such a sweet and humble person who loves their customers. I have been there almost 5 times in last two weeks because the food is scrumptious and the ambiance is outstanding. Perfect place for a comfortable dine in experience.I gave 4 star because of the price of the food. Little over charged.
Carsten Donnelly
By far one of the best dining experiences Ive had. The owner was so friendly and such a great host, I felt like I was at home. I felt like I had to go see my family and hug them after that wonderful experience.
leyla yücelik
It was a great experience. As a Turkish myself, I’ve been to many Turkish food restaurants in the US and this is by far the best. It felt like we were having dinner in Turkey. Iskender was very delicious! Ms. Ilkcan was super nice and kind. She served some humus and cake for free for our 3-year-old daughter. And we had tea for free! Excellent service.
bevbemama
We came back with more friends. The lamb beyti was amazing and I will definitely order that next time! Chicken thighs were great too. Ended the meal with baklava-yum! Outstanding service!
David J.
What a delicious way to sample the food of Turkey. Three of us ate here and enjoyed everything. Best of all was the Little, Little Into the Middle Tapas Platter, a collection of 10 savory toppings that you consume on pita bread. Each of the toppings was fabulous. While some were slightly better than others, none were disappointing. These are said to be chef's choice, so it seems possible that they may change from time to time. If that is the case, it will be fun to try a different selection the next time that we visit. This platter was more than enough for two people. We also had the falafel and the beets salad. Both were very good, but the tapas platter was the star of the show. A word to the wise: we happened to visit during Ramadan, but fortunately, we arrived about 30 minutes before sunset. This restaurant was packed at sunset with groups of families and friends ready to break their Ramadan fast. If you go during Ramadan, it might be a good idea to go before sunset unless you are willing to wait for a table. Even if you have to wait, it is worth it. One additional observation: our waitress was delightful.
Good food. Usually gives me leftovers for the next day and I require major calories. There is literally nothing that is not great on the menu. Only knock is that I can't always get in touch when I'm looking to order to go.
Fantastic food and service. Quaint little restaurant with food that wows! The food is prepared with much flavor and if you like hot sauce you have to try their dual homemade hot sauces.
I never had Turkish food before trying it at Istanbul Grille...I absolutely loved it! The waiter appeared to be from Turkey due to her accent, was one of the owners, and she was very friendly. The food was freshly made, home cooked, and seemingly authentic. I still have cravings for the food I got at the restaurant, and it's been over a month since I've been there! If I lived closer, I would definitely be a regular customer. The dinner was savory, with a beautiful melding of flavors. 5 stars!
This our go to place. Delicious mixed grill and cold appetizers. Lamb chops are fantastic. It is BYOB, but if you forget your own there is a bar next door
The owner was very welcoming and accommodating, even though we came an hour before closing and she was already working with a large party. She even gave us a dessert on the house! The food was very tasty and filling and I would recommend!
The food is amazing! I especially recommend the Shepherd Salad with feta (my personal favorite) as it is so delicious and refreshing. The lamb chops were great too. The three milk cake (tres leches) was fantastic!! Staff was super super friendly!! 13/10 would recommend and would go again.
Truth be told, I had given up on finding great Middle Eastern food in Pittsburgh. Salem's in the Strip was the most hyped restaurant but I found it to be just ok and nothing to write home about. I had tried another place in Squirrel Hill that also felt underwhelming. When Istanbul Grille popped up with its great reviews I wanted to try it to redeem the 412's Turkish food scene. And it sure did! I ordered the beef doner and it was fantastic. This was some of the best seasoned meat I've had in the Burgh plus a generous portion of pita bread, rice and salad. Everything was clearly fresh and homemade, including the delicious garlic yoghurt sauce and hot sauces that accompanied the meat. The prices here are on the higher end compared to other Turkish spots in Pittsburgh, but it shows why in the food - the quality is much higher. I would highly recommend this to anyone and am looking forward to coming back to try the kofte. I got the baklava for dessert - I enjoyed it but would probably try the three milks cake next time as it was a bit heavy on the pistachio flavor. Note: BYOB but there's a beer store one block away if you want to wash down your meal with a beer. Also, this place was really busy on a Friday night with everyone enjoying their meals so consider a reservation if you have a larger party or are coming during peak hours! Also
As an artists a great meal on the road can give you the strength to push through. I came here after a show and the food was delicious. They were basically closing and still fired out a gorgeous chicken platter (with perfect salad and rice) and fresh pita. The coffee at the end was the perfect addition to keep us up as we drove to our next city. Thank you for making food with love and dignity!
Large portions and tasty salads together with great service and reasonable prices you get one of the best restaurant in the Burg! Highly recommended
This place was simply awesome. We’ve had lots of experience with Turkish and Middle Eastern food, including in Turkey, and this is some of the best we’ve ever had. The falafel is off the hook, and each of the 10-tapas sampler items was delicious. The person serving us was super friendly and made great suggestions. I will absolutely come back next time I’m in Pittsburgh.
Restaurantji Recommends
It’s a family business and it is a cute one in the town. One of the owner (Ikjah) is such a sweet and humble person who loves their customers. I have been there almost 5 times in last two weeks because the food is scrumptious and the ambiance is outstanding. Perfect place for a comfortable dine in experience.I gave 4 star because of the price of the food. Little over charged.
By far one of the best dining experiences Ive had. The owner was so friendly and such a great host, I felt like I was at home. I felt like I had to go see my family and hug them after that wonderful experience.
It was a great experience. As a Turkish myself, I’ve been to many Turkish food restaurants in the US and this is by far the best. It felt like we were having dinner in Turkey. Iskender was very delicious! Ms. Ilkcan was super nice and kind. She served some humus and cake for free for our 3-year-old daughter. And we had tea for free! Excellent service.
We came back with more friends. The lamb beyti was amazing and I will definitely order that next time! Chicken thighs were great too. Ended the meal with baklava-yum! Outstanding service!
What a delicious way to sample the food of Turkey. Three of us ate here and enjoyed everything. Best of all was the Little, Little Into the Middle Tapas Platter, a collection of 10 savory toppings that you consume on pita bread. Each of the toppings was fabulous. While some were slightly better than others, none were disappointing. These are said to be chef's choice, so it seems possible that they may change from time to time. If that is the case, it will be fun to try a different selection the next time that we visit. This platter was more than enough for two people. We also had the falafel and the beets salad. Both were very good, but the tapas platter was the star of the show. A word to the wise: we happened to visit during Ramadan, but fortunately, we arrived about 30 minutes before sunset. This restaurant was packed at sunset with groups of families and friends ready to break their Ramadan fast. If you go during Ramadan, it might be a good idea to go before sunset unless you are willing to wait for a table. Even if you have to wait, it is worth it. One additional observation: our waitress was delightful.