After our delightful first visit, my wife and I knew we had to come back to Istanbul Kebab House for a proper meal. Last week, we decided to turn our date night into something special with dinner at this Turkish gem followed by a Broadway musical, Newsies, at the Flynn Center. We made a reservation in advance, as this spot is quite popular in the evenings - especially when there's a play happening nearby.
The ambiance was inviting and warm, with soft lighting and traditional Turkish decor creating a perfect setting for a romantic evening. The service was exceptional, and our server, Alexandra B., made the experience even more memorable with his attentiveness and friendly demeanor.
We started with the Small Meze Platter ($16.99), an excellent choice for sharing. The platter featured haydari, hummus, babaganoush, Turkish salsa, and stuffed grape leaves, all served with soft lavash bread. For those seeking a gluten-free option, fresh-cut veggie sticks are available. Each dip and spread was bursting with flavor, making this a must-try appetizer.
For the main course, I chose from the Earthenware Casseroles and ordered the Lamb Guvec ($27.99). The tender, marinated lamb pieces combined with tomato, mushroom, onion, pepper, and eggplant were served sizzling hot, and the aroma alone was irresistible. It was hearty, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the recommended 9oz glass of Vinkara red wine ($16.50).
My wife selected the Chicken Adana Kebab ($22.99) from the Traditional Kebabs menu. The mildly spicy, hand-ground chicken seasoned with Turkish maraş pepper and parsley was grilled to perfection and served with Turkish rice pilav, a side of greens, house pickled red cabbage, and marinated onions. She enjoyed every bite and complemented her meal with a 9oz glass of Ancyra white wine ($16.50), which was light and refreshing.
To close the evening, we indulged in a classic Turkish dessert, Baklava ($9.99). The layers of fresh phyllo, walnuts, and crushed pistachios, finished with a simple syrup, were the perfect sweet ending to our meal.
Istanbul Kebab House continues to impress with its excellent food, cozy ambiance, and impeccable service. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a special occasion, this restaurant is a must-visit in Burlington. We’ll definitely be back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Adana Kebab
Conner Smith
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and fantastic staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hend Kim
I love the food and the environment. I love that they have Halal meat and chicken! Definitely, I will always go back!❤️
Amber Pacheco
ALL of the kebabs were delicious and we tried almost all of them. Perfectly seasoned and tender. The service wasn't amazing and as a table of two we got less attention than the big groups we were surrounded by. But overall the food was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter, Chicken Shish Kebab, Chicken Adana Kebab, Swordfish Kebab
Arjeta Beqiri
Great Place! Great Service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christel Lauderdale
Visiting from out of state. Loved the food!! This is authentic (not from a microwave as another reviewer inaccurately posted ?) Turkish food. The Meze platter was amazing! The Turkish salsa is a must try! The house made yogurt was so creamy and thick. The kabobs were juicy and tender, the lavash bread right off the grill. If you are in town, you need to try this place!
Vegetarian options: They have several vegetarian options. Try the falafel
Parking: There is paid parking options, but they are limited. Bring quarters!!
Recommended dishes: Kunefe, Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter, Beyti Kebab, Chicken Shish Kebab, Chicken Adana Kebab
Naila Al H
We got Adana kebab, tenderloin kebab and vegetarian platter. Very tasty but small portions for lunch. Kunefe for dessert. Incredible. Our host was super. Very accommodating of our kids and allergies. Highly recommend. We'd return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kunefe
Zeljko Stojanovic
If you go to Burlington you should stop at this place and try their Alexander Kebab. The best Kebab I’ve ever had. Dilek and Azem are great hosts. I will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter
Amrith Kumar
the Ayran was home made but someone burnt the milk - they shouldn't have used it. the stuffed eggplant and chicken sheekh kebab were great, as were the desserts.
service was awesome.
i had booked (and confirmed outdoor) but that was closed and had to sit indoor in a cramped, dingy room.
good, not great.
Dietary restrictions: some gluten free options available. as expected, vegetarian options are limited (makes sense).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkish Rice Pudding, Chicken Shish Kebab, Maple Baklava
Amazing service. Everyone from the hostess to the waitstaff was kind and welcoming. We drove an hour from Stowe because we heard great things about this restaurant.
Atmosphere was amazing and food looked great. Taste was a bit lacking. For an American audience, the food is solid but for someone who’s had Turkish cuisine this was decent at best.
The lentil soup and Turkish coffee were decent. The falafel could’ve used some salt. The kebabs could’ve used some more flavor. Rice pudding was barely a pudding and more like rice soup.
If you’re expecting amazing Turkish food, this isn’t the place for you, but if you’re expecting decent Turkish food with kind employees and a warm environment, this is the place for you.
The lamb was dry. Expensive and dry. Service was very slow. It was almost as if we had been forgotten about. I would likely try it again, but hopefully they will improve in these areas.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Jenni Burklund
Delicious! and I can’t stop craving it! A permanent bar has been set! This was a surprise when visiting our family in Vermont. Always up for something new was eager to try it. Our group of 7 shared the Turkish Meze Platter and the flavor is off the charts! By happy accident, given the size of our group, I was presented with the chicken Adana kebab vs the grilled chicken kebab. Although they offered right away to make the dish I ordered I decided to dig in and so I’m glad I did! It’s savory and satiating. Everyone loved their food and we often reflected through them remainder of the trip that this was our favorite spot. They even have a location closer to their home in Windsor! I can’t wait to go back! In the meantime I’m turning over every stone in Utah for anything that could mildly compare.
Really good place to eat. I had alexander and my fiancee had lamp govec. Both were just amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexandra Kit
We stopped at this place for a lunch and were not disappointed. Delicious food and great service. Big plus for being open earlier as most of other restaurants were opening afternoon only.
After our delightful first visit, my wife and I knew we had to come back to Istanbul Kebab House for a proper meal. Last week, we decided to turn our date night into something special with dinner at this Turkish gem followed by a Broadway musical, Newsies, at the Flynn Center. We made a reservation in advance, as this spot is quite popular in the evenings - especially when there's a play happening nearby.
The ambiance was inviting and warm, with soft lighting and traditional Turkish decor creating a perfect setting for a romantic evening. The service was exceptional, and our server, Alexandra B., made the experience even more memorable with his attentiveness and friendly demeanor.
We started with the Small Meze Platter ($16.99), an excellent choice for sharing. The platter featured haydari, hummus, babaganoush, Turkish salsa, and stuffed grape leaves, all served with soft lavash bread. For those seeking a gluten-free option, fresh-cut veggie sticks are available. Each dip and spread was bursting with flavor, making this a must-try appetizer.
For the main course, I chose from the Earthenware Casseroles and ordered the Lamb Guvec ($27.99). The tender, marinated lamb pieces combined with tomato, mushroom, onion, pepper, and eggplant were served sizzling hot, and the aroma alone was irresistible. It was hearty, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the recommended 9oz glass of Vinkara red wine ($16.50).
My wife selected the Chicken Adana Kebab ($22.99) from the Traditional Kebabs menu. The mildly spicy, hand-ground chicken seasoned with Turkish maraş pepper and parsley was grilled to perfection and served with Turkish rice pilav, a side of greens, house pickled red cabbage, and marinated onions. She enjoyed every bite and complemented her meal with a 9oz glass of Ancyra white wine ($16.50), which was light and refreshing.
To close the evening, we indulged in a classic Turkish dessert, Baklava ($9.99). The layers of fresh phyllo, walnuts, and crushed pistachios, finished with a simple syrup, were the perfect sweet ending to our meal.
Istanbul Kebab House continues to impress with its excellent food, cozy ambiance, and impeccable service. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a special occasion, this restaurant is a must-visit in Burlington. We’ll definitely be back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Adana Kebab
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and fantastic staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the food and the environment. I love that they have Halal meat and chicken! Definitely, I will always go back!❤️
ALL of the kebabs were delicious and we tried almost all of them. Perfectly seasoned and tender. The service wasn't amazing and as a table of two we got less attention than the big groups we were surrounded by. But overall the food was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter, Chicken Shish Kebab, Chicken Adana Kebab, Swordfish Kebab
Great Place! Great Service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Visiting from out of state. Loved the food!! This is authentic (not from a microwave as another reviewer inaccurately posted ?) Turkish food. The Meze platter was amazing! The Turkish salsa is a must try! The house made yogurt was so creamy and thick. The kabobs were juicy and tender, the lavash bread right off the grill. If you are in town, you need to try this place!
Vegetarian options: They have several vegetarian options. Try the falafel
Parking: There is paid parking options, but they are limited. Bring quarters!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkish Meze Platter, Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter, Chicken Shish Kebab, Meze Platter and Lavash Bread, Babaganoush, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Hummus
Fantastic! Loved every bit of it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kunefe, Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter, Beyti Kebab, Chicken Shish Kebab, Chicken Adana Kebab
We got Adana kebab, tenderloin kebab and vegetarian platter. Very tasty but small portions for lunch. Kunefe for dessert. Incredible.
Our host was super. Very accommodating of our kids and allergies. Highly recommend. We'd return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kunefe
If you go to Burlington you should stop at this place and try their Alexander Kebab. The best Kebab I’ve ever had. Dilek and Azem are great hosts. I will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tenderloin and Lamb Kebab Platter
the Ayran was home made but someone burnt the milk - they shouldn't have used it. the stuffed eggplant and chicken sheekh kebab were great, as were the desserts.
service was awesome.
i had booked (and confirmed outdoor) but that was closed and had to sit indoor in a cramped, dingy room.
good, not great.
Dietary restrictions: some gluten free options available. as expected, vegetarian options are limited (makes sense).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkish Rice Pudding, Chicken Shish Kebab, Maple Baklava
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing service. Everyone from the hostess to the waitstaff was kind and welcoming. We drove an hour from Stowe because we heard great things about this restaurant.
Atmosphere was amazing and food looked great. Taste was a bit lacking. For an American audience, the food is solid but for someone who’s had Turkish cuisine this was decent at best.
The lentil soup and Turkish coffee were decent. The falafel could’ve used some salt. The kebabs could’ve used some more flavor. Rice pudding was barely a pudding and more like rice soup.
If you’re expecting amazing Turkish food, this isn’t the place for you, but if you’re expecting decent Turkish food with kind employees and a warm environment, this is the place for you.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beyti Kebab, Turkish Rice Pudding, Chicken Shish Kebab, Salad, Soup
The lamb was dry. Expensive and dry. Service was very slow. It was almost as if we had been forgotten about. I would likely try it again, but hopefully they will improve in these areas.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Delicious! and I can’t stop craving it! A permanent bar has been set! This was a surprise when visiting our family in Vermont. Always up for something new was eager to try it. Our group of 7 shared the Turkish Meze Platter and the flavor is off the charts! By happy accident, given the size of our group, I was presented with the chicken Adana kebab vs the grilled chicken kebab. Although they offered right away to make the dish I ordered I decided to dig in and so I’m glad I did! It’s savory and satiating. Everyone loved their food and we often reflected through them remainder of the trip that this was our favorite spot. They even have a location closer to their home in Windsor! I can’t wait to go back! In the meantime I’m turning over every stone in Utah for anything that could mildly compare.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkish Meze Platter, Turkish Salsa, Chicken Shish Kebab, Meze Platter and Lavash Bread, Babaganoush, Hummus
Really good place to eat. I had alexander and my fiancee had lamp govec. Both were just amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We stopped at this place for a lunch and were not disappointed. Delicious food and great service.
Big plus for being open earlier as most of other restaurants were opening afternoon only.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkish Meze Platter
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