A new restaurant, Istanbul Turkish Cuisine, has opened in the shopping center at NW 36th and May. It's under the same ownership as Cous Cous Café, but Istanbul's menu is slightly more upscale. Everything I had from the lintel soup to the meatballs were fantastic. The menu features a variety of kebabs, vegetarian options, and Turkish pizzas cooked in a wood fire oven.

The build out is very impressive, especially for a shopping center location. The dining area has nice rug patterned carpet and comfortable booths, and the visible portions of the kitchen and the pizza oven have beautiful glass mosaic walls.

The service was as good as the food, and the prices are extremely reasonable for what is presented.

This is within walking distance of my house, and I expect to be here often. I'm more than a little excited this has moved into the neighborhood.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/46/1802118/restaurant/Northwest-39-Street-Enclave/Istanbul-Turkish-Cuisine-Oklahoma-City

I ate there last night. I think there were some issues with service but not too bad and its to be expected with any new restaurant. Food was great! We'll definitely be back.

Gonna try this out -- maybe tonight.

http://a3.urbancdn.com/w/s/rH/lJDuzOUgMfhliv-640m.jpg

Help a non-foodie out here. Starting out at about 6 pm on the plate, you have:
meatballs on pita,
tomato wedge,
rice mix of unknown items
salad (presumed but looks unlike any I've tried)
not rice, but looks yummy anyway
a pepper of some sort?

Looks interesting, but I'm not all that certain what would be on my plate if that were mine. Oh, and it could use another meatball or three.

Help a non-foodie out here. Starting out at about 6 pm on the plate, you have:
meatballs on pita,
tomato wedge,
rice mix of unknown items
salad (presumed but looks unlike any I've tried)
not rice, but looks yummy anyway
a pepper of some sort?

Looks interesting, but I'm not all that certain what would be on my plate if that were mine. Oh, and it could use another meatball or three.

The meatballs are kebabs. Look like beef but could be lamb.

The rice apppears to be a basmati but I can't make out what other spices might be in it. Looks like maybe pine nuts.

The item next to the pepper looks like it could be cous cous.

That pepper definitely looks like a jalapeno.

It all definitely looks tasty!

That's not my picture, but that was the meal I ordered last night:

Those meatballs are actually meatballs (Kofte or "cheesy meatballs" on their menu), which were at least treated differently on the menu from the kebabs. They are lamb and beef, with a cheese (mozzarella, I believe). They were fantastic.

They called the rice a pilaf, but it's mostly basmati.

The darker side is cous cous, but was different than other cous cous I've had. Still very good.

The tomato and the jalapeno were grilled and served chilled.

And yes, it is all very tasty.

I know this isn't a big project that will get a lot of attention on this site, but this is a high quality restaurant that I want very badly to succeed. The location is a little bit hidden, so you definitely need to know to look for it.

Here are a few pictures of the interior from their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Istanbul-Turkish-Cuisine/157050844505871

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I know this isn't a big project that will get a lot of attention on this site, but this is a high quality restaurant that I want very badly to succeed. The location is a little bit hidden, so you definitely need to know to look for it.

Is it in the spot that Taste of Egypt used to be in?

Mr. Cotter,
I'm no food expert, but can't a pilaf be made from any kind of rice? I think pilaf is the preparation, Basmati is the type of rice.
They called the rice a pilaf, but it's mostly basmati.

I believe so. It's the furthest south-east location in the shopping center.

Mr. Cotter,
I'm no food expert, but can't a pilaf be made from any kind of rice? I think pilaf is the preparation, Basmati is the type of rice.

You are correct. A Pilaf, or Pilav as it would be called in Turkey, is rice cooked in a broth with seasonings and the rice used in this pilav does appear to be Basmati.

I believe so. It's the furthest south-east location in the shopping center.

Yep that was Taste of Egypt.... I'm guessing they took the buffet out?

You are correct. A Pilaf, or Pilav as it would be called in Turkey, is rice cooked in a broth with seasonings and the rice used in this pilav does appear to be Basmati.

That's what I think. It was a pilaf that used basmati rice. This ain't Luby's.

Yep that was Taste of Egypt.... I'm guessing they took the buffet out?

They did. There was no buffet, just waiter service.

My family ate there tonight. It was fantastic! Very nice atmosphere, super fresh ingredients. The service was friendly and helpful. I had the chef's special, which was rotis beef / lamb in a tomato sauce. It was delicious, and it's weird to complain about this, but it was actually too much meat for me. Would have been nice to have some vegetables on the side. Wife had beef / lamb shish, which was outstanding. My daughter tried the mozzarella / spinach pizza. Turkish pizza has a light, crispy crust, and they cook the pizza in their wood-fired oven.

The proprietors of this restaurant have really put together a solid and varied menu, and have gone out of their way in the renovation to create a very nice dining ambiance. I'm sure Istanbul will be in regular rotation.

Do they have meat options without lamb? I don't care for lamb.

Do they have meat options without lamb? I don't care for lamb.

Yes.

There are several all beef options, a few vegetarian entrées, and even a chicken sandwich on the menu.

Are they open for lunch?

Facebook says 11 am to 10 pm daily.