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Just a short walk from Exeter city centre, Istanbul Restaurant has quickly built a strong reputation. With ratings of 4.9 on Google and 4.8 on TripAdvisor, we were curious to see if it lived up to the praise.
We visited for lunch and, judging by how busy it was, we were not the only ones drawn in by the promise of Turkish food fresh from the charcoal grill. apart from us, at least six groups of 2 to 6 people were seen dining on a Saturday afternoon.
The restaurant itself makes a good first impression. The interior is clean and attractive, with tasteful décor and well-dressed front of house staff. There is a relaxed but lively atmosphere, the sort of place that works equally well for a casual lunch or a special dinner.
For the three of us, we decided to share a selection of dishes:
- Mixed Cold Meze with pitta bread
- Mixed Grill with rice
- Apple tea to drink
Our food took a little while to arrive. We noticed it more because we had arrived hungry, but the staff remained friendly throughout.
Mixed Cold Meze
The Mixed Cold Meze is designed as a sampler of the restaurant’s cold starters, and it arrived as a colourful spread of dips, salads and stuffed vine leaves served with warm pitta bread. It’s literally everything in the Meze section of their menu. Our waitress took the time to explain each of the dips and salads on the meze platter, which was a thoughtful touch and helped us appreciate the variety in front of us.
The platter included:
- Hummus
- Cacik
- Kisir
- Sarma
- Şakşuka
- Spicy Ezme
- Mixed Olives
- Smoky Patlican Ezme (similar to baba ganoush)
- Ispanak Tarator
The hummus was smooth, rich and creamy, with just enough garlic and lemon. The cacik, made with yoghurt, cucumber and dill, was refreshing and cooling, especially alongside the more heavily spiced dishes.
The kisir brought something different to the platter: a Turkish bulgur salad with chopped vegetables and tomato dressing that added a pleasant bite and a touch of sweetness.
The sarma, vine leaves stuffed with rice and spices, were neatly rolled and nicely balanced, while the şakşuka combined fried aubergine and peppers with tomato sauce and yoghurt for a richer, more comforting flavour.
We particularly enjoyed the spicy ezme, at least for me who loves spicy food. Finely chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers and herbs gave it a fresh heat that worked brilliantly scooped up with warm pitta.
The smoky aubergine dip was another favourite especially for my wife, full of charred flavour and wonderfully smooth. The ispanak tarator, a spinach and yoghurt dip, added a creamy, earthy contrast to the rest of the selection.
It was a lovely platter and a great introduction to Turkish meze. For three people, however, the portion felt a little on the small side. We found ourselves scraping the last of the dips from the plate and wishing we had ordered an extra starter or another side to go with it. Then again, we arrived hungry.
Mixed Grill with Rice
For our main course, although we did ask that both dishes be served at the same time, we chose the Mixed Grill served with rice.
This included:
- 1 Adana kebab skewer
- 3 cubes of chicken shish
- 3 cubes of lamb shish
- 1 lamb chop
- 3 chicken wings
The meats had all been cooked over charcoal, which gave them a lovely smoky flavour.
The Adana kebab had a gentle heat and plenty of seasoning. The chicken shish was tender and juicy, while the lamb shish had that rich flavour you hope for from properly cooked lamb.
The lamb chop was a bit dry for our taste. It was definitely smokey but was perhaps a little over cooked.
The chicken wings were crisp around the edges, and tender and juicy inside. Every bite was jammed full of flavour. It took us back to our visit to Ortaklar Lahmacun and Kebap restaurant located on Peykhane Cad. No 27/A in Istanbul many years back.
As for the side, we chose rice instead of chips, and it worked well with the grilled meat, soaking up the juices and balancing the stronger flavours from the kebab and lamb. The mixed grill was also served with a generous portion of salad.
Again, the quality was very good. The meat was clearly cooked with care and tasted fresh and well seasoned. That said, as with the meze platter, we felt the portion was a little modest for three people sharing. Another side dish, perhaps some salad, extra rice or another skewer, would have rounded things out better.
Apple Tea
To wash it down, we ordered apple teas, a classic Turkish touch. Served hot and fragrant, it was light, sweet and refreshing to go with our meal. Although, as it took a while for our food to arrive, we had nearly finished our Apple Teas.
Service and Atmosphere
One thing that stood out was the friendliness of the staff. Even though the restaurant was busy and there was a wait for food, everyone remained welcoming and attentive.
Many other diners mention the same thing in their reviews: warm service, beautifully presented food and thoughtful gestures such as complimentary desserts or tea. A number of customers also praise the generous portions, especially on the sharing platters and grills, so perhaps we simply ordered too conservatively for three people.
We did see the Sharing Platter option for two or four which might worked for us. Something to remember for our next visit. Here is the description for the Platters.
- Platter for Two: A generous feast of one skewer of chicken shish, one köfte, two tender lamb ribs, two juicy Iamb chops, and a skewer of flavourful chicken wings – all expertly charcoal-cooked for a smoky finish served with rice, bulgur or chips.
- Platter for Four: same as the above but with a skewer of lamb ribs and four perfectly cooked lamb chops served with rice, bulgur or chips.
The atmosphere is another reason people seem to return. The lighting, décor and music create a warm and comfortable setting that feels polished without becoming formal.
Istanbul Restaurant is easy to see why it has become one of the most talked-about Turkish restaurants in Exeter.
The food is flavourful and freshly prepared, especially the charcoal grilled meat and the wide variety of meze. The service is warm, the surroundings are inviting, and there is clearly a lot of care behind the experience.
Our only criticism is that the dishes we ordered did not quite stretch comfortably between three people, food took a while to arrive and our lamb chop was a little over done.. Next time, we would simply order one more dish or side or try the platter for two. There will certainly be a next time.
For anyone looking for authentic Turkish food in Exeter, Istanbul Restaurant is well worth a visit.
