The Istanbul Grill and Bar has opened its doors at 1230 Broadway in Hewlett with a full menu of Turkish and Mediterranean meals that can be enjoyed with a substantial offering of wines and liquors.
Alex Ozer, Istanbul’s manager from Astoria, Queens, came to work in the restaurant with his father, Yasir Ilik, a chef who specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cooking. Ozer said they decided to focus on serving Turkish cuisine because there were no Turkish or Mediterranean restaurants in this area.
“Our name comes from Istanbul, the most popular and well-known city in Turkey,” he said. “The Five Towns needed more exotic cuisine here. Our Turkish cuisine does not come from anything frozen. We make everything fresh.”
Every single day, Istanbul Grill and Bar owner Aydener Aykanat picks up fresh seafood himself from Brooklyn and brings it to the restaurant.
Aykanat decided to bring his third Istanbul restaurant to Hewlett after the landlord of one of his other two Brooklyn eateries mentioned to him that the opportunity was available.
About three months ago, Aykanat and company began their renovations to the former site of the Mermaid restaurant. They installed chandeliers and painted the walls a creamy white to offset the natural wood floors they fixed. They even moved the bar out of its original corner.
“We moved it from the window to the middle of the room so that more people will come to the bar,” he said. “For example, on Sundays, we’d love for people to come here and watch football games with us. How will they be able to watch it if they’re crowded into the corner?”
The menu includes a variety of kebabs (grilled meats served on a skewer) paired with rice pilaf or salads. A selection of Turkish wines and liquors are featured at the bar. Baba ghanoush (eggplant salad) and dolma (grape leaves stuffed with rice, onions and herbs) are just a few appetizers they serve.
Beverly Lifschutz of Woodmere drives down Broadway on a regular basis, and one day, she happened to notice Istanbul was open. It also happened to be their very first day open to the public.
“I like the spices, the seasonings they use,” she said. “The owners really take everyone’s suggestions in preparing the food and making them happy. Since they opened, we’ve been here at least five times already.”
Her husband, Fred Lifschutz, said his favorite dish is the shepherd’s salad. “I need variety,” he said. “I can’t always eat Italian. This is unique to the neighborhood and I like that.”
Karen Horn of North Woodmere likes the atmosphere. “It’s beautiful décor, and great how they’re utilizing both sides of the restaurant,” she said. “The prices are reasonable, too.”
Aykanat is enjoying settling into the Five Towns, and said he’s excited for Istanbul’s future in it. “It’s quality food for a quality town,” he said. “My reputation as owner is very important to me. Without it, I’m nothing.”
Friday and Saturday nights require a reservation. Call (516) 218-2690 and for more information, visit their website at
www.istanbulgrillbar.com.
