A Thousand Tales Restaurant / Bakery & Cafe

The perfect place for Mediterranean food, especially Turkish cuisine! You’ll find delicious dishes like İskender kebab, köfte, lahmacun, pide, and a traditional Turkish breakfast. On weekends, they offer a breakfast buffet with a wide variety of authentic Turkish dishes, perfect for a relaxed and tasty start to your day. The café is also a great spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or Turkish tea with a variety of sweet treats. The Crumble Pistachio coffee is the best I’ve ever had! 😋 The place is amazing, with a beautiful Mediterranean-style setup. The owner and waiters are such kind and welcoming people. ❤️❤️

Very popular Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant with tasty dishes. Polite and somewhat formal staff. The food looked delicious and we all enjoyed our meals. The music was at times played too loud, but then was lowered again. Overall, a very pleasant experience and I would return. Note that 18% tip is included on your bill.

The look of the place is very impressive - especially the bakery! The bakery is worth a stop if you are eating here or not. There is plenty of seating including a very comfortable space added to the front of the restaurant. All of the food was as good as it looked and the part that I took home still tasted great after being heated up. The only problem that we had (It was on a Friday evening) was that the server kept forgetting about us. Not sure if they started to get busy or the kitchen was backed up or not. We had gotten there a little early without a reservation but left plenty of time since we were seeing a show in the area. That extra time ticked away while waiting for service more than once. They could have been short handed or extra busy but a little attention can go a long way in making a customer feel like they mattered. ESPECIALLY, since the menu told me that they were getting an 18% tip no matter what the service was like. It wasn't worth 18%

wonderful place, we really loved Turkish restaurant , all the dishes are incredibly delicious, the staff is excellent, the atmosphere is magical and relaxing. And the desserts in the Bakery are very cool, because they do not have a lot of sugar (does not interrupt the taste), which is often sold in ordinary stores. I have never booked, it is good that there are always enough free seats. The wait for the dishes is good, there is no intrusive music, everything is quite simple, beautiful and cozy. I want to come back and enjoy in A Thousand Fairy Tales

This is by far the most beautiful café in the area, with a warm, inviting atmosphere and a cozy ambiance. We've visited multiple times and tried many of the sweets they offer — and I can honestly say they all taste delicious! My little son absolutely adores this place; he thinks he needs to take off his shoes when he sits down because of the rug. 😄 The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming. All in all, I would highly recommend this café and wouldn’t hesitate to bring any guest here if I had to choose a place that best represents this area!

Beyond amazing! Such a wonderful atmosphere in both the bakery side and the dine-in side. The food was beyond amazing, with a great key to make eating vegetarian a breeze - so many delicious choices! Will absolutely encourage anyone and everyone to check this place out!

We celebrated our son’s first birthday at A Thousand Tales last night with a big group, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The food and cake were beyond delicious, the atmosphere was magical, and the staff went above and beyond to make everything seamless. Every little detail was taken care of with so much care and attention. Thank you, A Thousand Tales, for turning such a special day into an unforgettable memory!

We had a fantastic experience here! The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal. The food was absolutely delicious — everything tasted fresh, full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Prices were reasonable for the quality of food and service. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great local spot!

First time at a Turkish restaurant and it was amazing. The portions were generous and reasonably good priced. The staff were kind and helpful. The food was flavorful and comforting. I liked that at the end they had some Turkish coffee! And we got the chance to grab stuff from their bakery and then it was brought to our table. The Turkish delight was my favorite! Definitely a unique and nice place to try out some great new food!

Amazing food! The restaurant is family owned by the kindest people, but every single person takes pride in their work. I recognized the fresh ingredients used in the chicken shish kebabs, fries, & pomegranate salad. Connected to the restaurant is their Delicious bakery full of fresh baked goods & desserts, including the Dubai chocolate. I enjoy the choco berry cake & visit the cafe with family for tea. They are family friendly with great ambiance. They also have snacks from Turkey and food to go! They are also listed on TooGoodToGo; Can't wait to be back for more!

how have I not been to this place sooner?! everything we had here was DELICIOUS!! I am still thinking about the lamb chop; it was so well cooked, tender, and the right amount of char. We wanted to the try the hummus and falafel and we definitely over ordered, because we were able to finish everything- so that tells you that portions here are pretty large!! The dessert was just great!! It was our first time having Turkish delight and we loved it. We also enjoyed the baklava especially the pistachio one!! The service was awesome! Our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we wanted. I am excited to bring friends and family here!

We came here for lunch. The service was great even though the place was very busy! They had a lunch menu which is good from 11 am to 5 pm (Monday - Friday), price is very reasonable and good portion size too! We ordered: 1. Lunch Beef Doner $14 - thin strips of beef with tortilla 2. Lahmacum $8 - this had two large tortillas with ground meat on top. (I like this the best) 3. Lunch Chicken Adana $14 4. 3 choices of cold appetizer mix plate $13 - baba ghanoush, beet dip, hummus (all the dips were really tasty, my fav was the beet) Then we also order the Adana Kebab -$29, not really worth it, it look the same as the lunch chicken Adana except it was double in price and it was with beef! They serve bread (very soft and good) with olive oil mixed with spices! they also serve complimentary hot tea! Overall, it was very good and definitely will come back and try other menu entrees!

Had a great lunch at A thousand tales. The value is great as the portions for lunch specials are awesome. Great complimentary tea as well. This is hospitality! Loved the experience a sthe staff was really good and the food matched as well. Good value. It was quite busy for a Wednesday afternoon, most of the tables were full and active. We ordered mainly off the lunch specials and ate them family style because why not? We were pleased with the food, great value and portion. We had a great time. The stoneware and decor is excellent as well as they have a refined experience. I'll definitely be back. Plenty of parking and also EV charging (evgo) in the strip mall.

UGH! OBSESSED! A Thousand Tales is a lovely restaurant that also has a bakery/cafe. This Mediterranean spot is family owned and has so much love to it. My most recent visit was for a weekend lunch and it was paaaaacked. Service started out great but then got very slow. My friend and I attempted to get our server's attention several times but, that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. We were understanding of how busy it was so it wasn't a problem for us. We had gotten our food at that point so our bellies were happy. For food I tried the mushroom guvec and devoured it. It was full of bold flavors and was absolutely delicious. My goal was to bring leftovers home for my husband... that didn't happen, haha! I ate EVERYTHING and was so full, but, there was no sharing this meal. It was waaaaay too good not to eat in 1 sitting. DO NOT SKIP ON THEIR BAKERY!!! Even though I didn't save any room for dessert, I got it anyway. I tried a slice of the chocolate mouse cake and goodness it was moist, rich, and delicious. I would order this every single time I'm there.

Went here for a quick snack on way to airport - Ohare! It's like 10 min away from the airport. They have separate dining and coffee/ dessert lounge area. We sat in the lounge. Both the areas were super busy and quite crowded. They have outdoor seating as well. In the lounge we need to order before we seat. Got two coffees and a couple of cake bites for snacking! Over all good experience.

We went out to dinner with one of our Turkish friends and she recommended we come here to try out authentic cuisine. It's located in a plaza and easily the best looking establishment. There is some outdoor seating on a turf patio. As you enter, the establishment there is an entrance to the bakery and an entrance to the restaurant. There is a large dining room with large tables indicating that they are used to serving large groups. There is also a large banquet hall on the north end of the building. When you get to the table you're greeted with bread and a seasoned olive oil. It was quite delicious. My wife and I split the Tales Grill. The lamb chops were perfectly cooked and made me wished I had ordered some more. We also ordered some Lahmacun to share with the table. That was a really tasty bite. I wish I had tried some of the bakery food. This was a solid spot and clear that it is a cultural staple within the community.

There's a thousand other restaurants from which you'll have better tales to tell. We had a 5:30 reservation, so were able to order off the a la carte menu. There was a Ramadan buffet menu starting at 6pm, $35pp, which I wasn't aware of, from reserving on Yelp. The cuisine is Turkish/Mediterranean, and there are plenty of choices. Prices are quite elevated. $17 for a mixed hot appetizer plate, which had 2 mozzarella sticks, 2 falafels, a fried meat dumpling, 2 crispy cheese rolls, and a couple dollops of hummus. My salmon was $35 and tasted very mediocre, with the few potatoes barely cooked through and the salad overdressed. My kids ordered the cheese pizza, which has a very thin crust. My husband tried the meat pide, which was like a thin meat flatbread for $23. The service was off putting, as the waiter only made eye contact with my husband and directed all comments and questions to him, despite us being a party of 4. "Anything else, sir?" "Enjoy the appetizer, sir." "Can I bring anything else, sir?" I wouldn't return to dine here, on this alone. With the food mediocre and the high prices, I definitely won't be back and don't recommend it. We tried 2 cake slices from the bakery, and it would have made sense for us to pack up our entree leftovers and clear away the dirty dishes and silverware, but the waiter brought the desserts out with everything still on the table and cluttered up. 18% gratuity is automatically added to all bills, regardless of party size. Easy parking in the big lot. The restaurant is located in a dated strip mall. I had this place bookmarked for well over a year and am extremely disappointed with the experience here. Skip it.

One of the cutest coffee shops in the neighborhood with amazing Turkish desserts. Sweet tooth people s heaven. Staff is polite and helpful and also provides quick service Ambiance was cozy and comfortable. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends or a mini date.

It was the worst and most expensive meal I've ever had in my life. I wanted the salad myself, you didn't even give it with it. This is not Turkish pide! There is only ground beef in this pita and the dough is very hard. As a Turk, I condemn you. A lousy meal in a fancy box. I will never come again!

I am seeing good reviews on this place but never been. Finally went there on Saturday morning to have brunch and they have a buffet. We went around 11:45am and the buffet ends at 1230pm. We still decided to eat because the spread of food looks amazing. They have lots of choices, omelet and pancake bar, cheeses and dips. I love they dips with honey. They are not too sweet and goes well with the cheeses. I really love the sheep cheese. There are different food also like the menemen which is good, chicken kabob, sausages, different savory breads with or without filling called borek and pasha. Love each of them. Turkish bagel is good too dipped with turkish cream cheese. You can ask for the tea is a pot which looks really pretty. Service is superb. They are very attentive. They charge $35 for the buffet but I think it's worth it. I will surely come back here. There is a bakery also. I haven't bought anything but everything looks good. They have the famous Dubai chocolate and cake. Will try next time.

I came with my family for the breakfast buffet. The food is beautifully staged. There are plenty of fresh and clean options as well as an omelet and pancake/waffle station. I enjoyed the food but I was disappointed that the only drink options included are water and coffee. Also, for such a large restaurant, there are only two bathroom stalls in the women's restroom. The bathroom is very dark inside and it gets cramped when waiting for a stall to open because it's such a small bathroom. Regardless, we enjoyed the food and I'd probably go back to try the dinner buffet.

When I wrote my review of the "It's a Meze Party! Yelp Elite Event at A Thousand Tales," I promised a sequel--and here it is! I'm excited to share that we celebrated my husband's birthday at A Thousand Tales, and I'm so glad we did. After having such an amazing Yelp event here, I had set the bar high, and the restaurant exceeded every expectation! From start to finish, every member of the staff was friendly and welcoming. The maître d', our server, and even those cleaning tables or simply passing by were warm and attentive. A special shout-out goes to the manager, Bugra (pronounced bu-gra), who went above and beyond. Not only did he greet us personally, but he also checked in several times throughout the evening. He even asked my husband about his cake flavor preference and personally delivered the yummy complimentary "White Dream" cake with two firework candles with our server, all while the birthday song played with Turkish music in the background. It was such a fun, celebratory touch! A Thousand Tales is a family-run business, and as they proudly say on their website, they treat every patron like a guest--not just a customer. The venue itself was elegant and beautiful, with white tablecloths that added to the ambiance. We were seated in the last booth in the corner, which offered a bit of privacy thanks to the high backs. It was a pleasant surprise to see the restaurant bustling on a Tuesday evening, and even more so that many of the patrons were Turkish. That's always a great sign for authenticity! For dinner, we started with Turkish Wedding Soup, Falafel with Hummus, a Tales Salad (a delightful mix of mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cheese, orange, walnuts, carrots, and pomegranate, all drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil), and the Tales Grill, which is a hearty platter for two to three people, featuring chicken shish, lamb shish, adana kabob, lamb chops, lamb shawarma, and meatballs. The ingredients were incredibly fresh--this was especially noticeable in the salad and even in the berries used in the birthday cake! My husband and I shared the Turkish Wedding Soup for the first time, and it was rich, creamy, and flavorful, with a perfect balance of beef and yogurt. The three of us shared the rest of the dishes, and everything was fresh and tasty. The lamb chops from the Tales Grill were my favorite--tender and bursting with flavor. The falafel was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, though I should note that they were served as six flattened pieces rather than the four round falafels shown in the menu. The flattened falafel pieces were a little harder and had a slightly less green filling than the round ones, but they were still delicious. We had freshly squeezed drinks--lemonade for me and orange juice for our daughter. Hubby ordered a large pot of hot tea and they gave each of us a nice glass teacup to share, and they generously refilled the entire pot toward the end of our dinner. This was a truly satisfying and memorable birthday celebration, and I'm already looking forward to the next sequel!

A wonderful meal at this establishment the other night. We went for a weeknight meal and I would say the place was still consistently busy even having initial sit downs even as late as 8:30pm. The space is beautiful and had a great atmosphere. Very conducive to sitting and chatting for awhile after dinner. We ordered the babaganoush and the Tales Grill to share. The babaganoush was good, you could definitely taste that it was freshly prepared. The Tales Grills is a decent portion enough for 2-3 people to share with a wide variety of grilled meats, about 2 pieces of each of the grilled meats. The flavor for each of the meats was excellent. They also give you bread to start with an olive oil dip, very good bread, not your typical complimentary bread. The service is phenomenal, the staff is very attentive but not trying to push you out or rush you. After your meal they offer tea to drink. Overall a great experience and I would love to come back to try some other items on the menu.

After trying A Thousand Tales Restaurant / Bakery & Cafe at a Yelp event, a bunch of us wanted to back and try some more. We got the Tales Family Grill (combination of chicken shish, lamb shish, Adana kabob ,lamb chops, beef doner, meatballs, beyti kabob, lahmacun, mix salad, rice, bulgur and French fries) to try their most popular items. This tasted just as good as we remembered. The meat was fantastic and it includes surprises like how good the bulgur tastes. After the main course, I went into their bakery and had a slice of the chocolate mousse cake. This was ok but could have had a richer flavor. A Thousand Tales Restaurant / Bakery & Cafe has amazing food and I highly recommend it. A note about service. Our waitress stood near our table all night, which was awkward, but I still had to ask for water three times throughout our meal.

I've been here before for an event and I'm happy to say the place holds up! This spot is phenomenal! Amazing food and wonderful service in a comfortable space, what more could you want? I met some friends for a long overdue dinner, we had about 10 people, and we had a great time. We ordered the giant platter with everything... 2 of them actually. Love the presentation on this one, they set off some dry ice before setting it down. Very cool effect! The food itself is fantastic, all fresh and grilled to perfection. Everything on this plate is good, even the fries stand out. Some favorites of mine are the bulgur wheat and the beyti (spelling?) Kabob. The chops are picture perfect as well. Don't leave without hitting the cafe and getting some dessert to take home! They really shine with their cakes and authentic sweets, you can't go wrong here. Really I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a trek from me but worth every minute of the trip, so don't miss out and stop by!

Came in with a group of 9 for work dinner and had a fantastic experience. We got 2 of the large meat platters (the 150$ option) and a few apps, and it was the perfect amount of food for the group. The platter had a ton of good stuff but the Lamb Chops were definitely the star of the show. There was also a pigs in a blanket type thing that was frickin delicious. I would recommend the Iskender as well. Gyro meat smothered in some type of sauce, hard to go wrong. Losing a star here for service. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit slow to be able to order drinks and it seemed like they were out of everything to drink lol. I ended up getting a san pelligrino and they brought the whole 1L bottle with no cups. Small stuff, but was kinda funny. Anyways, 100% would go back here with a big group. Lovely evening.

I've heard nothing but good things about this place and have finally had a chance to try it and let me see it definitely lives up to the hype. A group of friends and I made reservations and they were able to accommodate our group of eleven. Our server was attentive and gave us enough time to look through the menu. Being a large group we decided to order the mixed hot appetizer plate and the tales family grill, a pide with kashkaval cheese. The presentation of the food was amazing and the taste was spectacular. There was plenty of food to share and everyone got a chance to try everything they wanted. Their lamb seasoned delicious, surprisingly their fries are addicting. They did not miss at all. Make sure to save room for dessert. They also have a bakery connected to it where you can get your fill of Turkish treats.

I went to the restaurant for lunch a few weeks before and had some grilled meat. It was great. I came back for the open buffet. It cost $50 pp, which I thought was a lot. There was a lot of food, like grilled chicken, lamb, salads, kids meal, hummus and a dessert table. It was all very delicious. The wait staff was nice and attentive. It was a good experience. I plan to go there for the regular lunch again.

This is my first time eating at this restaurant and trying the Father's Day open buffet. The price was $50 pp which was kind of pricey. There was a lot of food and the place was crowded. I tried the chicken lamb kebabs. They were good. They also had various hummus, a kids buffet and a nice assortment of dessert. The service was quick and friendly. I will have to come back and try the ala carte menu, I think the prices are more reasonable.

This place is amazing i went for a Ramadan event. had a full meal with lentil soup cucumber tomato salad with complimentary Ramadan special baked bread it was delicious couldn't stop eating it. also got some hot appetizer sampler with falafel hummus and farmer cheese egg rolls. order chicken kebab plate and beef shawarma entree. then got delicious dessert almond coconut pudding and Tres leches cake. everything was well seasoned not spicy and the desserts weren't overly sweet either. I bought a Dubai chocolate at the bakery brought it home and it was super delicious. the owner even stopped by the table to check in to make sure everything was good. Def I'll be back again I loved this place. highly recommend coming here for a nice dining experience

I was really excited to try their breakfast but didn't realize they only serve the buffet option for breakfast. when i click on their website, i went straight for their menu option and should have scrolled down to see the reservation tab where they show the price. the buffet definitely had a lot of standard breakfast items like eggs, omelette, cheese. berries... with SOME turkish food I got to try. I've been here before for their food so was a little disappointed at the lack of turkish food options. in addition, they charge 18% for tip automatically and they did not explain what was included. If i knew what was included i would have ordered more items that were not out on the buffet table. apparently you can order drinks from the menu and they are included? it was not clear at all and it was basically $45 for me to eat standard breakfast food. There was also little to no direction on who to place our drink orders with since we were sat in the other room away from the food and away from staff. I hope they offer more unique menu options. their turkish tea is just so dang good though.

This was my first time going to a Turkish restaurant. The parking lot gets insanely busy on Saturday nights, I had to circle around to find a spot. When you walk in, they have a bakery on the left side and the restaurant on the right side. I recommend securing a reservation on the weekend just to be on the safe side. Luckily, I made one since all of the tables were occupied. Service was friendly and they checked up on us often. There were 3 of us so the portions were more than generous. Pricing was fair since there are not too many Turkish restaurants around. We went to the bakery after dinner for dessert. By that time, most of the people in the bakery had already left. -Turkish wedding soup 5 - I should have ordered a bowl of this. The yogurt taste is subtle and it's more of an after taste. The beef is very tender and juicy, the texture reminds me of beef stroganoff. -lahmacun (Turkish pizza) 5 - this is very light so best to use as an appetizer. It's grounded beef and you use the fresh ingredients as toppings. -adana kabob 5 - the meat is ground lamb and beef blended. It's tender and robust with flavor. Remember to eat it with the bread, tomato, yogurt sauce, and grilled pepper -Tales grill 5 - we got the smaller one made for 2-3 people. It was more than enough for 3 people. The combo has chicken shish, lamb shish, adana kabob, lamb chops, lamb shawarma, and meatballs. There was also bread on the bottom, white rice, and bulgur pilaf. This is also great if you don't know what to get. -beyti kabob 5 - this is grilled ground beef and lamb wrapped in flatbread. So, you want to eat the kabob with the yogurt, tomato, and grilled pepper in one bite. You'll have a more flavorful bite. -tres leches 5 - I love how moist and easy to eat this is. This is a nice dessert after a filling meal. -kazandibi 5 - classic Turkish dessert. It's a caramelized milk pudding. It's not heavy. It was delicious, I wished I had a huge piece of this. -creme brulee 5 - everyone knows of this. Not as creamy as the Balkan version but still pretty good.

What a lovely restaurant and cafe. We arrived for lunch and were seated immediately. They had some lunch specials that were very reasonable and delicious! I ordered the chicken Adana and it was moist and flavorful. It came with seasoned bulgur, yogurt sauce, vegetables and pita. It was the perfect portion! There was tea offered as well! Next to the restaurant, there was a cafe where you can order desserts, tea and coffee. All looked delicious!

Food was delicious. It's just disappointing that the dish that I want to order was in the menu but was not available. I wanted green tea to go with my dessert; and they only had black tea.

Sometimes you find a restaurant so good that it is practically category defining. A Thousand Tales is one of these restaurants for Mediterranean food. We recently had a holiday dinner before the busy Christmas and Hannukah holidays and despite having people come from as far as Gurnee and Naperville, the party decided we had to go to A Thousand Tales, despite it being nearly an hour drive (through a snow storm) for some people. Fortunately, this perseverance was well rewarded with one of the most delicious meals I've had in my life. Outside of the delicious food --- this restaurant fits many needs for hosting a large party well. The dining room is spacious and able to be configured to fit large parties (we had 12), the service is quick and friendly, prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food that you're getting, there's plenty of parking, and the bakery/cafe side of the business gives an option for casually sitting around to chat after you've finished your main meal. Bread lovers are in luck here as everything from the dinner bread to the pide with kashkaval cheese is delicious. I've had the Tales Family grill every visit but this is so delicious and full of variety that I can see myself continuing to get this over and over again the future. The chicken and lamb shish are super tender and flavorful without being overly salty. The Adana kebab is probably the best anywhere in the area as the lamb flavor comes out well with a perfect mix of spices and herbs and a good strong charcoal flavor. The lamb chops are always a favorite as they are incredibly tender and flavorful and match the quality of the ones that I've had at Concorde banquets. The beef doner is pretty good, though if given other options this would be the item I'd skip if I'm too full. The beyti kabob is bar far the best I've had anywhere. The flavor is incredibly savory and satisfying and the mix of tomato sauce and yogurt is absolutely perfect. The lahmacun had just the right amount of dough to meat ratio and went well with all the other items. I was also quite surprised at how much effort there was to prepare the rice, bulgur, and french fries to the same level of delicious flavor and textures as the other items in the family grill. Instead of being an afterthought, these all matched very well with all the other food. Overall, this is one of the restaurants worth going out of your way for. The food is exceptional and you'll remember it long after you've dined here.

Wow, if you like Turkish food or food in general try this. It's wonderful made with love and fresh ingredients. The service, the ambience A plus. The lamb chops were delicious so tender and moist seasoned beautifully . The bread the wonderful dips, beautiful presentation. The staff and the owners top notch. This has been on my radar and was thrilled to finally try this gastronomic delight. If you love top quality fresh food made with lots of love , please come here Huge space great place to have a party. Or dine in for two. They have an outdoor area which is very nice. The indoor area was lovely. Looking forward to coming back with the kids .

I've never actually ate here. I had never even heard of the restaurant until an anti food waste app. I'm so glad I opted to check it out. I ordered 3 bags to go. I couldn't believe the quality and quantity of the food I received for the price. They each included a bag of bread, soup, rice, and like a bulger/farro in a tomato sauce and a can of coke. The entrees varied- one bag was chicken leg quarters with potato, one was a stuffed eggplant, and the last was a kabob with vegetables. I tasted everything and it was all very good. The rice was some of the best I had ever had. The farro/burger dish was interesting. The bread was phenomenal!! It was so light and airy with a sesame and maybe cumin seed? Topping. The eggplant was a bit greasy. Chicken had a nice flavor. The kebab was very tasty (probably my favorite). The restaurant itself is so beautiful inside and out on the patio. I will definitely need to come back and experience the full service.

Lovely restaurant, bakery, and events hall with super friendly and accommodating staff and upscale ambiance and decor. This place is a true hidden gem in every sense of the phrase. The food is very fresh and flavorful and surprising consistent. I've been here 3 times and the wait from when your order to when your dishes arrive is faster than going to most fast food places, that's because they're always busy and always cooking everything. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for something different.

The food was excellent. We got a mix of different meat to try. Delicious , tender and full of flavors. The service was great too

The service and food here were amazing! My friend and I ordered and split the Tales Family Mixed Grill dish and it was to die for, so good! The bakery attached to this restaurant is amazing too! I got a few desserts, one being a chocolate custard mousse cake and it was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend coming to eat at this Establishment!

A Thousand Tales is my new favorite restaurant. Authentic and real, fresh, high-quality food. I loved my dinner here so much that I came back the very next morning to try their breakfast, which I also highly recommend. Their bakery is also really impressive, a huge selection of pastries, cookies, sweet, that are all homemade. I will be a regular customer here, and there's no doubt about it.

I attended a Yelp Elite event here in the back room (which I reviewed separately on the event page), but I couldn't help but swing by the bakery on my way out...even though I had a bag full of leftover desserts from the event. Everything we tried at the event was delicious, so I wanted to take a closer look at the bakery and take advantage of being there to see what else I wanted to try. Omg. The display cases are overwhelming -- everything looks incredible. The pistachio fudge was calling my name in particular. I didn't even know pistachio fudge was a thing until I saw it in the display case....and now my life will never be the same. I love that they include the main ingredients on the little cards in the display case (e.g., one item specified "alcohol-free vanilla", which is lovely given that alcohol content may be a concern for many). There are SO MANY OPTIONS in the cafe and bakery that it will take many visits -- possibly years -- to try everything, but I am up for the challenge. The staff in the bakery were very kind and helpful. I really want to come back and try to Turkish coffee, too. I didn't opt for that last night because I didn't need the caffeine (especially after having tea and an espresso dessert at the event), but I will absolutely come back here sometime during the day and settle in in the coffee shop lounge area to get some work done or relax and read. It looks like they have board games available on the shelves, too. And, not to mention, I absolutely want to come back to the restaurant and try more options (the hummus and falafel in particular, but so many other great dishes, too). Such a great vibe, and not at all what I would expect being just a few minutes from O'Hare in a kind of more industrial area. A great hidden gem.

FRESH Ok that says it all. The food was so fresh you can taste it in every bite. Inhave never had Turkish food but I will go again. The place was huge inside. They have a bakery, restaurant and a large room for events or dinners. The servers were so good they explained all we were having. We had an all kinds of wonderful dishes. Fresh fresh fresh. Oh and dessert. I don't want to tell you about that. It will mean more for me.. I don't the names of what I had but nothing was bad it was all phenomenal. Definitely will be going back early to making plans heard they have a buffet. We are going to maybe try to go to that too and I've told my friends about this place already.

This family owned restaurant is fabulous. You feel like a part of the family when you dine there. I've been there on a couple occasions. I've sampled the lamb, chicken, salads and appetizers. I can't say enough about the deliciousness! They take pride in their service and fresh food and bakery. Did I say bakery? Their Cafe has a wide array of homemade goods. I always have to take some home! Highly recommend A Thousand Tales!

Had lunch here thursday and it didnt disappoint. We did our homework before going and husband and I decided on Tales grill (lamb, chicken, beef with grilled veggies among other things). Portion was more than enough for both of us and foodwise, it was on point. They gave you bread before your entree, you might want to skip bread if you want to really enjoy your food, just a suggestion. In their menu, it mentions an 18% gratuity regardless of how many people or the amount of food you order and actually we didnt mind this. Food and ambience were great! Do not forget the bakery next door!

Fresh, fast, friendly! Came here for my mom's birthday and had a great time! Staff was extremely attentive and all meals and dessert were 10/10!

Turkish cafe on a local plaza is a nice surprise with a modern decor where nautical ropes, wood beams, and antique like brass lamps set a pleasant atmosphere. The treats are plentiful - cakes, large variety of baklavas and Turkish delights as well as golden brown baked goods. The service was fast and friendly with espresso drinks and the sweets brought on whimsical designed cups and plates adorned with drips of coffee on the cups and playful smudges of cake on the plates. This was a special treat. We'll be back

A wonderful spot. I met some colleagues here for lunch, and I'm bummed I don't find myself in this part of town more, because my meal was great! A Thousand Tales is a spacious restaurant and cafe. The restaurant side is really beautiful, and it looks like there's a large private event space. I ordered the chicken shish special and absolutely loved it! The chicken was cooked perfectly and came with a side of bulgar wheat, a roasted tomato, and a roasted jalapeno. It was served with a tzatziki-style dipping sauce. Our server recommended the bulgar wheat. It was my first time trying it and I loved it! We also had bread for the table which was very yummy and served with an olive oil and herbs to dip into it. I swung through the bakery on our way out and all the pastries and baked goods look phenomenal -- next time I'm in this part of town I definitely need to give them a try!

What an outstanding Mediterranean restaurant! The quality of food here is insane. Everything came out so fresh and flavorful. I got the chicken shish kabab and it was probably top 3 best chicken shish kabob I've ever had. Their bulgar wheat was a phenomenal accompaniment as opposed to rice or fries, and the dill yogurt sauce was so delicious I could literally drink it. I'm not sure what the pita-like bread was beneath the chicken, but I ate that clean too (lol). I ate my whole plate clean for that matter - truly this meal was super delicious. I also got a lemonade which was served freshly squeezed from lemons. It was the best lemonade I've ever had. The service was great - our servers were attentive and the staff in general was welcoming. This restaurant definitely has Mediterranean vibes with its white cloth tables, stone brick walls, and minimalism. The place was spotless, too. We went into their cafe which is connected to their restaurant and the desserts looked EXCELLENT. They had such various desserts with pastries I've never even heard of. They seriously looked incredible. The only caveat to this whole establishment is it's definitely more on the pricier side, but then again, you get what you pay for. The price is reasonable for the quality of food here. They also had a private room in the back for events/parties. I'll 100% be back!

This restaurant had been on my to try list for quite sometime and I was able to come by on Monday for lunch. We did make a reservation for lunch and they got pretty busy as we continued through lunch. When we came in there were a few larger tables seated, and they also have a banquet room attached to the restaurant on one side, and a cafe on the other. The hostess promptly show us to our table where we were presented with menus. To start they brought us out a basket of break with an oil and pesto (i think?) dipping sauce. The bread was delish! Then our entrees quickly came out. I got the grilled meatballs and to drink I got the freshly squeezed lemonade. The lemonade was delightful, not too sour not too sweet. The plate was fulll of different things, a roasted pepper, concassed tomato, the taziki sauce, the protein, the bread, and the bough? I believe I totally butchered the spelling but when I tell you I cleared that plate because it was so good I couldn't stop eating no matter how full I was. All in all we had a great experience and I'm already planning a returning visit with family and friends!

Amazing service! And soooooo clean. I love their bread. We went at 8pm and the place was packed but they were able to seat us right away!

Excellent and authentic Turkish food experience. It isn't a cheap meal but worth an occasional visit. Breakfast, in particular, is worth experiencing.

Such a cute discovery! The bakery opens at 7 and restaurant at 9. Both are very different vibe from each other~ the bakery was definitely my favorite with endless sweets to pick from. All the wooden contrast with the set up went really well! The breakfast menu is a little limited but regardless food was delicious. Will visit again to try more!

I visited this place with my work friends and our serving staff was amazing. The dining area is nicely arranged with a good touch of Turkish vibe. Each person was patient and very kind in taking orders or bringing our food. We ordered a lot of food and everything was delicious. The platter had everything from lamb chops to kebabs to Turkish pizza. Their best part is the bakery next door which has incredible collection of baklavas and sweet treats. I enjoyed all baklava flavors and pistachio cheesecake- that was real deal! Highly recommend this place.

This place is an absolute gem. 10/10. One my favorite places to go in the suburbs. They have some of the best Turkish desserts and pastries in the Chicagoland area. The service is quick and the pricing is reasonable. This is very much somewhere people go to have breakfast, tea, coffee, desserts, etc. with their families or friends. The vibe inside the bakery is beautiful. Overall 10/10 recommend both the bakery and the restaurant.

I was in the area so I stopped in to A Thousand Tales bakery again. Need a reason? There are over a thousand tasty reasons, from the different flavors of macarons, to the baklava, gorgeous technicolor Turkish delight, cookies, lavishly decorated cakes, and rich and flaky savory pastries. There is an area with tables and seating to enjoy your goods. If you have time, the restaurant is a wonderful experience.

A true gem of Turkish cuisine! I've lived in the U.S. for 30 years and tried countless Turkish restaurants but A Thousand Tales stands in a league of its own. They've done something remarkable: bringing together authentic dishes from all over Türkiye under one roof, each executed beautifully. The biggest challenge? Everything on the menu is outstanding. Choosing just one dish feels impossible because they're all that good. Right next door is their bakery packed with traditional Turkish desserts, fresh pastries, and a great selection of cakes. Whether you're here for a full meal or just popping in for something sweet, you're in for a real treat. This place isn't just a restaurant... it's a journey through the diverse flavors of Turkish culture. Highly recommended!