Cafe Izmir Mediterranean Tapas

Our server was nice. We were his only table inside. He spent most of his time on the patio. We started with Izmir Hummus. It was very basic, no seasoning. Basically bland blend of garbanzo beans. Then had the meat dolmas. These were delicious, the only issues is that they were not wrapped very tightly. Next was the lamb roll. This was disappointing, lamb was alright, didn’t taste any pico. The only overwhelming part was the diced carrots. I noticed a couple Russian dishes on the menu, not sure what the connection is with Cafe Izmir. With that said, we next had the Beef Pirosky. This was so good. The beef was very tasty and the crispy roll was so light and flaky. Really enjoyed this tapa. We finally had the saffron chicken kabob. Again, very delicious. Chicken was fantastically flavored and so tender. We enjoyed it. Will be back, will sit on patio as that seems more attentive by staff. Will definitely try new dishes and repeat those we enjoyed.

I don’t even like hummus and this place totally converted me. But now I’m spoiled and won’t get hummus anywhere else. Do yourself a favor and get the kabob tapas plates and a cabbage roll. We got lamb and saffron chicken. Amazing! We also got Sangria (delicious) and a Turkish coffee with tira misu dessert and they were both so good, I can’t recommend strongly enough. I loved the intimate cozy interior with twinkly fairy lights along the black ceiling and top level service.

I ate at this restaurant for the first time last night, and it is instantly one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas! My girl and I stumbled upon this restaurant 20 minutes before closing while looking for a restaurant that was open. Despite us being the last customers of the day, and right at closing time, we were warmly welcomed in! The food was just phenomenal - we had the sampler platter with Hummus, Tabbouleh and shishitos, and then also the coconut shrimp and dolmas. Every item was exceptional, and ESPECIALLY the hummus with lamb, that is one of the best things I've ever eaten. Was so blown away by the food! The ambiance of the restaurant was impeccable - the lights everywhere, the pretty paintings for sale, the beautiful tables, bathrooms. And the service was so lovely - our server Marcello was so warm, polite and attentive. We also met who I assume was the owner? Overall we felt right at home, the interactions all felt very genuine and warm, I was truly touched by it all. Thanks so much guys, we will definitely be back ☺️

Went for a birthday meal, turned out fantastic. Service was outstanding, we got to sample house wine before we ordered. My niece got a bottle of wine to take home for her birthday that we all got to sign compliments of the restaurant, was an awesome touch. The Sangria was really good I had saffron shrimp and rice tried the saffron chicken as well both were great. For this cuisine in this area of Dallas prices are really good

Absolutely fell in love with this place! Our server was so lovely and made us feel so welcomed.. giving us the best treatment and recommendations. The atmosphere was so cozy and they had a singer who had such an amazing voice. The food was great! Such an underrated, not talked enough place. Hidden gem for sure!

Stopped by for our first time on New Year's Eve. Wonderful experience and amazing food. Hummus was incredible and the tomato and barrata appetizer was incredible. We will be back!

Cafe Izmir is my favorite restaurant in Dallas. The food quality, service and venue vibe is unmatched. There’s something for everyone. The owner and his staff are kind, generous and make every guest feel right at home. The Turkish coffee, pomegranate shrimp and hummus + pita are spectacular. Every time I go it’s an unforgettable experience. Come hungry, leave happy.

This place is amazing... We're new to Dallas but frequent Mediterranean and restaurants.... And this place is a gem... The best falafels maybe ever... And the service was great. The vibe is fun... Intimate, casual, and fun..

Great service and great food. I loved the tapas and the variety. The restaurant is also pretty with chill music. Would go to again

When I say best meal in Dallas, I mean it. This is the FRESHEST and most flavorful meal I've had in years. We sat at a high top by the bar and could see the kitchen and the love they put into the food. Everything was amazing. We decided to get an app, three tapas, and spit an entree (there was 2 of us). It was perfect. The tapas portions were perfectly sized and the entree was the perfect size after some light bites. Moody lighting, not too loud, small restaurant so busy nights might have a wait. The server (Omar) was AMAZING, he was so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. It was an amazing experience. Omar let us know Tuesday nights is $5 Tapas & Fridays they have live music! Such a cute little spot and I will be back for more.

Easy walk from daughter #2's apartment. Busy spot on a Saturday night. Snagged a high top at the bar. Cozy. Attentive, friendly staff. Ordered a bottle of wine and some tapas. Shared the saffron chicken kebab - epic. Everything is fresh and made to order. Any restaurant that has made it 30 years is a go to. We shall return.

This place is a real find! Authentic medi food, funky vibes and slick energy. The service was as great as the pomegranate shrimp and lamb chops! Def recommend this place! Stop by next time you're on Greenville Ave, in Dallas!

Amazing place. The hospitality of this restaurant is beyond words. The staff and leaders were so kind friendly. They were patient with us. We went with two loud and cranky kids and they were so patient with us. The food was amazing. The chicken was so soft and tender. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly. The hummus and eggplant dip were amazing too The pomegranate shrimp was very flavorful. The decor is nice. I'd recommend for a date night for sure.

We've been enjoying the food and ambience at Cafe Izmir for years. Over Christmas (literally) I placed a quick turnaround catering order with Beau. He was responsive and attentive to every last detail. He made my event really stand out. Everyone praised the beef tenderloin and chicken kabobs and the dolmas and falafel were also big hits! The baklava added the perfect finish to a delicious feast. I highly recommend Beau and Cafe Izmir !!

Chicken Kabob, Lamb Roll, Baba Ghanoush, Russian Chicken Salad The chicken Kabob was excellent and super tender, juicy, and flavorful. Lamb roll was decent and simple. Baba ghanoush was standard and good. Russian Chicken Salad was just alright, was not the biggest fan.

A most amazing atmosphere and food. Tapas, Greek salads, vegetarian options. Relaxed vibe. Best restaurant in lower Greenville. Good for a date! And baklava, mousse cake, and Turkish coffee!!!!

Food was dry overcooked. Service was horrible, slow, and wrong order was brought out then took way too long to get my correct order

Such a dope neighborhood spot. The Saffron chicken was amazing. I also had Persian black tea and Saffron Gelato. All was bangin and the vibes were immaculate. Service from Omar was delightful.

Food was DELICIOUS!! Such kind people working there. Good music and cute lighting. 10/10!!

I love love, love Mediterranean food. This place was cute and quaint everything there was awesome. The service was awesome. Just the parking kind of Cray Cray.

I hope this gem gets the recognition it deserves!! This is a family owned business, not a chain so don't expect your food to come out strikingly fast. While you're waiting- you'll get free pita bread that I recommend enjoying with the spicy hummus (to die for)! The tabouli salad is the best I've ever had. Grilled tomatoes were fresh and beef tenderloin was as juicy as promised! Everyone is soooo friendly and makes you feel right at home. I loved sitting in the patio area but inside is just as welcoming! You won't regret giving this place a try.

We randomly decided to come here and was not disappointment. We came kind of early on a Friday since we didn't have reservations and were seated immediately. We tried a little bit of everything from spicy hummus, shishito peppers, to kabobs. Everything was absolutely delicious. We also got to enjoy some live music Friday evening before leaving. This will definitely be a staple to eat in Dallas if I'm craving something from the outside world.

I could eat at Café Izmir every single day!!! I have been eating there since the late '90's! As a professional bellydancer I also danced there a couple of times! The hummus is absolutely amazing and addictive!!! They have three choices too - regular hummus, chipotle hummus and "date night" hummus (which has no garlic - I prefer the regular hummus). The babaganoush has a great flavor and texture. The tabouli salad is fresh and tangy. I am picky about falafel and I just so happen LOVE Café Izmir's! The veggie piroshkis are soooo delicious! And the dolmas too! I've had just about everything there but the last time I went I ordered something I had never had - the grilled lamb chops. I am sad that I have wasted so many years of not eating that amazing, delectable dish!!! The outside of the lamb chop was just the right crispiness and the inside cooked to perfection. Those alone are worth the drive to Dallas from Frisco! The customer service there is number ONE! Nick always waits on me there and he is so attentive and helpful, of course any server you get there will be the same! I used the catering service there once and it was wonderful. The ambience is quite romantic. I love the dim lights and the live music in the background. You will love Café Izmir and will crave it daily after just one visit!!

Such an amazing resturant!! My best friend and I came the other day and the food was so delicious! She got the beef kebabs and i get the saffron chicken and both were killer !!! The resturant was very homey and lovely and so were the servers. I would 100% come again.

Food was good, service was ok, excellent ambiance. Wait time was absolutely horrendous. Two hours from being seated to finally eating our food. Looking at several tables around us, we weren't the only ones with long wait times. If you're going to try this place, i advise you to eat something before going. Do not show up here starving or hangry.

Great spot to dine in or take out. Their chipotle hummus is SOOO good, and trust me, I know hummus. I've eaten gallons of it, just today alone. Good spot for vegetarians and meat gluttons alike. Their sangria is really good too.

Really enjoyed my experience here. The staff was extremely attentive and professional. The food service was exceptional. They have la crema pinot noir and that was half my reason for coming here. Don't usually see it on the menu. The food was really good. My absolute favorites were the lamb chops and the saffron chicken thighs. Skip the chicken kabobs (breast meat). I thought the thighs were far far superior. Also as someone who knows what pirozki is, it's not what I expected. I expected a empanada style but rounder pirozok with the filling. What came out was a huge egg roll/lumpia looking monstrosity that was unimpressed with. I'd really skip it, especially if you know what pirozki are. Overall a solid solid 5 stars.

We stumbled upon Cafe Izmir online while in search for a good Mediterranean spot for dinner. I was immediately struck by the ambiance of the space. They have semi-outdoor seating with some indoor seating as well. This paired with live music and lights made for a good atmosphere though albeit a bit loud if you're sitting in their semi-outdoor seating. We were a party of six and ordered four plates: beef, chicken kabob, saffron chicken kabob and falafel. Within the first ten minutes of our order, we received plates of Greek salad and pita. The salad dressing was flavored and was a burst of flavor in my mouth. The warm pita was pillowy, soft and immediately won our hearts. It took about twenty more minutes for our plates to arrive. The meat was served on a bed of grilled vegetables, and the falafel came with non grilled vegetables and hummus. All of the meats were tender, flavorful and out of this world. Since we loved the hummus and pita bread, we went ahead and ordered some for the entire table! All of the food was absolutely delicious and worth every penny. By the end of the meal, we were all stuffed and happy. Our server was also extremely nice, attentive and revealed all of their food was homemade and based on family recipes (expect for their chocolate cake). Definitely a gem of a restaurant and some of the best Mediterranean food I've had.

I arrived from Philadelphia tonight and my sister and brother-in-law drove us here for a meal after they picked me up from the airport. They are doing so many things right, here. The place is intimate without being stuffy or TOO intimate. Cozy, glowing lights, deep reds and yellows, cloth table cloths.. Every person working here is gracious (our server was kind and made sure we were taken care of every step of the way) and lovely and it makes the meal such a sweet experience. The food was really well done. The hummus is creamy with big flavor served with warm pita. I had the saffron chicken kabob platter which comes with a dinner salad and saffron rice. The chicken was tender, flavorful and cooked to perfection. Order a carafe of the sangria. Your meal becomes a sweet festive time in an atmosphere that provides all of the comfort for a great experience. In a big city like Dallas, you need these warm, cozy places that feel like you are celebrating a good meal with people who care about delicious food and attentive service. Try it, you won't be sorry.

The food is amazing, everything is tried was very good. The best recommendation is the hummus with the spicy eggplant. They are very friendly and brought extra pita when asked which was awesome. The service was excellent and the ambiance was great. They also have a DJ! I'll be back for the DJ!

This spot is one my my favorites. Every dip on the menu is delicious. The spicy hummus is my favorite. The chicken kabobs are always on point. Juicy and flavorful. Service is always fast.

We came to Cafe Izmir for my monthly dinner club and fell in love! Cafe Izmir is another excellent restaurant on Greenville Ave. The family-owed and operated spot was super accommodating to our large party and made special effort to take care of us. When I was choosing this month's dinner, I was looking around Dallas for the best Mediterranean spot. This place definitely hit the mark! The food was absolutely delicious! For 5 people, we shared the dinner for two plus three more sides. We loved the hummus, babaganoush, and tzatziki with pita. We then enjoyed grilled chicken, lamb roll, beef dolmas, grilled veggies, and rice. My favorite was by far the beef dolmas-- absolutely delicious!!! When I go back, I will definitely order these! We then ended the night with the Izmir special desert and Greek cake. Skip the cake and order two (or more) of the Izmir special desert. It's awesome! Last point I have to rave about is the ambience. We were seated outside, and it was lovely. The whole restaurant was covered in twinkle lights, making the whole place very pretty as the sun set. They also had live musicians which added a lot of fun to the night. I will definitely come back!!

I randomly stumbled upon this place on Yelp and I have to say, it was phenomenal. A pleasant surprise. The pomegranate shrimp feels like a burst of flavor in your mouth. Beef tenderloin was juicy as described on the menu. We didn't order the hummus but it was on the house anyways, and after tasting it - I would tell everyone to get the hummus asap. This was a pleasant surprise and such a gem to find in Dallas. I hope to dine here when I come back to Dallas.

Tapas options, spicy hummus with pita points, welcoming, courteous staff. We enjoyed early evening outing, brought home leftovers. We'll return!

Best hummus in town!!! Fresh and always delicious!!! Also love their dolmas and Turkish Salad!!!

A wonderful experience except for the parking situation! Food is outstanding, friendly service.

We ordered the cheese sampler and a variety of tapas and everything was excellent. It's a nice little date night spot. The service was fast and friendly.

Amazing food! Fantastic staff and service. Really an outstanding restaurant. I will be back with friends.

I usually order a little bit of everything and eat on it for days. The tabouli salad was bland, like nothing! Not tangy. They obviously left something out. When you order delivery and tip Uber what can I do? I just tried to reach out online and stated restaurant not available. Big disappointment!

As always, everything was 5 star excellent! I've been coming here for years and they have always remained consistent in their delivery of a great experience for their guests. From the complimentary valet to the amazing wait staff to the phenomenal cuisine! One of my faves over and over again. And the ambiance and light live music is a plus

What a fun experience! Marcello the waiter was great, the main dining area was comfy and the food was delicious. Our favorites were the hummus, the grape leaves and the Lebanese wine. The dolmas were the best we have ever had! We will definitely be back.

Great food, great service, eclectic atmosphere. Can't believe we have missed this spot before. Tapas Tuesday (my quip, they don't call it that) is awesome. $4 apps and $4 veggie tapas. Meat dishes also available at higher prices, as expected. We will definitely be back!

Absolutely PHENOMENAL food!! So so good and the service is incredibly friendly. We sat on the patio area and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be returning! Highly recommend a dip trio with hummus and babaganoush!

Really nice vibe about the place, excellent food and great service - we will definitely go back, all of us enjoyed the experience. Definitely loud, they also had live music at the restaurant till 10 PM.

Place is great. Between the three types of humus, the lamb chops, and the wine selection, you can't go wrong. Had dad and Beau are great hosts. Go as soon as you can!

If you have not been here it is an absolute must to try! This is by far the best Mediterranean food I've had in DFW. My family has been coming here for years and have never had a bad meal. Service is great and the staff are amazing as well. The mushrooms, beef kebab, tabbouleh, hummus, and eggra are my favorite things on the menu.

Only real Turkish food in Dallas. Very good. Thought I was back in Istanbul. If you enjoy Turkish food it's worth a go.

Solid date night deal! The owner himself was willing to educate and provided excellent service for us. The food was superb. We tried a little bit of everything. Good portions :)

I moved to Dallas for the first time in late 1994. I was more or less a kid back then, but I clearly remember Cafe Izmir as one of the Greenville Avenue mainstays. Years later, it remains an institution. Clearly, the owners of Cafe Izmir have never lost sight of their roots. The food is every bit as delicious, but it remains a place where one can expect the level of care and compassion from those who work there that one would receive from a beloved friend or family member. I can think of few restaurants that embody this level of genuine care, warmth, and hospitality for their customers. The ambiance exudes a rustic and romantic charm that sets it apart as well, and on the night we recently visited, was perfectly paired with beautiful live music. In terms of food specifics, the classic hummus has always been one of the best iterations in town, but the chipotle hummus is almost more amazing. The dinner for two offers flexible choices and is a sensational value at just $65, and the portions are super generous. The beef tenderloin and chicken were both tender and perfectly seasoned. Even the tzatziki is deliciously set apart from everywhere else -- thick and expertly seasoned. You will definitely not leave this place hungry! If I could change only a few things about Cafe Izmir it would be these: I do wish they had a liquor license so that raki could be enjoyed, and I'd love to see the addition of a few more classic Turkish dishes such as doner/Iskander, cerkez tavugu, bolu pilic yogurtlu, mantarli tavuk, etc. But even without any of those things, this restaurant still manages to be epic.

Romantic ambiance. The owner's mother contributed recipes. Great food. The hummus is so good.

We ordered takeout via Uber eats and were pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality of the food here! We had the saffron chicken and beef kebabs, which came with a huge portion of rice, bread, and salad. Note - we ordered an extra side of rice because we weren't sure the plate would come with it (no regrets!!) The food didn't taste overly greasy or salty, so we found it to be a lighter, healthier option for takeout. We are big eaters, and actually had enough leftovers for one additional meal (for one).

In from out of town and wanted authentic Mediterranean food. It was amazing and the staff made you feel like family. Definitely would come back.

We went to Cafe Izmir on a Saturday date night. They claimed they didn't have our reservation which we made a week ahead and seated us in the middle of a walkway. Service was slow but the food was great except for a few items that were charred.

#1 Uber Eats most ordered spot--a staple for good portions, hot food, and consistency.

I've been dining here since 2016 and still consider it a hidden Dallas gem. The other reviews are pretty consistent with my experience. The regular hummus is a garlic dream. I get the same things when I go. hummus, marinated mushrooms, saffron rice, pomegranate shrimp, beef tenderloin, and sangria. Yummy in my tummy !! A must try !

5/5 no doubt! Ordered delivery and food was amazing. Skip the chicken breast kabobs but everything else was amazing and that's why it still gets a 5/5. Original hummus so good and the spicy eggplant dip was superior! Saving half for my daughter because she will love this tomorrow for lunch!

I am a person that usually orders A kids meal and that's plenty of food for me. Not so at Café Izmir - I pretty much order every single item on the tapas menu because it doesn't matter if it's too much food ... they are all wonderful excellent individual offerings that must be experienced. This is probably my top favorite restaurant in Dallas. The staff is lovely and the atmosphere (lower Greenville) is charming