Mark T.
Yelp
Out of the many, many food trucks which have visited my workplace over the past few years, one of my favorites has undoubtedly been Turkish Chef on Wheels. So I was positively "heyecanlı" when the very gregarious owner opened Istanbul Cafe & Bakery.
In typical (?) Mark fashion, I'm going to begin a little bass-ackwardly with an evaluation of the "Bakery" side of the business. And you're gonna love it. Anyhoo, in the Turkish language, the term "börek" (plural "böreği", where the "ğ" is pronounced more like a very soft "y") can refer to any number of filled and stuffed pastries and pies. One of the best in my estimation is Su Börek, where layers of dough are first boiled, then filled, stacked, buttered and baked. If that perhaps sounds a bit too heavy, maybe you'd like a perky cheese-stuffed bun (Peynirli Poğaça, where "ç" is said like "ch" in "church") instead? Ah, you want a light breakfast, but are getting a bit bored with bagels. I think the Turkish analog, Simit, will similarly seduce you with its soft sesame seediness. But before I run out of "S"s, let's have a look at a couple of IC&B's sweet treats - two particular winners in my book are the creamy, nutty filo wonder known as Şöbiyet and the famed Havuç (carrot) baklava, named in fact for its shape.
Oh, you were looking for more of a full meal here? Well really, why didn't you say so? IC&B has plenty of choices in this regard also. Named for the fact that the bread slices look like the wings of the titular bird, the Kumru or "dove" sandwich is loaded with tomatoes, peppers, and feta cheese to give you a boost of vitality. For an even more substantial option, why not try Manti - beef-stuffed dumplings drenched and dappled in garlic-and-mint-kissed yogurt? (If the name sounds vaguely familiar - you may well have eaten the Afghan version of this dish, which is usually termed Mantu). And yes, they do indeed have two variations of the quintessential Döner Kebap for you to sample here - one layering the sliced meat on a sandwich, the other sprinkling it over a salad. Don't forget a cool glass of Ayran (drinkable yogurt) alongside of course - and, if you're especially lucky, the coolers may just have a cup or two of Dondurma (chewy Turkish-style ice cream) for you to enjoy too. Afiyet olsun!