Istanbul Grill & Deli

"Istanbul Grill & Deli, a casual Turkish restaurant, has made grilled tender kebabs and savory cheese-covered baked pides since the late ‘90s. This Rice Village spot is shrouded in a giant plastic canopy tent behind giant potted plants, making it easy to miss, apart from the bright red awning and the faint scent of warm brick-oven-baked bread. Once inside, you’ll find a menu full of pickles, spiced vegetable spreads that make you want to reevaluate every dip you've ever had, baked bread with tangy cheese, and wonderfully tender döner and kebabs. Split a slew of mixed plates between friends after a Rice game or before a day of shopping." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"The casual Turkish restaurant Istanbul Grill & Deli has been grilling up kebabs and cheesy pides since the late ‘90s. Shrouded in a giant plastic canopy tent behind giant potted plants, it’s easy to miss, but look for the red awning and the faint scent of warm brick-oven-baked bread. Once inside the plastic tent flaps, you’ll find a menu full of pickles, dips, spiced vegetable spreads, baked bread with tangy cheese, and wonderfully tender döner and kebabs. Split a slew of mixed plates between friends after a Rice game or before a day of shopping. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"The casual Turkish restaurant Istanbul Grill & Deli has been grilling up kebabs and cheesy pides in Rice Village since the late ‘90s. Shrouded in a giant plastic canopy tent behind giant potted plants, it’s easy to miss, but look for the red awning and the faint scent of warm brick-oven-baked bread. Once inside, you’ll find a menu full of reasonably priced dishes, like a $24 platter of tender döner and kebabs that could feed four. Split a slew of mixed plates between friends after a Rice football game." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Billed as Houston’s first Turkish restaurant, Istanbul Grill’s dining options are abundant, ranging from Turkish-style pizzas to grilled meat skewers. Plenty of dishes are vegetarian, including the red lentil soup, which is a house favorite." - Megha McSwain, Brittany Britto Garley

"So many trees and plants block the entrance to Istanbul Grill & Deli in Rice Village, you might mistake the restaurant’s big red awning as an extension of the sports bar next door. But once you finally find passage through the thick plastic tent flaps, a casual Turkish restaurant with wonderfully tender and spiced kebabs awaits you. Attempt to flag down a server for a table—labeling the staff as aloof feels generous—and try to order a drink as soon as possible before getting familiar with the menu. We prefer splitting the meze tabagi mixed appetizer plate with tangy green bean pickles, spiced tomato ezme salad, and tart labneh along with fresh brick-oven baked bread, or one or two of the addictive tangy cheese pides, and a plate of kebabs and döner. Every piece of meat is tender, suffused with warm and earthy spices that melt in your mouth. You might want to order more than one plate, because each bite is worth fighting over. So whether you’re carb loading for an afternoon of shopping for fancy linens, just finished a sweaty run around Rice campus, or are meeting up with a casual date, grab a table at Istanbul Grill for low-key meal where you neither have to worry if the food’s good (it is) or what you’re wearing. " - Chelsea Thomas