Food is entertainment, right? Absolutely. Especially when it's
enjoyed in a restaurant outside the “norm.” This month with our
Perfect Pair, we hope to introduce some of you (those of you who
are not already ardent fans, which there seem to be plenty of) to
ISTANBUL GRILL in Rice Village. Because, at its core, this is the type
of restaurant that truly deserves your patronage...hard-working,
family-owned/operated, long-running (19 years in business) and
passionate about doing it right. Originally opened as a place for
local Turks to convene and enjoy traditional food, over the years it’s
grown to be a regular Turkish/Mediterranean spot for many fam-
ilies and friends. Istanbul sits tucked into a corner on Morningside
right by Gingerman and Woodrow’s – out front they have a little
parking but more importantly, a nice area for covered outdoor din-
ing, which is a Rice Village requirement in our mind. After passing
through the door plastered in award stickers, inside, the quaint din-
ing area shows most of the kitchen/food right there for the viewing,
which to us usually alludes to quality (nothing to hide). There’s also
plenty of Nazar all over the interior to keep that evil eye away.
Diners speak many languages, as do the servers, and there’s al-
ways room for the non-regulars amongst the passionate conversa-
tions. Hot take, add Istanbul to your list of places you need to stop
by soon. You’re likely in Rice Village often anyway, so why not?
Aside from this being a perfectly traditional Turkish pairing (we’re
still amazed by the diversity of cuisines available in this city), this
Perfect Pair is good for the body. This right here is TURKISH YOGURT
(AYRAN) made in house and full of probiotics, only adding water
and salt to the base yogurt. Yes, this is a savory yogurt. We did
say outside the “norm.” Which is partially why it pairs so well with
the meat. While it helps settle the stomach and is quite enjoyable
on its own, it really shines with the DONER KEBAP , a Turkish tradition
of thin slabs of beef and lamb (butchered in-house, the only way to
ensure highest-quality meat makes it on the skewer), marinated with
Istanbul special seasonings and slowly grilled on a rotating vertical
skewer, sliced by hand when ordered. This, friends, is not Verts. It’s
plated over rice (full of chickpeas) with a simple house salad, just
as it should be. While we obviously recommend this pairing as a
great start to your dining adventures at Istanbul, we’d be remiss not
to mention the lamb chops, and a Turkish coffee after every meal.
And, oh man, that bread. Keyfini çıkarın! (Turkish for ‘enjoy!‘)
By Mike Cook
Photography by Anthony Rathbun
ISTANBUL GRILL | 5613 Morningside Dr. | Houston, TX 77005
713.526.2800 | www.istanbulgrill.com
may 17 |
L O C A L
25