Guides & Advice  : Massachusetts : 
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Frommer's Guide
INTRODUCTION
GETTING TO KNOW
DINING
Brunch
Dim Sum
Dining Alfresco
Family Friendly Restaurants
Local Cuisine
Quick Bites
ATTRACTIONS
NIGHTLIFE
SHOPPING
WALKING TOURS
DRIVING TOURS
ACTIVE PURSUITS
SPECTATOR SPORTS
FEATURES AND EVENTS
DINING Frommer
Istanbul Café
37 Bowdoin St

tel.: 617/227-3434
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Price Category: Moderate

Tucked away behind the State House, this small, crowded place is worth seeking out. Four steps down from the street, it attracts neighborhood residents, politicians, and staffers from nearby Mass. General Hospital. It's not a great place to go if you're in a rush, because the always-helpful service sometimes grinds to a halt. That's not a complaint -- I go there to catch up with friends and linger over the food, which ranges from familiar and unusually good to just unusual (and good). The appetizer sampler makes a great introduction to the cuisine. Adana kebab (elongated meatballs of spiced ground lamb, threaded onto skewers and grilled) appears several times in main dishes; it's a must if you like lamb. Cheese lovers will monopolize the plainest version of Turkish pizza, an odd but delicious dish. But unless you can't get enough okra, steer clear of etli bamya, which is more vegetable than meat. The baklava is a lovely rendition of the traditional dessert, crunchy and not too sweet, perfect with a Turkish coffee.

Main courses $7-$17; sandwiches $5-$7.Open: Mon-Wed 11am-10pm; Thurs-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun noon-10pm.Credit Cards: MC, V.T: Red or Green Line to Park St., or Blue Line to Bowdoin.


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