What a surprise to find freshly-prepared, authentic Turkish food in a Jacksonville strip mall! The first time we dined at Istanbul Mediterranean (next to Publix), we had just returned from Greece and Turkey. Now, when we crave those distinctive Western Mediterranean flavors, we know exactly where to go. The chef's freshly prepared cold appetizers: Hummus, Ezme (spicy), Tabouli, Tzatzki (cucumber yogurt sauce), Baba-Ganoush, Eggplant w/sauce, and Eggplant Salad are so good, you may not have any room left for the entrees. But if you do, the Shishes are memorable, especially the Chicken Shish. Desserts are not to be missed either. My favorite is the Kunefe. It is so light and delicately flavored, you can enjoy it even if you think you can't eat another bite, if you are willing to share. A three-course dinner, including yummy lentil soup (like none I've tasted before), a dinner entree, and dessert is a bargain at $18.99. Lunch combos, include a cold appetizer (from the list above) and a lunch entree with salad on the plate for $9.99. Enjoy!
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