Istanbul Bay

At this Turkish restaurant in Bay Ridge, the bread breathes. Known as “balloon bread,” each freshly baked lavash forms a wide-brimmed mushroom hat over the basket, taking its last breath at the table before it fully deflates. It’s the opening act for an all-around thrilling group dinner, if you can rally a few friends and order the mixed grill. This centerpiece dish comes with a piping hot bread cover, which the server cuts open to reveal the kebabs.

Round out your meal with a cold appetizer platter, cheesy spinach pide, and gooey slices of kunefe. The large, tile-floored space gets some sparkle from chandeliers and gold appliques, but it’s the food that makes a dinner here feel lavish. If you’re not with a group, Istanbul Bay works just as well for gyro platters or a falafel sandwich. They also have two locations in Bensonhurst—one sit-down, and one express.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Istanbul Bay

Mixed Grill

The mixed grill comes with shish kebabs, adana kebabs, gyro, and lamb chops. You can get a regular platter with rice for one, but orders for two, three, or four (from $66-$132) come with the bread cover. Your server brings you a hot, sizzling platter straight from the oven, then cuts open the bread to release the steam. It’s a fitting ceremony for the meat lovers’ feast that’s about to commence.

photo credit: Istanbul Bay

Falafel With Hummus

These crispy, moist falafels are a crowd-pleasing appetizer. You can make a meal out of them too, in a sandwich with Istanbul Bay’s fluffy pitas.