A Thousand Tales

I cannot gatekeep A Thousand Tales Cafe! I’ve been here every weekend since discovering it. Attached to a restaurant, this lovely cafe offers gorgeous pastries (not overly sweet), baked goods, coffee served with a piece of Turkish Delight and summer drink specials like a pistachio affogato that slays! Located in strip mall across from Manzo’s Banquets, make sure to stop by Istanbul Market, just a few steps north, for an outstanding assortment of sweets, nuts & treats beautifully displayed as soon as you enter the store.

This is by far the most beautiful café in the area, with a warm, inviting atmosphere and a cozy ambiance. We've visited multiple times and tried many of the sweets they offer — and I can honestly say they all taste delicious! My little son absolutely adores this place; he thinks he needs to take off his shoes when he sits down because of the rug. 😄 The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming. All in all, I would highly recommend this café and wouldn’t hesitate to bring any guest here if I had to choose a place that best represents this area!

Absolutely loved this place! We ordered the Tales Grill plate which was a mix of everything and their cheese/sujuk pide. Their desserts are really good as well, and so is their service. We loved the complimentary tea and their attention to details. Ill definitely be coming back!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amina — Outstanding Service! First visit to A Thousand Tales and I was truly impressed! Amina made the experience amazing — friendly, professional, and caring. If you visit, ask for Amina — she’ll make your meal perfect! 👏🍝✨

Very popular Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant with tasty dishes. Polite and somewhat formal staff. The food looked delicious and we all enjoyed our meals. The music was at times played too loud, but then was lowered again. Overall, a very pleasant experience and I would return. Note that 18% tip is included on your bill.

Great gem for desserts & Turkish tea… This was our first visit to this bakery & I must say it was worth the drive… Great options in terms of beverages and desserts … Excellent customer service and great ambience . I’ll definitely go there again and try more treats …

wonderful place, we really loved Turkish restaurant , all the dishes are incredibly delicious, the staff is excellent, the atmosphere is magical and relaxing. And the desserts in the Bakery are very cool, because they do not have a lot of sugar (does not interrupt the taste), which is often sold in ordinary stores. I have never booked, it is good that there are always enough free seats. The wait for the dishes is good, there is no intrusive music, everything is quite simple, beautiful and cozy. I want to come back and enjoy in A Thousand Fairy Tales

Perfect Spot to Relax and Catch Up I came here with friends after work, and it’s the perfect place to hang out for a quick catch-up or just enjoy some good tea and pastries. The ambience is beautiful and cozy, and the dessert was even better. I had the Dubai cheesecake-it was a big slice and absolutely delicious. The tea was just right, and the chairs are super comfortable; you can really lounge and relax. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Love it so much that it took me back to Istanbul in its atmosphere and friendly staff and the taste of Adana kebab was amazing Highly recommended it Can wait yo come back and try other dishes 😋

Incredible, authentic experience at the cafe and the restaurant!!! The delicious food and ambiance is only complimented by the outstanding service. We were greeted by the manager and offered Turkish tea. Every staff member was more than helpful and just pitched in to keep the full restaurant running smoothly. The fresh, warm bread to start the meal was a huge plus! My favorite was the lamb kabab (10/10!), followed by the beet dip and chicken Ali Nazik. Side of rice was the only thing that could be improved. Can’t wait to go back and try the Lahmacun and more of the kababs! Don’t forget to head over to the cafe for a coffee and pick up an assortment of desserts to go!

I’ve been a loyal customer of this café for a long time, and it still holds a special place in my heart. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is attentive, and the dessert selection has always impressed me with its originality and quality. As a regular guest, I’d like to share a small note: I recently tried the Dubai chocolate cheesecake and noticed a change in its flavor. It used to be rich and perfectly balanced with a dense, chocolatey crust, but now it tastes a little more sour due to the lemon, and the crust has become lighter and softer. I truly hope this is just a temporary change because this cheesecake has always been one of my favorites. Thankfully, the pistachio cheesecake remains just as amazing and unique as ever. Despite this observation, this bakery will always be my favorite place to enjoy a warm atmosphere, a good cup of coffee, and exceptional desserts. Also we had a great time at Thousand Tales Turkish Restaurant. The food was flavorful and fresh, but what really stood out was our waitress, Sia. She was super friendly, patient, and made us feel right at home. Her smile and attention to detail made the whole experience even better. Definitely recommend this place — and ask for Sia if you can!

Best Turkish food in whole Chicago land! Exceptional quality and service! Separate thank you to Sia our server for taking amazing care of us.

From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, the ambiance was warm and inviting. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was attentive and friendly. We loved the Adone lamb from the restaurant, and I got to taste their cheesecake and Dubai chocolate from the bakery, and it was one of the best I have had. I will recommend this place for anyone who is looking for a delicious meal and enjoyable experience with friends and family.

I had a wonderful experience at Thousand Tales! The food was absolutely delicious The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect place to enjoy a meal. A special thank you to Emre he was incredibly helpful, attentive, and made our visit even more enjoyable.

The staff was friendly and engaging, the food was great, and they had gluten free options for my fianceé who has celiac and she didn't have a reaction! Will definitely return if I'm in the area 👍🏽

I don’t usually leave long reviews, but Lupe, Ahmed, and Sia at A Thousand Tales deserve the recognition. We hosted a large group of clients here, and the way they handled everything set the tone for the entire evening. Big groups can be a headache at most restaurants, but not here. They were patient, attentive, and made sure every single person felt taken care of. Nothing slipped through the cracks drinks stayed full, food came out on point, and they managed it all without ever making us feel like we were asking too much. That level of service is rare, and it didn’t go unnoticed by me or my guests. The food itself speaks for the restaurant rich, flavorful, and clearly made with care but the service from Lupe, Ahmed, and Sia is what sealed the deal. Because of them, my clients left impressed, the restaurant earned a table full of new regulars, and I personally gained a spot I’ll keep coming back to. This wasn’t just a good dinner; it was the kind of experience that makes you recommend a place without hesitation. A Thousand Tales has my business going forward, and I’ll be asking for Lupe, Ahmed, and Sia by name 🫶🏼.

Absolutely the best Mediterranean restaurant in Illinois! The decor is beautiful, everything is spotless, and the service is top-notch. Our waitress, Sia, was fast, friendly, and professional — we left with such a great experience!

We celebrated our son’s first birthday at A Thousand Tales last night with a big group, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The food and cake were beyond delicious, the atmosphere was magical, and the staff went above and beyond to make everything seamless. Every little detail was taken care of with so much care and attention. Thank you, A Thousand Tales, for turning such a special day into an unforgettable memory!

Amina made great suggestions! We ended up ordering this platter.. loved the lamb!, and the chicken well seasoned :) thanks!

We had a fantastic experience here! The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal. The food was absolutely delicious — everything tasted fresh, full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Prices were reasonable for the quality of food and service. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great local spot!

I bought very delicious bagels with sesame at the café, just like the ones I used to eat in my childhood, and I really liked them. There are many desserts here, and I’ll definitely try something else because I love oriental sweets, and there are plenty of them here

The food was sooo soooo goooodddd. The pistachio + Coconut sweet was soo sooo good. The coffee was also good. Worth the hype

Hello I had booked for an event and it was fantastic. Thank you to the entire team. A special thank you to Ms Altyn for the event planning and the cute floral decor. Special thank you to Mr Bugra for the management. The food was and always is FANTASTIC- great with the timing ⏱️ and took careful notes of what we wanted and when. Great and fast with their service when we had specific guest requests for drinks/food. Everything was perfect! Thank you once again 🥰 will be dining with you soon.

Absolutely loved our experience at Thousand Tales! We ordered the Adaani Kabob, Hummus, and the Tales Grill—every single dish was perfectly seasoned, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The Adaani Kabob was especially memorable—tender and bursting with spice. The hummus was creamy and smooth, and the Tales Grill offered a delicious variety that left us more than satisfied. The ambience was warm and inviting, making it a great spot for both casual outings and special dinners. On top of that, the prices were very reasonable for the quality and portions. Highly recommend this place—we’ll definitely be coming back!

Beyond amazing! Such a wonderful atmosphere in both the bakery side and the dine-in side. The food was beyond amazing, with a great key to make eating vegetarian a breeze - so many delicious choices! Will absolutely encourage anyone and everyone to check this place out!

A Thousand Tales restaurant & cafe, this charming café features warm decor and a cozy vibe. I tried their signature dish, and it was deliciously presented and flavorful. The staff was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend for a delightful meal! Can’t wait to return!

Been here twice so far and my mom and I already have our favorites. This restaurant has the best lamb! We highly recommend and our server John was super kind and attentive!

We stopped in on a whim and I'm so glad we did! Everything was absolutely delicious and incredibly fresh. The lamb chops were my personal favorite—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the Adana Kebab, which was perfectly spiced and cooked to perfection. Every component of our meal, from the flavorful dips to the perfectly cooked rice, was spot on. We ended our meal with the most divine baklava, a sweet and satisfying finish. The authenticity and quality of the food here are outstanding. We will definitely be back. Five stars!

We recently had "A Thousand Tales" cater our Christmas Party. The food was phenomenal. Each dish was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The Adana Kebab and Lamb Shish Kebab were juicy and perfectly seasoned, while the Lamb Tandir was melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with authentic Turkish taste. And the Turkish Delights simply irresistible and the perfect sweet ending to our meal. Special thanks to Burga, their catering manager, who ensured everything ran smoothly and made the entire process seamless. If you're looking for exceptional food and professional service for your next event, I can't recommend "A Thousand Tales" highly enough. Reach out to Burga for all your catering needs—you won't be disappointed!

This place is genuinely excellent. Their coffee is lovely. Their pastries are mouthwatering to look at and taste even better than they look. Their service is also quite quick. I'm definitely going back. Their tres leches cake is my favorite in all of Chicago.

The food was absolutely delicious, especially the Beyti Kebab. The way they serve it is amazing — they bring the dish first and then pour the hot sauce on top right at the table, which makes it even more flavorful and fresh. The presentation was beautiful and the taste was perfect. The service was excellent, and our waitress Sia was very kind, attentive, and professional. She made sure we had everything we needed and was very friendly. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I would definitely come back again.

The look of the place is very impressive - especially the bakery! The bakery is worth a stop if you are eating here or not. There is plenty of seating including a very comfortable space added to the front of the restaurant. All of the food was as good as it looked and the part that I took home still tasted great after being heated up. The only problem that we had (It was on a Friday evening) was that the server kept forgetting about us. Not sure if they started to get busy or the kitchen was backed up or not. We had gotten there a little early without a reservation but left plenty of time since we were seeing a show in the area. That extra time ticked away while waiting for service more than once. They could have been short handed or extra busy but a little attention can go a long way in making a customer feel like they mattered. ESPECIALLY, since the menu told me that they were getting an 18% tip no matter what the service was like. It wasn't worth 18%

Came here for a Brunch on a Sunday and it was not busy at all with many available tables. Nice service and decent ambiance. Quality is good albeit a bit too simple and limited in variety to my taste. Only one kind of soup was available (spicy lentil), and one kind of meat available (chicken), though both were flavorful. Omelet order station was convenient and freshly prepared and delivered to the table. However, value of the food prepared relative to the $35 per person cost is underwhelming. IMO, fair value of this place is about $20 per person. Especially given that they automatically add 18% gratituity to all checks.

HOLIDAYS ARE BUFFET ONLY! we didn’t know this so for Valentine’s Day we were thrown into a cafeteria-like chaos that wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as the food. The food was very tasty but I think the holiday buffet is too much for the restaurant to handle, kept running out of plates and couldn’t keep up with food demands, the hostesses were running around not really sure where to seat people. They may have taken on too many reservation. I will be returning on a normal night because the food was so delicious, but $50 bucks per person for a pretty slim buffet isn’t worth it.

I used to love a thousand tales. Their food was excellent and fresh. However the past year or so the food portions look smaller and the quality has gone done. I would have been more understanding if it was only portion size that was decreasing but I just can't go back because the quality and taste isn't the same. Their cafe side is adorable with good coffee and pastry. But some of the pastries are good well others not as delicious as they look.

Came for lunch with my parents and in laws and while we were pleased with the food, the service was awful. I had to track down employees twice just to let them know we were ready to order. After the food arrived, anytime I needed something I had to flag down a waiter, and they would keep walking away while “listening” as I was talking instead of stopping to actually properly hear the request. No one checked on our table to ask if we needed anything. We were short on serving spoons for the dishes and had to use our own utensils to serve ourselves. Same issue with dessert. I had to place the order with the hostess because no one came to take it. No wonder they automatically add an 18% tip to the order. The service is terrible. There are plenty of other restaurants with similar food and much better service.

As a chef: Firstly it’s overpriced! And not even same as pictures on their menu. They are adding huge sauce and double double rice and huge tomato because it’s make cheaper. Meats was dry, half skewer chicken not cook another even they burned outside,only good thing lamb lamb was cook good. Literally this small plate 77$(with service fee)

We bought a cake on December 11th, and by December 13th it was already covered in mold, both inside and out. From the very first day, it felt like the cake wasn't fresh. The almond flakes were soaked in cream and felt rubbery. The sponge cake was hard. Since the cake was intended as a birthday present, we were very disappointed. Even though the seller assured us when we bought it that the cake was fresh and made today, i.e., 12.11. 2025.

The buffet was extremely disappointing from start to finish. The food was served cold, the rice was mushy, and overall everything tasted bland. The plates were very small, making it difficult to serve a proper portion, and there wasn’t even a spoon available for the soup. None of the dishes were labeled, which made it confusing to know what we were eating. As a vegetarian, it was especially frustrating to have to ask about animal products in each item. We also asked for pita and never received it. Service was disorganized and inattentive. No one came by to refill water or check on our table, and the staff member distributing food during the buffet seemed to choose tables at random. An automatic 18% gratuity was added despite the lack of service, which felt unwarranted. Even the cashier seemed confused when we went to pay. Overall, the experience did not justify the cost, and both the food quality and service were far below expectations.

I am extremely dissatisfied with the attitude of the staff. I have never felt so humiliated before. We visited on the weekend and came for breakfast with our whole family, including small children. The children took only small portions, and if they didn’t like something, they didn’t eat it. If we had known beforehand, we wouldn’t have taken that food, so it had to be left on the plates. Because we had three children, a lot of plates accumulated on our table. Either because of the children or because of the number of plates, every waiter who passed by looked at us in a very unpleasant way. We expected the staff to clear the plates themselves, especially since the table was small and everything was very uncomfortable. Instead, they kept passing by, looking at us as if we were eating at their expense. Eventually, we called one waitress and asked her to clear the plates. She only responded after the fourth request. The second issue happened when we asked for desserts. Another waitress told us that desserts had to be paid for separately. We said that was fine and that we were willing to pay. She turned around and walked away, and there was no further response. We will never come back to this place. It is especially disappointing because we used to really love it.