Istanbul Palace is Closing

My friend Ahmet Yesil, the owner of Istanbul Palace on Goose Creek Rd., has asked that I post a notice on this forum that the restaurant's final day of operation will be this Sunday, October 23rd.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ISTANBUL-PALACE-BEST-MEDITERRANEAN-RESTAURANT/301748669029

He wanted to let the forum participants know that he appreciates the many kind endorsements he's received through louisvillehotbytes.com, as well as the generous support of the Metro community as a whole, since opening in Louisville last year.

I'm really gonna miss the salmon kebabs and the haydari....

This is sad - a big loss to the ethnic food scene. Wish Ahmet all the best.

[Robin Garr]

This is sad - a big loss to the ethnic food scene. Wish Ahmet all the best.

I agree. I wish they could have made it. Sadly, that little stub end of Goose Creek seems to be out of sight, out of mind.

Yeah, we went a couple times and liked it, but it was too out-of-the-way for us to ever make it a regular haunt.

This is sad - a big loss to the ethnic food scene. Wish Ahmet all the best.

I agree. I wish they could have made it. Sadly, that little stub end of Goose Creek seems to be out of sight, out of mind.

Apparently Ahmet is returning to Turkey for family health reasons so it may not be a lack of business issue.

Oh I hate that......I have like their style since there were on Shelbyville Road, and have been there several times to the new local.....I will miss the lunch buffet......very much!

Bill, you must have a different restaurant in mind. Ahmet's only other locations have been on Bardstown Road (a brief run there as Istanbul Cafe) and in Lexington, KY. And he set up special lunch buffets only on a few weekends and holidays.

So maybe you won't be missing the place you're thinking of after all....

I agree. I wish they could have made it. Sadly, that little stub end of Goose Creek seems to be out of sight, out of mind.

I would agree with that except Wick's and Goose Creek Diner are both in that area and seem to do quite well.

[Robin Garr]

I agree. I wish they could have made it. Sadly, that little stub end of Goose Creek seems to be out of sight, out of mind.

I would agree with that except Wick's and Goose Creek Diner are both in that area and seem to do quite well.

They are not on the "stub end." I think a lot of people who are very familiar with the commercial strip on Goose Creek NORTH of Westport don't focus on the small, rather grim little former fast-food shack that's SOUTH of Westport on what looks like a dead end leading to an apartment complex.

If Ahmet has to go back to Turkey for health reasons, that's a whole 'nuther issue. But it did occur to me that Perla del Pacifico was excellent, and it failed in that location twice.

OK, the one I'm thinking of is where Cape Codder used to be, that Anthony Lamas has the East End site of Seveche for a while........am I off base?????

[Robin Garr]

OK, the one I'm thinking of is where Cape Codder used to be, that Anthony Lamas has the East End site of Seveche for a while........am I off base?????

Or maybe I am, Bill. To the best of my knowledge their East End location was in a smaller fast-food space - no idea of the original tenant - a block south of Westport on the stub end of Goose Creek. Anthony's short-lived suburban venture was where the old Hungry Pelican used to be, about two blocks NORTH of Westport, close to Wick's.

Istanbul Palace is in what was, years ago, a KFC. Whoever thought that would be a good spot is beyond me. Subsequent tenants have included The Cutting Board Cafe, Perla de Pacifica, and Istanbul Palace. I think a BBQ joint was in there at some point as well.

[Robin Garr]

The Cutting Board Cafe.

Wasn't it in the tiny space adjacent to a tire shop, possibly where Spinelli's moved in? And later moved, very briefly, to the ex-Hungry Pelican space that then went to Seviche?

The Cutting Board Cafe.

Wasn't it in the tiny space adjacent to a tire shop, possibly where Spinelli's moved in? And later moved, very briefly, to the ex-Hungry Pelican space that then went to Seviche?

Yes but it was also in the Istanbul space for a time - nothing lasts long there.

[Robin Garr]

Yes but it was also in the Istanbul space for a time - nothing lasts long there.

Thanks, Mark. I guess that pretty much tells the tale. I never even saw it when it was in there!