Istanbul Turkish Kitchen on Ithaca’s northside appears to be closed, with phone service disconnected and the doors locked since last week. Employees say they hadn’t been paid steadily in months despite complaints to the Tompkins County Workers Center. Several are still owed money, and the restaurant’s owners aren’t responding.

Istanbul Turkish Kitchen opened about four years ago at 311 Third Street. For decades, the unassuming shopping plaza on Ithaca’s northside has housed some of the area’s fanciest and most interesting restaurants, and Istanbul continued the tradition. This classy eatery oddly nestled between the bowling alley and the DMV blended beautiful presentation with flavorful preparation of a variety of Mediterranean dishes.

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