Job Discussion Forums

[mongrelcat]

I have a friend who will be in Istanbul for four days in September.

He's asking me for excellent restaurants.

I haven't spent much time in Ist., plus I never have money.

So, for him, money's no object.....can anybody give the names and locations of very good restaurants that have fine Turkish cuisine?

many thanks.

[justme]

There's a place on top of Hotel Cartoon (I love that name but was very disappointed given my cartoon superhero fantasies)-- traditional Ottoman and Turkish food that's excellent (some foreign food too), a good wine list, but its damn expensive.

If your friend is into meat, there's a place in Bah�elievler on �alişlar Sokak that I love, where you choose your meat and cook it at the table. It's called H�nkar, and it's pretty reasonable. The meat is very fresh and well-seasoned, and the mezes are pretty good. The H�nkar kebab and beyti are great. It's a bit hot there in the summer though...

[31]

I never have money.

Typical tefler

[justme]

I sometimes have money but I spend it all on food. Or books. Also wine.

There's also Gelik in Bakırk�y. Really good mezes and kebabs. Pretty expensive but worth it. They have a fish restaurant too, but I've never tried it.

Forgot to mention that the Hotel Cartoon place is really pretentious but they have cool bathrooms...

And it's not fine dining or anything, but Karadeniz Pidecisi in B.K�y has great pide. They're not pretentious at all.

[31]

What has happened to The Fast Cafe in B`koy?

[dmb]

Where to start. I have a number of favourite places. Dort mevsim in tunel on Istiklal. Pano and Viktor levy opposite the British Consolate. 5. kat in Cihangir. For iskender Konak on Istiklal. For any other type of kebab denge in 1. Levent. For a cheap place selvi at the top of Siraselviler or bereket at the top of Istiklal. for something non Turkish Smyrna in Cihangir(best burger in town). I had a couple of friends out a few weeks ago for the football(what a night) and their favourite things were baked potato from the place next to the mosgue in Ortakoy, a fish sandwich under Galata bridge, a mussle sandwich fom Cicek pasaj(at three oclock in the morning) and their number one choice was a chicken durum with mayo from taksim square. If your friend is veggie then i recommend Zencefil near the French consolate. i could go on but it is making me hungry

[Golightly]

[calsimsek]

Now I don't want anyone to think I go out alot, but I know a few good places to go.

1. For a good sea view and fish try Hanadan next to Beşiktaş iskele. price for fish and wine for two around $ 60-100. For a more unmarket choice try Seaport just past �skudar and old Yali price for two with wine around $120-$150.. If you want ok food and great views go to the Princes Island Resturant, boat take you from �skudar and karak�y. Fix menu meal for two around 150 Y.T.L. Live classic turkish music included.

2. For Turkish meals. Kaşi Beyaz in Floya. Less than $50 for two.
An unmarket choice would be Nevzi in Levent. or Paşa on Cad, both around 100 Y.T.L

3. If you want a good mix of turkish and international there only two choices really. The old Paper Moon in Etiler and Cafe Tika Bagbat.

O.K all of the above cost more than your local kebab shop, but you did say money was no problem.

Btw if you real want to roll your friend send him to the Four Seasons. Was taken there a few months ago by a student, the soups on the menu stated at around 20 Y.T.L.

[dmb]

Are you talking about the four seasons in Sultan ahmet or Tunel?

[whynotme]

for me the best place to eat in Istanbul is Haciabdulah in Beyoğlu, they serve real Turkish and Ottoman Kebap...it is a bit expensive but it is worth eating there...Ağa restaurant serves te similar food, try their komposto , out of this world Aga is in Taksim opposite the Ağa mosque.
Kaburgacı Selim Amca on Vatan Street is also a great place , you can try K�m�r in Fatih
i love Kaşıbeyaz too, the owner is a friend of mine but havent been there for ages. �sk�dar Kanaat is also good for Turkish food...did i forget anything?

[whynotme]

how can i forget "Mymother restaurant".. cant be compared to anything ..really missed my mother's food

[dmb]

does anyone know a crap place to eat? This would be a shorter list.

[molly farquharson]

360 has a fabulous view and serves all kinds of cuisines. At least 100TL for two. Easier to get in during the week.

Lokal, in behind Tunel Medani serves a mixed cuisine too. One of their cooks is Thai. so the Thai selections are great. The carrot salad is fantastic.

Pera Dox is good, a little spendy, mostly Turkish. The roka salata wiht grilled helim cheese is tasty. It's on the back street near Tunel that parallels Istiklal.

Lebiderya, also fantastic view and mixed cuisine. You have to make reservations, though. Kumbaraciyokusu

A friend owns Sanat Restaurant on Nevizade Sok. It is huge, goes up floor after floor and in summers the terrace is open. No sea view, but it's quiet and cool. The food is traditional-- mezes, fish, etc. ALl made there and tasty. Musicians circulate, which is fun for a visitor.

hmm, now you know some of my faves

[Golightly]

[dmb]

See, I said it would be a short list