Istanbul Restaurant Tips by mightywease

Restaurant Name: Balikci Sabahattin

Walking into Balicki Sabahatin is a little like walking into a favourites Aunt’s front parlour – white linen tablecloths, white lacy coverings at the window, cream and sea-green walls with a few pictures - all neat, tidy but not off putting.

The restaurant specialises in fish and seafood, there isn’t a menu as such – although I believe you may be able to ask for one which includes hot starters – after showing you to your seat and taking an order for drinks (raki is a good accompaniment though we went for beer, they do have a wine list but we found it a little on the expensive side) a waiter will present a tray of mezes from which you make your choice. These includes salads, marinated fish, dips etc.. If you are unsure what to have – and there is a wide choice – ask the, very helpful, waiting staff for their recommendations.

A little later, while enjoying your choice of meze, a waiter will bring a platter of fresh fish of the day from which you select your main courses, again if you are unsure - or indeed you need some pointers, as we did, to what fish is which - ask for a recommendation. Once your choice is made sit back, relax, finish your meze and wait for the fish fest to arrive!

The fish is either grilled or fried and simply presented with a small garnish of tomato, a slice of potato and a slice of mooli – the latter three acting more as palate cleansers than an accompaniment. Not that you need any accompaniment, the freshness and taste of the fish is what’s important and all you really need.

After that you may not feel the need for dessert but, if you do, there is a small but tasty selection of cakes and other traditional desserts.

Round this of with Turkish coffee and maybe even a liqueur and you have a great dining experience. In summer you should also be able to take advantage of the outside tables. Reservations are recommended, we went mid-week and it was pretty busy then.

Favorite Dish: We had

Courgette garlic and yoghurt dip – lovely subtle flavours, very refreshing
Marinated strips of Sea Bass – absolutely gorgeous – couldn’t get enough of it
Rice with mussels - a speciality of the restaurant, lovely combination of texture and taste
Olives - complimentary – a nice touch

Red Mullet (fried) – subtle yet distinctive taste, very well cooked
Swordfish Kebab – strong, meaty texture and taste, again very well cooked

Honey Cake – lovely and sweet without being sickly, as you put a piece in your mouth the honey seeped seductively onto your tongue

2 beers and some water, Turkish coffee and a complimentary cherry liquor

110 YTL (inc. tip) approx. £39.00/$76.00

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0212 458 1824
Address: Seyit Hasan Kuyu Sokak 1
Directions: Near Cankurtaran Caddesi - a short-ish stroll from the Blue Mosque

Restaurant Name: Albura

Tucked in a busy street of bars, restaurants, hotels and hostels Albura offers a large selection of Turkish and International dishes at very reasonable prices.

Wooden floors and ceiling are offset by orange/ochre walls and exposed brickwork, the walls also decorated by interesting metal lamp fittings. Seating is on iron or wooden chairs and some very comfortable leather banquettes.

The menu is extensive with traditional Turkish dishes – such as kebabs and fresh fish – on offer next to wider ranging fare such as crepes, salads and pasta. There are also a number of vegetarian options.

The food was well cooked and very tasty, more along the lines ‘comfort food’ than modern or fusion cuisine but nothing wrong with that, as attested by a number of people in the restaurant who were visiting for a second time. Indeed had we not wished to sample as many restaurants as we could we may have returned as there was a number of different things on the menu I would like to have tried. We had a couple of criticisms, the salad we ordered had a bit too many pickled/bottled vegetables, making it rather less fresh and more bland then I would have liked, and the baked potato accompaniment with one of the dishes was slightly cold, however, these are really minor caveats and didn’t effect our overall enjoyment of the meal.

Combine all the above with friendly staff and a price tag for two starters, two main courses, a dessert, two beers and a coffee of 83 YTL (approx. £30.00/$57.00) and you’ve got a good evening out.

Favorite Dish: We had

Mixed Turkish Meze – good range of flavours, especially the stuffed vine leaves and aubergine salad all very moorish
Calamari with tarter sauce – testy and plentiful

Ravan Kebab – four dumpling-like parcels of deliciously spiced meat served with mediterranean veg and a baked potato (a little on the cold side). Filling and comforting
Spinach and Vegetable Crepe – well cooked with a nice variety of vegetables and flavours
Green Salad with Walnuts and Turkish Cheese – nice but quite a lot of pickled/canned vegetables

Brownie Lover – two pieces of Brownie sandwiched together with sorbet, covered in chocolate sauce and cream – delicious and stodgy in the best possible way, making you smile inside and out as you eat it

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Yeni Akbiyk Cad. 26
Directions: A short walk from The Blue Mosque

Restaurant Name: Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Koftecisi

As a non-meat eater I couldn’t help but notice the irony of eating somewhere where the only main dishes are kofte: meatballs and kebab. However, having been recommended by a number of visitors and with an especially carnivorous husband wanting to sample as many kebabs as Istanbul could offer I was happy to give Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Koftecisi a try. And, having visited once, happy to go back a second time.

Situated amongst the many eateries of Divan Yolu Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Koftecisi seemed consistently bustling and busy with a steady stream of locals and tourists. Inside it is basic and functional – but what more do you need – the same could be said of the menu which, apart from kofke and kebab offers lentil soup, rice (pilav), green salad, bean salad (piyaz), yoghurt and bread as accompaniments. However in no way does that do the food justice. It is what you might call comfort food of the first degree, unfussy, straightforward and flavoursome. Lentil Soup was thick and tasty, the bean salad - seasoned with mint and a little oil - lovely and fresh, both the kebabs and kofte were nicely spiced and well cooked and the yoghurt was delicious – again a wonderful fresh, palate cleansing taste.

Sit downstairs and you are right in the middle of things with waiters scooting about taking orders and delivering food from the grill, upstairs was quieter with excellent views over Divan Yolu. Service is friendly and fast and the price is excellent – between 20 and 30 YTL (£7.20/$13.80 to £10.80/$20.70) for a meat dishes, two or three accompaniments, yoghurt, bread and a couple of drinks. This is fast food at its tastiest and best, perfect for a lunchtime break.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0212 513 1438
Address: 12 Divan Yolu
Directions: Nearest tram stop is Sultanahmet

Restaurant Name: Caferaga Medresesi

Situated in a peaceful, quite courtyard very close to Divan Yolu, Yerebatan Sarayi and Aya Sofya this is a perfect place to stop for lunch or a drink. The medresseh itself houses workshops and exhibition rooms highlighting traditional Turkish crafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, jewellery etc.. which you can look round either before or after your meal.
The food was well prepared and very tasty and our kick-boxing,friendly and attentive waiter was great!

Favorite Dish: The menu reflects more of a cafe than a restaurant feel. We had lamb meatballs with chilli and spaghetti, a delicious dish of scrambled eggs with tomatos and chilli plus bread and a diet coke each. The total cost for both of us was 13,000,000TL (around £6.00)

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0 212 523 36 01 -02
Address: Caferiye Sokak., Sogukkuyu Cikmazi No 1
Directions: Quite easy to miss but is signposted from Caferiye Sokak

Restaurant Name: Cennet

Cennet is a lovely traditional Turkish restaurant on Divan Yolu very near Cemberlitas.
The menu consisits of dishes such as mixed appertizers (stuffed vine leaves, aubergine salad, tomato and chilli sauce), kebabs and gozleme (filled pancake)
The food is prepared upstairs and lowered down from a gallery on the top floor. Except for the bread and gozelme which is perpared by a number of women in the middle of the restaurant. There are tables and chairs but its much more fun to sit on cushions on the floor, stretch out your legs and eat your food from the low tables.
The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant, the staff friendly and eager to help, the food solid, tasty fare and the cost fantastic.
For a mixed starter, a kebab, a potato pancake and drinks we paid 20,000,000 Turkish lira (about 8.60 sterling at the then exchange rate) between us. Bargainous!
Opening Hours: 8.00am-11.00pm daily

Favorite Dish: Mixed appetisers and freshly prepared bread.
A wonderful mixture of tastes - tomato, aubergine, chilli and more - which you can mop up with satisfyingly warm and doughy bread. Delicious

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0212 513 14 16
Address: Divanyolu Cadessi 90
Directions: Very near Cemberlitas