For a variety of reasons, this was one of my favorite dining experiences in Istanbul.
First, the building itself has a story unto itself. At one point, the building served as a prison for the British Empire in the 1920's. It has since had other uses prior to becoming a restaurant, however it seems that it is most apt to highlight the fact that it is a former jail. Second, the restaurant was located in the neighborhood of our apartment, our home away from home while staying in Istanbul.
While the food was excellent, I will always remember the warm hospitality of the owners. The owner started playing Russian folk songs on the piano as we were winding down our dinner. One of our dining companions, whose family is Russian, was immediately taken back to her childhood, as she sang these songs with her family. She joined the woman at the piano and continued to sing folk song after folk song. Afterwards, another friend of ours sat down at the piano and we had an impromptu concert. What started off as a woman playing the piano to provide some ambiance and background music turned out to be a wonderful experience of sharing music for all of us. It's been several years since I dined at the restaurant but what I do remember is the sounds and the excellent spiced cheese.
If you are in the neighborhood, this is a worthy stop for a meal. Hopefully, you will be rewarded with as lovely of an evening as I was. read more