The best food at all you should try dorum and kebap the chef is very clean and welcomedread more

The food is amazing! The owners are thoughtful. The chef exudes charisma. The service is…read moreimpeccable. The ambiance is incredible and your night will surely end with singing and dancing. This is by far my favorite spot for kebab and yeni raki.

Located at the borderline of an industrial district, one would think Markus Prime Ribs Society…read morewould make a poor date spot. One would be terribly wrong. Indeed maslak industrial district is becoming home to many new and chic restaurants. Markus is one of the first to open up shop there. We went there for Valentines day (I know, sounds odd right?). The restaurant has large shared tables and bistros. We were only able to make reservations for the shared table and despite our doubts it didn't not feel crammed. Quite the contrary, it was both romantic and convivial thanks to the people around us. Our experience with the service was exceptional from the first phone call to the last plate served. Attentive with genuine smiles and great recommendations. We ordered celery and fries (which were strongly recommended) and they did not disappoint. Especially the fries. We didn't not try the poutine as we thought it would be too hearty, but we were told it's their house special. For mains we had short lamb and beef ribs and unless you don't like lamb, you should absolutely try both! They were exceptional. Same if not better than the ones we had in the US. My only note is that the purée that comes with the beef ribs was a bit too heavy. Markus offers a very warm ambiance. There was live music that was in good harmony with the restaurant's decor. All in all it was a surprisingly pleasant experience. The price is reasonable. We paid about 350-400 TL for two (including 1 beer). Do make sure to make reservations. You can take a taxi to go there if you don't want to walk from the the itu-ayazaga metro station. We can't wait to return for more ribs!

Istanbul was love not just because of the history and architecture but most importantly for its…read morefood. The sweets and savory both are on point. You can actually go to a hole in the wall and get the best kababs or baklava or halwas every eatery is a sheer joy. So this is one of the best places for a kababfest all over Yelp, YouTube influencers backing that and also the most recommended place on internet based reviews. We chose a non busy time it wasn't that packed. This restaurant is not compact but definitely crowded in the sense that tables are very close to one another. The staff is extremely polite, helpful and friendly. We ordered a little bit of everything including liver. Each item was bursting of flavor and the meat used was top notch quality. Price point isn't bad. Do google the menu with pricing and these change quite often in places like Turkey which is a tourist hub. We paid with credit card no issues. The food came out piping hot and within reasonable grilling time. Definitely recommend this place it's a haven for meat lovers I can't wait to go back this is a solid 5 on 5 for me.

In Istanbul, Turkey on a food tour with Culinary Backstreet. It was a fabulous trip. Our next to…read morefinal night, we were treated to an interactive dining feast at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. This place is preformance art. We were seating at the pit master's table side. The chef is an amazing cog that makes this restaurant thrive with delicious meats. Tonight, we did not order food but were served by the pit master and his favorite creations. We dined on liver skewers with lamb tail fat, grilled garlic, lamb chops, kebobs, grilled onions, spicy breads, grilled peppers, and grilled tomatoes. It was entertaining, warm and completely interactive. The mezzes were also delicious but one has to be cautious not to load up on the salads. I cannot convey just how much fun it was to sit table side tonight. As engaging as the pit master was, his cooking skills are second to none with respect to his grill. If you are headed to Istanbul and looking for a new adventure with scrumptious grilled food, get reservations at Zubeyir Ocakbasi. The environment is engaging, light and just plain fun. I tip my hat to the restaurant, the pit master and to our tour guide for making this evening memorable.

Walking around Istanbul and needing an authentic dinner place....i, of course, turned to yelp for…read morehelp! Found this place close by with ravishing reviews, so why not. Get there and easily seated. Small place but people were constantly going in and out and place was buzzing with tourist and locals alike. Menu properly labelled with prices so not a tourist trap. Sat down and ordered the lamb chops and the Adana kebabs (minced meat). Both dishes outstanding. The lamb chops were the best I've ever had. Grilled just right to perfection. Seasoned well with Turkish spices and meat was juicy. The kebabs were the same. Juicy and succulent and perfectly seasoned. Came with complimentary lavash and spicy hummus dip and some pickled veggies. Service quick and portion sizes just right. When in Istanbul, a must try for sure. Cheers! Happy eating!

I was going to try the turkey lamb chop. So I pick a restaurant close to grand plaza. It was close…read moreto the tram station. There are four chops in the set. The chop was pan fried to almost well. I am guessing they don't ask about the temperature. Overall the food is good. The meat here is a bit tougher than the United State. They are likely seasoned. The meal comes with grilled pepper, tomato and turkey blow bread.

My husband found this restaurant because it was one of the closest ones to our hotel and had…read moregluten/dairy free options. We walked in and were told because we didn't have a reservation that there was only one table, but they were very nice and seated us quickly. It was our first meal in Istanbul and we were tired from our travels, so it was a little overwhelming when they came by with a giant platter of appetizers for us to choose from. We didn't pick any, but they did look tasty. My husband got a pide and I got the gluten free and vegan one. The kitchen was open, so it was nice to watch the guy happily making the pide. Mine was really delicious - the crust was crunchy and held up well with the pile of vegetables on it. Great way to start our trip here! My husband ordered dessert and they even made up a gluten and dairy free dessert for me - it was some type of candied pumpkin with syrup and walnuts. So thoughtful! Definitely 10/10 for the service and also 10/10 for the view.

First time to Turkey and Istanbul. On recommendation from the hotel staff. Utterly amazing…read moreinitiation to real Turkish food. Let the waiter make the food selections from menu. Nailed it! Have eaten a lot of other places in the world and think this rates near the top! patio dinning at night fantastic

The concept is good but without a big appetite, eating there does not make sense. The interiors is…read moregood but too dark, the crowd is a bit pretencious, also overpriced.

Only tried appetizers. Crispy shrimp and spicy chicken wings are truly superior. The rest, average…read moreOK.

This restaurant is hidden but it is worth being discovered. I would honestly give it a 4 and a half…read morestars for one reason, and one reason only. The water was not from a sealed bottle, so I did not know where it came from. The atmosphere is to die for. Very comfortable seats. The lighting is soothing and is not too blinding. I would definitely recommend sitting outside if the weather is good. The music is not really my taste, but it was not disturbing, so overall it was ok. The inside of the restaurant allows you to barbecue your own meats, like a Korean barbecue style. So it is an experience worth trying. Everything to do with food was great, well prepared and cooked. The appetizers weren't too much so you could still enjoy your main meal. Which was an assorted plate of meats that I got to choose from the inside of the restaurant.