We moved yesterday to the Crowne Plaza Hotel - Old City and the restaurant choices in the…read moreneighborhood are far more limited than in our previous neighborhood. We wanted to eat somewhere other than the hotel's cafe or restaurants. This was recommended by the Crowne Plaza desk staff because it was a short walk away. We walked over and were taken in hand by what Alan started calling in Athens a "roper", who ropes you into his restaurant. He led us through the corridors to the restaurant and arranged for us to be seated at a table for two. The building the restaurant is contained in is historic and beautiful, made of stone and brick and illuminated by colorful Turkish glass lanterns. I gather from the website that there's a large dining space and that there's a belly dancing show. We ate in the courtyard which was open to the sky. It was very pleasant, although it was hard not to have our meal spoiled by the surrounding smokers. We were brought a huge, warm flatbread w/ a mixture of butter and cheese to spread on it. I asked the waiter what the bread was called and he replied, "lavosh". I was astonished because I've seen lavosh at home and it's nothing like this. There's a big difference between packaged and hot off the grill. We perused the menu and decided on a starter of esme, a cold eggplant dish we've had and enjoyed at Bosporus in Walnut Creek. We ordered water to drink. Alan ordered a chopped meat kebob which came w/ rice, French fries, a roasted tomato and one of those treacherously unpredictable peppers Alan had tried at Meat House. I ordered chicken chops, which looked like a couple of chicken leg quarters w/ the thighs deboned. They had the same accompanying sides. The esme was so salty we couldn't finish half of it. Even the lavosh couldn't make it palatable. Alan's kebab was delicious and so were my.chicken chops. The tomato and rice were good and the fries were underdone and could have used some of the salt from the esme. Neither of us risked the peppers. The restaurant was busy and service was a little slow, but friendly. The food was definitely not the best we have had in Turkey and the proximity of the smokers made for an unpleasant dining experience. It may be a short walk, but we won't be back. We'll find something else tomorrow night,

This was my first night in Istanbul and I eased tired from traveling from cappadocia earlier in the…read moreday. This restaurant was close to my hotel and had great reviews on Yelp. When I arrived there was only one other customer inside. The restaurant decor was cute and I very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming. This spot was a bit pricey just like most of the restaurants in this touristy area. I had certain Turkish entrees i wanted to try during my vacation. I ordered the Iskender kebab which is beef and pita bread covered with tomato sauce with yogurt on the side. I ordered a side salad to go with it. The dish was very delicious as you can tell in one of my pics. I chatted with some of the staff about life in Istanbul. I was offered some complimentary pomegranate tea before I left and it hit the spot. This is definitely a place to check out when you're in the area.

A MUST TRY. As an American, I have been SO impressed with food here in Turkey and if you are in the…read morearea, this restaurant is an absolute MUST-TRY if you're looking for great food. I had some of THEE BEST chicken kebab I've ever had in this country here. The beef kebab was also tender and flavorful. You cannot go wrong with any of these! The service was quick and prompt, and the servers were great at making recommendations. I came here in the winter so we sat indoors which felt a bit cramped however, there is also outdoor seating during the nicer weather months. If I'm ever back here in Istanbul, I would definitely come back. And if you're reading this, you NEED to try the Old Ottoman!

I LOVE this spot. The views, the food, the service, the music .. I love it!…read more This is where I was first introduced to adjika, a tasty pepper sauce that is served with their table bread, which is also delicious. I had to grab some at a local market. I highly recommend the chicken kabobs, juicy and well seasoned. Also enjoyed the margaritas, stiff and not overly sweet. Staff is pleasant and attentive. The views are unmatched in the evening. Make your reservation in advance to secure your sunset table. The inside is nice and classy but I simply adore the open air views from the roof. The birds really set off the skyline and you can see several of the mosques around. Not SUPER expensive but it is in the higher end price wise compared to their surrounding competition -- 100% worth it in my book. I will definitely go again on my next visit. Glad I could introduce it to a friend this go round. The only thing I disliked about this place is the "dining dome" as I called it. A portion of the roof now offers seating in a large plastic dome. The dome is scratched up and obstructs the view of the city but does protect diners from the wind. I was not a fan of this dome. I'm sure it's something someone saw on the internet and implemented .. I hope they get rid of it, it's super unnecessary. Otherwise -- LOVE!

Beautiful views, nice restaurant, huge menu. Had some really good mezze and shared the turkish…read moreravioli that we hadn't seen elsewhere and were like dim sum. The views, food, and service make for an unforgettable experience.

We stumbled upon this place, it looked like a well loved place so we decided to stay for lunch. We…read moreeach ordered a durum doner, for which you can choose the amount of meat. I believe the sizes go from 80g of meat to 250g of meat. I ordered the 100g and it was plenty to fill me up. The bread is thin and flavorful, and the filling includes pickles, tomatoes and fries. The larger option comes served with a side of fries and pickles too. Delicious pita bread is complimentary, and it is served with yet another delicious menu item, a tangy and sweet tomato and herbs salsa. The prices are very fair (2 of us ate for ~ 15USD), the staff is very friendly, definitely would recommend.

Everything I ate here was utterly delicious and unique. The staff was lovely and so helpful. Their…read morerecommendation of what to order was spot on. I'm already craving a second visit.

Galata Kitchen is not a doner grill and it doesn't open onto a busy street with a big outdoor…read morepatio. After two days having some great meals in Istanbul of that type, we looked for something different. Not far from Galata Tower, GK is on a side street with little foot traffic. It has a big modern sign back off the street and one of the operators saw us hesitating where to enter and waved us in from the front entrance. Inside it has whimsical and funny decorations and serious books mounted on the wall, but is not atmospheric, more like a diner. BUT the food is displayed in a case, hot and cold entrees separated, so you can see what you are ordering. You pick what you want and they assemble your choices on a plate and bring it to the table. Hot entrees included chicken bites in a tomato sauce and chicken with onions, lamb stew and beef and plenty of salad and vegetable choices in the cold display case. The group of men running the place that night were low key but personable, answering our questions about food items and Turkish literature. Service was prompt but understated and helpful. Our group of four had a great time and the menu is diverse enough that everyone found choices that pleased them. But remember, we came in expecting something very good other than doner kebap and were not disappointed!

A must-try for tourists!…read more The food is absolutely delicious, with a menu offering traditional Turkish dishes. The ambiance is modern yet maintains a relaxed, upscale vibe, making it perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. They are famous for their mezes, and I highly recommend the levrek marin and fava. For mains, the hunkar begendi is amazing! The service is fast, friendly, and attentive, adding to the overall great experience. It's a classic if you're in Istanbul. Also, it's in of the best area to hang, tons to see around. Highly recommended!

I was excited to try this place but found the food to be just okay. Maybe I picked the wrong items?…read moreI am not sure. We ordered the grilled artichokes, pickles, potato croquettes, and beef tenderloin. The artichokes were my favourite - so delicious! Everything else was alright. It was all cooked well and seemed fresh but I found the price to be a bit expensive for what it was. I've had better meals for much cheaper in Istanbul. One thing I didn't like was a 50 lira charge per person for cover? And our water was not free. On top of that, a 10% service charge. Not really happy about being charged cover and a service charge but it is what it is. Service was good and our food came very quickly.

Go here and get the Beyran soup. I haven't found anything like it in all of Istanbul!…read more This place is just off the main square in the spice bazaar. Their other dishes are good - but Beyran is not served most places - and this is better than the kebab you are eyeing up. Definitely worth checking out!

Soup from Gaziantep!! You need fluid to replace that lost during the day. It may be one of the…read morehealthy choices and this place is among the best in Istanbul. Have it!