It's a quaint little seafood restaurant right on the sea wall. It's small capacity but can support…read moreone or two larger groups. I enjoyed one of my favorite foods in the world that I've only experienced in Turkey here. Stuffed mussels. The mussels are opened, cleaned, stuffed with rice and spices saturated in olive oil and steamed until ready to eat. They are eaten as hors d'oeuvres but I could easily make a meal of them. It's a truly unique delicacy combining the bold essence of the sea in the tender mussel tempered and re-textured with olive oil infused rice. Squeeze a little lemon juice before scooping the combination into your mouth and you'll be amazed at the flavor explosion inside your jaws. If your a mussel lover you'll be delighted and if you've never tried mussels this is a great way to start. In addition to the stuffed mussels I experienced a unique take on collard greens. They were chopped with onions and baked in a clay dish then topped with a garlic and yogurt sauce with a dash of red pepper in hot melted butter. It was extraordinary. We were served fresh salad in oil, vinegar, and lemon juice as well as steaming hot fresh bread from the wood fired oven ahead of the main course. Bread never disappoints in Turkey. It's always fresh and hot. Our main course was fried sardines. The sardines are split and cleaned including the bones and formed into medallions and lightly fried. Good stuff but overshadowed in the spotlight of the stuffed mussels.

This is my go-to spot in Izmir when I can't make it to Karacasu or Nazilli. Prices are reasonable,…read morethough the portion sizes feel a bit small to me--although I know this is the standard for Turkish servings. Orders are prepared quickly, but their ticketing system could be improved, as it seems like it could cause confusion during busy times. The real star here is their tahinli pide. It's something I crave the most, and you simply can't find it done right in other cities like Ankara or Istanbul unless you're in Aydın. This place nails it every time--perfectly baked with the right balance of tahini sweetness and soft, warm bread. I always order a few and enjoy them during my visits. This spot was originally recommended to me by a friend, and I'd definitely recommend it to others as well.