Loved the drinks, the service, the atmosphere, the food! Love the name... ;) Great for a date and a gathering with friends. Great for just about any life event. Treat yourself to their fabulous drinks and explore the menu. I'll definite be back. read more

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Was greeted and seated upon arrival. Chose the window seat, which was great for watching people going up and down the steep street. The service was very attentive and the space nice. I expected it to be very loud with the hard surfaces, but surprisingly it had a nice mellow vibe. They were also very accommodating of being gluten free. Started with two amuse buches: one was a ravioli with meat in a strong beef broth sauce. The pasta was very well prepared (although it was only one small ravioli). The other was gluten free bread, which was not grainy or dense but was chewy with a nice crust, that was good for sopping up the excellent muhammara (red pepper & walnut) sauce. Next was the bonito appetizer. Whoa, that had a very - emphasize that - fishy flavor. I think that's sticking with me. Glad it came with some citrus (orange?) to offset the strong fish flavor. The sweetbreads were delicious. They were fried and served with lightly pickled and salted, thinly sliced gherkin pickles, but these are not the kind the gherkin's you typically think of. The sweetbreads were a little greasy, and the gherkin's helped with that. The beef short ribs were also very rich, and tender and flavorful. Although it was a bit odd for them to be served over a piece of sourdough bread and be topped with a bunch of mint leaves. There were some ephemeral strands of zucchini that was the only other item/vegetable to come with the dish. There were four red wines available by the glass. Three were OK. Two people with two glasses of wine each came out to about $250. read more

Best manti ever, im trying the testing menu awesome! Also the services and staff very kind. read more

We had a reservation for 8pm but were late due to a road closing and they didn't give us any issues about getting our table. We were seated at the table next to the window directly to the left of the front door. I wanted to try the tasting menu but the entire table has to do it and my friends wanted to split some items instead. All our food items were delightful and this restaurant had certainly earned its Michelin bib gourmand designation! The inside of the restaurant has a nice cozy ambiance. I would definitely go back to try their tasting menu if I was back in Istanbul! read more

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Yeni Lokanta, located just off the popular İstiklal Street, offers modernized Turkish cuisine with a creative twist. The service was excellent--attentive to every detail, from wiping crumbs to refilling water. The sommelier also gave a fantastic wine recommendation, which perfectly complemented the meal. The appetizer courses were the highlight of the meal. The manti stood out with its beefy, umami-packed filling and delicious sauce. I also loved the morel mushroom dish, the components worked together perfectly and the capers were a great touch for a burst of flavor. The mains were also very creative, though at times I felt like there was too much going on. The eggplant course, for example, had too many strong flavors competing on the plate. For the final main, the lamb was delicious, it was perfectly cooked and I loved the hedgehog mushrooms. Though, I would have preferred a leaner cut since all of the courses were very creamy and rich. Finally, the desserts were ok, perhaps just not for my palate. I didn't really like the taste of the tonka-flavored rice pudding. Overall, it was a great dinner that did a good job of highlighting traditional flavors in an elevated way. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Great good and presentations. Great ambience and friendly servers. Service was good. Recommend it!! read more

Simply, a tourist trap. Cannot remember the last time I was ripped off to this magnitude. We had the nine course tasting menu and it came out to about 3,300 Turkish lira or about $130 per person. That's not an outrageous price for a tasting menu, but the food here should have cost a third of the price. In retrospect, the first course epitomized the entire experience. It was one dumpling (pelmeni/manti) with some tahini sauce. This was the kind of dumpling you can buy a two pounds for about $10 in New York. I joked to my wife that it was the most expensive pelmeni we've ever had. It's now clear the joke was on me. I've experimented many times putting various sauces on dumpings at home. Does that qualify me as a fine dining chef? Admittedly, I've never put tahini sauce on pelmeni. Interesting idea? Sure. Not the level of ingenuity I'd expect at this price point. It's the creativity I'd expect from a street vendor selling a entire bowl filled with dumplings for $5-10. Overall, if the food was priced properly, I'd rate it four stars. All the food was good, but the meal was overshadowed by the unreasonable cost. Service was attentive, but I would have greatly appreciated some hint that we should have considered items in lieu of the tasting menu. Atmosphere was modern and casual; however, it was not a fine dining location. There were two gendered, single occupancy restrooms. Accepts credit cards. read more

Best Dinner I had in Istanbul. The sweetbreads were amazing along with everything we had ordered. Great ambiance and service was top notch. read more

Focused on re-envisioned Turkish delicacies, lighter and more balanced than those on nearby Istikal Caddesi, Yeni Lokanta has found itself on many "lists" despite a casual approach that focuses on local Ingredients and traditional techniques. Conidered a "Tavern" in Beyoğlu, though the relaxed atmosphere still comes with great service, Chef Civan Er mans a wood-fired oven that produces plates focused mainly on Vegetables though Meats are also utilized across both a la carte and Tasting Menus. Offering mostly Anatolian Wines, a second location in London spreading Er's name and reputation, it is beginning with Bread that the 1,950 Lira journey progresses to traditional Mantı Dumplings followed by slow-cooked Beets with Cherries, Nuts and Cheese. Committed to seasonality with Eggplant, aged Port and Figs course four places housemade Lamb Sausage next to a dollop of smoky Yogurt balanced by Grapes and Molasses with just a hint of acid. Almost Italian with Fennel and Citrus Salad, a pair of Prawns to follow finding themselves amplified by Carrots and complex aromatics, Lamb Neck finishes savories with tender flesh plus crispy bits juxtaposing Mushrooms and Spinach kissed by Tamarind. Served complimentary Tea with Dessert, both portions and quality outpacing Michelin-starred neolocal or Mikla, Yeni Lokanta's Desserts include golden Phyllo with Pistachios plus Coconut Ice Cream and masterful Rice Pudding lent complexity by Raspberries, Nuts and Pismaniye. read more

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The pairing menu was spectacular. The first plate with the manti was perfect. The second was something new....and it kept going from there. Great service and one of the best meals I've had in a long time. read more

Beautiful, soulful Turkish food simply yet elegantly prepared with a modern touch. Every dish was exquisite, with such a depth of flavors -- we truly savored our experience and will be sure to return when we are next in Istanbul. Thank you. read more

If you know anything about good food, not even specifically talking about fine dining here, but just good food, then this place is not for you. We've had some amazing meals in our lives, and some not so great as well, but I've never wanted to ask for my money (and calories) back after eating a meal like I did at this restaurant. This place failed in so many ways, it's not even funny. We decided to go for their "tasting menu" for two, which isn't anything like a true tasting menu you would expect at any other respectable restaurant. The menu consisted of 8 appetizer size dishes served on one plate to be shared by two people, except for the first one where we got literally two small plates with one tiny manti (Turkish ravioli) each, almost as an amuse-bouche. There were 2 desserts, also to be shared. I won't even go into too much detail about each dish mainly because there was nothing to rave about, but I will make notable mention of some of the ridiculous food we got served to highlight how badly they failed. First, there was absolutely nothing modern, refined, unique or creative about their food. In fact the flavors, ingredients and the ways they put those together on a plate were completely incongruent. They made too much use of fried ingredients, like for example the bland deep fried potato croquette containing an egg yolk, on top the steak tartar. Also, who deep fries stuffed grape leaves and thinks it's a good idea? or deep fries a slab of goat cheese and serves it as an actual dish? All of these dishes made no sense whatsoever. They didn't even taste good. It's almost like they were trying so hard to be creative and unique but failed at conceptualization. However, the icing on the cake was really the last dish of the evening, the single prawn dish. We literally got one miserable prawn (actually more like a medium sized shrimp) to be shared by two people! Who does that?! It was utterly unacceptable and actually kinda disrespectful to serve such a dish and expect this to be ok. At 680 TL for the meal, which is extremely pricey for Turkey, this was not a splurge, it was a total rip off. Additionally, for the prices they charge, the service was sub par. This whole experience was memorable but in all of the wrong ways and actually it will probably go down in the books as one of the worse meals (if not the worse) we've ever had. If this restaurant truly wants to offer anything remotely close to a fine dining experience, then they have a lot of work to do. read more

I love to experience fine dining abroad. While on holiday in Istanbul, I used Time Out Istanbul to navigate their culinary scene to discover this unique treasure in the district called Beyoglu off of famous Istiklal Caddessi. It is the European-isk avenue that spans from Taskim Square to Galata Tower. Hidden in a side street, it is not too far where you feel you are going into uncharted territory. We asked our concierge at the hotel we stayed in the Sultanamet if he could make reservations for us. We attempt once for an initial date, but couldn't get our first choice. Our second option was honored. Think of this place as elevated Turkish cuisine with modern flair. The romantic setting evokes a sexiness that helps wet the appetite for food to come. From my understanding, the menu is new everyday and food is sourced locally to capture to essence of Turkey. We enjoyed meze (3 small plated appetizers - see posted photos) and my spouse and I enjoyed an entree each. I am carnivorous, so I indulged in Lamb Shanks. The memorable parts of the meal were the profound bites of food that made this foodie quiver: the bite of sweet-bitter-fermented mint that accompanied the lamb shanks, the smooth texture of the hummus, the briny taste of the tamarind-pepper combo, and the consistent texture of the watercress salad. When asked by a local we met and chatted with about where to eat, they suggested this location. As a tourist, there is no greater praise to give a restaurant than that. read more

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We were thrilled with Yeni's tasting menu. So many courses offered. Just when we thought that nothing could top the last item, out came another unusually delicious dish. There were so many courses that kept us busy eating for two solid hours! The service was excellent and attentive and the ambience was elegant but not too formal. read more

A fine experience from reservation to the check. Had hummus, tamarind rice and pine nut stuffed oven roasted peppers, watercress salad, and aubergine dumplings in yogurt sauce. All worth ordering. Lovely fresh soda-ginger-apple-mint! Refreshing and lively. The bread would have been better grilled or fresh. Toasted as it was dried it a little too much for the fairly thick slices. Made enjoying the hummus a too big bite! The watercress salad was perfect. Would not alter anything about that. GREAT service, thank you Mr. Serkan K. read more

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Don't think price, think divine food experience. It'll set you back $30-$50 per person for a most amazing culinary journey, including fine Turkish wines and dessert. A lot in Istanbul, but in any other city a steal for this level of experience. The tasting menu is a great introduction, but the real orgasmic surprises are ordering a la carte. The waitstaff is totally knowledgeable with spot-on level of service. The ambiance is unpretentious, quiet, jazz and soft light. A good place to connect to WiFi, if alone. A good place to stare into the eyes of your partner, if not. Can't go wrong. read more

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If this establishment were in San Francisco, there would be a line around the block every night of the week. We enjoyed the tasting menu for two, but one of us was vegetarian. The manager did not hesitate to make an accommodation. The staff was superb, and the wine selection was brilliant. Oh, and the tastes. Across all dishes, the subtleties of spices and textures were exciting and delicious. We were lucky to have found this gem on the hill. read more

Great food for sure, no doubt there, unfortunately the worst possible service by far. We waited for an hour and a half...and for what they charge, unacceptable. Never again. read more

This place is a must-stop if you're a foodie looking for a more refined dining experience in Istanbul. We ate here half way through our trip so it was a perfectly timed break from very traditional Turkish cuisine. Service was excellent. Servers spoke great English - not that it is required, but it does make a meal like this more pleasant since you're together for a few hours and the dishes often can use some explaining. Highlights... the dumpling. Dear Lord, it was in the most amazing savory sauce. Mmmmmm. Octopus was also excellent. Everything overall was good. We shared a nice bottle of Turkish wine as well. Bill was about $90USD per person including our wine, excluding tip. It felt like an appropriate price for the meal. read more

Unique foodie destination - modern Turkish food, refined, fresh baked bread. Loved the wine. Portions were large. Highlight was the bass. Too many smoked items for my tastes. I felt slightly rushed. This would do very well in SF. read more

Found this through Spotted by Locals app recommendation. Absolutely excellent dishes, amazing service, lovely ambience. Modernized Turkish dishes with increased level of elegance. A great dining experience. Upscale with good prices. read more

We really enjoyed the food in Turkey, and this restaurant was the best place we ate in Istanbul. Comparatively, this place is a bit of a splurge but well worth it. (Much better than Mikla) The food had a slightly modern twist and the service was excellent. The phone apps can give you very odd directions, but it is essentially just off istikal, down a steep side street just a few steps. read more

Yeni Lokanta was on my list of places to go for a long time. I tried calling a bunch of times and they were booked for 2 weeks ahead of time. Finally the star's aligned and I got a reservation. Man was I not disappointed. Great set menu with food galore. Elegant, great service and amazing food. Though pricey for two people (not sure why YELP has it as only two dollar signs) it was well worth it. I will go back again, and definitely bring guest's that are visiting Istanbul to this great establishment. read more

This is an excellent place to taste modernised Turkish cuisine. Reservation is a must. I have eaten many different kinds of food and they were all full of surprises and excellent. I highly suggest it. It was recently selected as the best new restaurant in town by a newspaper. read more

The worst food ever. Small portions prices outside are different from what you pay. Never again the washrooms extremely dirty with no water. Absolute rubbish read more

This can easily be our favorite restaurant in Istanbul. Great food, fresh ingredients, nice ambience, good service... Every time we go there, we leave fully satisfied. 5 star! read more

Truly I had not understood the epicure's delight before dining at yeni lokanta, but it upraised me to previously unfathomable heights of hedonism. I left the place knowing neither what I ate nor drank, yet I knew ineffable satisfaction. read more

This place is amazing. You do need a reservation because it is small and located in a very popular neighborhood. The drinks are great, particularly a cocktail with vodka, apple and mint... Mezes are delicious and good for sharing. Very enjoyable and the service was extraordinary! read more

Yeni Lokanta - Delicious octopus! - Turkish Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Fantastic. The menu apparently changes somewhat regularly, but everything we tried (party of 4 and sharing dishes) was great. Amazing selection of first plates. The sausage was especially tasty. We struggled to find room for desert, but so glad we did. The 'rice pudding' isn't your standard texture but well worth the experience. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing food, amazing service. Ordered the Meza plate w a variety of everything! Needed reservations even on a Monday. Must stop for great Turkish food. read more