Recommendations please.
Istanbul?
Started by
Lord Michael Lewis
, Aug 29 2002 07:13 AM
7 replies to this topic
#2
tighe
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- participating member
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Posted 29 August 2002 - 09:38 AM
I posted the following in an Istanbul thread over in the 'Europe' section. Happy eating.
Food in Turkey, one of my favorite subjects!!
In Istanbul, it's kind of hard to go too far wrong as long as you stay away from the most touristy places. My reccomendations would be:
Develi - a kebab house not far from the main tourist area of the city. Steve Raichlen chose it as one of his 10 favorite grill restaurants in the world. I was duly impressed
Tugra in the Ciragan Palace Hotel - pretty much the ultimate for high end Ottoman/Turkish food. The meal I had there was spectacular both in terms of the food and the setting. It's expensive by Turkish standards, but not by American. One warning: avoid the chicken desert at all costs
Pandeli in the Spice Market - very good food and good place to stop for lunch.
There's also a lot of good street (or boat) food in Istanbul. Down on the waterfront you will see fishermen selling grilled mackerel and other fish from their boats. It's great!
Over in the Beyoglu district (accross the Golden Horn) there are a couple large markets that have a variety of great food to offer.
If you're going to travel along the coast, try to stop in Dalyan in the southwest. It's a really interesting little town that hasn't been overrun by tourists (yet). There are some really great fish restaurants there along the river. Near the center of town there is a completely non-descript place that serves the best lamb sandwiches ever. Look for line of locals out the door at lunch time.
Have a great time!!
Food in Turkey, one of my favorite subjects!!
In Istanbul, it's kind of hard to go too far wrong as long as you stay away from the most touristy places. My reccomendations would be:
Develi - a kebab house not far from the main tourist area of the city. Steve Raichlen chose it as one of his 10 favorite grill restaurants in the world. I was duly impressed
Tugra in the Ciragan Palace Hotel - pretty much the ultimate for high end Ottoman/Turkish food. The meal I had there was spectacular both in terms of the food and the setting. It's expensive by Turkish standards, but not by American. One warning: avoid the chicken desert at all costs
Pandeli in the Spice Market - very good food and good place to stop for lunch.
There's also a lot of good street (or boat) food in Istanbul. Down on the waterfront you will see fishermen selling grilled mackerel and other fish from their boats. It's great!
Over in the Beyoglu district (accross the Golden Horn) there are a couple large markets that have a variety of great food to offer.
If you're going to travel along the coast, try to stop in Dalyan in the southwest. It's a really interesting little town that hasn't been overrun by tourists (yet). There are some really great fish restaurants there along the river. Near the center of town there is a completely non-descript place that serves the best lamb sandwiches ever. Look for line of locals out the door at lunch time.
Have a great time!!
Most women don't seem to know how much flour to use so it gets so thick you have to chop it off the plate with a knife and it tastes like wallpaper paste....Just why cream sauce is bitched up so often is an all-time mytery to me, because it's so easy to make and can be used as the basis for such a variety of really delicious food.
- Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink, 1946
- Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink, 1946
#3
anil
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- 1,492 posts
Posted 29 August 2002 - 07:57 PM
What a catholic guiltRecommendations please.
you impose - QnD (Quick-n-Dirty) I stayed Taksim Sq., and ate mostly at non-descript,but excellent small eateries....For a formal meal, my abode, Hotel Marmara; had a decent restaurant on the top floor that we had an OK meal.
anil
#4
Wilfrid
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- legacy participant
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Posted 05 September 2002 - 12:46 PM
I recall being served a Sultan's banquet of many dishes in the luxurious top floor of the Sheraton. Competent rather than remarkable, except for the price which was vanishingly small.
#5
tighe
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Posted 05 September 2002 - 10:38 PM
With all due respect to the Sheraton, there's no reason to settle for "competent" over "remarkable" at any price level in Istanbul. Throughout my time in Turkey I was amazed at the exceptional food that could be had for a pittance.
Most women don't seem to know how much flour to use so it gets so thick you have to chop it off the plate with a knife and it tastes like wallpaper paste....Just why cream sauce is bitched up so often is an all-time mytery to me, because it's so easy to make and can be used as the basis for such a variety of really delicious food.
- Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink, 1946
- Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink, 1946
#6
Lord Michael Lewis
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Posted 06 September 2002 - 09:43 AM
So the Sultan got your order then?I recall being served a Sultan's banquet of many dishes in the luxurious top floor of the Sheraton.
#7
Wilfrid
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Posted 06 September 2002 - 10:09 AM
It's a fair cop, tighe, I just couldn't remember the names of any of the remarkable little places.With all due respect to the Sheraton, there's no reason to settle for "competent" over "remarkable" at any price level in Istanbul. Throughout my time in Turkey I was amazed at the exceptional food that could be had for a pittance.
#8
robert brown
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Posted 06 September 2002 - 12:12 PM
Haji Baba is delicious. There's a restaurant serving food made from old recipes of the Topkapi Palace. I will try to get the name for you. I have the name of a good Iranian caviar dealer in the Spice Market. You pay about 1/3rd of the price of what you pay in France or NY. Are you coming straight home or going to a place you can serve it properly?
