Restaurants

Spacious Beyoglu has always been a good local restaurant, and its cooking has continued to improve. Typical Turkish restaurant fittings, patterned cloths, well-matched red tablecloths and incense burners define the relaxed ambience. The cooking benefits from attention to fine detail, amply demonstrated by the fava bean salad and light kısır in an exceptional mixed meze. Main dishes of chicken ískender with yoghurt and pide, and ínegöl köfte (gently spiced patties of minced lamb) were both excellent and well presented. Again, the little things were remembered: the accompanying salad was unusually fresh, the rice perfectly cooked. The menu also features seafood, stews and vegetarian dishes. Service was friendly and attentive, and Beyoglu remains the best of the Turkish restaurants in Temple Fortune. In fact, it compares favourably with many Turkish venues elsewhere in town.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008