The award-wining Jack Russell in Pera has a new next-door neighbor: the Japanese restaurant Ajia Shima. Everything is prepared behind the sushi bar counter, which has seating available, but there are also tables to fit 25 in this contemporary venue. Red chandeliers hang asymmetrically above, creating a sense of movement. The long, thin table in the middle of the room is ideal for social gatherings, but the space is tight, so you may have to get cosy with neighbouring groups.
Behind the sushi bar is a Turk with many years of experience working with a foreign chef. Though the restaurant feels promising, there is not much to make Ajia Shima stand out from other sushi places in Istanbul. The menu offers classic sushi varieties (8-35 TL), spring rolls (15 TL), teriyaki-sauce steak (32 TL) and salmon tartar (28 TL). It may not be the best sushi you’ve ever had, but Ajia Shima holds its own.