If you’re into dining on long tables in spacious restaurants on busy streets, don’t go to Komün. Located on the cobblestone hill leading from the Beyoğlu Tünel building to Şişhane, this is a tiny new restaurant where you can’t pretend the person sitting over at the next table doesn’t exist – you might even be tempted to say ‘hello’ before reading your newspaper, dining alone or chatting with your friends. That’s where the beauty of Komün lies: as the name suggests, the venue aims to make people feel as though they’re part of a community, no matter why they came here in the first place.
When we visited, we were surprised to see that the orders come out at a speed that’s unexpected from Komün’s tiny kitchen. If you’re not too hungry, try the mini sigara börek (cheese-filled fried rolled pastry), crispy veggie-and-meat patties, mücver (fried courgette patties) or crispy chicken strips – or order a ‘three-in-one’ to create your own combo. The thin, crispy pizzas are quite filling, too, though our absolute favourite is the stuffed Swiss chard served with yogurt. As for the main course, give the grilled pork (yes, pork) sausage a try, which is surprisingly light. You’ll also find breakfast options, pastas, sandwiches, omelettes and desserts on the menu, as well as an offering of daily soups and main courses.
FROM THE MENU
Three-in-one 18 TL
Vegetarian pizza 17 TL
Stuffed Swiss chards with yogurt 16 TL
Pork sausage 16 TL
Brewed tea 3 TL