It hasn’t been long since this chic new Italian restaurant opened, but it’s already managed to draw in regulars, particularly among Etiler residents. It’s impossible to get a seat dinner seat here without a reservation, but for lunch you might find a place to sit if it’s your lucky day.
The restaurant is situated on a quiet street that runs parallel to the bustling Nispetiye Caddesi. At the moment the Italian restaurant operates out of one floor, with a lounge bar scheduled to take up residence on the second floor soon. White tablecloths, large windows that let in sunlight and mirrors lend understated elegance to the space. The menu is likewise minimalistic as La Scarpetta’s manager Mürsit Göksüzoglu says the eatery focuses on “doing what it does best.”
As you might expect from any real Italian restaurant, pizza is the cherished dish here with much attention given to its preparation. Straight out of the wood-fired oven, the restaurant’s signature pizza, Pizza La Scarpetta (64 TL), is an excellent balance of beef fillets and mozzarella.
For dessert, we recommend the star dish torta di mele (22 TL), or apple pie served with cinnamon ice cream.
La Scarpetta deserves praise as an eatery that blends substance and style. A final word of caution: in order to achieve top-notch quality, the kitchen closes each day from 14.30 to 19.00.
By Erçag Akın