I really like Georgian food and was excited to try this place having heard stories of the…read morefascinating history of the building and the quirky owners. In reality I found the atmosphere a little cold and the interior actually looks oddly like someone's living room, although that had it's own charm (there's a shower cubicle in the toilet). Food wise we tried the stuffed carrots, a dish I've never had before which was absolutely delicious, refreshing but flavourful and one of my favourite things I ate in Istanbul. Along this were stuffed vine leaves, a major hit with my friend because of the slightly sweet edge given by the inclusion of sultanas. I was disappointed by the khinkali (spelled hingali on the menu) which were small and the dumpling was harder than I'm used to. Bear in mind though that I've eaten hundreds of khinkali, most people would probably be fine with this version! The other dish we had, the tatar ashi, is the owner's mother's recipe and was indeed very tasty and comforting. She also played some old tunes on the piano which were very haunting and beautiful. Overall I perhaps wouldn't recommend this if you're only on a short trip to Istanbul but if you've got a bit longer/are a local and fancy something a bit different, definitely give it a go.

For a variety of reasons, this was one of my favorite dining experiences in Istanbul…read more First, the building itself has a story unto itself. At one point, the building served as a prison for the British Empire in the 1920's. It has since had other uses prior to becoming a restaurant, however it seems that it is most apt to highlight the fact that it is a former jail. Second, the restaurant was located in the neighborhood of our apartment, our home away from home while staying in Istanbul. While the food was excellent, I will always remember the warm hospitality of the owners. The owner started playing Russian folk songs on the piano as we were winding down our dinner. One of our dining companions, whose family is Russian, was immediately taken back to her childhood, as she sang these songs with her family. She joined the woman at the piano and continued to sing folk song after folk song. Afterwards, another friend of ours sat down at the piano and we had an impromptu concert. What started off as a woman playing the piano to provide some ambiance and background music turned out to be a wonderful experience of sharing music for all of us. It's been several years since I dined at the restaurant but what I do remember is the sounds and the excellent spiced cheese. If you are in the neighborhood, this is a worthy stop for a meal. Hopefully, you will be rewarded with as lovely of an evening as I was.

We loved this place so much that we went twice during our Istanbul visit. Food was delicious,…read moreservice was great, atmosphere is amazing. We loved the guys who played the accordion there, it gave some vibe. Food was authentic and delicious. 1924 Egg dessert was amazing. The place is a little pricey and the drinks especially (around $20/cocktail) but I guess it is on par with other Istanbul places.

Just happened on 1924 Istanbul , and what a fortunate moment it was …read more I walked through a crowded alley way and came to set of beautiful doors that lead up flight of stairs that may as well have been a time machine reliving me to another era of gastronomy and atmosphere. I hope to retain the memory of my evening for a very long time . Things not to miss : The Fish Bizarre Cocktail ( one of the best cocktails I've ever tasted, and I'm in the liquor business) . The Borscht was fantastic along with the house pickles spectacular! I should go back tonight to continue my exploration of the menu . The atmosphere including the wonderful accordion music was perfect along with service .