Delicious all the way! In the sultanahmet district we're you can find lots of restaurants and shops…read morewe chose this little gem. Simple yet warm and cozy the ambiance was nice and the staff were very helpful. My husband had the mezzo grill plate and I had the chicken grilled panini. Location- in the sultanahmet district upper floor and right in the arasta bazaar. Food- everything was fresh and crispy. You can tell they really seasoned everything just right. The chicken was flavorful and the handmade bread in panini was crispy. The kebabs were cooked to perfection. The Turkish coffee was a bit strong but the apple tea was delish. Service- although the waiter wasn't fluent in English he still made every attempt to try and help us with the menu. (Translated by Google) Cozy atmosphere, staff who know their job, delicious food. Were on vacation at the Hotel, as a rule, all restaurants break the price for medium quality dishes. In the Sultanahmet district, in my opinion, Arast is the best institution in terms of price and quality. I advise everyone, definitely five stars. Accept cards.

This restaurant was my *second best* discovery in Istanbul a month ago. My best friend and I spent…read morethe day wandering the streets and ended up in Arasta bazaar....at 9:50 pm we got hungry. We almost went to a couple of close restaurants and I said no....i want to go there...the vibe was very chill. We ordered our food and drinks....and everything brought to us was fresh, quality, and the presentation was excellent. You might say OK why is that such a big deal? Because we didn't know until we left at 11:50 (two hours later) that the restaurant actually closes at 10 pm. WUT???? Yes. The manager Abdullah was so classy. Never told us "hey we are closing," never brought us reheated stale food. SOOOO accommodating. Yes it should have occurred to us ladies that we were almost the only ones there after 10:15 but the food kept coming and the manager made us feel so welcomed that we never noticed. We loved it so much we went back twice more and had the exact same experience. Although we went when they were open lol. Pro tip: There's another Arasta restaurant nearby. This is Arasta Cafe Restaurant. Make sure you are at the one at the top of the stairs in Arasta bazaar. Also LOOK AT THIS HANDSOME BOY who snuggled up to me the next day.

Don't waste your money! Terrible food, lovely ambience and decent Turkish wine. We had lamb…read moreshank - bitter taste from dumping too much cinnamon, chicken roll, tasteless and served with old vegetables. So many good places to go it's a crying shame this beautiful place doesn't do decent food.

The Husband and I ate at this lovely restaurant our last night in Istanbul and I must say, it was a…read morenice change of pace from the rather tourist-minded places that surround it. First, the ambiance is amazingly romantic. The candlelight and live music play off the stone walls magically. I loved how this place used to be a cistern! So historical! Although we walked right in without a reservation, keep in mind I visited during the off season when tourists were few and far between. I can see this place being quite popular during the spring time so make a reservation for your peace of mind. The food, like I mentioned, was not the usual kofte or kebabs offered at other restaurants. My husband ordered the lamb and raved about it, saying it was the best lamb he had during our trip. I concur because I begged for a bite. It fell off the bone and was incredibly tender. Yum! Because I have some digestive issues that were causing my intestines to flare and be mean, I stuck with the soup of the day. For celery soup, it was great! I know, it's sad when all you can eat is soup on vacation. Having severe IBS is no fun. For a romantic dinner on a quiet street, go here! The ambiance alone is worth it. Enjoy!

Stopped by this place because we saw that they had a rooftop restaurant. It was on the 7th floor of…read moretheir hotel. It has a very nice outlook of the city, but the service and food were mediocre. It took very long for the lamb chomps that I ordered to come out. I ordered it medium rare, but it seemed to be cooked wayyyy over. Great views of the city during the night, but not the biggest fan of their food. Good views of Istanbul here

First of all I want to thank Arif, Vittorio, and Aziz for making myself and my fiancé feel so…read morewelcomed and for being the greatest Turks we have met on our trip. The food at dafne was outstanding. When Arif came up to us when we were walking down the street, he had told us if it was great but not very great, it would be free. Well it was VERY GREAT. From the lentil to the kofte. Everything had such an amazing flavor. I never have tasted such tender and flavorful chicken kabob before. There was not one thing we had that wasn't good. We went there 6 times in 3 days. The service was top notch. When we were just walking by after a long day of site seeing, we would stop by and say hello, and they would always invite us in for tea. Just an amazing experience. Would recommend to anyone traveling to this part of Istanbul. Well sure be back next year. Defne Herkese çok teşekkür ederim!

After telling the owner about my recent engagement to my fiance, he promised us great food and…read moresurprises. Well we met halfway. The Turkish cuisine was tender and savory, but we couldn't have been more ignored than a pair of lepers on the street. Only until the end of the meal were we first asked by the server how it tasted. And the owner made rounds and grand gestures to everyone around-- but not us. At one point the restaurant invited a trio of musicians to entertain all customers, but it was so tacky when they went around asking for tips upon leaving. After we coyly asked the owner where these mysterious 'surprises' were did he have two drinks delivered to us on the house. This place would have gotten a higher rating without the empty promises; so would I come again? Defne-tly not!

You really need to dine here if you're in the old city. It is very small; so make a reservation…read more It is a family owned restaurant with the dining room on the middle floor of their house. All the food is home cooked by the owner, who is an artist. She has decorated the room with her art and even made the furniture. The food is amazing! You'd better love cats and dogs because they are part of the experience. Our best dining experience so far in Istanbul.

This was the highlight of my trip to Istanbul. Being served homemade food by the amazing chef and…read morecafe owner off a handwritten menu--whatever she made that day--surrounded by art and rescue animals....do not miss out!!

Mediterranean salad was well executed accompanied with a timely arrival of their free baked bread…read more I would thoroughly recommend the mixed Kebab platter;has plenty for 2cto share and Enjoy. Very succulent kebabs. They have a large sit in area in the back tastefully decorated. Great conversation and attention to detail from all the staff.

This place was great…read more Conveniently situated near most of the big attractions, this place was our first stop before sightseeing. The place was empty upon our arrival which greatly enhanced the amount of attention we received. The waiter was very friendly, like...very, very friendly. Possibly too friendly. We ordered turkish coffee (classic), hummus and pita for the table to share, and an omelette each. The pita they gave was GIGANTIC. Like titanic-sized. Like bigger than my head. The hummus was exceptional. The omelette was also gigantic now that I think about it. Omelette walls were thin and the tomato sauce inside was delicious. Alright I think that's enough

Went here on a recommendation from friends. Food was great. Was very busy but found a spot easily…read more Enjoyed our meal very much!

Kasabim is one of the best Steak Restaurants you'll find in Istanbul. It is very cozy and the…read moreBonfile Steak will be served perfect! The owner have also their own butchery since over 60 years! If you prefer other turkish grilled products, you will find them on the menu! Te Burger are also delicious and if you order the Steak, you should order some french fries too! They must be handmade and are the best french fries I've ever had! ( and I will compare them to those I had in one year living in NYC) You will find this Restaurant easily, when you go to the crowdy Sirasviller Caddesi and turn aft the Alman Hastani ( Hospital) and after the nice Balik Savoy left on the Yeni Yuva street and then you have to turn right at he 4th street crossing your way up! You see the butchery on the left on the YeniYuva and turn into he small street passing he parking cars and see the nice Kasabim on the left!I wrote this critic after turning back from Istanbul, so I won't get any favours!But this Steak Restaurant really saved my soul living in that crowdy loud city!