This was my first night in Istanbul and I eased tired from traveling from cappadocia earlier in the day. This restaurant was close to my hotel and had great reviews on Yelp. When I arrived there was only one other customer inside. The restaurant decor was cute and I very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming. This spot was a bit pricey just like most of the restaurants in this touristy area. I had certain Turkish entrees i wanted to try during my vacation. I ordered the Iskender kebab which is beef and pita bread covered with tomato sauce with yogurt on the side. I ordered a side salad to go with it. The dish was very delicious as you can tell in one of my pics. I chatted with some of the staff about life in Istanbul. I was offered some complimentary pomegranate tea before I left and it hit the spot. This is definitely a place to check out when you're in the area. read more

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A MUST TRY. As an American, I have been SO impressed with food here in Turkey and if you are in the area, this restaurant is an absolute MUST-TRY if you're looking for great food. I had some of THEE BEST chicken kebab I've ever had in this country here. The beef kebab was also tender and flavorful. You cannot go wrong with any of these! The service was quick and prompt, and the servers were great at making recommendations. I came here in the winter so we sat indoors which felt a bit cramped however, there is also outdoor seating during the nicer weather months. If I'm ever back here in Istanbul, I would definitely come back. And if you're reading this, you NEED to try the Old Ottoman! read more

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Walking in to a warm greeting, seated and welcomed. The menu was such a tome of delight and information. Our waiter was warm and helpful and helped us put together dishes we could share. Beautiful space, filled with lots of happy people. Iskender kabob delicious beyond compare. Lamb shank was superb. Excellent. Highly recommended. Enjoy! read more

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One of the best restaurants we've ever been in and we stumbled in jet lagged our first night in Istanbul because of a recommendation from the Agora Life Hotel worker. It's right around the corner from the hotel. There's a cluster of good restaurants here that at least in the off season don't have aggressive door hawks trying to bully tourists into eating at their restaurant, in fact this seems to be a place popular with locals. We would find over our stay in Istanbul that there is a negative correlation between how aggressive the door touts are and the quality of the dinner inside. This would turn out to be the high standard which we would forever measure any Turkish restaurant against and it's a mighty high bar. We had kebabs, and there are no better Turkish kebabs to be found. Service was great, we made friends with our first Turkish cats, and the price was very reasonable considering the quality of food. I really liked the décor and ambiance. Even in the cold offseason, we did what locals do, we ate outside, the Turkish love to dine al fresco. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Definitely visit Old Ottoman Restaurant if you want good Turkish food and great service. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The owner even came over to chat with my mom and I. He told us that his wife has celiac disease so he was able to tell us about which items on the menu were gluten free and safe for us to order. Sometimes when traveling it's difficult to explain this to restaurant staff, but this interaction made it so much easier for us. All the food was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. There's something about the simplicity of Turkish food that I love. Although the restaurant was very busy, it was surprisingly quiet and peaceful during our meal since it's tucked into an alley. Away from some of the chaos of Istanbul. I'll be sure to pay this spot another visit if I get the chance to travel to Turkey again. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

First stop in Istanbul - awesome restaurant! Cozy inside, quick and attentive service, and more importantly - excellent food. Everything we got tasted great - flavorful, fresh, and cooked to perfection. They also gave us an extra free dessert :) Last but not least, prices on the check were exactly prices as advertised on the menu, and no extra fees and other BS. Highly recommend! read more

Authentic Turkish Flavors & Heartfelt Hospitality This restaurant was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our trip to Istanbul! From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed like family. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, but what truly shines here is the food. Every dish we tried was full of flavor, fresh, and prepared with so much care. The traditional Turkish recipes were authentic and unforgettable--easily better than many "fancy" restaurants we've visited. You can taste the love and pride in every bite. The service was just as impressive as the food. The staff went above and beyond to make sure our experience was perfect, and the owner personally checked on us to ensure we were happy. That level of attention and genuine hospitality is rare and made us feel so valued. If you're visiting Istanbul and want incredible food paired with service that comes from the heart, this is an absolute must. We came here because of the reviews, and now we understand why--it truly exceeded every expectation. We'll be talking about this meal for a long time, and we can't wait to come back! read more

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My partner and I were starving after walking around the area. There are so many restaurants but we came across Old Ottoman Cafe and we like the fact that there wasn't anyone trying to hard sell in front of restaurants. The chicken shish kebab and beef claypot were amazing ! So flavorful and not overwhelming. I also ordered Turkish coffee which was amazing as well. We were offered this delicious Turkish Semonlina by the manager. I must say that the service was very tentative and friendly. One of the better customer services we had had in Turkey. The restaurant was clean and neat. I felt comfortable eating and there were too many foot traffic outside. read more

The food was delicious and the owner was very kind. The service was excellent!! We are going back read more

Rainy first night in Istanbul - attentive service and delicious food! Olives and bread served with along with our beer. The Harem Delights Chicken was the perfect flavorful comfort food and the Beef On Traditional Cooking Tray had wonderful spices, both with a side of rice. A complimentary Semolina and Ice Cream dessert was served with Turkish Tea. The perfect ending to a lovely dinner! read more

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Pass through as a tourist. First meal in Istanbul. Service was impeccable. First time we have had Turkish food, our spread was abundance in extra. Delicious and memorable foodie experience. Our best surprise was that the restaurant served us dessert and tea at the end without charge. Most definitely recommend old ottoman cafe amongst the thousands of restaurants in Sultanahmet. Thank you for the wonderful experience read more

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This was one of the most amazing restaurants we visited in Istanbul! The quality of the food was outstanding--far better than many fancy restaurants we've tried. We came here because of the great reviews, and it absolutely exceeded our expectations. The flavors of the traditional Turkish dishes were authentic and unforgettable. On top of that, the service was exceptional, with the owner personally ensuring everything was perfect. If you're looking for incredible Turkish food with warm hospitality, this place is a must. You won't regret it! read more

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My mom and I stopped in for dinner during our trip to Istanbul. It was a nice restaurant with great service. We ordered the beef on a traditional cooking tray and a lentil soup. The lentil soup was delicious, and my mom kept that for herself, lol. The beef meal we shared was seasoned perfectly with onions and peppers and came served with some bread. The sauce was a fantastic extra to dip the bread in. Overall, it was a good meal, and the service was phenomenal. I'd definitely dine here again! read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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We found this restaurant via Yelp. The food and service was excellent! We had a truly wonderful experience. Be aware the location given to us by Yelp was not correct when I clicked to get directions. Fortunately, I saw the restaurant name labeled on Google Maps and the restaurant sign before walking passed it. There are other restaurants with Ottoman in their name. Make sure look for the right place. read more

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Amazing food and hospitality. The atmosphere is so welcoming. No wonder they have good ratings on Yelp! The manager recommended some dishes and they were simply phenomenal! One of my best birthday meals EVER! read more

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Food 3.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0 Value 2.5/5.0 Decor 3.0/5.0 Overall 3.5/5.0 Yes, its kind of a tourist trap, or it's at least tourist-oriented. That just comes with the location. The food is decent, but mind you, nothing absolutely amazing in the grand scheme of the city (here I'm differing from some of the other, extremely positive, reviewers are going on about... and I'd go with my take on this one). The service is ok, if a bit saggy. The prices aren't that out of line relative to where it is in other more touristy streets. The reality is that you can't expect a spot to pay to be where the tourists are, then charge you a locals price. read more

This is an absolute must stop for anyone in Istanbul. We visited this amazing restaurant about 4 different times during our week long visit. The owner was extremely friendly and offered suggestions to anyone interested- nothing on the menu is bad. I had the Harem Chicken ( one of his favorites) and loved it. My wife's favorites were both the chicken casserole and the vegetarian version of the same dish. We recommend this restaurant to all our friends. It was sad to have to leave, this restaurant was our absolute favorite! The staff were amazing , and so friendly, they felt like family. We will definitely we back. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This is one of those Istanbul restaurants that has been around forever. Why? Because it is very good. This restaurant has both interior and exterior seating. The interior is locally themed and it is very nice and open. They have big glass doors that generally remain open, so a nice flow of air is always present. The exterior dining is along this walking thoroughfare. The tables line the restaurant and that is all very good. This is where I always prefer to be seated. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that you will be located on a walkway, so people will be walking by. And, as is so often the case in Istanbul, most likely smoking. So, you will get that dose of tobacco. Just keep that in mind. The last time I ate here, a somewhat funny experience occurred.I guess it was people from another local restaurant or something. They walked by with a big bucket of their garbage. The servers at Old Ottoman got very upset and were yelling at them. Welcome to Istanbul. In terms of food, what they offer is very traditional and very good. If you are with someone, I recommend the Mixed Kabob Plate. With this, you really get a great selection of flavorings and food varieties. For me, the server always offers a free Turkish Coffee and desert at the end of the meal. Don't expect that, but know that you may get it. Overall great restaurant. One of my favorites in Istanbul. read more

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If you're looking for a place to eat while in Istanbul, I highly recommend this place. I sat outside. Luckily no one was smoking. Slight breeze down the walkway made the atmosphere comfortable. The platter for two was way too much food. It's more for a party of three...or four. It was so good. Dessert and Turkish coffee afterwards were delicious. Waiter was awesome! Thanks to fellow yelpers that convinced me to come here with their previous reviews. read more

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We ordered Lamb shank, Tuna salad & Bowl fish . Fish & salad were delicious tasty Lamb shank wasn't good to us but we complained and they returned it for free . They feed turkey tea & desert for complementary. Great service Good atmosphere. Recommended read more

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Really had a great time. Servers were really frequently and they take great care of you. Explaining things, making recommendations, and fussing over you. There are 2-3 people helping you including your main waiter. They seems to have pretty decent authentic food (as far as I could tell!). We went with the Oriental Clay Pot Kebab with Beef for two. Otherwise known as Testi Kebap (Tavuk veya Dan). And it was quite delicious. Reminds me of food made in tagine from morocco. The way they bring it out in a clay pot and bang it like a drum and serve you is part of the presentation. Accompanied with nice olives and pita bread. Very delicious. They were nice enough to give us a complimentary desert called Semolina With Ice Cream, or Dondurmali irmik. Wow it was a nice way to end the meal! Don't forget a glass of Turkish wine! read more

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Good service. Good food. They have the clay pot dish. Really good Turkish rice. This is a place for tourists. Reasonable price for tourists. read more

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Fresh fish was great and so was the chicken kebab. Enjoyed the authentic meal and the good service.

Meatball dish was very delicious and the dish was well presented. I think this is one of the better restaurants for kebabs. Service was nice but it took a while to get my food. I got a free dessert for the wait which was nice. The kenefeh was not good, kind of sour tasting and not sweet at all. Since I had to check out of my hotel I had to take the dessert to go. The cheese had hardened and not edible after 1 hour. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Beef meatballs - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Incredible service, fresh food, well seasoned. There's really nothing more you could want from a restaurant

Was looking for an authentic sit down Turkish dinner. This spot was highly rated on trip advisor. Service is top notch, everyone is so helpful and nice. And the pricing is very good conspired to the states. We ordered the clay pot chicken, the Adana kabob, and the manti. The manti is very unique. Beef dumplings in a yogurt salt. Thought it could use some salt, but other wise food. 4/5 The Adana kabob is a ground beef and lamb kabob. Advertised as spicy, it wasn't really. But it was tasty. It needed acid so I asked for lemon but the flavor and texture were good. 4/5 The clay pot chicken wasn't my thing. It had many vegetables and a sauce. It was ok and the dish I liked least. The chicken was dry and rubbery. 1/5 Lastly they gave us a complimentary halwa. Good but very very sweet. 3/5 read more

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What a great experience. We were looking for local charm and we got it at the Old Ottoman. We were greeted warmly, sat promptly and opened a menu to a wide variety of choices. After being in Turkey for 11 days, I was "kabobed out," so I ordered spaghetti which the owner did not recommend but was delicious! My spouse had a kabob sampler and it was good. We had some tasty lentil soup and during dinner were treated to other guests ordering the pot kebab in which they roll out a cart with fire and a pot on it (they cook the kabob meat in a clay pot). Then they break off the lid and the simmering contents roll out. We had it elsewhere and it's a must try. The drinks were good, the wait staff very diligent and special kudos to the owner, who shook our hands as we left, saying "It was my pleasure to serve you." I thanked him for having such a great place and food. I highly recommend. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

5/5 deservedly earned, if that's even the right thing to say. I was far too suspicious of the five stars in a foreign country but we were tired after a long, chilly day of walking around Istanbul and the Grand Bazaar. Old Ottoman cafe and restaurant did exactly what we were looking for - welcomed us with open arms and served us their homely, delicious Turkish food. They have a pretty standard menu that is served across nearly every restaurant in a touristy neighborhood but they do them all really well here. Right from their lentil soup to their dessert, every course was a gastronomical delight. We got their lentil soup and mezze platter to begin with. For the entree, I got the chicken in a clay pot which is an experience. It takes about 15-20 minutes for them to prep this order so be prepared to wait, but it's worth it. It is diced chicken stew cooked in a blend of veggies, spices, apricots and walnuts in an amphora style clay pot cooked over hot coals. The clay pot comes to your table in all its celebratory glory, they break it skillfully at the bottom and plate it. I can wax lyrical about the dish because the taste and textures were poetic. The slight sweetness of the apricot and crunch of the walnuts danced stupendously with the oregano and ottoman spice laden veggies and chicken. It's what I'd like to imagine people ate during the Ottoman Empire when they weren't raging battles and writing beautiful Sufi poetry. Right as the haze of a food coma was setting in on us, they decide to indulge us further by giving us a dessert on the house. The semolina halva was warm on the outside encasing a dollop of vanilla ice cream and finished off with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. The staff was incredibly kind to us the entire time making our experience a memorable one. I simply cannot recommend Old Ottoman Cafe and Restaurant highly enough. Do yourself a huge favor and dine here if you are in the area, the city or heck, anywhere in the country. read more

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This gem is very close to the Hagia sophia and what a delight it was to eat here. Beautiful and cozy, what really stood out was the service from the moment we stepped in.Gave us description for every dish with the nuance on how to enjoy it best, and the actual food felt very fresh and delicious to the last bite. We got one kebab dish and one vegetarian hamam, both were excellent.Rounded off with some delightful halwa and tea! read more

A quaint Turkish eatery of moderate cost and excellent value. This establishment offers both indoor and outdoor seating and seemed suitable for handicapped. The volume level is low. We decided to eat indoors. We were impressed with the beautiful woodwork on the cieling and textured wallpaper. Even the corner molding was white, highlighted with gold. The tables were clean and the restaurant smelled good. We started with babaganush, which is an eggplant app/spread. It tasted fresh and was textural. It had a mild sweetness and good amounts of acid and parsley. Salt levels were spot on. Main courses we shared were the kebab platter, which seemed like a sampler and the moussaka. As for the kebab platter, it included grilled chicken wings that had a delightful dry rub and good flavor and moisture levels. A mince lamb kebab that was moist and flavorful as well. There were small beef cubes which had a nice flavor but were slightly dry. Eggplant sat in the center, but this was charred too much and had a burnt flavor, the only thing we didn't like that night. There was a lamb patty nestled between the eggplant that seemed related to the lamb kebab. The highlight was the dark meat chicken kebabs which had an outrageously good flavor mixed with the perfect amount of char. There was also a nicely cooked lamb chop that was seasoned well, but I think it could have used a little dip. This platter also came with rice, a blistered pepper which I think was shishito and a grilled tomato that was smoky and fresh. Also as many places seem to have this as a staple, an onion and pepper mix with a Turkish seasoning blend on top. Overall, this platter was delicious and a great sampler if you have never been here. The moussaka must be more of a Turkish dish than I'm used to. I'm from the US and am used to us versions as well as Greek versions (in Greece or the US). Typically our moussaka has a white cream sauce (bechemel) that's flavored with cinnamon, oregano and optionally nutmeg. The Turkish version of this classic dish is definitely more meat than other versions, but also less spices and lacking the bechemel. As I am used to the versions I'm familiar with, this was a nice twist. Turkish moussaka is definitely in a category of its own and this dish does not disappoint. Dinner came with a bread basket which was nice to dip with moussaka and babaganush. Dessert and tea were complimentary. I believe the dessert pictured was a baklava topped with ice cream which is less sweet than I expected. An excellent experience and the prices are nice for the quantity and quality you recieve. read more

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The food and ambiance were amazing! Soo good, I took the 30 min cab each way twice and went there for 2 dinners in a row!

Super friendly staff and great food. They kindly arranged a full take away meal with all the trimmings as we had a member of family with an injured leg. We sat and had a beer while we waited, comfortable seats and easy going atmosphere. Would be happy to go back. read more

What an amazing treat. We stumbled on this gem 500 ft from our hotel in old town Istanbul. Very relaxing because of environment and their hospitable staff. Service was great and our dinner was stellar. Drinks, appetizers, salads, soup, main course and dessert for under $80 all inclusive. The dinner was a treat visually as it was prepared for us at our table in a clay pot over a huge flame ( see video ). Best meal we have had in over a week. We will be back again before we leave. Going to miss this gem. Buon Appetito read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Streetside - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Very decent food and friendly staff. Istanbul has a ton of places to eat so hard to make anything 5 stars, the bar is high. read more

The food was fantastic, easily one of the best meals I've had. The host was very nice and accommodating and the check reflected the menu prices without any up charge. read more

One of the best foods I have had in Turkeye. The kabobs were amazing, especially the pistachio kebob.

Our family enjoyed the all the food that we ordered, have good experience, service is excellent, clean, and tasty! Ordered the clay with meat , among the menu it's on the pricier side, but we ordered for the experience and for the one -time use clay pot that cooked the dish with =P Also tried the recommended drink Ottoman Sherbet drink that were made themselves, interesting and refreshing flavor. Overall it's a great dining experience that located very close to Basilica Cistern. Perfect stop for between the morning tour at Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque - Lunch here - then continue to Basilica Cistern and The Legends of Istanbul show. read more

Ot was the best food on my trip, and it had stiff competition. Cozy, quiet and A+ service. Tucked out of the way. read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Mixed kabob - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Food was excellent and white wine was best we had during our trip. Service also excellent only no superb views as you are sitting in an alley but we will surely return even this week read more

best food experience in Istanbul, our host, Ali was very pro and kind. Food quality was out of this world. Ambiance was so calm and beautiful. I wish I could give them much more stars than 5. Oh, forgot to mention Turkish white wine was amazing read more

Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant - Mixed plate, must have! - Cafes Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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