Thank you, Yelp, for steering two jet-lagged tourists to House of Medusa for dinner after a long…read moreday of travel. Our hotel was near the Basilica Cistern, so this restaurant was close as well, and easy to find. Yelpers had raved about the Stewed Chicken with Almonds and Cream and they were NOT incorrect -- it is DELICIOUS! Finally had to stop eating because I was full -- but that sauce makes you want to just keep eating and eating! We also got the Meatballs Stuffed with Bulgur, and a Shepherd's Salad dressed with pomegranite juice. Service was friendly, and the ambience cozy. Hope you'll give it a try when visiting Istanbul!

Outdoor patio with soft bossa nova playing in the background. Spotty wifi, which would kill it for…read moreme if i were doing some heavy duty tourist research. I ordered a beer (of course), and an open faced sandwich which came with fries. I was pleasantly surprised with that addition. Eat quickly before the cold air cools your food down. I was full, but left feeling that the meal was overpriced. Of course it's so close to all the attractions, but so was the cafe I went to down the street last night and I felt like I got some legit Turkish food there for a great deal. The service here doesn't compel me to come back either...if you do find yourself at Medusa, it's not so bad. But it's not great either.

Beautiful restaurant on a quieter side street leading out of the grand bazaar and just off the main…read morestreet across from the mosques. We stopped in for some Türk Kahvesi and to kill some time while waiting for friends (and unwind from the crazy pushiness that was the bazaar). This was hands down the best Türk Kahvesi şekersiz (Turkish Coffee, No Sugar) we had on our whole trip. We ended up sitting for two hours talking to the - not sure what it's called - the person whose job it is to stand on the sidewalk and invite people in for food? - well- that guy - we talked to him for hours. It was our first day in Istanbul and he gave us advice and directions, tips, etc. We ended up staying for 3 Turkish coffees and some appetizers. These were divine - especially the cheese rolls - the picture looks like eggrolls... but instead of meat or cabbage they were filled with a mild melty cheese with delicate pastry on the outside that all just melted together into our mouths when we took a bite. Was a great recommendation - definitely get an order of these if you stop by. Unfortunately, we did not get the chance to go back for dinner (our friends picked us up and took us out of Old Istanbul toward the Asia side) ... but I really wish I had. With lack of tourism (and even more I'm sure after the attack on Tuesday), these places are suffering for business despite their awesome food and service. I hope they're still around when (not if!) I come back - because they're one of the first stops on my list. :) Plus there's plenty of great shopping nearby both in the bazaar and the less-crazy shops on the side streets - so it's not out of the way.

My wife went to the great Turkish Bath across the Street from Old Galata Cafe, and I had Turkish…read moreCoffee, a great plate of Baba Ghanoush, and a fantastic meal of Kebab, Salad, and fresh, hot bread. I'm spoiled by the great Turkish food I've been served over the years by my Turkish friends, and Old Galata didn't disappoint. It was GREAT. To me, the stand-out part of this experience was the friendly, warm staff who went out of their way to assure that my experience was terrific -- and who assured me that hanging out in their cafe for two hours while my wife was at the Bath was great. They also gave me their wireless password, so I was good to go. My wife finished her Turkish Bath, and then joined me, and the food started all over again, with Tea and dessert and more great conversation. This place is terrific.

A must-try for tourists!…read more The food is absolutely delicious, with a menu offering traditional Turkish dishes. The ambiance is modern yet maintains a relaxed, upscale vibe, making it perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. They are famous for their mezes, and I highly recommend the levrek marin and fava. For mains, the hunkar begendi is amazing! The service is fast, friendly, and attentive, adding to the overall great experience. It's a classic if you're in Istanbul. Also, it's in of the best area to hang, tons to see around. Highly recommended!

I was excited to try this place but found the food to be just okay. Maybe I picked the wrong items?…read moreI am not sure. We ordered the grilled artichokes, pickles, potato croquettes, and beef tenderloin. The artichokes were my favourite - so delicious! Everything else was alright. It was all cooked well and seemed fresh but I found the price to be a bit expensive for what it was. I've had better meals for much cheaper in Istanbul. One thing I didn't like was a 50 lira charge per person for cover? And our water was not free. On top of that, a 10% service charge. Not really happy about being charged cover and a service charge but it is what it is. Service was good and our food came very quickly.

Even months later, I still have fond memories of Serbethane. Whether it be for a coffee or tea…read morebreak, dinner or even a late night hang out with some nargile, we really enjoyed it. We happened upon the cafe by coincidence on our first evening in Istanbul, while roaming the streets in search of somewhere to eat. A little bit overwhelmed by the restaurants nearby that tried their darndest to lure you in, Serbethane was different. The staff was friendly and welcoming, but never pushy. The outdoor sofa were also a huge draw. Everything we ate was DELICIOUS! Nice presentation, tasty, filling and well priced. A nice place to sit down after a day of walking, to enjoy food and rehydrate. Of note: there is no alcohol served here, but there are lots and lots of juices and sodas to choose from, so we didn't miss it. The location is also pretty great: tucked into the edge of the Arasta bazaar, partly outside, partly inside, with sofas and regular tables to choose from. When it gets cool in the evenings there are blankets to wrap yourself up, making sure you can spend some more time lingering.

I came with a tour group and the menu was set for us, so that may have made it different from the…read moreregular experience. But wow, was it wonderful! Everything was so flavorful and satisfying. High marks for the lentil soup and the lamb and chicken kebab. And the baklava was just dreamy. Just fantastic!

Highly recommend for a traditional Turkish meal that is fresh and clean…read more We started with the mezze platter for two which had an array of different cold dips. Accompanied by fresh baked bread which was mildly crunchy on the outside but light and fluffy inside. Every item was full of wonderful flavors. For the main course we had the Tenderloin which was so soft and tasty.

One of my favorite restaurants of the trip. We split the 8 mezze platter, minced beef kabob, and…read moreminced beef flatbread. The flavors were all outstanding. I wish I had more room to just keep ordering and eating.

A cozy place tucked in a corner near the modern art museum. Walked in right at the time when the…read moreplace opened up. Ordered the salad , Meze mix , lamp chops and the seafood pilaf. Everything was delicious , just the right portion size and well presented. The staff is very courteous , ambience is very cozy and a place destress and enjoy some good food. Versatile menu and something for everyone to enjoy. Do check this place out if in the neighborhood !

in a word - FANTASTIC!! We went there under a recommendation from our instructor at the Istanbul…read moreCooking School and he was spot on. WOW, what an amazing dinner we had. We decided to splurge and go for the 200tl tasting menu for 2 which included 5 cold mezze, one warm one, 2 entrees, and a desert. It was a ton of food and thank goodness they had doggie bags so we could bring some of it home. All of it was absolutely delicious. We also really love the cozy ambiance and the local neighborhood feel of the restaurant. It wasn't a tourist trap at all. Highly recommend!

This was a great first vacation meal! We got hummus, grape…read moreleaves, an alexander kabob, a raki and a small bottled water. The Alexander kabob was fantastic! The sauce, bread and curd made a brilliant combo and there was also a slice of potato a chili and a tomato. This is the first time I have ever felt like yogurt added anything to a dish. It was so good. The raki was awesome. The waiter insisted I add some water to it and he definitely knew best, it was sharp. And then it turned white! It is an anise liquor, like a jaegermeister, and I was glad I tried it. We ate in the semi outside seating which is always such a highlight in Istanbul. Great ambience and the wait staff and host were really welcoming. They gave us complimentary tea and baklava when we asked for the check and that was also lovely.

The accommodations were wonderful, the service was excellent, and they did everything they could to…read moremake our night incredible. Everything was delicious, and the show was spectacular. Congratulations to the whole team! Cozatmosphere, with pleasant music. Everything was very clean.

Since we were sick of Turkish food, my family and I decided to stop here to try their pizza. This…read moreplace is definitely a tourist trap - I blame myself for falling victim to the man who keep trying everyone to come in. We got the lamb and a basic sausage pizza - both were mediocre at best. I travel for the food so I am definitely being bias with my rating. The food was not horrible but the lack of service after we got seated, the cost, and the extra charge for refills is what is giving this a less star that what I would originally give.

I don't usually eat at a place called Cozy with a fake fireplace running on a flat screened TV and…read morewas clearly a tourist trap, but my group of friends were hungry, and Cozy it was. The atmosphere, besides the tacky fireplace is indeed cozy. We were seated in the upstairs sitting area. The menu has a whole host of different international dishes to chose from. We staid with the local selection, and my friends shared a Pottery Kebab as it is intended for two people. This is an actual local dish, and is not just a tourist offering, as we had seen it several other places as well. Pottery kebab is tomato-based meat stew, with lamb, chicken or beef, and veggies, baked inside a clay pot and cracked open at your table. It was quite the show, and I am sure we are in several stranger facebook shots from around the world. I ordered a lamb dish which was also quite tasty. Besides everything the food was actually OK. My review was lowered to three, almost two stars, because of the lack of service. It is one thing to be slow, but for example, after asking for the bill three times, and waiting 20- 30 minutes between asking, we almost walked out. Plus, the place was not super busy, and there sere several waiters, there was no excuse.