This was a good restaurant and I was not disappointed with my experience here…read more The food was very good and the service was friendly and attentive. They were very flexible since they allowed all 7 of us to use 7 different credit cards to pay for the group meal, which was very helpful. We ordered a couple of bottles of red wine and they arrived slightly chilled, which was perfect for those hot evenings in the summer. I'd recommend this restaurant if you're in the area.

We ended up in Bej after planning to stop by Lokanta Maya for dinner without a reservation (on a…read moreMonday night) and learning there were no tables available. Desperate to avoid the row of tourist traps along the water, we asked the staff at Lokanta Maya if they could point us in the direction of another good restaurant in the area, and that's how we found Bej. The ambiance here is upscale/ classy/ trendy, but not stuffy. There was a huge display of gorgeous fresh flowers greeting us when we walked in, and we managed to snag the only unreserved table in the place. The menu offered a good selection of food, all slightly interesting twists on classic meals. The three of us split a bottle of wine from a moderate sized wine list, and started off with a couple of appetizers. There was a slightly spicy chicken dish we ordered that was delicious. For a main course I ordered the baked goat cheese, which was described as being served with beets and arugula. Perhaps the description in Turkish was more accurate, but I was depending on the English version of the menu, being a foreigner and all. When my meal arrived it was actually mostly a large bowl or salad, with a largish sized baked goat cheese on top. The flavor was great, and it was warm and creamy. The beets were difficult to find, but were eventually discovered hiding at the bottom of my bowl. While it wasn't the most delicious flavor combination, it was still really good, and I enjoyed the meal. We finished things off with a selection of ice creams: Rose, lavender, and chocolate. This was the perfect ending to a meal, and the unique flavors were a definite treat for the taste buds. Don't skip the chocolate because it is typical though- it paired wonderfully with the other flavors and really made them even more enjoyable. Another cool discovery at this place is back behind the bar area, there is actually a little shop which is open during the day. It is filled with cool items (from paper, prints, home decor items) that all have a unique and slightly funky flair. Much better for potential souvenir shopping than your typical tourist traps.

Just an amazing seafood resturant, most of attendees are locals. Busting with people in and out …read more Excellent and friendly service. The manger goes around greeting people. The best fish is the anchovies as an appetizer. The sea bream and seabass were fresh and tasty. We had freshly cut watermelon for dessert. You finish the meal with Turkish tea.

It is a popular fish restaurant in Bostanci neighbourhood, so I highly suggested you to make a…read morereservation in advance, you cannot expect to drop by at weekend and find free table. There is only one brand of raki served there, the brand name is Tekirdag. I find the meze and fish quite fresh.

Very decent place with tasty grilled octopus (ahtapod) and levrek meze. Near the sea, it has a very…read moreopen, away-from-the-city vibe, and it was quite a nice place to enjoy the sunset. It can be a little hot on the terrace if you're there before sundown, but it cooled right down for a very quiet and enjoyable meal. Prices are very reasonable for a place with such expert service. They are very friendly, very nice people who don't hesitate to warn you that you've ordered to much or offer half a fish instead of a whole fish if you ate every appetizer imaginable. I would go back on a special occasion.

Turkish breakfast! We wandered around a very busy area not far from our hotel and quickly realized…read morewe were in brunch central. Many of the restaurants were advertising their kahvalti so we picked a place and sat down. Service here was prompt and friendly. There might be other nicer spots but we were very satisfied with the food we had here. I really wish Turkish style breakfasts can be found in NY!

Literally the game changer in Besiktas as one of the three original breakfast spots mostly due to…read moreits price and speed. Started as a small cafe and expanded into adjacent stores and a new building, still serves as the most crowded breakfast place in Besiktas on weekends. You get what you pay, so don't expect miracles but it is fast and tasty enough. Faruk, the owner, can be disturbing customers at times by shouting at his staff almost constantly, it is not Kitchen Nightmares material though. Overall a good place for quick grabs and perfect for students. I have been going to Faruk for 10 years now and couldn't find a better alternative in the neighborhood.

Traditional Breakfast restaurant! If you are looking for a place to start your day (which…read moreno-self-respecting Turk skips), then look no further.

Well, Istanbul are famous with food .. This please are…read moresmall and traditional, but it has really great breakfast .. I noticed on this resturant honesty .. I make my order and i was confused he start recomed the best dishes for me and what customers like and what there best ...

Oh how I love this cafe. This was the first place I ate in Istanbul and now 3 weeks later after…read morehaving been all over both the asian side and the european side, I still think this is the best breakfast in Istanbul. Their Khavalti plate is the biggest, best, most wonderful thing ever. I haven't had another one quite as good anywhere I've gone. And their outdoor seating on this cute little street is so perfect. It's just adorable and the service is so friendly. I think I left a part of my heart here.

Finding this place is easy enough. The problems start when you're stranding in front of the door…read moreand realise that you really have removed yourself from the tourist hot spots. No English in sight anywhere. First issue is how do I get in. Well, if there is a key in the door then just enter. It's looks more like a private home then a restaurant. But it's alright. You haven't by mistake entered the home of a Turkish family. Don't mind the gigglish girls inside, just find yourself a table. Next issue. The menu. There are a few pictures, but otherwise knowing a few Turkish words will be helpful at this point. If you don't, then point (your waiter has a very very limited English vocabulary, but he is more than willing to help) and hope someone in the restaurant can help you a bit along the way. Expect the food to be Turkish breasfast with limited spices, but an otherwise very nice selection of primarily Turkish produce.