The 38 Best Istanbul Restaurants | Eater

"What began as a neighborhood bistro has become a destination for Sunday breakfast, killer cocktails in the evening, and farm-to-table dishes all the time. Murat Kazdal runs the operation while his sister Burçak leads the kitchen. Chef Kazdal is obsessed with sourcing quality ingredients, which she uses to apply subtle flourishes to classic Istanbul recipes. Specials change by the season, the week, and even daily, but whatever is on the menu, know you can’t go wrong. It’s difficult to stop eating the balık basma, a fish rillette with tahini and currant — until you see chef Kazdal’s steak tartare with ponzu and wasabi truffle dressing, the smoked anchovy salad with bergamot dressing, fava with ginger, or the rack of lamb with lemon balm pesto. With the restaurant’s good food and cool vibes, it’s easy to become a regular, like everyone else who dines there." - Tuba Şatana