The 38 Best Istanbul Restaurants | Eater

"The quintessential Turkish dining experience consists of a long night at a meyhane, sitting around a table with friends, ordering all sorts of meze with lots of rakı (anise-scented alcohol), and having long conversations for hours. The fantastic mezes at Asmalı Cavit include eggplant salad, tarama, fava beans, marinated sea bass, lakerda (salt-preserved bonito), samphire salad, and şakşuka (mixed fried vegetables with yogurt and tomato sauce). After cold mezes, continue with yaprak ciğer (thin slices of liver served with onion), and save some space for their famous köfte (meatballs). Meze is a way of life and you can live well at Asmalı Cavit." - Tuba Şatana