The 38 Best Istanbul Restaurants | Eater

"Whether you’re dining in the courtyard in the summer or inside the historic mansion in winter, a meal at Giritli offers a truly relaxing experience on the Historical Peninsula. The restaurant serves Aegean cuisine by way of Crete, the home of owner Ayşe Şensılay’s grandparents, in a menu that changes with ingredient availability and the season. Start your night with countless cold then hot mezes, ahead of fish or meat for the main course. Look for Girit mezesi (a spread of goat cheese, green olives, garlic, and walnuts), grilled octopus, seasonal wild greens, Denizli pilavı (rice cooked with spices and seafood), and köpoğlu (fried vegetables topped with garlic yogurt)." - Tuba Şatana