Prague, Istanbul

Will be in Istanbul & Prague end of Sept beginning October, anybody on the board have any recos for restaurants in either city? Thanks in advance.

[David M. Bueker]

Do you have a date in Constantinople?

Do you have a date in Constantinople?

Yes, BL will be with him.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[David M. Bueker]

But she'll be waiting in Istanbul...

It's been a while since I've been in Istanbul, which I loved. There was a restaurant in an old Roman cistern --- elevator down into a large hugely high-ceilinged room. At that time it served pretty good if not exciting standard western fare. Looks like it's called Sarnic. No idea if the food has changed, but the room was memorable. Near Hagia Sofia (we stayed in the row houses behind it, which were pretty neat), which is a place of grandeur.
Charles

I don't recall any particularly memorable sit-down restaurants in İstanbul, but I was there five years ago and I was on a pretty tight budget at the time.

That being said, if you like baklava, it is worth seeking out an outlet of the local chain Karaköy Güllüoğlu. I brought some back with me on my flight back to the States and my family is still talking about it.

Great street fare includes the fish sandwiches grilled fresh on boats in the Golden Horn on the old İstanbul side of the Galata bridge. And there was this little street stall on the edge of the Taksim Meydanı at the top of İstiklal Caddesi that had the best döner kebab in all of İstanbul--the quality of which varies widely across İstanbul as well as across Turkey. But that was memorably good as well.

But she'll be waiting in Istanbul...

it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

But she'll be waiting in Istanbul...

it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Why did Constantinople get the works?

Mark Lipton

[James Roscoe]

But she'll be waiting in Istanbul...

it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Why did Constantinople get the works?

Mark Lipton

Is it anybody's business but the Turks?

Poor Lou, he asks a serious question and is run over by TMBG fans (I assume, though maybe people are fans of the original, but think only Lou old enough for that).
Hey, any TMBG songs about Prague?

Hey, any TMBG songs about Prague?

Not that I'm aware of, but anyone doing the European Grand Tour must be sure to meet James Ensor . . .

Do you have a date in Constantinople?

We'll be "there" from the 24th Sept to the 29th. We've signed up with an Armenian tour guide who works for a Greek co. We wanted to get a non biased view of Turkey from people who should really know!

Lou, I don't have access to my notes for a few days, but we really enjoyed our dinner at Körfez two years ago. Both Janet and I agree with everything in the Frommer's Review and the two NYTimes commentaries. I've eaten on the Bosphorus after a boat trip three imes-- once with a comet overhead -- and it's always been a wonderful experience. We also had a great meal at a former palace on the European side -- I'll try to find the address. Turkish cuisine is one of the great cuisines of the world, well worth exploring. There are more and more "international" restaurants, but you can get that kind of food anywhere.

As to Prague, the Four Seasons Hotel is supposed to have the best food in town, but the prices were so high and the food at the little places on the river like Kampa Park Restaurant were so reasonable and good -- especially the local beers -- that we stayed there but didn't eat there.

Best, Bob

A memorable meal is never just about great food, which is a given at Körfez. Here, the success of the restaurant is directly related to the tone set by the chef and owner, Ömer, who manages to infuse a sense of family-style, casual elegance, without compromising time and labor-intensive recipes. Part of the romance is the setting, an intimate waterside summer patio tucked into a small cove on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, with unexpectedly tranquil views of the floodlit fortress of Rumeli and the Bosphorus Bridge. In winter, dinner is served in a dining room that could easily be mistaken for the Captain's private cabin, which also benefits from a complete wall of windows. Getting there is half the fun: Ömer dispatches the restaurant's private skiff to the docks near Rumeli Hisari on the European side. Some of Körfez's more teasing dishes are the signature salt-baked fish, a more complex grouper in a spicy Asian sauce, bonito "sushi," mackerel burgers with raisins and pistachios, and levrek buglama (sea bass in a broth with shiitake mushrooms, ginger, tomato, and thyme).
Readers' Reviews (2)
Share Your Suggestions
1.
March 16th, 2008
1:23 pm
A most incredibly romantic boat ride, wonderful food, lovely ambience.
- robkweber
2.
November 7th, 2007
11:52 pm
One of the best restaurant experiences I ever had...a must if you are in Istanbul
- jordankoss