Meyhane recommendations in Istanbul
Feb 19th, 2011, 06:41 AM
#1
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Meyhane recommendations in Istanbul
I am in Istanbul at the moment and am confused about the wide array of possibilities for a meyhane experience. Does anyone has a great recommendation? Thanks.
Feb 19th, 2011, 10:32 AM
#2
Hello Bucerias, it really depends on,
- your budget
- how far you're willing to travel
- where you're staying
- whether you will want fish or just meze.
It is difficult to separate a meyhane from a fish restaurant.
They rip you off at both but you get better food with larger meze portions while sitting at a better quality table, with more space at a decent fish restaurant.
I do not like the popular ones at asmalimescit/istiklal area like Refik, Asmali, Yakup because of the tiny portions, the uncomfortable seating and the price.
We just came from Nevizade Street only 15 minutes ago, where we ate at Boncuk, had a 0.35 l bottle of Raki, salad, eggplant, topik and a basil-cod salad with two small portions of sole (2 small fish each) and a plate of fried horse mackerel (only 8 small fish) and ended up paying TL170 + tip.
The food was decent, the service was initially atrocious until i complained and the price was too high although our friends paid and i could not check the bill.
When we left (early) the street was incredibly crowded and fun in a way. Some tauting going on, but not much hassling.
Kumkapi will probably have poorer food and will also overcharge you and the clientelle will not be as good as Nevizade or Asmalimescit.
There is no reason to go to a single meyhane and sit inside. If you are not going to enjoy the lively street atmosphere under the outdoor gas heaters, you probably should go to a good fish restaurant like Doga Balik in Cihangir (where the meze includes some terrific wild salad greens)
Do not go to a restaurant where they force a fixed menu on you.
always negotiate the price of the fish. Turbot is excellent but very pricey. Stick to a smaller sea bass or sea bream grilled and if they have it the cheaper but delicious horse mackerel (Istavrit) which you should eat with your hands, first plucking gently the row of small bones at the back and the single larger bone at the tummy and eating it like corn on the cob around the central bone. The smaller they are the more tasty. We also eat the heads of those smaller than 4".
Nevizade Street is just through the fish market at Galatasaray (midway through Istiklal.) Take the street on your right, walking from taksim, just before you get to galatasaray highschool with the imposing gate on your left. You will see Nevizade on your right about 150 feet down the fish market.
- your budget
- how far you're willing to travel
- where you're staying
- whether you will want fish or just meze.
It is difficult to separate a meyhane from a fish restaurant.
They rip you off at both but you get better food with larger meze portions while sitting at a better quality table, with more space at a decent fish restaurant.
I do not like the popular ones at asmalimescit/istiklal area like Refik, Asmali, Yakup because of the tiny portions, the uncomfortable seating and the price.
We just came from Nevizade Street only 15 minutes ago, where we ate at Boncuk, had a 0.35 l bottle of Raki, salad, eggplant, topik and a basil-cod salad with two small portions of sole (2 small fish each) and a plate of fried horse mackerel (only 8 small fish) and ended up paying TL170 + tip.
The food was decent, the service was initially atrocious until i complained and the price was too high although our friends paid and i could not check the bill.
When we left (early) the street was incredibly crowded and fun in a way. Some tauting going on, but not much hassling.
Kumkapi will probably have poorer food and will also overcharge you and the clientelle will not be as good as Nevizade or Asmalimescit.
There is no reason to go to a single meyhane and sit inside. If you are not going to enjoy the lively street atmosphere under the outdoor gas heaters, you probably should go to a good fish restaurant like Doga Balik in Cihangir (where the meze includes some terrific wild salad greens)
Do not go to a restaurant where they force a fixed menu on you.
always negotiate the price of the fish. Turbot is excellent but very pricey. Stick to a smaller sea bass or sea bream grilled and if they have it the cheaper but delicious horse mackerel (Istavrit) which you should eat with your hands, first plucking gently the row of small bones at the back and the single larger bone at the tummy and eating it like corn on the cob around the central bone. The smaller they are the more tasty. We also eat the heads of those smaller than 4".
Nevizade Street is just through the fish market at Galatasaray (midway through Istiklal.) Take the street on your right, walking from taksim, just before you get to galatasaray highschool with the imposing gate on your left. You will see Nevizade on your right about 150 feet down the fish market.
Feb 20th, 2011, 06:01 AM
#4
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Thank you otherchelebi for the great advice. I did walk through Nevizade Street this afternoon and decided that it was too expensive a proposition for us. It was fun to explore the area and see all the fish shops, markets and meyhane restaurants. I love your amazing city, by the way, and have appreciated your advice on this forum as I planned this trip. Thank you again!
