phil

Can anyone recommend a moderately priced restaurant in Istanbul. Thank you.

Arizona

First, the Sultanat Restaurant, only a short way from the Blue Mosque, just off Divan Yolu at Hace Tahsin Bey Sokak #11, in the Sultanahmet District. Immaculate, splendid menu, fine service at a reasonable price. Give regards to the young man who is the manager, Alaiddin Gelikel. Second, an old standby just off Taksim Square: Haci Baba. Upstairs off Istiklal Caddesi. Be sure that your waiter takes you to the food display where you point and choose exactly what you want from the enormous selection of both hot and cold dishes. Then, to compound matters, return to select one of their delectable desserts. <BR> Third, try any of the small restaurants in the "Flower Passage," or Cisek Pasaji, leading off the same street only a couple blocks farther away from Taksim.

Rita

There are many restaurants in Ist. Just be careful about eating raw veggies like salads or drinking the local water if you are not used to the germs.

Linda

Just returned rom Istanbul yesterday and had dinner at Haci Baba and did indeed go to the kitchen and pick out my dinner. It was fabulous. Try the aubergine puree if nothing else. The other restaurant we loved was Rami's near the Blue Mosque. They have rooftop dining overlooking the Mosque and a delicious menu featuring Ottoman recipes. Don't worry about prices. We didn't pay over $20 a meal for appetizers, entree, desert and wine the whole time we were there!! <BR>

Angela

Word of warning though about prices in Istanbul - stick with the smaller restaurants. Our friends went to one place on the water had a few meze (appetizers) and one drink each and paid $70 Cnd, which is really quite expensive. There is a growing nouveu richie (excuss the spelling!!) in Istanbul that is driving up the prices in the most fashionable places. When in doubt eat where the locals eat (and not the ones with the cell phones!). <BR>