We are arriving in Istanbul around dinner time on a Saturday night. By the time we get to the hotel and settled we'll probably be beat. I know from reading that the restaurants in the tourist area aren't great, but I think we'll need to stay close to the hotel and then go to sleep. Any recommendations for a restaurant, good food- not real expensive.

Where is your hotel? Sultanahmet is a good-sized area.

Under the circumstances, it may be most efficient to just ask for a recommendation at your hotel for a place in the neighborhood.

In 2012, I had several absolutely delicious meals at Paşazade, which still seems to get good reviews. YMMV.

Thanks for asking! Bookmarking.

We are staying at Hotel Amira.

There are some very inexpensive and tasty choices on the edge of the spice bazaar - tables spilling onto the street. I'd wander over there (if not far from your hotel) but they are super casual. I liked the Sultanahmet area for decent eats - I did not care for the more European side for Istanbul dining but I'm sure that area has a more upscale reputation. Also there are restuarants on the bridge which are more for the location than food - pricey - but nothing beats watching the traffic on the water.

I think there is a website - Istanbul Eats? look there for a variety of options.