istanbul restaurant recommendation
 

9 of us will be visiting Istanbul on a cruise stop in October
we have hired a private guide for the day, and would like to have lunch at a moderately priced restaurant with good local food.
we will be doing the usual sights that day (hagia sofia, blue mosque, cistern, bazaar and spice market), so we would like a recommendation for a restaurant that is nearby
thanks in advance

Hi

For Kofte (Turkish meatballs) try Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi 12 Divanyolu Caddesi. Located at Sultanahmet Square. Great meatballs - cheap eating. For a light lunch try Green Corner Cafe, Alemdar Caddesi. Opposite the exit of the cistern. Good Turkish options in a lovely garden setting at inexpensive prices. Great burger and fries too! Great for the kids. Here's a photo - http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...estaurant2.jpg

ttt

Hello dperry, by definition, all you eat in the touristic areas of istanbul will be local food (like the hamburgers and fries mentioned above !!!)

As far as i know there is no good Turkish cuisine restaurant within walking distance of the historic sights. "Alaturka" restaurant may be the best you can hope for, from what i read at Trip Advisor.

If your day brings you near the Spice bazaar or Rustem pasa Mosque, then Hamdi Restaurant at Eminonu square has a great view and decent food with moderate prices. Ask for pistacchio kebap and a small lahmacun per person and 3-4 gavurdag salads to share among you.

I can second the Hamdi Restaurant. Good lunch, great views. Keep an eye out on the wine, though, as we thought it was expensive.

Monica ((F))

thanks everyone for your responses. while researching a lunch place the Hamdi restaurant was often mentioned. we may go with that.

I third the Hamdi - best available local food in Sultanahmet area although it may be a few mins walk down to it in Sirkeci area depending on where you are. Food is generally moderately priced but I don't know about the wine which one poster mentioned above. Can get quite crowded but they've a couple of floors - top floor is great for the views over Golden Horn.