Acikdeniz Cafe – my local

5***** 
Sometimes I eat out just because I’m hungry, not for the dining out experience, nor to find a new place, not even with the thought of passing judgement in a review.  Yesterday, having missed lunch, I went for the ultimate lazy meal on the way home at the cafe under my flat.  And stumbled across gold.
Acikdeniz [...]

Karakoy Balikcisi – I’ll have the fish followed by…the fish!

5***** 
It might seem logical that there would be a great fish restaurant tucked away behind Karakoy fish market but I’m not sure how anyone would find Karakoy Balikcisi unless they were shopping for a toilet seat, wandered just a bit further past the bathroom fittings shops and ventured down an unnamed sokak on the left. (Walk down [...]

Inci – My final foray into Turkish desserts

1* 
Since I started talking to Turkish people about my various disappointments with some Turkish desserts, every single one of them has said I have to go to historical Inci (Istiklal 124/2) and try the profiteroles for which they are famous.  Some even claim Inci were the original profiterole makers, which may be true at least within [...]

Borek – Forget the diet

6 ****** 
The good news about eating Borek whilst in Turkey is that you can practically eat it everywhere and it’s always amazing.  A greasy, pastry, salty indulgence that is a daily temptation to anyone in the country, especially to those on the tired cucumber and sad tomato breakfast thrown in free by cheap hotels.
If you don’t [...]