Istanbul recommendations by Vedat Millor

The day I asked the legendary Turkish food critic Vedat Millor @vmilor to share his Istanbul recommendations.He is the co-author of an excellent blog Gastromondiale @gastromondiale

MEYHANE-Most interesting category, a remnant of old cosmopolitan Istanbul

1. Asmali Cavit in Beyoglu
2. Sahil Lokantasi in Balat
3. Inciralti in Beylerbeyi

KEBAP-OCAKBASI (there is a ritual-cold meze/offals/ribs/Adana kebap–these places cur the meat by special knife)
1. Adana Ocakbasi in Kurtulus
2. Zubeyir in Beyoglu
3. Seyhmuz near Grand Bazaar
4. Harbi Adana Ocakbasi in Ortakoy

FISH
1. Kahraman Balikci in Rumelikavagi for turbot-tomato salad-l;akerda-corn bread with anchovy
2. Kiyi in Tarabya-the most classy and consistent

FINE DINING

1. Nicole in Tom Tom suite in Beyoglu-view/menu degustation/best vegetables and salads in Istanbul

ESNAF LOKANTASI-MARKET DRIVEN CUISINE
1. Hunkar in Tesvikiye (high end)
2. Kantin in Nisantasi (good vegetables)
3. Pacaci Mahmut (exc. Lamb trotter soup-Anatolian home food in Fatih-very simple)
4. Pacaci Necip (like Mahmut and very small)
5. Amanda Bravo

BRASSERIE
1. Murver in Karakoy

REGIONAL CUISINE

1. Mabeyin in Uskudar for Antep cuisine
2. Guvenc Konyalilar for Konya cuisine-lamb tandoori and etli ekmek
3. Akdeniz Sofrasi for Antioche/Antakya cuisine in Vatan Caddesi
4. Seref or Ugur Buryan in Fatih for lamb cooked in a pit-Siirt cuisine

STREET FOOD

1. Basta in Kadikoy for durum (pita wrap/try lamb;vegetables;salad and riz au lait)
2. Ozzie’s in Dolapdere for kokorec (like andouillette)-MUST RESERVE
3. Tadal Pide in Sultanbeyli for Blacksea style pide
4. Sirdanci Ramazan-he serves in his portable kitchen in the street beginning at 10 PM in the back streets of Beyoglu in Nevizade in front of the old police station. A kind of spicy tripe
5. Gaziantepli Mehmet Usta Lahmacun in Cerrahpasa
6. Surmene Doner in Cennet Mahallesi

GOOD THIRD WAVE COFFEE

1. Sapiens in Karakoy
2. Petra in Nisantasi

TURKISH COFFEE

Mandabatmaz in Beyoglu

from Luxeat