For those who love good food, Istanbul offers a unique cuisine in settings of unparalleled elegance and charm. As in other cities, the social change in Istanbul's residential distncts influenced the fortunes of restaurants. The fate of the restaurants of Pera, Moda. At the end of the s, the gastronomic center revolved around the big hotel restaurants and Taksim β that is old Pera. In the s, it began to move towards Etiler. Among these high-quality restaurants, which are perhaps more numerous than those in the city center, there are those which in terms of location, interior and exterior appearance, cuisine, cleanliness and setlice are on par with the best restaurants in the world.
It is, however, necessary to qualify this boast by pointing out that even in Istanbul's best dining rooms there are occasional slips in service and cleanliness. Another weak point in Istanbul restaurants β for which they can not be blamed β is the absence of non-Turkish wines. It is forbidden to import wine into Turkey. Although all kinds of non-Turkish alcoholic drinks can be found, it is impossible to choose a French, Italian or California wine to accompany your meal. I can recite my favorite restaurants in one breath: A restaurant's appearance, style and specialities are crucial factors to its success.
At S Restaurant, the beauty of its decor and its immense seafood plate are its signature. Located above the British Petrol station in Bebek.
You cannot find the same atmosphere at either Liman or Kalyon. However, the delicious menu at Kalyon, especially the okra in olive oil, and the noodles and eggplant dishes at Liman, together with the restaurants' charming locations illustrate the importance of watching nostalgic Istanbul while enjoying a meal. Here you can glimpse the Bosphorus though the ferries docking at the harbor and the sailboats at anchor in the bay.
At Yeni Bebek, you will find the freshest fish presented by waiters trained for the years in the art of courteous service. Although I've never tried it, there probably is a special pleasure in eating yogurt kebab in the elegant surroundings of the Divan, a restaurant which offers superb French and Turkish cuisine. It's a convenient spot for an after-theater dinner.
