Develi – Istanbul
Restaurant chain Develi, with a dozen restaurants located throughout Turkey, mostly in affluent suburbs, has built the city’s most successful restaurant dynasty. Develi has made its mark by serving traditional Turkish cuisine in an upscale ambience, albeit one that’s a bit tacky and gaudy by western standards. The only location of relevance to the city’s foreign visitors is the location in Nişantaşı, in close proximity to several international hotels. The food is good. Service is acceptable but not very amiable.
Lokanta 1741 – Istanbul
Located in the same building as one of Istanbul’s most prestigious Turkish spas, Lokanta 1741 is perhaps the most upscale and sophisticated of all the restaurants in the city offering traditional Turkish cuisine. Although there is indoor dining, the outdoor terrace with impressive lighting highlighting the ancient surrounding buildings is more popular with diners. The restaurant offers a multicourse tasting menu offering diners the ability to sample a wide variety of the chef’s creations.
Nişantaşı Başköşe – Istanbul
Located within walking distance of several of the city’s top hotels, Nişantaşı Başköşe offers traditional Turkish cuisine in a contemporary setting with slate gray walls, black leather upholstered benches and chairs, and ceramic tile floor with a diamond inlay. About the only vestige of Turkish décor are colorful hand painted plates stylishly displayed in white picture-box frames in stark contrast to the gray walls. The traditional menu is well-executed. And service, friendly and responsive.
Aheste – Istanbul
Aheste’s talented chefs elevate local cuisine to a higher level and beautifully plate and serve dishes. Despite the more unique menu and the higher level of presentation, the menu items are only nominally higher than similar high-end restaurants serving Turkish cuisine.