iki sandal geleneksel meyhane — Local services in Bodrum

I had been looking forward to dining at Iki Sandal for over two years, ever since it earned its spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. Sadly, the reality fell far short of expectations.

The setting itself is charming — we were seated on the edge of the balcony, which was lovely. However, the service was incredibly poor from the moment we arrived. It took 30 minutes for someone to bring a tray of cold appetizers, and we were told they’d return shortly to take our hot food order. That “shortly” turned into an hour, at which point we were finally handed menus.

We placed our order and then began what felt like an endless wait. During this time, a man at the next table fell seriously ill — he passed out and began vomiting. To our shock, even after an ambulance was called, the restaurant still brought the bill to him and his wife. It was an utterly tone-deaf and heartless response that left us speechless.

When the food finally arrived (about 45 minutes later), the flavors were decent, but the presentation was lacking and some items — notably the fries — tasted like they’d been reheated from weeks ago. At one point, we received a single shrimp on a bed of lettuce, which felt more like a joke than a dish.

At that point, we decided to cut our losses, pay the bill, and go elsewhere in search of proper service and a satisfying meal.

Iki Sandal may have started off strong, but it seems to have lost its way. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially not when there are so many places where hospitality and consistency...

I live in Datca on and off, so was keen to try a highly rated restaurant in Bodrum. My son was here and works in the gourmet restaurant and beverage business in the UK. Although we rocked up at around 8.30pm without a reservation, we were immediately accommodated on the upper terrace with a fabulous view. The charming waiter spoke great English and explained everything perfectly. He also explained that there might be a 20 minute wait for food, which was no problem. We shared 3 mezzes and a main each. All were really good. Next time, I would like to try more mezzes. They all looked exceptional. I might indeed come back next week on my way to the UK. I have to say that I don't usually read reviews, as I prefer to enter an establishment with an open mind. However, the previous abhorrent review really stood out and almost put me off going. I'm glad I took no notice as vitriolic, angry criticism doesn't help anyone and if constructive criticism were necessary, it could've been done in a less crapulous and insulting manner. Well done Iki Sandal. See...

We visited this restaurant last week in Bodrum, mainly because it is listed in the Michelin Guide. Unfortunately, the experience was far below expectations. • We ordered and tasted almost half of the mezes to experience the variety. Sadly, most of them were below average in flavor. • One meze was extremely sour – almost inedible. • The fish pastrami was the highlight and the only dish we truly enjoyed. • The shrimp was so salty and dry that it was not edible at all. We mentioned this to the staff, pointing out it was not fresh, but no action was taken, and we still paid for it. • Octopus and calamari tasted fine, but the next morning both my husband and I became seriously ill with food poisoning symptoms – severe diarrhea and stomach problems for two days. • For such a high price, we expected far better quality, service, and hygiene standards.

Overall, a very disappointing and expensive experience that unfortunately ended with us getting sick. Definitely not what we would expect from a place listed in the...