The House Cafe Corner — Restaurant in Şişli

I recently visited [House Cafe] for breakfast, hoping to enjoy a pleasant dining experience. However, I was left thoroughly disappointed and disheartened by the numerous issues I encountered during my visit. It is with regret that I must share my honest review of this establishment.

From the moment I entered, I noticed a glaring problem: a cat freely wandering around inside the café. As someone with allergies, this posed a significant health risk and immediately made me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, my attempt to address this concern with the waiter was met with rude and dismissive behavior. He callously refused to take any action, leaving me feeling unheard and disrespected.

The service at [House Cafe] was further marred by an excessively long wait for our food. Surprisingly, a neighboring table, which arrived after us and ordered the same dish (scrambled eggs), received their meals before us. It soon became evident that this preferential treatment was based on the customers' Turkish ethnicity, suggesting a disturbing display of racism within the establishment. Such discriminatory practices are completely unacceptable and tarnish the reputation of any establishment.

When I approached the staff to inquire about the delay, their response only served to heighten my disappointment. The explanation provided was linked to the festive occasion of "Eid," insinuating that the delay was justified. However, it was evident that this excuse only applied to non-local customers, as the locals did not face a similar delay. This discriminatory treatment based on nationality raises serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the service provided.

While it is fair to acknowledge that the food at [House Cafe] was of good quality, I regretfully cannot recommend this establishment to anyone who is not a local. The disregard for customers' well-being, coupled with the clear instances of discrimination, overshadowed any enjoyment we could have derived from the food.

In conclusion, I implore the management of [House Cafe] to address these issues promptly and take the necessary steps to rectify these problems. It is essential to train the staff to handle customer complaints with respect and empathy, regardless of their background. Moreover, implementing fair practices in food service, irrespective of nationality, is crucial in upholding the principles of equality and inclusivity.

I sincerely hope that my review is taken seriously, and that [House Cafe] works towards improving the overall dining experience for all patrons. By addressing these concerns, the establishment can strive to create an environment that truly values its customers and embraces diversity.

at the end when I tried to pay they tried to cheat us with more food and when I said we didn’t order the waiter replied...

The café is situated in the heart of Nişantaşı, inside a beautifully restored historical building. Its cozy and charming atmosphere is enriched by retro details, such as vintage porcelain cups hanging on the walls and elegant old chandeliers. Due to its proximity to the Teşvikiye Mosque, alcoholic beverages are not served at this branch, although they are available in the café’s other locations. The coffee and food are outstanding, and the friendly staff greet every guest with a warm smile, making it easy to relax, enjoy the setting, and...

In my 2 weeks in Turkey this is the worst dining experience. Only 1 staff speaks very little English and the food took forever to come. Food was okay nothing amazing.

Then when I tried to pay, the machine did not take my foreign card. I explained that it was working just 10 minutes before at another merchant in Istanbul. Their response, “not our problem.”

It’s funny before this restaurant I’ve only met friendly and helpful Turkish people but the staff here is absolutely unhelpful and unfriendly. Not sure why they have so many...