Ala Rasi Restaurant Taksim, Istanbul (Fusion Cuisine / Füzyon Mutfağı) — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

One of the worst customer service experiences in my life.

I was visiting Istanbul with my family. I just got off trans-Atlantic flight and was looking for a place to eat. This place had good reviews so I gave it a shot. The place was not very busy, and there were 3 servers active at the time. We still had to wait for a very long time, because our server was always missing somewhere, and other servers very deliberately avoided serving "not their tables", no matter how simple the request was. That's a sign of a bad establishment right there, if servers are so territorial and unhelpful towards each other.

When it came time to pay, out server showed up with a credit card terminal. My fiance asked them what kind of dressing was used in the salad, and he responded with "I don't know, I am a software engineer". Mkay ... I am a software engineer, too, but I take care to be aware of key aspects about other things I do.

The "software engineer server" spoke pretty bad English. He couldn't form grammatically correct sentences, and it was really to understand him. So he handed me a terminal, I swiped my card, and my family and I moved on.

Just as we got about a block or so away from the restaurant, the "software engineer server" chased us. He ran up to me and started yelling at me. His English didn't improve, so he still couldn't clearly explain what was going on. He showed me some receipts, and kept speaking in chopped up sentences. It looked like we underpaid something, so I pulled out my credit card and said "okay, let me pay what's missing". He continued to yell at me, saying something about "cash only". He then said something like "that's fine, I will pay it myself!", and left.

It took me a second to process what happened (remember, I just got off a long flight and was jetlagged!). Turns out that you have to pay mandatory service fee, and they accept cash only! I was not warned about this when we sat down, and the server failed to mention this (but he did feel like mentioning he was a software engineer!). Apparently it's written in fine print somewhere in the menu. But I am sitting down to eat, not sign legal papers, so I do not expect to read fine print!

The story continues! I found a currency exchange place, got some local cash, and went back. The "software engineer server" spotted me walking in, and started waiving at the other server ("make him go away"). I walked up to "software engineer server", apologized for misunderstanding and handed him cash. He responded with "I already paid it out of my pocket", and refused cash. The other server also refused to take my cash, so I just left it on the counter.

A couple of suggestions for the owner to make this place a better experience: Fire "software engineer server". He is just incredibly rude and creates really bad impression about your establishment. Start taking credit cards for the "service fee" - this will make it easier for people. Have staff clearly explain and mention the 5% fee upfront, or when they bring the check. Cultivate culture where servers help each other out, not avoid talking to people at tables that are...

During my trip to Istanbul, I was eager to fully immerse myself in the vibrant Turkish spirit — exploring the food, music, and architecture across different districts. Out of all the places I visited, Ala Rasi Restaurant has been my absolute favorite so far.

The atmosphere is exceptional — the music is calm and beautifully complements the stylish interior, creating a welcoming and relaxing environment. The staff truly make the experience memorable: young, positive, and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their culture if you’re interested in learning more. Their warmth and friendliness add a personal touch that is hard to find.

The food is of outstanding quality — easily a 10 out of 10. The lamb chops were particularly impressive, perfectly cooked and flavorful. The lahmacun, pide, and everything else we tried were equally delicious.

As a web developer, I would also like to recommend to the management to enhance the online experience by adding more detailed food information — such as ingredients, portion sizes (grams), spiciness levels, and potential allergens — to support guests who avoid certain ingredients for health reasons. Improving the web application’s dynamic CSS would also create a smoother, more modern user experience.

I would definitely return and wholeheartedly recommend Ala Rasi to anyone looking for an authentic and unforgettable dining experience...

This restaurant was a gem to find. Initially, we were thinking this was Turkish food, however, turned out to be Afghani food. But let me tell you this place did not disappoint at all. The food was phenomenal. I am not sure what they did to their french fries but that is definitely a dish you must order, especially if you’re a potato person.

The meat was so tender, juicy, and very flavorful . I am not a rice person, but I ended up eating most of the rice that was served along with our meat plate. I do not know what spices they used to infuse the rice, but it was super good. The bread was fresh and hot, which was a nice touch. We got their dip appetizer and it was different but good. My husband especially enjoyed the labneh (white dip). The salad was delicious. The dressing they used was light and very refreshing.

The owners have to be there and they were very hospitable. Our servers were super nice and informative. Service was 10 out of 10. We did not feel rushed throughout the meal. The place is super open, but yet felt cozy at the same time. The bathroom was very clean. do not pass up on this place because the food was that good. The ambience of the place was great and the prices were very reasonable for that area...