Ali Ocakbaşı Gümüşsuyu — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

“I recently spent 7 days in Istanbul, and during my stay, I had the pleasure of dining at this incredible Turkish restaurant four times! From the moment I walked through the door, I knew I had found something special. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with a perfect blend of traditional Turkish decor and modern touches. Each time I visited, I was greeted with a smile, and the staff made me feel like family.

The food, however, is what truly sets this place apart. Every dish I tried was a revelation. From the flavorful mezes to the perfectly grilled kebabs and the rich, aromatic stews, everything was prepared to perfection. The ingredients tasted so fresh, and each plate was a work of art. You can tell that the chefs put their heart and soul into every dish, and it shows in the incredible flavors.

I would be remiss not to mention the manager, Yildirim, who went above and beyond to ensure that each of my visits was special. His hospitality and attention to detail made my dining experience unforgettable. He took the time to recommend dishes, share stories about Turkish culinary traditions, and even brought out a few complimentary treats that made me feel truly welcomed. Yildirim’s warm and gracious nature elevated my experience to a whole new level.

Overall, this restaurant is a true gem in Istanbul. Whether you’re a local or a visitor like me, it’s a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience authentic Turkish cuisine at its finest. I will definitely return on my next trip to Istanbul, and I can’t recommend this place enough!”

THANK...

• A Very Disappointing Experience – Poor Service and Misleading Gluten-Free Options*

We specifically chose this restaurant because they advertise gluten-free options, which is essential for my wife due to her gluten allergy. However, what followed was nothing short of a frustrating experience.

We ordered a gluten-free pide, but what arrived at our table was a lahmacun. When we questioned the waiter, he casually responded that "since it's gluten-free, it looks like that." This explanation was completely unacceptable—gluten-free or not, a pide and a lahmacun are distinct dishes.

After a brief discussion, the waiter changed his stance, insisting that while the dish looked like a lahmacun, its ingredients were those of a pide. Again, a ridiculous claim. Eventually, he admitted that the restaurant does not have a separate oven for gluten-free dishes, meaning they cannot actually prepare gluten-free pide. Yet, they still charge for it as if it were a genuine gluten-free option! If a proper gluten-free dish cannot be prepared, this should be made clear before taking orders, instead of misleading customers.

To make matters worse, we also ordered a regular lahmacun, and its base was completely burnt—another disappointment in an already frustrating visit.

Overall, this experience was unacceptable due to both poor service and the lack of honesty regarding gluten-free offerings. If you value transparency and quality, I cannot...

We were visiting from out of the country and this restaurant came highly recommended by someone attending the same conference as us. We checked the reviews and were excited—it looked like it was going to be an amazing experience. And at first, it was!

We were seated on the patio with a great view, and the atmosphere seemed lovely. However, things quickly went downhill. There was a very large party inside—maybe 30+ people taking up the entire dining room—and it felt like the patio got forgotten.

The bigger issue came from the table next to us, which had apparently become the designated smoking area. At first, I thought it was just staff taking a break, but then around 8 more people came out to smoke right next to our table. The smoking itself wasn't the worst part—it’s outside, and I get that—but they were all crowding around our table, standing with their backs literally inches from our food. It felt extremely rude and disruptive, and unfortunately, the staff couldn't do anything about it since there were no other tables available.

To be fair, our server was fantastic—you could tell he was uncomfortable too, especially since the smokers had taken over what looked like his service station. He did his best under tough circumstances, and we appreciated that.

Maybe we just caught it on a bad night, but I’d say if you’re sensitive to smoke or looking for a more peaceful experience,...