Esmer Cafe — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

So i saw the reviews and i starred the place for when i go to Turkey and i was looking forward to try many of their dishes including the pasta in the picture as one of the reviewers mentioned that it was the best pasta they have ever tasted.. First of all they charge you for service even for takeaway food.. Second, it didn’t taste good at all .. like nothing is authentic .. adding soy sauce to an Alfredo pasta is lazy, cheating and unjust to Italians.. like common and offcourse not to mention it was bad Margarita pizza lacked tomato sauce it was only cheese which was tasteless… people dont wear gloves most of them i have seen one of them sprinkling cheese on top of one of the dishes with his bare hands.. Arabiatta pasta was absolutely garbage like i dont expect perfection but at least make it edible for the prices paid and not to mention it didnt have any salt whatsoever and tasted like tea leave eww it was thrown in the garbage .. Cezer salad didnt have the sauce that is supposed to be in it but something else entirly different and also instead of adding croutons they put two ready made biscuits like what the heck?… Gnocchi’s gain had the soy sauce so nothing authentic Crispy chicken was mediocre at best but the fries was okay Feta salad .. i don’t remember its name was fine not so bad but it had lots and lots of corn i am assuming coz its cheap This is my honest review please please stay away or if you want to give it a shot first choose one dish only try it and then decide coz we spent lots of money on something that wasn’t worth it it is not an authentic Italian restaurant and that would have been fine if it was at least tasty or decent...

My family and I recently indulged in an exquisite dining experience at Esmer Cafe, located on Istiklal Street in Istanbul. Despite my typical aversion to pasta, I ventured to sample the Fettuccine Con Polo, and to my utter delight, it proved to be a culinary revelation. The dish was meticulously prepared to perfection, boasting a harmonious balance of flavors that left me savoring each and every mouthful. This gastronomic delight, shared between my husband and myself, undeniably ranks among the most memorable meals of my lifetime. Equally impressed, my son relished his serving of lasagna with equal fervor.

Our intrigue extended beyond the delectable fare to the culinary maestro behind the scenes. Much to our surprise, Chef Ahmet was diligently orchestrating a culinary symphony at the restaurant's entrance, visible through a street-facing viewing window. His culinary prowess and ability to multitask with such finesse evoke admiration and respect, deserving of accolades akin to those bestowed upon Michelin-starred establishments.

In light of this exceptional dining experience, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Esmer Cafe for their outstanding culinary offerings. Our visit was nothing short of exemplary, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fellow travelers seeking a departure from traditional fare. Indeed, the experience proved to be a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence and represents exceptional value for...

We went there right after landing into Istanbul and checking into our hotel, we were quite ravished so we would’ve eaten anything honestly. I had seen many many positive reviews of this restaurant and decided to go here for lunch, luckily it was a very short 5 minute walk from our hotel , in the heart of istikal street.

We were directed to the first floor where seating was available, it is small and a bit congested but quite tidy.

We ordered quickly, we got the patato gnocchi, bolognese spaghetti, seafood risotto, chicken burger and a American.

We also got 2 salads to share. The salads came first, they were good and filling and had a delicious balsamic glaze and white cheese but lacked seasoning.

The shrimp risotto was good and very very filling, but a bit oily. The shrimp in the risotto was extremely good!

The gnocchi was the best, satisfying and creamy, the burger was good in quantity but a bit dry, however the onion rings it came with were good.

The bolognese was also good, not the best we’ve had.

Service was prompt and payment through international debit card was easy. Good satisfying and very...