Sur Balık Restoran Cihangir — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

Oh, Sur Balik Restoran Cihangir, what a dazzling display of deception! This place came highly recommended by a concierge at a fancy five-star hotel in Istanbul, where I practically begged for a scam-free dining spot after reading horror stories online about tourist traps. He assured me it was legit, but I'm now certain he's either pocketing a cut or just loves a good laugh at guests' expense. Spoiler: this place is a scam so bold it could star in a heist movie. Right from the get-go, you're ambushed by a crew of "valet" hustlers who charge you a mystery fee to park your car-probably in their buddy's driveway. Genius! Then, prepare for an Olympic-level trek up a thousand steps to a loft that feels like you've wandered into someone's sketchy apartment complex. The lighting? So dim it's practically a tribute to their shady dealings. Inside, the waiters moonlight as high-pressure salesmen, peddling a "VIP area" with a "better view" for the bargain price of your life savings. The view? A stunning vista of a crumbling rooftop in a neighborhood that screams "don't linger." But the true masterpiece is their fee creativity-oh, the service charges! They stack them on with the flair of a con artist painting a scam-filled canvas. A fee for sitting, a fee for breathing their smoky air (because, yes, they flaunt the no-smoking rule like it's a personal challenge, even with kids around), and probably a fee for daring to look at the menu. It's irony so thick you could spread it on toast: a "five-star" spot charging extra for the honor of being swindled. The fish looked like it was caught during the Byzantine era, despite their boasts of "premium quality" justifying prices that could buy a small island. I ordered shrimp, but I needed a treasure map to find them on the plate-yet the bill suggested l'd feasted on diamond-crusted caviar. Every moment is a lesson in how to bleed tourists dry, with new, invented fees popping up like plot twists in a soap opera. Accessibility? Ha! Those stairs mock anyone with mobility issues. Sur Balk Cihangir isn't a restaurant; it's a performance art piece on fleecing foreigners. The portions are so tiny you'll leave dreaming of a vending machine, the "view" is a sad rooftop in a rough district, and the concierge who sent me here is probably still giggling. If you love tossing cash into a pit of irony and cigarette smoke, this is your paradise. Otherwise, sprint-don't stroll-away from this...

I had to be fair with the stars, although I'm writing a complaint after this rating. Because the food is yes good but not amazing, and the staff are nice but actually just nice with no professional experience to understand what the guests actually want, so they kinda just suggest what makes them earn more money, and they dont speak good English which leaves a very big space for misunderstandings, the food is expensive, actually too expensive. However, the worst thing and what made me write this is that they actually charged us for the small starting bites that we didn't even order. They keep refilling them, and then they charge you for it, calling it Kuver which translates to "cover", when i asked why the bill is so high the waiter actually said that they charge for the olive oil, the bread, the water and the TABLE COVERS, i was so shocked i couldnt even answer. Table covers ??? That should be included in the 10% service fee that is also included in your bill, so basically, you pay for things you are not supposed to pay for more than the food itself. So yes, dont smile in my face and keep pouring water every time my glass is empty, then charge me for your smile.. this was a very nice experience until the bill came and heard all of this nonsense. We were only 3 persons, and they charged us 3500 TL, thats like 120 € . I feel like we were deceived just because we are tourists. So never again. I...

I would love to truly thank the Sur Balik staff for such a beautiful night. We came an hour earlier than our reservation, they graciously seated us at the rooftop. The rooftop was full so we asked to be seated nearer to the window when a table was available, halfway into our meal without even us asking the staff gave us an excellent table by the window. Excellent food recommendations, they were also so accommodating to our tastes! Anything you ask they will try their hardest to arrange for you. They even let us take pictures in the balcony for the amazing view. The restaurant is located in a beautiful old building, the rooftop gives a beautiful view of the bosphorus, aya sophia, topkapi and blue mosque. For food we ordered; Green salad Spicy fish kebab Grilled prawns And sea bass ( the true star of the night) Dessert; Baklava and chai. All the food was absolutely delicious, we didn’t want to stop eating. Finally at the end of the night, the restaurant also offered to take us to our hotel with the restaurant car as ubers kept canceling our trips. The staff of sur balik are not only top notch in professionalism, but top notch in hospitality and treat you like family. Special thanks to Zaza our wonderful waiter and the whole staff of Sur Balik. Sure to visit this restaurant again when I am...