Last Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant — Restaurant in Fatih

An...umm...former acquaintance of mine recommended that I come here and I actually read reviews here saying it's one of the best spots in Istanbul. I ended up walking there from my hotel. The first good sign was they didn't have people standing outside hassling you to come in.

In my experience in Istanbul the best restaurants don't have guys standing around pressuring you to come in. They're confident in their product and either you'll come in on your own or you won't.

Now let me get the bad part out of the way first. I came there specifically to eat a lamb shank. I'm 90% certain that my lamb shank had been in a microwave. What gives me that impression? The fact I heard a microwave dinging. Then it come out with the sauce on the outside hot but the lamb shank itself was look warm. The outside was brown and the inside was pink. As a person who cooks a lot myself, I knew reheated food when I get it. I feel as though a restaurant with their reputation is a bit beneath that but I could be wrong.

I expeditiously sent it back because...I'm not about to pay top dollar for reheated lamb shank. Don't worry I still had an overall positive experience but let's just say...they tried it and I gotta dock them a star for that.

Much like Michael Jordan they took me sending back the dish personally and when I ordered the adana kebap as a replacement they made sure it was fresh, delicious, and the fries were just chefs kiss. I also ordered doner kebap to go for my wife and again it was excellent.

I would definitely go back if I'm in...

We had a long layover in Istanbul and were looking for a good dinner after a day of sightseeing. We found it at Last Ottoman Café and Restaurant.

Started in the 1960s by a prominent journalist and currently operated by his sons, this popular establishment is home to a menu of delicious Turkish cuisine as well as some of the familiar favorites you’ll find at your neighborhood café/brasserie/restaurant.

Its atmosphere, on a cold winter evening, was warm and welcoming, with classic jazz and blues in the background and flourishes of style and function in the décor of the open space, including an antique wood-burning stove.

Our dinner: grape leaves, grilled haloumi salad, the soup of the day (legume-based) with flatbread, fries, breaded calamari, vegetable moussaka, grilled prawns with potatoes and peppers, and shrimp casserole. For dessert, we had baklava and Turkish tea.

To say we found no fault with the food would be an extreme understatement. Everything made by the chef, one of the brothers, was exquisitely good (and to use a word like exquisite to include something like fries is saying a lot). Actually, their moussaka was the best I’ve had.

We met all of the brothers at one point or another in our evening. Our memories of their hospitality and generous natures, along with those of an excellent time that ended too soon, continue to be our reward for deciding to give the Last Ottoman Café & Restaurant a try. I highly...

We had an absolutely delightful experience at this beautifully designed restaurant. The ambiance was enchanting, with charming lights creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff was attentive and professional, making sure we felt welcome throughout our visit. Our server, Burhan, amused us with his sleepy eyes, and despite his tiredness from standing all day, he treated us with kindness and engaged us with his endearing sleepy talks. He had a basic understanding of English, which was enough to facilitate communication and add a touch of authenticity to our experience. The highlight of our dinner was the pottery kebab, which was cooked right in front of us. Witnessing the cooking process was a truly memorable and unique experience, and the end result was a delectable Ottoman-style dish that satisfied our taste buds. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wishes to indulge in authentic Ottoman-style cuisine. The food was simply delicious, the ambiance was enchanting, and the staff was professional and accommodating. It's a must-try for anyone seeking a genuine taste of Ottoman culture. I had a fantastic time and would gladly visit again. Highly...