Natural Barbecue Restaurant & Cafe — Restaurant in Fatih

At first we all thought this restaurant is just the same as the others in the area, with the same menu and some overselling. However, now we've been and I would recommend this place. The music they play, although on TV, is a tasteful choice of some traditional Turkish strings. We've got starters for free, as an incentive to come in and give this place a try. Humus, some spicey paste (best) and satsiki (?). It was a good combination with bread, Portions were small, but enough to try and it was free. We then ordered Turkish ravioli (more like pelmeni, only made into smaller size pieces). And some some kind of meat and vegs piping hot on a thick stone dish satisfying with warm bread. Pomgranate juice is something we always order and were not disappointed here. Then we ordered traditional turkish tea, but a very young waitor (14 year old I'd say) talked us into trying pink pomgranate tea. I was skeptical as looked like hibicus to me, but it turned out a very good recommendation. I didn't quite understand about that tea though, I think that might have been a promotion from a nearby shop. Baklava was nice, baked through but succulent and not tasting as raw flour.

I'd like to note honesty of this place, and the fact did make us feel welcomed. They brought us two beers instead of one, but then accepted it was by mistake and didn't charge us (and didn't argue about like some do).

10% "tourist tax" was included in the bill (you can actually refuse paying it if they didn't warn you in advance), but we thought they deserve the gratitude.

We...

In one word: SCAMERS.

Long story short: they make you a nice presentation on the street (they promise to give you free starters for example) but at the end they introduce you a tax which basically is exactly the price of those mini starters. In our case we demanded they to keep their word and erase the tax.

The big problem is the following: we wanted to pay by card, with a multicurrency card on which I had Turkish lira. After several attempts they said that their POS has a problem and we have to pay with another card (even though this card I am saying about worked EVERYWHERE) and in EURO. The problem is that they have their own conversion rate for euro, very very bad. For example in our case the conversion was about 7 euros extra.

As I said, SCAMERS. Cheap ones…

If I was not your customer from where do I have the receipts (one with your so called “tax” and one without when you wanted us to shut up so the other people didn’t hear the scam you were doing?)? Oh, and please check the rates for EUR and USD to prove your scam.

And don’t forget how much you begged me to give you a five star review by giving me your card. Perhaps this is why you have some good rates but not all the people can be fooled. Shame on you for your comments...

Spoke to the friendly front of house guy a couple of times in the same night - he seemed nice but we didn't go in. The next night passed again and he said he was wanting people in the restaurant (it was empty) to help get others in. He offered drinks at special price. A short time later we took him up on the offer. We had 2 warm beers in cold tankards and a warm white wine in a warm glass. While we were there one couple came in eat (probably nothing to do with our presence). However at bill time there was no special price (there was a minuscule discount) but he had added a 15% service charge (which I later read you can refuse to pay unless it is absolutely clear when you go in) - so in the end full price. OK should have agreed the price rather than trusting them and we didnt eat any food so can't comment on that. We have met many people on our trip to turkiye all of them hospitable and trustworthy. I think this place sees tourists as a commodity to be exploited for maximum gain - that may work for a while but you will get found...