Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant — Restaurant in Fatih

A quaint Turkish eatery of moderate cost and excellent value. This establishment offers both indoor and outdoor seating and seemed suitable for handicapped. The volume level is low. We decided to eat indoors. We were impressed with the beautiful woodwork on the cieling and textured wallpaper. Even the corner molding was white, highlighted with gold. The tables were clean and the restaurant smelled good. We started with babaganush, which is an eggplant app/spread. It tasted fresh and was textural. It had a mild sweetness and good amounts of acid and parsley. Salt levels were spot on. Main courses we shared were the kebab platter, which seemed like a sampler and the moussaka. As for the kebab platter, it included grilled chicken wings that had a delightful dry rub and good flavor and moisture levels. A mince lamb kebab that was moist and flavorful as well. There were small beef cubes which had a nice flavor but were slightly dry. Eggplant sat in the center, but this was charred too much and had a burnt flavor, the only thing we didn't like that night. There was a lamb patty nestled between the eggplant that seemed related to the lamb kebab. The highlight was the dark meat chicken kebabs which had an outrageously good flavor mixed with the perfect amount of char. There was also a nicely cooked lamb chop that was seasoned well, but I think it could have used a little dip. This platter also came with rice, a blistered pepper which I think was shishito and a grilled tomato that was smoky and fresh. Also as many places seem to have this as a staple, an onion and pepper mix with a Turkish seasoning blend on top. Overall, this platter was delicious and a great sampler if you have never been here. The moussaka must be more of a Turkish dish than I'm used to. I'm from the US and am used to us versions as well as Greek versions (in Greece or the US). Typically our moussaka has a white cream sauce (bechemel) that's flavored with cinnamon, oregano and optionally nutmeg. The Turkish version of this classic dish is definitely more meat than other versions, but also less spices and lacking the bechemel. As I am used to the versions I'm familiar with, this was a nice twist. Turkish moussaka is definitely in a category of its own and this dish does not disappoint. Dinner came with a bread basket which was nice to dip with moussaka and babaganush. Dessert and tea were complimentary. I believe the dessert pictured was a baklava topped with ice cream which is less sweet than I expected. An excellent experience and the prices are nice for the quantity and quality...

We went last night to the Old Ottoman, enticed by both the good reviews and the word of mouth. Many on the streets nearby will try to convince you that their reputation precedes them only by "the sister, the daughter and the friends" writing their reviews in Google Maps. To cut it short: believing that will be a great mistake and you will miss out on an unforgettable experience. Their amazing selection of dishes, that cater both to omnivores and vegetarians alike (or even vegans for some items in their menu) will definitely please you. We had the vegetarian clay pot, the beef traditional hot plate, the mixed meze platter and even though we did almost explode with the amount of food, we finished everything in front of us. Their house wine is superb (although with very strong body). Their dessert with walnuts was mind-blowing. All in all we almost had to roll ourselves back to the hotel, but to be honest, no regrets. However the indisputable star of the evening, beyond the amazing food, was the service - they were fun, jovial, welcoming, and delivered a strong "feel at home" atmosphere. It was the extra spice which made our meal truly especial. I sincerely, wholeheartedly hope that you get to read this and give this place a try if...

Came after lunch hours to have a meal at a place which was highly rated.

The waiters were attentive quite to respond. Ordered a kofte set and a kunefe.

We were served bread and olives for starters. The kofte came with some sort of flat bread, rice, french fries and roasted vegetables. The rice tasted as good as it looked. The fries had that crisp exterior and fluffy interior. Kofte was definitely star of the show with a rugged texture and its gaminess was well balanced with aggressive seasoning. Would have been perfect if it was juicier. Did not try the roasted vegetables.

First time trying a kunefe and it looks even better than expected. It was crispy, stuffed with cheese and soaked in a sugar syrup. The dessert was really aromatic but a tad too sweet for my liking, and I must say I have quite a sweet tooth.

The restaurant also very generously treated us to a semonila with ice cream. It was a unique dish with the semonila counteracting the sweetness of the ice cream well. Some nuts were also added to give the dessert additional texture.

Overall a nice place to dine in and and I haven’t even tried their...