Beyaz İnci Restaurant Galata Köprüsü — Restaurant in Istanbul

We selected this restaurant due to the high ratings on Google Maps. The staff was very friendly, and we were promptly served a glass of water. In comparison to the nearby restaurants, this one was fairly empty. A basket of bread and a small bowl of olive oil were given as a complimentary starter while we waited for our meal.

The salad we ordered arrived swiftly, although the flavor didn't meet our expectations. The main dishes followed: both visually pleasing. The casserole baked fish had a satisfying taste. At first, the beef steak was delightful, however, it was dry towards the middle.

One highlight of our visit was the captivating location and view offered by this restaurant. From there, you can observe the ferries and even spot some landmarks. Upon finishing the main dishes, we were each served a cup of chai and a piece of baklava. Both were exceptional. The final bill was approximately 1150 TL, equivalent to around 30€. We left a tip, satisfied with the service.

I don't typically write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience. Feeling full, we returned to our hotel to rest. Unfortunately, two hours later, I felt exceedingly full and slightly ill. Initially, I thought I needed the restroom, but this wasn’t the issue. Half an hour later, I vomited and began to feel better.

My suspicion is the meat may have been off, as my partner had no complaints, and we hadn't consumed anything else. This discrepancy with the glowing reviews made me skeptical. Upon delving into the negative reviews, I discovered allegations of reheated fish being served and offers of discounts in return for positive reviews. These findings suggest a possible reason for the disparity between the excellent reviews and the less-than-stellar experience we had.

In light of this experience, and for the sake of future patrons, I regret to say that I cannot recommend this restaurant. The risk of food-related illness seems too high a price to pay, despite the pleasant service...

The Classic Tourist Trap – Now With Bonus Finger-Tapping Waiters!

Ah yes, the quintessential tourist trap — overpriced, underwhelming, and just self-aware enough to offer “free tea and Baklava” to sweeten the sting. Spoiler: we never saw either.

From the moment we walked in, it was clear the staff’s primary focus wasn’t on the diners actually in the restaurant, but rather on luring in as many fresh walk-ins as possible. I guess table service takes a back seat when there are more wallets to be reeled in out on the street.

Prices? Hilariously high. You’d think the seafood had flown in business class. The food was fine — not memorable, not offensive, just there. As was the service: neither attentive nor particularly indifferent, just sort of coasting in that sweet spot of mediocrity.

Now here comes the fun part. The bill arrives — complete with a built-in service charge (naturally) — and the waiter starts tapping his finger insistently on the “tip” line like he’s trying to summon spirits. A bold move, considering we’d just received the hospitality equivalent of a shrug.

We paid. No tea. No Baklava. Just a polite wave goodbye to our money and any chance of returning.

In short, if you enjoy inflated prices, so-so service, broken promises, and guilt-trippy finger drumming, this place is a must. Otherwise, keep walking — like the waiters probably...

A terrible experience from start to finish. The staff is extremely pushy and overwhelming, constantly insisting that you come inside to eat, which makes the atmosphere very uncomfortable.

The food is overpriced and of poor quality. We were recommended a “sea bass,” but it didn’t taste fresh or like real sea fish at all. We only ordered one dish to share (the sea bass) and a bottle of wine – nothing else.

We didn’t ask for water, but they brought us a glass and charged for it anyway. On top of that, they added an extra charge of almost €20 for no reason or explanation. And the table are not set up whit the cutlery 🫣.

Even worse, the fish displayed outside for customers to see was sitting on a cart without any ice, under hot lamps, and with the warm outdoor temperature it was literally cooking. Absolutely no sense of hygiene or food safety.

Ridiculously expensive, poor quality food, and pushy staff. Definitely to be avoided, not only for the food but also for the lack of hygiene and respect...