DENİZ YILDIZI RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Kadıköy

After a couple of disastrous experiences in the infamous tourist-trap restaurants on the Galata Bridge—where prices are a scam and the food is barely edible—we decided we had had enough. We crossed the Bosphorus and ventured into the heart of Kadıköy, hoping for something different. The reviews for this place were excellent, but after so many letdowns, our faith in local gastronomy and ethics had been seriously shaken.

We were welcomed with warmth, though at that point, we were cautious. They led us to the second floor, but before going up, I passed by the food counter and saw something that sparked a flicker of hope: dishes that actually looked appetizing. They seated us on the balcony, offering a privileged view of the narrow, lively street where the restaurant is tucked away from the tourist chaos. The furniture was high quality: immaculate tablecloths, decent cutlery, comfortable chairs… subtle signs that they took their craft seriously.

The waiter wasted no time in giving us an honest recommendation—clearly telling us which fish were truly fresh that day and which were not. We ordered two appetizers, two main courses, and two local beers. The first sign that this dinner would be different came with the bread: freshly toasted, artisanal, and served with care. The half-liter beers arrived in elegant beer glasses, perfectly chilled.

The appetizers were a revelation. So much so that we devoured the bread. Without even asking, the waiters brought us another basket immediately. That’s how you take care of your diners.

Then, the main courses arrived. The fried sardines were cooked to perfection, tender, with the meat easily sliding off the bones at the slightest touch. The portion was generous and came with a fresh, organic salad. But the true masterpiece of the night was the Turkish lamb skewer—şiş kebap—an absolute triumph. The meat was cooked to perfection, juicy, expertly spiced, and served in a portion that satisfied both hunger and indulgence.

I swear I would return to Turkey, to Istanbul, take the ferry to Kadıköy just for another bite of that dish. It was that good.

The prices were fair, and the service was impeccable to the very end. Even the restaurant owner came over at the end of our meal to ask how everything was. With genuine pride, he asked us to rate them on social media—not as a desperate plea, but with the confidence of someone who knows they’re doing things right.

This place restored our faith in Turkish cuisine. It reminded us that there are still corners where food isn’t just business but a bridge between cultures, a wordless conversation between the one who cooks and the one who eats.

We’ll be back. Every...

We came to this restaurant based on good Google reviews. We were greeted warmly, seated, and immediately served water without being asked. We ordered two dishes: fish and Turkish meatballs.

Shortly after, a huge plate of various appetizers was brought to our table, and then we were persistently offered to order salads. We politely declined all of that.

Upon seeing our small order and refusals, the waiter’s attitude instantly changed — his face dropped, and his behavior became noticeably colder. Unlike the other guests who ordered more, we didn’t receive a napkin holder or any bread.

When our order finally arrived, it was literally “fish with a piece of onion” and meatballs with a “generous” handful of fries, one tomato, grilled pepper, and sliced onion. Unlike nearly every other restaurant in Istanbul, we got neither decent portions nor friendly service.

When it came time to pay, a couple of unpleasant surprises surfaced: There’s a so-called “service charge” of 10% that isn’t mentioned anywhere — we found no info about it in the menu. The water that was silently served on a hot day turned out to cost almost 2 US dollars.

In conclusion, unless you’re a fan of onions or waiters who try their best to squeeze as much money out of you as possible, this place is not...

Ordered: fish soup, grilled bass, fried anchovies that are stuffed (however in our case it was no stuffing at all, so basically fried anchovies but paid a slightly higher price for a dish we didn’t get)

Food: 2.5/5 (fish soup was underwhelming, not so much flavor, the bass was OK however a bit overcooked and the fried anchovies were OK)

Service: 3/5 (nothing to complain or praise for, service as it should be. There’s a 10% service fee added in the end.)

Atmosphere: 1/5 (if you like secondhand smoking this place is for you, otherwise you will unfortunately very likely feel uncomfortable dining here as they allow people to smoke indoors even on their top floors. If you have kids you probably should avoid this place as the smoke indoors can’t be avoided, people smoke...