Kadı Lokantası — Restaurant in Kadıköy

Quality has went from 10/10 to a minimum. I ordered a small portion of ezogelin soup (I got mercemik but didn't have the energy to return it), rice pilaf with currants, kisir salad. At the condiment bar there wasn't any pomegranate sauce. When I asked I was told by the very rude, disinterested young female cashier, that there wasn't any, and upon further inquiry I learned the entire restraunt doesn't use it (she says). The soup (13.50TL) was not hot. The pilaf (35tl) was overcooked in a bitter oil, it tasted like re-used cooking oil. I tried three bites and felt sick in my stomach and lost my appetite. The cheap quality of the kisir (45tl) actually began to anger me--- as I learned after purchase, it has no pom sauce, a main ingredient. It didn't have other main ingredients: white/yellow onion,and green onion. It was terrible. I paid 45tl for a small handful of bulgur overwhelmed with table salt and slivers of lettuce with what looks like tomato juice of which had a completely unnoticeable flavor. To compare, I've visited 3 other lokantas in the vicinity of this one, as well as frequent Istanbul's many lokantas throughout the week. The prices are the same or cheaper, but not one of them measured this low quality. All of them have the basic(main) ingredients and don't cut the corners this place does with saturating the rice with bad oil and overwhelming bulgar with table salt and selling it as kisir salatasi. Additionally I paid 8tl for a small plastic cup of...

Heavenly Turkish cuisine, this restaurant is a continuous ode to the traditional dishes. Upon entering it's easy to feel impressed by the sheer modernity of this modest cantine - the ample spaces and modern simple designs balance with the coziness of the warm environment and smiles of the staff. You could call it home. The menu is designed to offer an enormous diversity of family-style-cooked dishes that will make you excited just by looking at them. Sometimes food tastes like when you put 3 day old leftovers in the microwave for too less time but that's part of the experience. At the end of the day this restaurant is always there for you when you need it. And sure you could get disappointed but you won't because you paid so little that you realise that taste is relative. Your mom will one day be gone but Locanta will be here for you. Whether you are having a good or a bad day, whether you are alone or with friends, Kadı Locantası will receive you with open arms and a below average meal that will fill your belly...

I came here one morning once to have a quick breakfast before I went on with my day. It's s self-service restaurant, which you grab a tray and ask the staff behind the food counters what you would like, pay and then take a seat. They don't have the full menu dishes ready during the morning, only from lunch hours and onwards. Only a few dishes such as soup, salad and some non-pilav dishes were available. There was bread on the side too (no charge).

I had the mercimek chorba/lentil soup and eggplant/aubergine in tomato sauce. I found both very bland, but the lack of taste and flavours are expected in most lokantasi chains anyway. Luckily as with most lokantasi places, there was chilli oil, lemon juice, biber/chilli powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper to adjust the dishes to one's own taste.

Good for dining in alone but also ample seating for groups. Good for a quick yet not that tasty Turkish home...