http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18417 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18417 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18327
The restaurant is on the shore of Marmara Sea with a view of Turkish islands. The "Boukoleon" name comes from the 5th century. There used to be a "Boukoleon Palace" standing right where you sit.

Now you can easily see the archeeological heritage of the old time palace. If you are interested in history, looking for a nice Istanbul view and also outstanding food, I would highly recommend you go to this restaurant.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18327 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15175 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15175 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13760
Surprising that it is so close to the main sites of Sultanhamet and yet such good value.

As in all places in Istanbul, the price of wine / alcohol is very high. Our two mains and bottle of wine came to 66 lira - of which 30 lira was for the wine.

At an exchange rate of 2.5 lira to £1, this meant that our meals cost just a little over £14.

Wonderful fish on the menu and I recommend the chicken hagiasophia.

They have a terrace that looks onto the Blue Mosque.

All along the street there are "kapici" (managers/head waiters) trying to lure you into their respective establishments, but to be fair they do this with good humour and banter.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13760 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13437
Prices are insanely low for the area and you can definitely find something for under six lira. We tried the tavuk durum for 3.75ytl - chicken, fresh vegetables and fries in a thin flatbread. It was the best thing we'd eaten in Istanbul!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12277 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12277 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11555
I can confidently say that this is the best place to try this beautiful speciality if you are interested in traditional Turkish cuisine.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11555 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11554
Portions are huge and very reasonably priced, the owner is back in the kitchen, preparing the most delicious doner kebab and other wonders.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11554 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11524
You can get the best scenery for the Bosphorus from this floor. Don't forget you are in the middle of Asia and Europe here. Ground floor is a very good restaurant, although prices are above the Turkish average, you're guaranteed to have good food here.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11524 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11496
It is situated inside the northern wall of the Spice Bazaar, and is entered via a stone stairway just inside the gate.

Remarkably quiet, decorated with lovely Iznik tiles, Pandeli is famous for its vegetables, and though it is always said that the food is not as good as it was in its fabulous heyday, one can still find subtle evocations of Ottoman cuisine.

Sample the meze, try the hünkar beğendi. A wonderfully civilised place in which to pass part of an afternoon.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11496 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11287 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11287 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10758 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10758 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10311
Situated amongst the many eateries of Divan Yolu Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Koftecisi seemed consistently bustling and busy with a steady stream of locals and tourists. Inside it is basic and functional – but what more do you need – the same could be said of the menu which, apart from kofke and kebab offers lentil soup, rice (pilav), green salad, bean salad (piyaz), yoghurt and bread as accompaniments. However in no way does that do the food justice. It is what you might call comfort food of the first degree, unfussy, straightforward and flavoursome. Lentil Soup was thick and tasty, the bean salad - seasoned with mint and a little oil - lovely and fresh, both the kebabs and kofte were nicely spiced and well cooked and the yoghurt was delicious – again a wonderful fresh, palate cleansing taste.

Sit downstairs and you are right in the middle of things with waiters scooting about taking orders and delivering food from the grill, upstairs was quieter with excellent views over Divan Yolu. Service is friendly and fast and the price is excellent – between 20 and 30 YTL (£7.20/$13.80 to £10.80/$20.70) for a meat dishes, two or three accompaniments, yoghurt, bread and a couple of drinks. This is fast food at its tastiest and best, perfect for a lunchtime break.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10311 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9879
Wooden floors and ceiling are offset by orange/ochre walls and exposed brickwork, the walls also decorated by interesting metal lamp fittings. Seating is on iron or wooden chairs and some very comfortable leather banquettes.

The menu is extensive with traditional Turkish dishes – such as mixed meze, kebabs and fresh fish – on offer next to wider ranging fare such as crepes, salads and pasta. There are also a number of vegetarian options.

The food was well cooked and very tasty, more along the lines ‘comfort food’ than modern or fusion cuisine but nothing wrong with that, as attested by a number of people in the restaurant who were visiting for a second time. Indeed had we not wished to sample as many restaurants as we could we may have returned as there was a number of different things on the menu I would like to have tried. We had a couple of criticisms, the salad we ordered had a bit too many pickled/bottled vegetables, making it rather less fresh and more bland then I would have liked, and the baked potato accompaniment with one of the dishes was slightly cold, however, these are really minor caveats and didn’t effect our overall enjoyment of the meal.

Combine all the above with friendly staff and a price tag for two starters, two main courses, a dessert, two beers and a coffee of 83 YTL (approx. £34.00) and you’ve got a good evening out.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9879 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9878
The restaurant specialises in fish and seafood - there isn’t a menu as such – although I believe you may be able to ask for one which includes hot starters. After showing you to your seat and taking an order for drinks (raki is a good accompaniment though we went for beer, they do have a wine list but we found it a little on the expensive side) a waiter will present a tray of mezes from which you make your choice. These include salads, marinated fish – the sea bass was delicious – mussels and rice (a speciality of the restaurant, a great mix of textures and flavours) dips etc.. If you are unsure what to have – and there is a wide choice – ask the, very helpful, waiting staff for their recommendations.

A little later, while enjoying your choice of meze, a waiter will bring a platter of fresh fish of the day from which you select your main courses, again if you are unsure - or indeed you need some pointers, as we did, to what fish is which - ask for a recommendation. Once your choice is made sit back, relax, finish your meze and wait for the fish fest to arrive!

The fish is either grilled or fried ( we went for red mullet and swordfish kebab) and simply presented with a small garnish of tomato, a slice of potato and a slice of mooli – the latter three acting more as palate cleansers than an accompaniment. Not that you need any accompaniment, the freshness and taste of the fish is what’s important and all you really need.

After that you may not feel the need for dessert but, if you do, there is a small but tasty selection of cakes and other traditional desserts.

Round this of with Turkish coffee and maybe even a liqueur and you have a great dining experience. In summer you should also be able to take advantage of the outside tables. Reservations are recommended, we went mid-week and it was pretty busy then.

Cost for four meze dishes, two fish dishes, 2 beers, water, a Turkish coffee and a dessert was 110YTL (approx. £39.00).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9878 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7544 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7544 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7543 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7543 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5266