October 2006
Turkish Delight
by Celia Cheng
POSEIDON
Cevdet Pasa Caddesi 58k
Bebek, Istanbul
+90-0212-263-3823
Two Turkish friends of mine had, on separate occasions, recommended Poseidon as their favorite seafood restaurant in Istanbul. My visit confirmed that it’s an unforgettable experience. Poseidon is located along the Bosphorus coast in Bebek, the poshest area of Istanbul. When the weather is nice, they open up the outdoor terrace, which has an amazing view of the Bosphorus and of the Asian side of Istanbul. Scenery aside, the food at Poseidon is excellent! From the mouth-watering meze to the fresh fish and delicious desserts, I enjoyed every bite of our meal. After starting with a selection of cold and hot meze, including eggplant dip, peppers stuffed with cinnamon rice, artichoke, marinated white fish, pickles, salad and grilled squid (the freshest and most tender I’ve tasted), we selected the bonito because it was in season. My Turkish friend Cem explained that the bonito would be better fried than grilled, because it was early in the season and the bonito had not developed enough fat to remain juicy after being grilled. The fish was pan-fried so it was not greasy but had just the right amount of flavor and oil. The meal was delicious and the service excellent. Poseidon is just one of the many lovely things about Istanbul, but it’s certainly at the top of my list.
BALIKCI SABAHATTIN
Seyit Hasan Kuyu Sokak 50
Sultanahmet, Istanbul
+90-00212-458-18245
Sabahattin is another popular seafood restaurant in Istanbul. It’s situated in the historic part of town, Sultanahmet, where the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are located. While this is more of a tourist area than anything else, Sabahattin is one of the few exceptions that draws the locals to this district. That’s a pretty strong endorsement. This was our very first meal in Turkey, and it was a wonderful way to start the trip. The weather was lovely, so outdoor seating was available. The restaurant encloses the stone-paved road in front of the building with grape vines and sets out tables for outdoor seating. So charming! The only disadvantage to sitting outside was the stray cats lingering around for scraps of delicious seafood — lucky cats! We chose a good selection of cold meze. One of the reasons I love Turkish food is the meze — everything is fresh and you get to open up your appetite with a variety of tastes. One dish that stands out in my memory is the cinnamon rice with mussels. I had not tasted anything like it before and we made sure to order it, or a similar dish, at subsequent meals. After finishing our starters, the catch of the day was brought to our table on a tray. We chose the bluefish, which was in season, and a sea bass, both to be grilled. The bluefish was tasty and juicy but the sea bass was lackluster and dry. The waiters as well as the other diners were friendly and had a good sense of humor, making it a relaxing and fun meal.
