Lokantum restaurants in Europe
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Ali Kaya Restaurant
The best time to visit this simple licensed restaurant above Amasya is at sunset, when you can recharge after the steep climb with meze while taking in views of town and the tombs. Taxis will ferry you up for TL8.
reviewed
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Safa 3, Çorba 1 Paça Salonu
If you're an adventurous foodie, head to this quirky little restaurant. Regulars swear by the kelle (mutton's head) – the spicy lentil soup is more approachable.
reviewed
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Çulcuoğlu Et Lokantası
Surrender helplessly to your inner carnivore at this Gaziantep institution. The yummy kebaps are the way to go, but grilled chicken also puts in menu appearances. Don't be fooled by the unremarkable entrance; there's a vast, neat dining area at the back. It's tucked away down a narrow side street across the otopark near the Şıra Hanı, about 20m from a little mosque called Nur Ali.
reviewed
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Zenger Paşa Konağı
Crammed with Ottoman ephemera, the Zenger Paşa looks at first like a deserted ethnographic museum, but wealthy Ankaralıs love the pide, meze and grills, still cooked in the original Ottoman oven. The views of the city from the back porch are worth the visit alone; there's joyful live music most nights.
reviewed
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Elmacioğlu İskender et Lokantası
Ascend in a lift to Kayseri's best restaurant, with waiters sporting bow ties and big windows overlooking the citadel. İskender kebaps are the house speciality, available with köfte or in 'double' form (TL13), and other dishes include pastırma pide (TL8.50). Recommended.
reviewed
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Küçe Başı Et Lokantası
This outfit has a wide-ranging menu and original setting (the room at the back is designed like a rustic barn). Try innovative dishes like tavuk tava (deep-fried chicken meat in a flat-bottomed pan).
reviewed
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E
Boyacızâde Konağı
Entered via a cluttered courtyard, this wonderfully converted mansion-restaurant offers great views, typical Ottoman-stalgic decor and good fish dishes. Fasıl (Turkish classical) music provides the entertainment.
reviewed
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Şafak Kahvaltı & Yemek Salonu
Nosh on freshly prepared meat dishes and hearty casseroles and stuffed vegetables in this brisk Diyarbakır institution. It's also a good place to partake in a restorative morning breakfast with still-warm flatbread, luscious kaymak (clotted cream) and gooey honey. It also does superb crisp wood-fired pide.
reviewed
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Aydın Et Lokantası
This lokanta's decor centres on a fake green oak tree with an ailing goldfish in the pool at its base, but the open kitchen is reassuring. You can try etli ekmek here and the menu has English translations.
reviewed
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Zahter Kahvaltı & Kebap Salonu
Skip your hotel's breakfast and instead wolf down gooey honey, pekmez (grape syrup), jam and cream on flat bread at this cute little place on the main drag. Wash it all down with a large glass of çay or ayran – all for around TL6.
reviewed
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Meğri Lokantasi
Looking for us at lunchtime in Fethiye? We're here. Packed with locals who spill onto the streets, the Meğri offers excellent and hearty home-style cooking at very palatable prices. Choose from the huge glass display window of meze and savoury mains or try one of their types of güveç (casserole; TL17 to TL20).
reviewed
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Bahçeli Ocakbaşı
You can gaze up at the tombs from this cafe, one of half a dozen lokantas competing amiably for business in a lively, crowded courtyard.
reviewed
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J
Büyük Merkez Lokantası
This lokanta is popular at lunchtime, when you may find yourself sharing a table with an office clerk. The menu includes döners and the house speciality sebzeli Sivas kebapı (TL14.50), a local take on the Tokat kebap.
reviewed
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Üstad
Locals squeeze into this compact lokanta right on Trabzon's main square. We can thoroughly recommend the biber dolması (stuffed peppers) that come with a surprisingly robust pinch of chilli, reinforcing how far east you've travelled.
reviewed
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Sofrada Restoran
Near the fayton park and clock tower, this place serves up simple dishes including mücver (zucchini fritters), köfte and karniyarik (aubergine stuffed with minced meat). You won't find a cheaper meal than this on the island.
reviewed
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Semazen
This buzzy joint cranks out above-average kebaps and pide, as well as tasty ready-made meals. The B&W pictures of old Kars hung on the walls are a nice touch, too.
reviewed
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Safranbolu Sofrası
This friendly cafe offers an authentic local experience – in the sense that Turkish soap operas and music videos accompany dining. The delicious dishes include dolma with yoghurt and tomato sauce and cevizli yayım (macaroni topped with walnuts). If you like the saffron tea, buy a jar of the yellow powder.
reviewed
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Meydan Lokantası
One of the waterfront eateries serving simple fare to power tour groups through the battlefields, Meydan offers relatively good service and dishes including the recommended tavuk şiş (roast chicken kebap).
reviewed
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K
Metanet Lokantası
Left, right, left again. That's it, over there. The sort of place you only find if you go looking for it. Tucked away in a side street near Kozluca Camii, the Metanet has always been part of the local knowledge. The moustached waiters, who seem to have been a fixture here for decades, conscientiously mince the meat around noon in front of a big grill. Ayran (yoghurt drink) is served in a tin bowl, and the atmosphere is convivial. Much less institutionalised than İmam Çağdaş.
reviewed
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Mantı & Börek Evi
Serving mantı (Turkish ravioli), avcı boreğı and a good range of mezes, this lokanta (eatery serving ready-made food) has a small terrace overlooking the main square. It's one of the only eateries on the hill offering beer.
reviewed
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Kınacızade Konağı
Next door to And Butik hotel is this overcooked Ottoman house with period costumes hanging on sword edges. There's a divine courtyard to enjoy the tasty set menus.
reviewed
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Halil İbrahim Sofrası
One word describes this downtown hot spot: yum. The eclectic food is well presented and of high quality, with service to match, served in sleek surrounds. Try the rich and tender İskender kebap. Pide buffs should target the generous 'pide special', with a bit of everything.
reviewed
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Gülbahçesı Konya Mutfağı
One of Konya's best restaurants, mostly because of its upstairs terrace with views of the Mevlâna Museum. Dishes include yaprak sarma, Adana kebap and etli ekmek. There are occasional sema performances.
reviewed
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Döneristan Et Lokantası
There's a lot to like about this bright venue. Munch on ultra-fresh sulu yemekler, salads, mezes and döner kebaps at puny prices. The menu changes daily according to seasonal produce and whim.
reviewed
