One of the newest additions to Izmir’s gourmet scene, Potiri Meyhane boasts perhaps the most interesting location a sea-lover can find. The restaurant sits on a small manmade peninsula in the heart of Levent Marina (next to Uçkuyular Ferry Station), and almost anywhere you look, you are surrounded by deep-blue sea. This week, EatInIzmir had a chance to evaluate what Potiri has to offer.

The Food

With the offer of a prix fixe menu only, Potiri Meyhane surprised us with the abundance and the quality of the meze (cold samplings). Miniature green olives have been imported from Greece, the bread and salads came fresh, and a spinach fava, which was the first of its kind I saw in Izmir, was delicious and added a lovely touch to the meal. On top of this, we tasted six warm dishes that also come with the offer, including a cheese meatloaf, tenderly cooked lamb shish, fried liver seasoned with pepper and onions, and grilled mushrooms in cheese-covered sauce. All this went well with our choice of a Turkish rakı, although wine and soft drinks are also served.

The Atmosphere

We were unable to evaluate the atmosphere fairly because the original location, the peninsula, is currently being prepared for the winter. The restaurant was temporarily moved to the shore and thus felt traditional, although we were assured the peninsula will be ready by next Monday. Live music is usually played at Potiri (especially fasıl style). The restroom was, unfortunately, outdoors.

The Service and Prices

The service was decent with one exception: our request for an extra lemon had to be repeated, even though the meyhane was not crowded. We were too impressed with the food, however, to count this against the restaurant.

Prices were another aspect of Potiri Meyhane we really liked. The prix fixe menu is 40 TL per person, and the alcoholic drinks are reasonably priced considering the recent tax hike in Turkey.

Overall Impressions of the Restaurant

There are two other restaurants at Levent Marina, including a branch of the popular La-Cigale, as well as a bar, a lounge, and a caravan of colorful outdoor “kitchens” serving such Turkish “fast-food” classics as mussels, kokoreç, and kumru. If you visit any of those, please share your experiences with us. But for the food, the sea, and the music, I see myself returning to Potiri.

My rating: 4.5/5.0

How to Get There

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Address: Levent Marina, Haydar Aliyev Bulvarı No:4 Üçkuyular – Izmir
Tel : +90(232) 259 70 70
Fax : +90(232) 259 70 14
E-mail : info@leventmarina.com.tr

Otantik Bahçe, Sığacık: Authentic Aegean breakfast in a historical fortress

The fortress of Sığacık (a small town between Seferihisar and the historical site of Teos) is famous for its old houses, authentic small restaurants, and a farmers market that offers fresh produce and handmade souvenirs every Sunday. If you come here for breakfast on Sunday, you don’t even need to sit down to eat. Just walk through the market, buying olives, stuffed grape leaves and pumpkin blossoms, homemade bread and cheese. Or you could get a table in a cool inner garden of a small restaurant and enjoy your börek or gözleme (layered dough stuffed with roasted aubergines, potatoes, herbs, or cheese – or a combination of these).

One place worth visiting in the Sığacık fortress is a family-run small restaurant called Otantik Bahce. It is easy to find when you enter the fortress from the central gate. With a dozen tables in the garden, this restaurant boasts a relaxing atmosphere and friendly service. You can watch your gözleme being prepared, sip fresh homemade lemonade, and chat with the owners (well, in Turkish).

When we visited last week, stuffed grape leaves (sarma) were outstanding. We even asked for a portion to take home.

The owners are accommodating when it comes to your needs and preferences. Even though they had no stuffed pumpkin blossoms made at Otantik Bahce, the owners quickly brought a portion bought in the farmers market. And being local, they really know where to buy good food.

Spare a Sunday for a trip to Sığacık, and you are guaranteed authentic experience and great food.

How to get there
Address: Otantik Bahçe, İnci Ablanın Yeri, 128 Sk. No. 7, Kaleiçi – Sığacık

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About an hour’s drive from Izmir (80 km from Konak) lies a town of Tire famous for its agricultural products and slim, short meatballs in tomato sauce, called Tire köftesi. This is where we head one Sunday afternoon to taste some of the local dishes at Tire’s Kaplan Dağ Restorant. Kaplan in Turkish means tiger, and the story is tigers used to roam the surrounding mountains until, well, civilization pushed them farther away from people.

The restaurant we chose sits on a mountain top in a village called Kaplan Köyü and has a vantage point on the entire town of Tire. We travel on a narrow, winding road with a lovely view of the valley below. The restaurant is cozy, decorated in Aegean-village style with wooden tables, dry corn hanging from the ceiling, clay pots, and evil eye beads, and it offers a good choice of meze—herbal and olive-oil-based samplings—as well as meat dishes. The available meze may vary depending on the season because the herbs come from local supplies and the famous farmers market of Tire (open on Tuesdays). For people drinking raki, keshkek—a dish of chicken mixed with wheat—may be recommended as a starter. The Tire köfte (meatballs) were delicious and truly a local classic. We were also pleased with the restaurant’s offer of the desserts, especially honey-imbued walnuts (ceviz krokan) and curds in black mulberry sauce (karadutlu lor).

When you are in Kaplan Dag restaurant, make sure to check out the backyard with tree stumps for chairs and wooden benches. It is recommended to arrive around sunset for the view and to avoid sitting in the summer heat, which is ubiquitous in Izmir province. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

For the best experience, come after your visit to Selçuk / Ephesus or on a Tuesday, so you can browse the farmers market and see the town’s historic mosques before heading up to Kaplan Köyü.

How to get there
Follow the signs to Tire. Drive past 3. nolu Sağlık Ocağı and follow Köy Yolu (Village road). Travel past Köy Meydanı (Village square) and follow the sign “Kaplan Dağ Restoranı” until you have reached your destination.
Phone: 0232 512 66 52, 0232 511 22 55
www.kaplandag.com

Begendik Abi boasts a reputation for being one of the best restaurants offering homemade-style food in Izmir’s Urla. Even the name playfully touts the meals here: “We’ve enjoyed it, brother.” To use a pun: we did.

Begendik Abi has a spacious entry floor with a dozen tables and a smaller garden by a creek downstairs at the back. The restaurant is situated next to an Urla mosque called Tatar Cami, so you can have a table with the view of this fine example of Islamic architecture. After the meal, feel free to browse the neighboring streets, many of which feature artisan workshops (look for Zafer Caddesi). You’ll probably need to take a walk after dining at Begendik Abi anyway.

Food-wise, one specialty of Begendik Abi — and that’s no surprise for Urla — is the olive-oil-based selection of appetizers. Make sure to try such classics as stuffed pumpkin blossoms (kabak çiçeği dolması), stuffed vine leaves (sarma), and stuffed artichoke (enginar dolması). The restaurant also offers a great selection of meat dishes.

We ordered a stuffed baby goat rib cage cooked in a special oven for about four hours (note: unless you’re planning to spend hours at the restraurant, place your order by phone before you come). The meat was soft and the skin finely roasted. While some patrons may fear that such a dish would have a heavy smell, we’ve detected none, as it was masked with the fragrance of herbs and spices. The pilaf used to stuff the rib cage received its taste not only from the meat but also from herbs and pieces of kidney added to the mix. Together with the salad, this dish was in excess for seven people, and it cost 180 TL (about 26 TL per person). It was well worth it.

A pleasant suprise from Begendik Abi was their offer of a homemade red wine, light in taste and rich in color. Most places proffering homemade food in Turkey have no alcohol on the menu (mainly because of high taxes and complex regulations). Roasted meat such as the stuffed baby goat rib cage had called for some wine.

Coffee at the end of the meal is served in traditional-style metal cups with decorative lids. The desserts, both pastry and milk-based, were delicious and, thankfully, very light.

Begendik Abi offers a culinary delight for any carnivore, and its location in picturesque and artisan Urla guarantees a wonderful weekend retreat from Izmir city center. If you don’t have a car, several buses and minibuses (dolmuş; including the Urla-bound dolmuş from Uçkuyular) pass by, and the restaurant is conveniently close to the Urla post office and the mayoralty (belediye).

How to Get Here:

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Address: Camiatik Mh. Tatarcamii Sk. No:12 (Malgaca Pazarı), Urla – Izmir, Turkey.
Tel: 0232 754 20 71
Email: bilgi@begendikabi.com.tr

Located in Guzelyali, a short ferry ride from Izmir city center, Flu Cafe offers a great option to have breakfast under palm trees and chestnuts. Apart from the typical Aegean breakfast, the menu includes a variety of sandwiches, toasts, pastries, salads, coffee, and hookah (nargile) flavors. You could also relax and enjoy the view or play backgammon with friends here.

A word of explanation is due. Flu is the Turkish spelling of the French flou, blurry. But I have to admit I picked a table before I saw the name. The cafe proved a good choice for a number of reasons.

First, the location. Flu Cafe is one good option in a row of attractive breakfast/tea places across the Goztepe ferry station.

Another factor in favor of Flu Cafe is its casual ambiance. Sitting in the shade on a sunny day and looking at the sea ruffled by breeze, ferries, and sail boats, one can appreciate the popularity of such cafes in Izmir. Turkish people call them çay bahçesi – tea gardens. Many come just for the view, hookah, and the strong flavor of Turkish tea. There is no rush here, which is the best way to understand the people of Izmir: sit back, relax, and enjoy life.

Price was yet another factor. I had a classic Aegean breakfast for 9.5 TL. That’s an egg sunny side up, tomatoes, cucumbers, goat cheese, yellow cheese, olives, sausage, toasted bread, a pastry, butter, honey, and jam. Add unlimited tea to the mix, and you get the yummy picture. We also tasted the mixed omelet (karışık omlet) for 7 TL and an Ayvalik toast, 5 TL. The ingredients were fresh and prices very competitive for a breakfast place in Izmir with a sea view. My only complaint was the bitterness of the tea. Unless you like strong brews of Turkish tea, make sure to ask its lighter version: açık çay.

Coffee and hookah are two other items worth ordering. If you like Turkish coffee, try damla sakızlı Turk kahvesi. If you smoke hookah, try the cappuccino flavor.

The service was professional and very attentive, although an EatInIzmir business card may have been the magic behind this. Normally, expect to wave or call out to the waiters in such places if you need assistance. They tend to leave you in peace until they get a clear sign from you. Which, I would say, is a good thing.

How to get there:

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Address: Flu Cafe, Mithatpasha Caddesi No: 1146/1-A, Guzelyali, Izmir, Turkey
Phone: 0232 246 4440

Homeros is in an absolute unexpected place. Born out of the interest of the owner to the historical figure Homeros, located in the valley which is said to be the hometown of the famous author Homer (Homeros). Mümtaz Öktem, also known as Homeros Mümtaz, is the owner of the place whom turned a years of dream to a reality in the middle of nowhere. He is also the founder of Homeros Culture and Art Association (Homeros Kültür ve Sanat Derneği) which aims to promote the hometown of Homeros, Kayadibi Village – Izmir.

Little history lesson, “Homer (Ancient Greek: Ὅμηρος, Hómēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey” end of the lecture.

Homeros Cafe is delicately decorated place and serves breakfast in the weekends and also serves groups wide range of possibilities from brunches to evening dinners. Eatinizmir enjoyed one of the most tasteful breakfast in Homer Cafe as you can see on the charming photos of Elena.

Homeros Valley (Homeros Vadisi) is a lovely place and it is an unrevealed treasure. You will be amazed by the view from the restaurant. The view is tricky you may even think there is sea lying down actually you can not see the Izmir bay from Homeros. Eatinizmir, strongly recommend you to visit Homeros Cafe but keep in mind that it is necessary to make reservations in advance for bigger groups and dinners.

How to get there:

Homeros Cafe

Mümtaz Öktem

Yuzdeyuz offers one of the greatest places in Konak Pier which is a historical building with great features.

I found Yuzdeyuz on their website which seems appealing. I have made a reservation for two without any hesitation. They reserved one of the best tables they have actually nearly half of their tables have the same beautiful view of Izmir and the seaside.

Konak Pier is a unique beauty for İzmir, there is however a parking problem, at least some times it is not easy to find a place to park and there is vale parking which I do not prefer, I don’t like to handout my keys. If you are  also not ok for this take a taxi instead.

There was a lovely atmosphere in the building and also outside the building where we preferred eating at nearly 28 C hot Izmir night. The service started with a complimentary service of water and absolutely delicious olives served with olive oil, thyme and dried tomato. Well baked small breads are also offered in a basket. I have to say it that tiny olives were extremely tasty.

There is a wide selection of food mainly Italian Cuisine but you can also find some Turkish tastes scattered around the menu. The waiters by the way have a lot to learn. They were mainly not so experienced and younger than I expected. Some times this leads to a lack of service quality and you can also feel their anxiety due to lack of experience. Anyhow they manage to fill your stomach!

The food was above average I can easily grade 8 out of 10 without any reservation. I personally tried Sunshine Pizza which is an interesting combination of dried tomato, mozzarella, black olives, turkey bacon, dried onions and a pinch of thyme.  The pizza was thin and well cooked even though there was nothing to complain there was nothing special too.

My company tried grilled meatballs which is a quite big service for such a place however there is also nothing special for it and eatinizmir do not recommend you to try grilled meatballs too. I wasn’t on the mood so I did not try the steaks, they are said to be superior to the other choices. Dry aging process seems to crate perfect meat therefore perfect steaks. Interestingly they offer Steaks with UNLIMITED french fries! which I found appealing

In general the food was quite above average (7-8 out of 10), the service was not so powerful aspect of Yuzdeyuz (6,5 out of 10), the atmosphere and the ambiance however was great (9 out of 10), prices are quite expensive generally speaking 1.5 more than you should pay in Alsancak (6 out of 10)  and finally overall performance of the place has a lot of room for improvement (8 our of 10).

Eat in Izmir, recommend you to visit Yuzdeyuz if you are not expecting first class service but a great view of the city and see and also  marvelous breeze of the Aegean Sea and sunset. You can enjoy your meal or some beer while watching sunset and listening to the voice of the waves.

How to get there:

Yuzdeyuz

Konak Pier AVM

Konak İzmir

Tel: 0232 4415593

e-mail: info@yuzdeyuz.info

Ayvalık Şehir Klübü, entrance

I’ve eaten in many good restaurants in the past couple of years in places as far apart as Izmir and New York. Only a few of those restaurants became true discoveries. Ayvalık Şehir Klübü (in Ayvalık, an old town 2.5 hours away from Izmir)  is a lucky exception. It is one of the best seafood restaurants in and around Ayvalık, and its delicious octopus and mussels dishes have earned compliments to the chef from the food critics at EatInIzmir.

Unlike in most restaurants favored by the tourists visiting the neighboring island of Cunda (aka Alibey), some twenty minutes from Ayvalık, the food in Ayvalık Şehir Klübü is reasonably priced (we spent about 140 YTL for a dinner with alcohol for four people) and the portions are quite generous.

You can go with six to eight kinds of meze – a variety of appetizers usually accompanying a bottle of Turkish rakı – or you could order a small meze and the main course (this is a seafood restaurant, so fish would be the best choice).

Ayvalık Şehir Klübü is right by the sea and a great sunset view from here is guaranteed. Excellent location and great food allowed Ayvalık Şehir Klübü to exist for more than a hundred years. Ayvalık Şehir Klübü, as we know it, was created in the early years of the Turkish Republic. Until then it was the most famous French cafe in Ayvalık, Cafenion Kanelo. It then became known as the Taş Kahve and in 1934 – Ayvalık Şehir Klübü.

Recommended Recipe: Clams in Wine Sauce

Ingredients:

• 50 small clams in shell, scrubbed
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup white wine
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Clams, or sand mussels, from Ayvalık Şehir Klübü

Carefully wash clams to make sure no dirt or sand particles remain.

Add olive oil into a large pot and heat it up on medium. Add garlic. Saute until it becomes tender. Add white wine. Keep boiling until half of the wine evaporates.

Add clams, close the lid and steam until clams start opening up. Add butter, close the lid, cook until most of the clams open. Throw away any clams that didn’t open. Add parsley and serve as a meze or with pasta.

How to get there:

Ayvalık Şehir Klübü

Ayvalık Şehir Klübü is located by the sea in the city center of Ayvalık.
Tel.: 0266-312-1519, 0266-312-3676

Deniz Restaurant: The Flavour from Sea

Entrance of Deniz Restaurant

Deniz Restaurant offers a big hall with a seat capacity of 150 and a NON-SMOKING HALL with 50 seats for winter season and a garden with 200 seats, offering the pleasure of eating seafood outdoor with a sea view for the summer season.

Your table is ready!

Deniz Restaurant is placed in a brilliant point to provide you one of the best locations in “Kordon” and to feel the gentle touch of Izmir’s soft wind.

• Couvert
• Seasonal Salad
• White Cheese Plate
• 2 Kinds of Seasonal Olive Oil Dishes
• Fried Squid and Shrimp
• Sea Pastry
• Fish ( Laos, Red Bullet, Sea Gilt Head Bream or Sea Bass)
• Dessert or Fruit

Shrimps in Deniz

Recommended Recipe

Ingredients:

• 150 gr. Lagos Fillet
• 2 Tomatos – Peeled and sliced into six parts
• 2 Green Pepper – Charliston or Paprika
• 1 Dessert Spoon full of butter
• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 50 gr. Mushroom
• 1 Tea spoon full of Thyme
• 1 Tea spoon full of Basil
• 1 Tea spoon full of Red Pepper
• 3 Gloves of garlic – minched
• 1 Dessert spoon full of cremê
• A pinch of salt
• Flour and Sunflower oil

Directions

Cut the Fish Fillet in small parts, add salt and then sip the fish in the flour and dredge sunflower oil.
Heat up the olive oil on another frying pan and add green pepper and tomato as listed. Mix them until they soften, add the fish and other materials. Let them cook for 7-8 minutes. At last, add creme and spices and serve hot.

How to Get There:

Deniz Restaurant

Contact Information:

Address: Atatürk Cad. 188/B Alsancak Izmir

Tel: 0090 232 464 44 99

Web: www.denizrestaurant.com.tr

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