Levent Marina is the only Marina establishment in the city center therefore provides a unique experience for the sea lovers. Levent Marina is run by one of the famous families of Izmir the Dirinler. Using their experience in industrial investments the marina is also in a smooth run by Melih Dirin.

One of the lesser known and underrated restaurant is Aprapo which is in the entrance of the marina next to the gullet styled bar Jac Bar where you can taste different cocktails and gather around with your friends especially in summer time where you can enjoy the most of beautiful weather of Izmir.

Aprapo has a fresh look and a delicious alterntive to international cuisine restaurants in Levent Marina with a “choose it cook it” approach. So you are expected to choose between chicken, lamb and beef options in any number of pieces your self and they are cooking it however you like. You will additionally choose your salad, appetizers and snacks to start with.

We have tried cheese pane and a special type of pastry (pie)  ”Pastirmali Muska Boregi” which is filled with lean dried meat (Pastirma = Bresaola) and some vegetables.  We also ordered a fresh salad (Coban Salata) which keep us satisfied till we have the main course on the table.

The meat was delicious it was totally well cooked and fresh also the way they presented it was really satisfying. They have served the meat dish on top of a candle light which keeps it warm while you are dining. Also there was grilled tomato, green peppers and onions and french fries.

Overall it was a very good experience, the music was good, the food was very good also service was very good. The place is not top notch but will cater all your needs. And one of the most important point is it is the most economical solution inside the marina. The prices are definitely wallet-friendly and will make you happy when you see the bill.

How to Get There

View Larger Map
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

Two weeks ago a friend of mine took me out for breakfast/brunch to La Cigale.

It was raining cats and dogs, but inside it was very dry, warm and cozy. I was standing infront of the hugh buffet and couldn´t make up my mind what to have first. Everything was realy good. And I have to admitt, I wasn´t able to try it all. Specialy for the the sweet stuff was no space left.

I guess I have to come back and try the rest. And one thing is for sure: I will go back.

It was such a relaxing breakfast/brunch. A piano player was playing in the backround. Well, not much more to ask for on a Sunday Morning.

Well, maybe a real filter coffee, but thats probably just my personal adiction.

How to Get There

View Larger Map
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

This is the place you have to go for tea. It is a very tiny little spot and you probably have walked by there a million times. But next time: STOP, SIT and have a tea. There you will find a great selection of teas you will probably find no where else in Izmir and the quality is great.

I agree if you say the place could be bigger. In summer it is a bit better. You can sit outside and look at all the busy people running by.

Bring a good book and take some time for yourself and enjoy the Cicek Cayi. And if your hips still allow you some sweets don´t stop yourself now and try the brownie… hmmmmmmm

You could buy some tea there and give at as a gift to a dear friend. They will love it.  (or you can keep it…)

How to Get There:

%100 Restaurant Cafe: From Pizza to Sushi in Konak Pier

*For an earlier review of %100 at EatInIzmir, please see this page*

Whenever I see a menu that offers anything from sushi and steaks to pizza and spaghetti, I know I’ve found a place that caters to general taste rather than offering a culinary adventure. This was the case with %100 Restaurant Cafe, located at the tip of Konak Pier. While %100 (pronounced as yüzdeyüz) has much to be praised for, a few things left me sitting on a fence with this Izmir restaurant.

The Basics

Let’s start with the positives. One thing I really liked about %100 Restaurant Cafe was its location. It’s a two-floor restaurant-cafe with a seaside terrace at the back of the Konak Pier shopping gallery. This means two things: It’s very accessible from anywhere in Izmir. If you sit outside or have a good table by the window, you get a premium view of the Izmir bay. The decorations inside were tasteful and not overbearing, which allows you to focus on the food while enjoying a pleasant ambiance. The menu came in Turkish and English, and the English was (mostly) good.

Food & Drinks

A small complimentary appetizer of tiny Mediterranean olives and a variety of bread buns opened the dinner. We ordered two starters – arancini ai porcini (crispy fried risotto balls with a porcini mushroom filling) and quatro pesci marinara, a cold seafood dish.

We didn’t risk with the sushi menu, because years of experience in Izmir have taught me that unless a restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine, what you get is not unlike the pre-packaged sushi from a supermarket. If you have tried sushi at %100 Restaurant Cafe, please feel free to share your experience in the comments.

For the main course, we ordered entrecote Cafe de Paris and fried quail wings with risotto.

It was a pleasant surprise that the steak ordered as rare indeed came very tender and seared only at the top and the bottom. A lot of places in Izmir are successful only within the medium – medium-to-well range. The quail wings were juicy and came in a crispy potato nest. We compliment the chef for the presentation.

On the down side, one of the spices used in the Cafe de Paris sauce overpowered the taste, and risotto, while good in consistency, was not top-notch.

%100 Restaurant Cafe has a decent selection of drinks: non-alcoholic beverages, wine by glass or bottle, cocktails. My Bloody Mary was adequate, even if a menu typo re-christened the drink to “Bloody Marry.”

What Could Have Been Better

The service, on the other hand, could and should have been better. First, we had to wait a tad too long to order, even though there were few patrons at the restaurant. Second, the waiter seemed to have forgotten our request for extra olive oil. At a pricey place like %100, one shouldn’t have to ask twice.

It is no secret that a part of what you pay for at expensive restaurants is presentation. Good until the very end, my experience was ruined by what seems an egregious oversight.

We ordered a desert with hot beverages at the end of the meal. Tiramisu was delicious, if a bit too soft for the optimal taste. But the main problem was the Turkish tea I ordered. Priced at 5 TL, it came in an overused glass on a cracked saucer. Exactly the kind you get in any shabby place in Kordon for 1 TL or in a kahve for 50 kuruş. You would think a pricey restaurant would not offer an appalling relic like this to a client who is about to leave 200 TL (price for our dinner for two) on the table.

Last impressions are very powerful. They are what a patron is leaving the restaurant with. Until seeing that cracked saucer, I was willing to ignore the minor glitches in the food and service. But now I am left wondering: is %100 Restaurant Cafe too expensive for the kind of a place it is (mid-level, more a lunch-time cafe than a fancy-dinner restaurant) or is it simply not good enough for the class it is aiming for? Considering that this restaurant has done so many things right, it’s a pity that they failed to live up to their full potential.

How to Get There:

Please visit our earlier review for the map and address of %100.

Restaurant website: http://www.yuzdeyuz.info/

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

View Larger Map
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

View Larger Map

You are in Alsancak, Izmir’s hangout hub. You have plenty of time on your hands and are looking for a quiet place to sit down, have a coffee, and read a book or a magazine. Where should you go?

ArmA Kitap & Cafe is located in Kordon almost opposite the Alsancak ferry station (iskele) and combines a book-and-music store with a cafe. The view of the sea and pleasant music in the background ensure this cafe enjoys a special relaxing atmosphere. Here, you may buy a book directly from the store, then take one of the tables inside or outside and read it.

The menu includes a breakfast plate (12.50 TL), a selection of salads and sandwiches, as well as pastry, various desserts, and different types of coffee (about 5-6 TL for French press coffee). The prices are at the standard Alsancak rates. The service was a bit slow, but the food was fresh and delicious. This may not be a good place for a quick breakfast, unless you buy a pastry and a coffee, but do come for coffee and a good read.

How to get there

Address: Atatürk Caddesi No:312/A Alsancak/İZMİR, 35220 Alsancak, Turkey
Phone: 0 232 465 07 71

View Larger Map

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

Cigerci Sinan: Best liver in Gaziemir

There are two reasons to go to Cigerci Sinan for lunch: (1) if you are in Izmir’s area of Gaziemir and (2) if you are looking to eat quality liver (ciğer) shish. In fact, people come from as far as Urla to Gaziemir just to have lunch here.

Other types of shish and kebab are on Cigerci Sinan’s menu, but liver is the specialty of this clean, unpretentious, and moderately priced restaurant. Ordering five skewers for starters is typical, and you won’t believe how quickly the pieces of liver will be eaten. Each order comes with plenty of lavash as well as greens, onion, salad, and a spicy vegetable-based paste.

Also on the menu
The meat shish was also delicious with just the right amount of fat on the skewer. Either ayran or fermented black carrot juice called shalgam would be a good choice for beverages. If you are ordering shalgam, note that the spicy version (acılı) has a rather strong taste. No alcoholic drinks are served here, as is typical of traditional Turkish restaurants like this. But complimentary tea is offered at the end of the meal, and the typical southern Turkish desserts are as good as they can get north of Adana.

How to get there
Atıfbey Mah. Etiler Cad. No:1/A, Gaziemir Merkez, Gaziemir, İzmir
Phone: +90 232 252 57 27, +90 232 252 62 11

View Larger Map

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:

View Larger Map

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