http://www.chow.com/boards/52 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:32:39 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://www.chow.com/topics/476149#4294458 Just returned from Dubai. At the spice souk I bought both iranian and spanish saffron at several different shops. both are very red in color and in clear containers so I could see all the threads, but am very dissappointed in the quality. the smell is WAY OFF...when I asked to smell it in the store and they refused to open it, that should have been my first hint to not buy it. Luckily it was so cheap i can throw it away but I had hoped to give it as souvenir gifts. total rip off. Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:19:49 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/476149#4294458 http://www.chow.com/topics/583770#4282153 I went on a cruise with my family in October and thought I'd post up my blogs on the trip. I'm quite loquacious, so you can skip to the pictures if you want: I took over 1000 and still have two days of Istanbul and one day of London that I haven't processed yet. I'd say that the first half of my trip was not so successful in finding local fare, but it gets better, culminating in my last vacation meal at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London on my way back home (I'm not counting the hideous AA pizza as a meal). Hope you find it interesting... London http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/09-28/index.php In transit to Athens http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/09-29/index.php Corinth/Athens http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/09-30/index.php#pics More Athens http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-01/index.php#pics Katakolon http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-02/index.php#pics Corfu http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-03/index.php An uneventful day at Sea http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-04/index.php Cairo http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-05/index.php Alexandria http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-06/index.php At Sea http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-07/index.php Iraklion, Crete http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-08/index.php Santorini http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-09/index.php Mykonos http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-10/index.php Izmir http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-11/index.php Istanbul 1 http://www.filtsai.com/pictures/2008_cruise/10-12/index.php My Google Spreadsheet with itinerary and food/restaurant suggestions collected from Chow and other sources. http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pMqzhAZVvgpTKWVETV5H_aw&hl=en Related thread on LTHForum http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20323&p=234361#p234361 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:07:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/583770#4282153 http://www.chow.com/topics/574577#4282121 Dear jpeppas, Thank you for your advice. It sound promising! Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:52:56 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/574577#4282121 http://www.chow.com/topics/577817#4228559 You shouldn't have any difficulty eating well for 12-15 euros for your main meal. Grab a koulouria for breakfast like the Athenians do from one of the thousands of street sellers you'll pass, and eat it on the hoof; then stop somewhere for a coffee. I assume you'll be spending your days in the centre enjoying the sights and museums, so for lunch, head to Monastiraki and get a souvlaki at one of the three places on the plateis - Thanassis is probably the best. You've got lots of options for your 12-15 euro supper splurge: Taverna tou Psyrri, also close to Monastiraki metro is excellent. At Telis, in Evripidou, you can eat a huge platter of delicious pork chops for 7 euros (that was the price a year ago). You can eat lamb chops almost as cheaply at To Steki tou Ilia in Thissio. You can check the addresses of these places in the main guides - also do a search of past posts for other options, of which there are plenty. If you're exhausted after a day's sightseeing and want to go back to your hotel for a rest before going out to eat, you'll find places in your neighbourhood that will probably be even more reasonable: just go where you see a lot of local people eating, and you'll be fine. Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:20:48 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/577817#4228559 http://www.chow.com/topics/526895#4200152 though not spectacular food, the Galata House (in an old English prison) near the tower is fun and child friendly. owners are characters. my favorite lunch is Ficcin located on Kallavi street just off of istiklal roughly opposite St. Antoine church. no nonsense good food of turkish/caucasian orientation- get the Circassian dumplings, and walnut chicken soup (tulen). friendly staff, outdoor seating you'd have trouble spending more than 10 USD/person. not a bad option for dinner too. they have alcohol. another quick cheap spot is one we call red kitchen, its on sofyali street just across from The House Cafe in asmali mescit neighborhood roughly behind tunel square. its a corner place. good homecooked stuff. i think you will find just about every restaurant here is child friendly. turkish waiters will not keep their hands/lips off of a kid. Mekan is also a good place for dinner, also just off of Istiklal near st. antoine church. its run by armenians and has a few of their specialties. boncuk in Asmali Mescit is another place run by armenians- good fish, outdoor seating. if you are lucky they'll have these small fish wrapped in grape leaves. Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:12:58 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/526895#4200152 http://www.chow.com/topics/574780#4197322 The new restaurant/bar Cuba in Tunel Istanbul was surprisingly inexpensive (~17ytl for a mojito, ~17 for an main course chili con carne) yet still not worth it. the chili con carne tasted scorched. a friend got something resembling high school cafeteria pizza boat dressed with sliced hot dogs. Though cuban food in general is nothing to rave about, in my opinion, the food at Cuba is actually BAD. The space is nice, occupying the old home of SAF (another bogus Istanbul endeavor). Music was nice too. They seem to have live music on the weekends. I'd return to CUBA for drinks only, after eating something on the street of course. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:35:00 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/574780#4197322 http://www.chow.com/topics/573453#4195795 Hmmm, ironically enough I think that actually in Greece it's the other way around!... At least the major brands are definitely so, with the blue bags from Allatini and several others being the normal kind and the red bags (such as Φαριναπ and others) being the self-raising kind. Not sure if this is a "standard" though, especially with supermarket "own" brands. Hope it helps! Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:38:44 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/573453#4195795 http://www.chow.com/topics/564564#4185924 I live in Greece and generally feel that Plaka is largely for tourists. While I agree about Mamacas, I think that you are better off going next door to Sardellas or to Psirri Taverna or any taverna in Psirri. Another alternative, but we are not talking fine dining here is TELIS at the very end of Evripidou Street near the market. Its formica tables, just pork chops on the grill and is totally delicious. Bit f a seedy area, but its really fine. Otherwise avoid anywhere that has colour photos outside and look at Matt Barretts Greek web site Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:00:52 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/564564#4185924 http://www.chow.com/topics/468110#4182276 Can someone tell me the difference between the blue and red bags of flour sold in Greece. Red in the UK is plain and blue is Self-raising? Help please Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:04:40 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/468110#4182276 http://www.chow.com/topics/569052#4181421 I have never had kofte like Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi's. Why is it so much better? I wish I'd been able to go more than once to try to discern & compare to others, but my memory tells me it was more finely minced, or something. It absolutely melted. From visiting Turkish places in the States, I'm not convinced it's Turkish style of kofte vs Arabic style...looking at kofte recipes doesn't really give me any clues. I wonder if it's really just the technique at this special place? Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:09:22 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/569052#4181421 http://www.chow.com/topics/572803#4178659 In August, my girlfriend and I spent several weeks touring around Greece and Istanbul. Prior to the trip, I scoured Chowhound and several other websites looking for recommendations for restaurants and pubs with food that would be unique or simply impressive. Ultimately, we went to many of the recommended restaurants and found several more that were notable. I decided to leave this post for people with future plans to help summarize briefly a few new places and make a few notes about others that have been previously mentioned. I want to let you know ahead of time that my girlfriend is not a seafood fan so many of the most highly recommended places went untasted, unfortunately. I pre-apologize for the length of this post, but we were there for quite a while. Nevertheless, here we go… Athens: In general, Plaka gets poor recommendations with good reason. Overall, the food is plain, tasteless, and caters to tourists. We were only in Athens for a brief time, but here are just a couple of notes. O Platanos Taverna – This was one of the handful of tavernas in Plaka we tried. Reviews had overall been better than others, but still not greatly remarkable. Overall, the food was solid; nothing spectacular, but solid. Both of us enjoyed our meal and the location is one of the more relaxing in Plaka. Good for people watching without being forced in the middle of the crowded streets. Brettos Bar – I know this is not a foodie place, but I had read a recommendation on Chowhound prior to going. From the outside, it looks like a cool bar and is always busy. I found the service so bad that I had to write about it. The bartenders were extremely rude to both of us. It went so far that when we asked for another drink (our second) about 3 minutes after last call we were denied, but a couple next to us ordered drinks from the same server 10 minutes later and were served! Vlassis – One of the most recommended restaurants in Athens and extraordinarily hard to find. As I learned, also closed during the entire month of August! I would still try to go again based on the things I heard. Cibus – Before we left Athens, we wanted to try something different. The night was rainy and we wanted something within close walking distance of our hotel. The concierge recommended this so we made reservations and then I went upstairs and read about it. Reviews were generally good but not astounding. The location is very away from the crowd inside of a park and far from tourists. No one spoke English, but we got by fairly well. The food was very good and the atmosphere was unlike anything else near the tourist areas in Athens. Flavors mixed nicely and menu was unique, a modern Italian with hints of Greece and Asia. If you are looking for something non-Greek in Athens, this is not a bad option. Rhodes: We stayed in the Old Town, and I think I would have been happy to have never left. Take care to avoid the touristy areas again because the food is just that, overpriced and touristy. Also, make sure the seafood you order is fresh; much of the seafood in the Old Town is frozen and flown in. Ta Kioupia – Truly out in the middle of nowhere, but every cab on the island knows where it is. It is worth every penny for the ride and the meal. It was probably the best meal we had in Greece. Come hungry; there is no way to eat all of the food you will get. Everything is cooked to perfection. I do not like eggplant and even the eggplant was great. I don’t think I could recommend this restaurant enough, if you go to Rhodes and don’t try to eat here you might as well just stay home. Hatzikelis – One of the guys at our hotel recommended this to us as an alternative to the tourist hotspots which are much more expensive. It is located behind the ruins of the Church of Our Lady of the Burgh in the Square of the Jewish Martyrs. It is a very unassuming little place that can be easily missed. The food is quite good and the seafood was fresh. It is more of a local place than for tourists. Most of the people knew the wait staff, but, even though we were outsiders, we were treated very well. Mama Sofia – Located in a very touristy area, we just happened upon this one night looking for a quick meal close to our hotel. Our waiter was also the owner. We struck up a conversation and the next thing you know he was sitting beside us drinking Ouzo. I was able to choose my own fresh fish with his assistance and had a great meal. My girlfriend was able to find a great meal, too, and the baked feta was quite tasty. Crete: We stayed in Hersonissos Beach which is a wasteland as best as I could tell for good food. I couldn’t find any recommendations online or from anyone there for that matter, but that didn’t stop us from looking. Veggera – We walked a couple of kilometers up into the hills south of the beach to a village called Piscopiano. This is far from the tourist areas and noise, but worth every bit of the walk. This very small place is easy to miss, but it was crowded with locals waiting. No other restaurants around could say that. Native Cretan food cooked by natives. The best dolmades we had on the trip and great snails. There was nothing bad on the menu. Santorini: We stayed in Oia, so there is a slant toward places local to our hotel. I know there are about a thousand recommendations for Santorini, but I just wanted to put my two cents in on a few. Skala – When we first arrived we grabbed a quick late lunch here. It had overall fairly good reviews and was convenient. As with everything in Santorini, it is expensive, but the food is good and on a hot day, the salad was cool and crisp. Like everything in Oia, you can’t beat the view. It makes a very nice break from the heat with a tasty meal and friendly service. 1800 – This is not a place to go on the cheap and the view is limited, but this is the best food in Oia. We were able to get a table on a very busy night with a little schmoozing and it was absolutely worth the wait. Both meals had amazing flavor, excellent presentation, and the service was exceptional. The atmosphere is quite romantic, too, if you are in to that sort of thing. With all the choices on Santorini, this is one place that I would go out of the way to try. Skiza – This is a sister restaurant to Skala and it is best known for its desserts. We grabbed a tasty, quick lunch with a view that was light and fast. The food was fine, but the desserts are really what you should try. Early in the day, with a great view, and a good cup of coffee, you just can’t beat it. Naoussa – A couple of jaunts into Thira had already left me a little disappointed, but not after this meal. Tucked away on a second floor a couple of blocks from the main drag near the entrance to the cable-car is a real gem. Ignore the line, it moves fast and the food is worth it. There’s free wine in the line anyway. The meals are large and home cooked, not frozen like a lot of the tavernas on Santorini. Everything is very fresh, flavorful, and comes with a smile. Probably the best deal we found on Santorini. Katina’s Fish Taverna – My girlfriend was kind enough to indulge my love of fish on several occasions, but this was the best. You can’t beat the atmosphere watching the fishing boats coming in to Ammoudi Bay and the food lives up to the many recommendations. The fish is whatever came in that day on the boats and cooked to order. We had an interesting expedition since the power to all of Ammoudi Bay went out right after we arrived. Fresh fish by candlelight looking up at Oia really sums up everything you can expect about Greece. Ios: Not exactly a foodie paradise, but a really fun, relaxing, and cheap break after Santorini. I had not seen anything about Ios except a single recommendation that actually had the name spelled wrong but ultimately led us to a great restaurant. Katogi – This tiny little place is always packed. Expats from all over seem to just love it and I completely understand why. The waitress (there was only one) would just come around, hang out, randomly bring extra drinks, and give great recommendations. The food took some time, but I am pretty sure it was all made to order by one older lady in the back. The pasta purses were maybe one of the best things I have ever tasted. This place was so good that we ate there twice in two nights. It is difficult to find, though, and even some of the locals weren’t exactly sure where it was. I recommend the shops in the main tourist strip for directions; it is only a few blocks from there tucked away near souvenir shops and a couple of bars. Mykonos: Not quite as expensive as Santorini, but not far off. Mykonos has any number of restaurants to try, but opinions seem to vary remarkably about the food. I was surprised how difficult it was to find consistent recommendations. Galleraki – We did not eat here, and the drinks are expensive, but I just wanted to make sure to mention the view. Built basically right on the water with waves splashing up on some of the seats, this place offers a great view at sunset and tasty drinks to boot. Just don’t sit in the seats closest to the water, you will get wet! Sea Satin Market – Caprice – Don’t get me wrong, the food is very good. Unfortunately, the wait staff and everyone else we met there seem to know that people will come for the food no matter what. I found the service to be very rude. There was a moderate size party near us and we felt ignored and rushed at the same time. We couldn’t even get assistance when we asked. The food was very tasty and the fish was the best on Mykonos, but I wouldn’t go back. I know this is different than most reviews, so it is possible that we just had an unusually poor experience. Chez Maria – This fine dining establishment is back away from the main shopping areas and somewhat hard to find, but well worth the search. The garden dining is off the street in what appears to have been an old house. Our service was excellent and the food lived up to the price. I would recommend this restaurant as hands down the best food we had on Mykonos. Nikos Taverna – This place is one of many on Plati Gialos Beach. The food was nothing exceptional and we mainly went to grab a quick salad, but what I will say is that the waiters were prompt and very friendly. The owner even came by to make sure that our meals were okay. Sometimes gestures like that are enough to make me come back or recommend a restaurant. Istanbul: I would have loved to have had more time in Istanbul, but hindsight in planning a trip is always 20/20. We ate at several places, but I did not keep very good records so I lacked the names. I would like to point out that one important thing to do is call ahead. Almost no restaurant keeps hours that either guidebooks or websites say and we missed or nearly missed several restaurant closing times because we relied on other sources. Karakoy Gulluglu – Not a restaurant per se, but well worth noting. This is the best baklava in Istanbul, maybe the best I have ever had. Hacı Bekir Confectioners – Again, not a restaurant, but worth noting for foodies. There are multiple stores located around Istanbul, but the original and museum are in Eminonu. The Turkish delight is a great gift to bring home for other people, but then keep for yourself and devour. H.I.B. Café – This place is nothing special and this is not a recommendation for the restaurant but more for what it serves, although the waiter we had was actually quite entertaining. The specialty is Kumpir which is basically a baked potato stuffed with anything. It is very unusual and I really only saw it in Ortakoy. Strangely, it is quite good and I was amazed at what you can stuff into a potato. Ortakoy is out of the way, but the view of the bridge to Asia at night is worth the trip. We actually went to the area for a different restaurant, but it was closed that night. Hamdi et Lokantasi – Multiple recommendations and reviews discuss this restaurant. The view is great, the food is great, and everything that has been said is correct. I will once again point out a service downfall. We were there during a downtime in the early evening. There was a moderate size party from Spain sitting beside us. No fewer than 3 waiters were taking care of them. We, on the other hand, barely had one person come to the table and, even after asking, still never received one of our appetizers. What we did eat was excellent and other reviews felt that there was adequate service, so maybe our experience was isolated. I’d still go back. Ciya Sofrasi – First of all, it is worth the trip to Asia just to go. Ciya Sofrasi is the icing on the cake. We arrived just before closing so we were a bit hurried. Not many people can actually direct you to the restaurant and even fewer speak English, so go with that in mind. The menu is basically whatever they have that day, but the one waiter who speaks English can be a great deal of assistance. Nothing is bad. Even if you don’t like the ingredients, try it. We ordered far more food than we could eat, but I was glad, in the long run, to try as much as possible. Over-ordering doesn’t hurt too badly, either, since the food is much less expensive than in the tourist areas in Europe. Highly recommended. Good Luck! Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:58:57 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/572803#4178659 http://www.chow.com/topics/552501#4172439 Furin Kuzan all the way (it's ujst right off of Ermou St). I lived in Athens for a year and went frequented this place - it's legit. And I am used to top notch sushi in California. The entire staff is Japanese.. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:26:53 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/552501#4172439 http://www.chow.com/topics/407425#4168957 How were the prices? Reasonable. Will be in Istanbul for 1 night on a cruise. Would this be a good place to go or Hamdi ? Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:32:45 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/407425#4168957 http://www.chow.com/topics/416910#4165585 I lived in Rhodos but it's been about 7 years, so I can't be sure the same places are there. Look for Araliki in the Old Town for mezedes in a very nice atmosphere. Alexis was a good recommendation for fish. There are some shellfish you can get in Rhodos you won't find anywhere else. Ask for fouskes, and no one will think you're a tourist. You might also try simiaka - tiny little shrimp. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:25:13 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/416910#4165585 http://www.chow.com/topics/532790#4145508 Oh dear again! I'm sorry if I upset you. That wasn't my intention; I just wanted to tell people who don't know Crete a little more about it. I did read your post several times before writing mine. In the end, it was your saying that "Crete was less interesting than I had hoped" that got me posting. Anyway, I'm pleased that you enjoyed yourselves, and I hope you'll have better luck with the food if and when you return. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:34:51 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/532790#4145508 http://www.chow.com/topics/303831#4141447 Just an update - I took the Cooking a la Turka class in July of this year and enjoyed it quite a bit. I thought the price was a bit steep (60 euros), but it was a good diversion and the food was fantastic. The space (kitchen, dining room area) are very nice and recently remodeled. Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:56:47 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/303831#4141447 http://www.chow.com/topics/566108#4116370 Hello We are in Napflio for 3 nights and forgot to check chowhound ahead of time. Now I see no info on the site for this lovely town. Does anybody have suggestions for meals here or anywhere on the Peloponese, for that matter? Thanks Bob Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:24:00 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/566108#4116370 http://www.chow.com/topics/490808#4092840 When I was in Turkey in August, I must have stolen a good chunk of your eating itinerary! We crashed Hamdi in the middle of a shopping excursion at the Spice/Egyptian market and our loud plastic bags must have proven too much for the waiters to handle because they definitely ignored our pleas for water refills in their insanely tiny glasses. I thought the food was average Turkish restaurant, but there was a yogurt-eggplant dish that was amaaaazing. I agree with you, 360 is a great spot to watch the beautiful people of Istanbul and since its right off Istiklal Caddesi, there plenty to do, wandering around Beyoglu. Sultanahmet wasn't a total loss. My friends and I went to dinner first at Doy-Doy (food was ok, the sweeping view of the Blue Mosque was amazing...perhaps a creeping culinary trend in Istanbul?) and then at a reknowned kofte place at the end of Divan Yolu (the name escapes me). We didn't realize how GOOD the kofte was until we had a sampling of AWFUL awful kofte from other places. I love the Istanbul Modern--in August there was a retrospective of modernist movement interpreted by historic Turkish artists and the paintings were foreign but familiar too. The cafe is cute, but be warned, the summer season is high cruising season and your view of the Bosphorous can be blocked by a huge wall of ships. I can't wait to go back! Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:56:08 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/490808#4092840 http://www.chow.com/topics/548496#4068990 I think Madona went to TA KIOUPIA, on the 29th of Sept. daytime, for lunch. That day she had a concert in Athens....... Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:28:16 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/548496#4068990 http://www.chow.com/topics/557856#4053951 I'm not surprised you haven't found much in the way of restaurants for Ephesus. The area is touristy and most places cater to the backpack crowd (cheap and cheerful) and the busloads of Christian tourists visiting the Virgin Mary Church, etc, etc. Ephesus is the ancient city, just on the outskirts of Selcuk, the modern town. There are no restaurants, save some fast food joints as you buy your entrance tickets, in Ephesus. Best to avoid them. However, if you jaunt out to the Church of the 7 Sleepers, a left turn about halfway down the road into Ephesus, and maybe a kilometre or 2 along, there is a home-style outdoor restaurant/cafe just before you get to the entrance of the 7 Sleepers. Sit outside on weatherbeaten furniture slathered with pillows and carpets enjoying home-made ayran (frothy yougurt drink) out of clay jugs. Gozleme (filled pancakes) are home-made, fresh, and tasty. In Selcuk, try Amazon, a modern-looking place in the old section of town, back in behind the Selcuk museum. Nicely done Turkish fare in up-scale-ish (for Selcuk) environs. However, not to be missed, is Sirince, a little Greek village up the hill from Ephesus. You will have to take a bus or drive up there, a stunning 15 minute drive that always seems too short. Mind the dizzying drops as you climb up. Once there: Just where the bus drops you off, is an old winery/church/school (can't remember) converted to a restaurant. Not the best food in Sirince, imo, but a gorgeous view and surroundings. The best place is a further climb up, by foot, to the top of the village. It's just before you get to the old Greek church. Another mostly outdoor place that couples a fantastic view with fantastic food: stuffed zucchini flowers, dolma, olives bathed in oil, home-made bread and that's just the mezze. Trundle around the village and pick up some of the new season olives, figs might still be in season, persimmons too, and some of the old variety apples from the old ladies selling by the streetside. There will be loads of home-made olive oil, too, sold in re-used plastic coke bottles. It's a touristy place, too, but one that Turks frequent so quality is higher, prices lower. Enjoy! Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:27:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/557856#4053951 http://www.chow.com/topics/550875#4042727 WE stayed at Electra Palace when it had just been renovated and the rooftop restaurant was not open. However, we did eat at the rooftop restaurant at the Grand Bretagne. Very very very beautiful, great view, fabulous food and IIRC expensive (although we were not paying). Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:48:55 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/550875#4042727 http://www.chow.com/topics/557032#4031463 I'll be in Rhodes for four days this coming week, and need both lunch and dinner suggestions for each of those days. I'll be traveling around the island seeing all the sites, so suggestions outside of the old city of Rhodes is are also welcome. I've seen from other posts that Kioupia is highly recommended, and saw both Alexis and Mavirkos mentioned once. What else?? Thanks for your help! Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:14:37 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/557032#4031463 http://www.chow.com/topics/549677#3966196 Mesudiye Kızılbük-DATÇA / MUĞLA,Turkiye Has anyone eaten here?The photoset on their website looks enticing. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:17:18 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/549677#3966196 http://www.chow.com/topics/505915#3963029 great info about the ferry, we are going in Nov. Thanks.. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:51:33 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/505915#3963029 http://www.chow.com/topics/511807#3959827 My husband & I were in Corfu last week. While there we were searching online & found your blog. Our first couple of days we had trouble finding a decent restaurant. On our last day we found an amazing family owned place, Aegli Garden Restaurant. It is located at Esplanade Square. You can get to it on the arcade side or along the pedestrian mall of Kapodistriou. If we had found it sooner, we would have definately gone back. A couple of other concierge recommendations (that we did not go to) are Tripa's Tavern located in Kinopiastes Village. I think this might be the top restaurant in Greece that you were referring to...I wish we had gone here. The referral said it was a must when visiting Corfu. The other 2 are Bellissimo located in the middle of town & Gloglas Taverna located on a corner in the heart of the old town, one block back from the Esplanade. Hope this helps! We had an amazing trip...hope you do s well! Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:20:03 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/511807#3959827 http://www.chow.com/topics/543810#3935321 I'd suggest you to get out of the kebap zone to experience Turkish food. Frankly I find it upsetting that not only tourists, but locals have started to think that Turkish food is all about kebaps. So please experience some vegetable or different meat dishes (some of them might be called kebaps, but no m'am they are not just meats on a stick). And one should definitely have fish dinner in Istanbul. Having grown up in Turkey, I cannot stomach most of the fish that passes as "fresh" in North America; although every year I visit, I sadly see that things are also getting worse on that side of the ocean. Haven't been to Turkey for years, so I am not confident in my recommendations about fish, but there were a few recent threads that had some solid recommendations. Refik is classic for a meyhane style fish dinner (think Turkish tapas) For an out of the ordinary lunch, I'd suggest Ciya Sofrasi. They serve many forgotten dishes that you'd never see in generic kebap houses. I lived in Turkey for 20+ years, and never before tried some of the dishes they serve before visiting there: http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/turkey/istanbul/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1154674492283 Another place good for lunch is Haci Abdullah (and is on a very nice touristic neighborhood). They serve classic Ottoman cuisine. Kind of pricy, and you perhaps could get same quality food at a hole in the wall, but the atmosphere is nice and they are tourist friendly. There is a similar place in Misir Carsisi, which is called Pandeli. Feriye is reportedly really good too, with a nice terrace and a breathtaking view, but never tried personally. http://www.feriye.com/english/index.asp Another restaurant with breathtaking view is Hamdi, a upscale kebap house. Again never tried, but friends whose palates I respect had once said that it was the best kebap house in Istanbul. (I am not originally from Istanbul, so my experience is limited, but I can ask friends more if you'd like) For people of Turkey, the view from your table is as important as good companion when you are eating. So there will be a lot of places where you'll get hypnotized by the view of the Bosporus (the water, the minarets, the lights) and forget to bring your fork to your mouth. Take advantage of this beauty. I miss it dearly. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:01:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/543810#3935321 http://www.chow.com/topics/407539#3931626 I should have tried to get the address for the Reci's near the Hilton since we wandered for a while and ended up at Topcu since I didn't see Reci's. I looked at my credit card bill and Topcu was actually $45 for two, not $60. The second Reci's is up on the large hill - it's a residential area and you can loop around that hill to take the main highway out of Izmir. I wish I knew the name of the area but I was only there for 3 days. Nevertheless, thanks for the tips! Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:08:14 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/407539#3931626 http://www.chow.com/topics/541127#3894177 A few good recomendations on Loutraki.I was there on April and had a fabulous time. For modern Greek food with deligtful flavors Rigani,very close to the Cazino,Papanikolaou 5 Loutraki 2744066744 2744021044 My other choise is Gianis by the water in the heart of Loutraki,I love the shrimp saganaki,the fish plater ,a wonderful melange of fried small fish,octapus,kalamari...... The bread in that place is amazing heavy home made bread!!!!!!!!! and Maestrali a very popular place with the locals for meat and fish. All of them are very popular with the locals and very very busy. Have a good time . http://hummingbirdpublications.com The Taste of Greece cook book by Litsa Bolontzakis at the Airport. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:48:12 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/541127#3894177 http://www.chow.com/topics/526900#3889380 I wish you had given a time frame, but if it's not too late for you, I was a fan of Pide House in Goreme. Hard to really describe to you the location, but Goreme is so small it can't be hard to find. I believe it was on the main street. As the name implies the pides are the main focus, and are excellent. They also have delicious manti. Very friendly staff, I was invited back to the kitchen to make the manti myself, but as I was obviously using their pre-prepared ingredients, I had nothing to do with how good it tasted! I stayed in Shoestring Pension, which also has a restaurant...I never ordered lunch or dinner there because they didn't look impressive but the breakfast was quite good, especially the gozleme. In general: gozleme, manti, lahmacun and pide are all Anatolian foods so it's good to fill up on this in Goreme! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:23:31 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/526900#3889380 http://www.chow.com/topics/518009#3889358 This is probably too late for you, as July as nearly over...but I would recommend spending a great deal of time on Nevizade Street in Beyoglu. Wonderful atmosphere. It's a very narrow alley full of meyhanes (places to eat mezes and drink raki) and ALL of them have outdoor seating. Nearby, for cheap outdoor eating without views is another small alley called the "fish street" (balik pazari). I believe they now have a permanent sign so it should be easy to find, near the bottom of the hill on Istiklal street, to the right if you're heading downhill. Cheap fried mussels, cheap stuffed mussels, cheap tables and chairs. Also for more outdoor eating with views of the water but not necessarily SPECTACULAR food, go to Ortakoy. This neighborhood was still very little touristed as of 2006, not sure how it is these days. There is a lovely mosque and a weekend market, but the shopping there is good at anytime. One bizarre food item I mentioned in my travelogue is kumpir, a baked potato stuffed with whatever random crap you want...among the choices are couscous, olives, hotdogs, potato salad, beets, etc. I believe it's available in other parts of Istanbul but it's extremely prominent in Ortakoy. Ortakoy also has a high concentration of gozleme (crepe) stands. Hope you have a wonderful time...Istanbul is a fabulous place! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:15:24 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/518009#3889358 http://www.chow.com/topics/538747#3868724 Hi there--I've dreamt of going to Turkey for years and finally get to make the dream a reality. I'd really appreciate any suggestions for "can't miss" authentic restaurants and nightlife in Kusadasi, Istanbul, and Cappadocia. Thanks in advance for your help--I really appreciate it! Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:40:25 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/538747#3868724 http://www.chow.com/topics/535870#3842168 found this nice taverna specializing in seafood reasonably priced (62 euros) four people with drinks and we had shrimp grilled and amazing steamed muscles tasted like they just came out of the water it is located on a plateia it is named (h strofi) on the turn )33, IRINIS AVE PERAMA, 18863 PREFECTURE OF ATTICA Tel: 210-4416456 enjoy Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:40:43 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/535870#3842168 http://www.chow.com/topics/535852#3842028 just came back from greece not cheap any,more with the euro bring back the drachma. anyway we did find an out of the way place to eat with reasonable prices near the museum. the museum i of the hellenic world is about two years old and they have a a virtual reality theater where you can watch computer recreations of a day in the (agora) and okther places in ancient greece..now back to the place we ate it is like a lunch counter in an industrial area it is about two blocks of Pireos st. towards the metro train tracks.. the address is kyprou 10 (moschato) georgios zonios is the owner. makes great double fried french fries nice and crispy. and also lots of daily specials ask for them... u can take the metro to kalithea station and walk toward kyprou st and make a right about 2 blocks on the corner on your right. enjoy Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:54:36 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/535852#3842028 http://www.chow.com/topics/532267#3829407 Mavirkos is in the main square of Lindos and is definitely worth a visit. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:47:52 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/532267#3829407 http://www.chow.com/topics/507359#3817630 Really lovely. Don't tell anyone. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:52:24 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/507359#3817630 http://www.chow.com/topics/502725#3805546 I would have to wholeheartedly agree with Sifnos (Cyclades). It is one of the lesser known islands and is not as touristy as Santorini or Mykonos. The white wash architecture is so breathtaking and the cuisine (which the island is known for) is superb. One is Greece's greatest chef's and culinary experts came from this jewel in the Aegean. The hiking trails and beaches are wonderful. Public transportation is good and you can get around pretty easily. Their signature craft is pottery, beautifull colored and glazed with simple designs. It is also reasonably priced and you can find a hotel or pension to stay. Ferries (both conventional and fast speed) are available. My husband and I planned to stay there four days and we extended our visit for a week. Couldn't get enough! The guide books just do not do it justice. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:38:54 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/502725#3805546 http://www.chow.com/topics/525908#3777367 Just got back from Naxos. On the waterfront in Naxos town, try Meze 2. Fresh shrimp fried to a crunch and grilled sardines. Really good food. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:24:38 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/525908#3777367 http://www.chow.com/topics/526153#3771626 Thank you very much for those suggestions. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:59:16 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/526153#3771626 http://www.chow.com/topics/442102#3765697 Did you find any other places worth reporting? I will be there next month, in Turgutreis, and would appreciate additional input. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:57:15 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/442102#3765697 http://www.chow.com/topics/527362#3764237 Will be in each port only 1 day on a cruise. Would like a typical, not expensive, lunch suggestion for each. In Santorini, I would like to eat in Oia, before it gets too crowded with ship people. In Athens, we will be mostly by the Acropolis. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:35:07 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/527362#3764237 http://www.chow.com/topics/524848#3741267 We will be in Kos July 11-21, 08 and would like to know some great places to eat and drink. Four of us on a budget as the $ isn't worth much now. If you have any thoughts on places to stay on a budget we haven't made any reservations yet. Many thanks!! Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:40:47 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/524848#3741267 http://www.chow.com/topics/524841#3741201 Does anyone have any recommendations? Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:19:38 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/524841#3741201 http://www.chow.com/topics/523532#3729119 We'll be spending a few days in Greece's second city next week for our 35th anniversary and wonder if anyone can provide some recommendations that will make for memorable meals. Thanks for the help. Thu, 29 May 2008 01:36:45 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/523532#3729119 http://www.chow.com/topics/508226#3726550 If I may update my own post: I just got back. In Santorini I liked Petros in Oia and drinks at the tiny bar Meteor. In Mykonos I loved N'ammos and Chez Katrin. Wed, 28 May 2008 13:38:50 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/508226#3726550 http://www.chow.com/topics/522143#3723436 Go to Kumkapi. It's a lively pedestrian area full of fish restaurants and gypsy music. Our favorite is Olympiat II. Go with a group so you can share. Take it slowly. Start with cold appetizers (selected from a tray), then a couple of hot appetizers (calamari for example), select your fish based on how you'd like it prepared... grilled, fried, stewed, salt-baked. Raki or beer to accompany. Be sure to mix your raki 1/3 raki 2/3 water with room for 2 ice cubes. Tue, 27 May 2008 15:33:13 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/522143#3723436 http://www.chow.com/topics/520961#3707951 Kioupia in Rhodes. A little hard to find. The best restaurants open only for dinner. Wed, 21 May 2008 14:45:38 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/520961#3707951 http://www.chow.com/topics/520106#3696854 Thanks to the Hounds who recommended this delightful gem. I've never eaten at a restaurant like it, and really enjoyed the presentation of the raw ingredients (which were spectacular). We had two different fish dishes, both wonderful. If you're willing to eat early (sevenish), you can always get a reservation. Don't just show up, however. If they're not expecting you this early, the door will be locked. Sat, 17 May 2008 21:25:59 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/520106#3696854 http://www.chow.com/topics/474131#3662221 thanks Elizabeth! all of those recommendations sound great - thank you! we are definitely staying over in Galixidi, and I think that Hotel Ganimede was the place my parents stayed last time they were in Greece ... we'll be in greece for about ten days, in ioannina for about 2/3 of the time, so i think that the kaimaki will definitely make the list. yum! if you can find your notes, i'd love the name of the other taverna in galixidi. (ooh, stuffed onions!) might as well pass along the zagoria recommendations too ... this is great, thanks! my family will be so happy... Tue, 06 May 2008 19:55:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/474131#3662221 http://www.chow.com/topics/510083#3608619 I agree with you completely - it's a wonderful restaurant. Here's my review; http://www.chowhound.com/topics/461704 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:59:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/510083#3608619 http://www.chow.com/topics/268219#3606929 Logia tis Ploris has great and affordable seafood. Excellent cod and smoked eel in particular. If you google their name, they have a website with the location, etc. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:11:13 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/268219#3606929