Editor Pick
Terrific Indian Food in Istanbul
- May 21, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
fizzytom from Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Dubb is an Indian restaurant in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Having spent four weeks in total in Turkey we decided to do something different on the final night of our trip and when we passed Dubb we knew we had to try it. It’s mid way between the Blue Mosque and Aghia Sophia and almost next to the Yerebatan Cistern. Booking isn’t essential but it may be advisable if you want to be sure of a table on the terrace which is the best place to dine on a hot summer’s evening. There were no tables left on the terrace when we arrived and we were going to sit in one of the other dining rooms when I spotted a small table on a floor where there were no other diners and asked if we might have that one. The table was in a corner and beside a window that gave good views over Sultanahmet Park. The tables are spread over five floors in this narrow building. There is a tiny bar/waiting area on the ground floor as you go in. The staff are kept fit by having to climb those stairs time after time to order and collect drinks.
The decor is lovely; the walls are a warm golden yellow and some are decorated with colourful Indian style motifs or hung with large paintings of naive Indian scenes. Although the same colour scheme runs through the restaurant each floor has slightly different furniture and soft furnishings. One floor is tiled, another has rugs. One floor has rattan furniture, another has wooden chairs. Some huge plants fill the corners and the overall effect is quite welcoming and relaxing.
Of course, the food is what’s most important and it doesn’t disappoint. We started with a selection of pakora – fish and vegetable which was served with a minty dip. It was nicely spiced and had a good crunch. For my main course I chose a chicken jalfrezi which was spicy and tasty and was presented as a very generous portion. My partner chose the tandoori sea bream, a magnificent fish beautifully spiced and served with salad and a coriander relish.
As the mains had been so large we didn’t have desserts but there was a selection of Indian and Turkish desserts as well as good old ice cream. I did however manage to find space for a second mango lassi and these were perhaps the best lassis I have ever had – just salty enough but very fruity too.
The price was approximately £25 for two including drinks which was an absolute steal, especially for the location.
From journal Istanbul - A Tale of Two Cities