Description: Last night of holiday and I wanted a memorable meal. I also wanted seafood (I hadn’t had any since I left Aqaba). A quick check of IgoUgo turned up recommendations for
Doğa Balik. So off I went!
Finding the place is not as easy as some others. It is located in the district of Cihangir, south of
Istiklal Caddesi. The easiest way to get there is probably to head down Siraselviler Caddesi from Taksim Square, and then chuck a left when you reach Akarsu Yokusu Caddesi. Just down here on the left hand side of the street is the Zurich Hotel. Take the lift up to the seventh floor. It is here that you will find Doğa Balik, one of the most celebrated fish restaurants in Turkey.
The restaurant has a balcony that looks south over the rooftops, over the Golden Horn, and over to the
Topkapi Palace and the twinkling skyline of Sultanahmet. But if you want one of the tables with a view I think you will need to book in advance. I was sat inside on my own. And apart from the view the décor was actually pretty plain.
There was
no menu. I hate that. Instead you have to choose what you want without knowing the prices – not ideal when it is the very last night of one’s holiday! For your main you can request a fish, which they will cook up for you according to your specifications – fried, grilled or poached. I asked for grilled sea bass (no need to make a perfectly healthy fish all oily by frying!). And in the meantime I could help myself to a plate of starters. Here in the chiller cabinet there were normal salady-type foods, as well as prawns, calimari, mackerel, whitebait etc. Again, no prices. So I helped myself.
The fish when it came was simply cooked, and equally simply served. Literally. A fish on a plate. With a bit of greenery at the side. Hardly the most impressive presentation I have ever come across. And yes, the fish was nice. But I could have done with a side plate to put the bones on.
When the bill came, it was a whopper – the equivalent of £35, just for a fish and a plate of appetisers. I paid as much as I had for my
three course lunch, in a posh restaurant, with intricate and interesting historical menu options. Frankly, I felt swizzed.
So there you have it. Doğa Balik. An inconvenient location, good views, nice-enough food, and a surprisingly hefty bill. Not really somewhere I think I will be revisiting…
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