Little bit pricey but the taste and service were fantastic. I would recommend and get back their for sure!

Decent mezzes (the almond-aubergine one was great) and salads. Beware this is a fish and seafood restaurant, with limited other warm options. For those with gluten allergy: they don't serve rice at all, only fries.

Highly recommend!! Food is incredible! The staff are hospitable and friendly!

Our first night in Istanbul and this place did not disappoint. Stumbled across it on Google maps and was pleasantly surprised. The hosts were more than welcoming and very attentive to us throughout our dining experience. We started off with the spicy yogurt, eggplant yogurt, liver with onions and grilled calamari Mezze. OUT OF THIS WORLD. Each plate delivered on flavor and presentation. I loved the yogurt dips and my husband was in awe about the calamari (melted in our mouths) I ordered the lamb chops and my husband got steak. Both cooked to perfection. Amazing aura and beautiful restaurant. Dimmed lighting and rustic vibes. Definitely coming back here before we make our way back to NYC. Thanks Agora!

Food was great, tasty, fresh, great wine, good service. As in any other restaurant in Istanbul, people are unfortunately allowed to smoke inside. Nevertheless, it has a very nice atmosphere inside

Very nice restaurant with a good atmosphere. The food is local and delicious, it is nice to share some plates. Very friendly people. Great night! (Raki is also very tasty)

A really incredible experience! Very kind and friendly staff, wonderful mezes, and incredible fish all perfectly prepared and extremely flavourful. The atmosphere is upscale rustic, with lovely vibes. The perfect place to enjoy raki and mezes!

this is definetely saver place for to host your guests. Delicious appetizers, good meat perfect atmosphere combination. Prices are also reasonable.

I am a Turkish licensed tourguide and frequently do walking Balat tours with my lovely guests. At the end of tours we go there to experience an authentic and local Turkish menu and raki - our national alcoholic beverage (alias lion's milk). My foreign guests call this place "a hidden gem". Prices are not touristic and reasonable compared to historical peninsula, Galata and Taksim areas. I highly suggest this place for all visitors who want to have local dishes and authentic atmosphere.

I brought my friend and his family from Italy here, saying it was a very nice place, but I regretted it. The prices were very expensive, and as if that wasn't enough, it was a business that was after oriental cunning. We ordered 3 portions of hot octopus for 3 people. Afterwards, a portion of octopus "appeared". When we told the waiter that we did not want it in the middle and that we ordered 2 more portions, he pointed to the octopus in the middle and said "this is 3 portions" and said he understood. When I asked them how they could do such a thing and put it separately, they said they couldn't do it. As a result, they charged 1200 TL for a handful of octopus and tricked them into thinking it was 3 portions. We got up before we were full. I will never go again.

We enjoyed every moment here. Perfect service, very good food, and they prepared vegan option for my daughter as well.

Excellent food - mezes were outstanding and the grilled sea bream was delicious. Staff were accommodating but I wouldn’t say out and out welcoming. Docked one star because unfortunately everyone around us was smoking (all 4 tables surrounding us, despite no smoking signs on the walls) and we were with our young daughter, which was not ideal. Otherwise a very good experience.

Nice place for visiting. From one side expectations were higher, but food is ok, prices for alcohol (beer and raki) even lower than average. I ordered antrecote and enjoyed it. From minuses that not a big choice for ordering, main dishes only a few.

We didn't have time to eat but we stopped by for a beer. Very pleasant atmosphere. Full of history. Highly recommended. Kudos Mehmet bey!

Amazing restaurant in the very colorful neighborhood. Fresh food and super friendly service! Will definitely come back again!

Tasty food, kind and helpful waiters, cosy atmosphere! We liked the place very much!

Update: still a wonderful restaurant! Service was outstanding and food was from heaven just like before. Well worth every penny! I wish we drank (a group of people who don’t drink at a meyhane is quite strange, isn’t it?) but it was great regardless.

Delicious dishes, fresh seafood, excellent selection of special turkish mezes (appetizers). Friendly service, we felt like home. Highly recommended for real foodies.

A historical place with a great atmosphere, we enjoyed it heaps thanks to Osman the waiter he was very nice…great service and good food! Definitely try the mezes and grilled calamari and shrimp.

Great super kind service by the Asian looking Russian speaking waiter. He took every extra step to give us amazing experience. Food was very tasty, too.

A real gem!!!A must visit when in Balat,Istanbul.Have rarely had this awesome food anywhere ever,so authentic!And what hospitality & ambiance!!!A big shout out to the amazing people running the show…lovely traditional peppy music..had a fab evening!Would love to come back❤️

A fantastic discovery in the area of Balat. Decorated like a secret garden with a vibrant and warm atmosphere, this restaurant offers high-quality, fresh, authentic, and utterly delicious Turkish food. The fact that it is patronized mainly by locals and proposes a short menu tells you all you need to know about its high standards. The staff was friendly, efficient, and helpful. This was our best dinner experience by far!

We casually find this ancient and typical restaurant in Balat. The place is huge and very suggestive, turkish people were the main costumers and this is always a sign of quality! Food and service and price were fantastic, 10/10 would totally recommend! Abbracci dall’Italia 🇮🇹❤️