Körfez

Frommer's Review

A memorable meal is never just about great food, which is a given at Körfez. Here, the success of the restaurant is directly related to the tone set by the chef and owner, Ömer, who manages to infuse a sense of family-style, casual elegance, without compromising time and labor-intensive recipes. Part of the romance is the setting, an intimate waterside summer patio tucked into a small cove on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, with unexpectedly tranquil views of the floodlit fortress of Rumeli and the Bosphorus Bridge. In winter, dinner is served in a dining room that could easily be mistaken for the Captain's private cabin, which also benefits from a complete wall of windows. Getting there is half the fun: Ömer dispatches the restaurant's private skiff to the docks near Rumeli Hisari on the European side. Some of Körfez's more teasing dishes are the signature salt-baked fish, a more complex grouper in a spicy Asian sauce, bonito "sushi," mackerel burgers with raisins and pistachios, and levrek buglama (sea bass in a broth with shiitake mushrooms, ginger, tomato, and thyme).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top