This is a restaurant that manages to have two different characters: tradesmen's restaurant (casual diner serving the sort of food Turkish mothers cook from hot counters) by day and meyhane (restaurant serving meze and kebab or fish accompanied by large quantities of the local aniseed liquor, rakı) by night. It opened in 2000 and became an instant hit with locals for its quality food and unique style (so much so that reservations are advised). The menu changes every day, but expect traditional Turkish dishes such as hunkar begendi (chunks of tender lamb on an eggplant puree) and karides güveç (shrimp casserole). In an area that has become a magnet for Istanbul's young hipster crowd attracted to European-style cafés, this stands out as a restaurant that has its roots firmly in Istanbul. With a black-and-white checkered floor, turquoise tiled walls, and a wrought-iron staircase. it has an old-school class that is matched by its starched white tablecloths and welcoming service. This is a good option if you want to enjoy traditional Turkish homestyle cooking but do it with an alcoholic drink in hand and an opportunity to linger. It closes between 4-6pm to make the transition from day to evening service.