SÜLEYMAN 1981 | TURKISH RESTAURANT | TERRACE WITH SEA VIEW

I visited with family 2 years ago. It was amazing food and customers service. Our hotel was on the same street and everyday as we would walk past, there was a member of staff who would invite us in. Eventually we visited and got a rooftop seat. The view was exceptional. We could see the blue mosque which was beautiful in the night as it was lit up. The staircase to get to the rooftop was a bit small and scary. The food itself was super yummy and we all enjoyed ourselves a lot.

Tourist trap. Came with family, we waited an hour for our food when we were the only customers in the restaurant, when it came it was not fresh and look and tasted off. Our waiter kept coming in and out of the restaurant and was not taking care of us. After asking several times for our meal, the waiter came back in the restaurant with bags of take-away food, we asked what was in there and if he was planning to serve us whatever was in the bags, he attempted to hide them behind him and denied. A couple of minutes later he came with our plates: clearly cheap take-away food that had been reorganized on plates. The fries were greasy, soggy and looked days old. The meat was dry and tasted stale. When the bill came it was through the roof and the waiter announced he only accepted cash for payment. Do not believe the good reviews about this restaurant, this is the worst place I have every eaten at in the whole of Turkey.

This was our first meal in Istanbul, and unfortunately, it was also the worst. The owner spoke very poor English, so we asked for their recommendation. They suggested a mixed grill platter, which was listed as 550 lira on the menu, and we agreed. However, when the food arrived, we found that none of the meat was seasoned properly; it was tasteless and almost impossible to swallow. We ended up leaving most of it uneaten. What made it even worse was the bill—an outrageous 3200 lira! We were just two girls, and we only ordered two dishes. Back in the UK, we've never had a meal this terrible and overpriced. I couldn't understand why the bill was so high, so I asked the owner for an explanation, but the language barrier made communication extremely difficult. It seems there might have been some kind of "premium" menu pricing, but it's clear the owner deliberately avoided clarifying this when we ordered. A few warnings for future visitors: a single bottle of water here costs 130 lira, communication with the owner is nearly impossible, and you'll also have to pay additional taxes. In conclusion, if you don’t want your Istanbul trip ruined, avoid this place at all costs.

We had testi kebabı here, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. The rice was undercooked and unsalted, while the meat was incredibly chewy, suggesting it had been rushed rather than slow-cooked as expected. Additionally, they didn’t offer ayran or şalgam, only soda and alcohol, which we don’t consume. We settled for water, which turned out to be the most expensive we’ve ever had—over 100 TL—and it was served cold despite the semi-open, unheated seating area that left us shivering throughout the meal. The atmosphere added to the discomfort, with a playlist of 7-8 depressing arabesque songs. Eating cold, poorly prepared food while listening to melancholic music in freezing conditions was far from enjoyable. To make matters worse, their payment system was down, and they only accepted cash without notifying customers in advance. Another couple had to borrow from a nearby business to pay their bill. Thankfully, we had cash, but when we paid, they kept the change without asking, claiming that putting on our jackets before receiving the change implied we intended it as a tip. When we explained we were just cold and trying to leave quickly, they rudely suggested it must be our first time dining out to not know this “rule.” In summary: bad food, overpriced water, an unpleasant atmosphere, and rude service. We do not recommend this place.

Tourist trap. Came with family, we waited an hour for our food when we were the only customers in the restaurant, when it came it was not fresh and look and tasted off. Our waiter kept coming in and out of the restaurant and was not taking care of us. After asking several times for our meal, the waiter came back in the restaurant with bags of take-away food, we asked what was in there and if he was planning to serve us whatever was in the bags, he attempted to hide them behind him and denied. A couple of minutes later he came with our plates: clearly cheap take-away food that had been reorganized on plates. The fries were greasy, soggy and looked days old. The meat was dry and tasted stale. When the bill came it was through the roof and the waiter announced he only accepted cash for payment. Do not believe the good reviews about this restaurant, this is the worst place I have every eaten at in the whole of Turkey.

This was our first meal in Istanbul, and unfortunately, it was also the worst. The owner spoke very poor English, so we asked for their recommendation. They suggested a mixed grill platter, which was listed as 550 lira on the menu, and we agreed. However, when the food arrived, we found that none of the meat was seasoned properly; it was tasteless and almost impossible to swallow. We ended up leaving most of it uneaten. What made it even worse was the bill—an outrageous 3200 lira! We were just two girls, and we only ordered two dishes. Back in the UK, we've never had a meal this terrible and overpriced. I couldn't understand why the bill was so high, so I asked the owner for an explanation, but the language barrier made communication extremely difficult. It seems there might have been some kind of "premium" menu pricing, but it's clear the owner deliberately avoided clarifying this when we ordered. A few warnings for future visitors: a single bottle of water here costs 130 lira, communication with the owner is nearly impossible, and you'll also have to pay additional taxes. In conclusion, if you don’t want your Istanbul trip ruined, avoid this place at all costs.

We had testi kebabı here, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. The rice was undercooked and unsalted, while the meat was incredibly chewy, suggesting it had been rushed rather than slow-cooked as expected. Additionally, they didn’t offer ayran or şalgam, only soda and alcohol, which we don’t consume. We settled for water, which turned out to be the most expensive we’ve ever had—over 100 TL—and it was served cold despite the semi-open, unheated seating area that left us shivering throughout the meal. The atmosphere added to the discomfort, with a playlist of 7-8 depressing arabesque songs. Eating cold, poorly prepared food while listening to melancholic music in freezing conditions was far from enjoyable. To make matters worse, their payment system was down, and they only accepted cash without notifying customers in advance. Another couple had to borrow from a nearby business to pay their bill. Thankfully, we had cash, but when we paid, they kept the change without asking, claiming that putting on our jackets before receiving the change implied we intended it as a tip. When we explained we were just cold and trying to leave quickly, they rudely suggested it must be our first time dining out to not know this “rule.” In summary: bad food, overpriced water, an unpleasant atmosphere, and rude service. We do not recommend this place.