Restaurant and bar changes!

[Dalyansteve]

Many bars and restaurants have changed hands and got new names, one of note is opposite Mudo and used to be 3 Brothers Pide, don't remember the name but they are selling big beer for 2.5lira and if you have food as well it is only 2 lira. This I think has to be the cheapest in town.
I am relying on you lot to come and try everything and report back. Cheers!!

[Tubby2]

Hi DalyanSteve, whereabouts in town is this please, can't quite place the names. Thanks.

[Dalyansteve]

Mudo is in the smart shopping area next to Migros and I think the 3 brothers was called pamukale pide and has moved further up the road, I think the new place is called Ottoman Kitchen and there is an English woman involved somehow, which explains the English breakfast and cheap beer, good luck to them is all I can say.

It is all very difficult, they change the name and move to different premises, how they make any money I don't know.

[Tubby2]

Its always quite exciting to see whats changed from year to year, where restaurants have gone, etc. I hear that Ja Ja is no more and that Fatih from Starfish is there, is it called The Waterfall. He sure does get around, as do most I suppose. I would imagine they have to go where the work is. Its great that you are there though and keep feeding us information. We don't go until September so I'm sure there will probably be more changes before then.

[Tubby2]

Meant to say Thanks Steve for the info.

[Dalyansteve]

How did you know about Fatih and Ja Ja's changing, I only found out 2 days ago and it only happened last week? You must have inside info!

[Tubby2]

ha ha, news travels fast eh. I think it was on Trip Advisor if I remember rightly. Someone had been out to Dalyan but only for a quick 6 day visit and hadn't had the chance to try the restaurant. I thought there was another restaurant called The Waterfall next to the Binklik, I was a little confused at first (doesn't take much I know). Also said that Fatih had been at Metin Pide too, thats why I said, they sure do move around a lot.

[Tubby2]

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Nesli han Sofrasi opposite the Harbour just past Tin Tin, looks quite nice, always on the lookout for different restaurants to try.

[June]

That was me under another guise! I met Fatih at Metin Pizza at Easter and again at his new place - opened on May 25th!
There is another Waterfall bar/restaurant next to the Binlik, Tubby2 - you're not losing the plot!

I do also have inside info!!

[Dalyansteve]

Sorry June, the one next to the Binlik has changed its name to something completely forgetable. The Nesli han restaurant had very good reports last year, still good but they are buying a lot of stuff in instead of making it themselves now, apparantly!

[Tubby2]

See you know everything there is to know Steve. Not sure about the Nesli han now if it is not cooking the food themselves. Will try Fatih's place, that is unless it changes hands and name before September.

[Dalyansteve]

Perhaps I gave the wrong impression there, I meant that some of the Meze's were bought in. Which are actually quite good, just not as nice as something home made. This is something a lot of restaurants do if they don't have the turnover to warrent making batches of meze.
Most people say they enjoyed Nesli Han.

[Banjoman]

just called in at the Ottoman kitchen today after the market shopping - beer and all soft drinks only 2.50, and a plate of chips was onr of the best in Dalyan - proper crunchy fries and not soggy and greasy like so many others

Would also recommend Cardak restaurant ( next to the Queens hotel) - a total revamp from last year, garden and bread oven added. Superb quality food and service, and some of the best padded seating in the town - I think they now have the chef that was at Ramazan last year. Everybody in out hotel has now eaten there and all saying what a great meal

[Ihutch]

Well I still think one of the best places to go for a good meal, reasonable cost and good service is the Cagri next to Dia supermarket on the way into the market place. I go there a lot and the food is consistantly good at very fair prices. Try it and tell me what you think. The other good place for a tasty meal is Bulent's doner cafe in the square - best doner in town and a very nice family - another one for you to try out. Careful, you will be putting weight on trying all these eating (and drinking) places.

[Tubby2]

Banjoman

Are you sure its the chef from the Ramazan now at Cardak, if I tell my husband we may have to change allegiance from Ramazan to Cardak. My husband is a chef and is or was constantly praising the chef at Ramazan, OMG what will we do. We didn't eat at Cardak last year but will have to definitely give it a try this year. What are the prices like, are they as competitive as other places. Only thing with Cardak is that you have to walk past the Sini and they are always trying to get you in, a pain really, as we don't really care for it. I suppose we will have to sneak in from the riverside. Where theres a will!!!

[Banjoman]

I know both Cagri and Bulent and eaten at both mnay times over the last few years. At Cagri my favorite in the evening is the chicken Schnitzel - nice and moist, and half the price of the same thing on the main drag. For lunch a couple of Lamucun fill the hole, and always worth checking out the stews of the day.Bulent chicken doner I agree is excellent, but I prefer his meat balls - he is struggling this week having fallen over and now right arm in a slling. Don't really know why he has taken over the place 2 doors down from the original in the square, and still has both of them open - does seem a bit strange
AS for Cardak - 2 or 3 regulars have told me that they now have the Ramazan chef, so I guess it is true - but Ram has still been pretty busy every night over the last couple of weeks. Prices at Cardak are comparable with the most of the others - I wanted swordfish, but off the menu that night and settled on fillet of Sea Bass at 18TL that was a good price

Tried Blue Bar last night that now advertise Thai, Indian, and Italian, although the Italian selection covers anything that is not the the other two
Chicken Balti was pretty good - nice flavour and a good kick - but a little bit on the oily side.Naan bread was as good as you can get without a proper Tandoori oven. Friends who have eaten there have said it was pretty close to what they can get at home in Glasgow
Last for now - Safran is still my number one - ok, more expensive than anywhere else, but for the setting, ambience and quality of food,can't be beaten, even a free taxi pick up and drop off if you are staying on the other side of town. Mixed seafood grill was superb, and the lamb and aubergine casserole is always a winner with my wife
So far have done a different restaurant each night, with a couple of new ones from last year. 3 more meals to go as we head for home on Friday evening, but will be back in September for another fortnight

[Tubby2]

please let us know about the other restaurants you eat in. Its great to hear all this news and is really whetting my appetite. Safran is a fabulous place and the lamb and aubergine sounds right up my street. We have two friends with us this time she is celebrating a BIG birthday (ok she's going to be 50) can get away with it because I know she has no idea abuot this forum!! and I think as a treat we may go to the Safran, they are only with us for a week, we then have a week to recover on our own! Cardak is now a must and I agree, he Cagri Pide is just one of the best and its amazing the difference in prices for eating the self same thing on the main drag and along the river. Get those lamb chops at the ready.

[Julie]

For a special birthday I would recommend Botanic in Ortaca or Bin Kaya Hotel in Dalyan,which we tried last week.Not the cheapest but good quality food and the staff are excellent.

:grin:

[Tubby2]

Thanks for that Julie, with our ever expanding list of things to do, places to eat, I think I should rebook for a month!

[John Codling]

I would recommend Biotanic in Ortaca

Has the Botanic changed it's name then :wink:. Or maybe they are serving robot food now :Happy:

[Julie]

Has the Botanic changed it's name then :wink:. Or maybe they are serving robot food now :Happy:


Very Funny,Ive had a hard day at work !!!!!

[John Codling]

:grin: The spelling police are here!!!!

Safran is one of our favorites as well. Not tried the Cardak but will have to.

[Banjoman]

Bin Kaya does look good, but have not eaten there. Called in on market day for a refreshment stop and a slice of superb lemon meringue pie. Run by Christophe, a French guy from Paris, and his wife,and opened around 3 months ago. They are styling it as a boutique hotel, and the rooms look really good - spacious, all with flatscreen tv and dvd player ( if you want that sort of thing).Reception light and airy with some nice artwork on the walls, small garden patio area and pool. Menu lokked interesting, and I seem to remember about 20/22 for the meal of the day
If you do go to Safran Tubby2 then no worries this year about taking an unscheduled swim - now a fence along the river edge and new lighting

Fancied mexican last night - last year a good rest. next to Tin Tinbar with real mexican chef so good food, but alas now gone and turned into another rest. that looks like all the others, so ended up at Adilan - another old favorite of mine. Menu as normal llike most of the others, but presentation has a twist with a double baked jacket potato and green beans in a lovely crunchy potato skin basket, whch makes a difference from the others. Good chicken on hot sauce which was almost the same as I get at home from my local chinese.
Probably eat at Ali Baba tonight> Mustapha never fails to give a great meal. Even warns you if you have the lamb casserole then don't think about starters as you will never get through the lot. Another good sign is that last year we both fancied steak, so were told not to have one each but have his steak for 2 ( chateaubriand on other nenus), as it would cost less, and taste better - he was right as usual

Unfortunately one one more meal tomorrow night before we hit the road on Friday - but only 9 weeks or so before we return.

One last restaurant - Hidden Garden ( formerly JaJa, Ricks Sports Bar or Shelale depending when you were here) - redecorated, well spaced out tables, attantive service and a very enjoyable stir fry so will end up in my top 5 list

And finally - one disappointment this year - the Golden Crab where I always had their tasty crab cakes. Friends with us ate most nights there last Sep, went on their first night this year and despite only 5 others in there waited over an hour and still no sign of any food, so decided to walk out - 6 or 7 tables full then a wait is inevitable, but 5 people and over an hour? I know there is a new chef, but still............
Have looked across there every evening nad never seen more than half a dozen sitting - complete contrast from last year when it often difficult to get a table around 9pm

[Andy]

Banjoman that is brilliant info fella and thanks

are you a reporter :Yep:

again thanks for info

[Tubby2]

Thats great info, mind you by the time you go back in 9 weeks Banjoman, the restaurants could well have changed hands again. Thanks for the info on Safran too, I will now be able to sit on river side without fear of toppling over the side after a few vinos. Glad to hear the Hidden Garden (Is it now called The Waterfall) is doing good. So many places to eat, so little time to do them all. Have often wandered past Adilan but never eaten there.

Enjoy your last few days, its pouring here!

[Banjoman]

thanks for the comments Andy and tubby2. I'm not a reporter, but just a Dalyan lover. Have been travelling to Turkey for the last 25 years, and having seen a lot of places spoiled over the years with tourism gone mad, have settled on Dalyan for the last 8 years, coming out in June and September. We just love the place, and quite happy to share our good experiences ( and occasionally the not so good) with anybody interested. Half the fun is seeing waht has changed from yeay to year and who hase moved where, so a good write up no is no guarantee that it will still be the same in 6 or 12 months time
There are so many places to eat here that it is impossible to try them all - our simple rule is if it looks ok and lt "feels" ok then give it a whirl - if you get the odd meal that is not so good, just put it down to experience and try somewhere else

Tubby 2 - all the signs sat Hydden Garden but there two small waterfalls in there, and the menu still has Ja Ja headings all over just to confuse you!. If there is any doubt as to where - next door to the Anatolia down the path leading to the river

[Tubby2]

yep, know exactly where it is, just behind the new Tezcan Hotel, and will be giving it a whirl. I understand that Fatih of Starfish, Metin Pide and Carretta Pide fame is running the show. Lovely guy and I hope he does well. Its also by our other favourite restaurant the Ceyhan. Like you say, impossible to try all the restaurants, but we can give it a good shot. You must be going beginning of September if you only have 9 weeks, we have 13 to wait, and we are counting!! enjoy Ali Babas.

[Dalyansteve]

Do you know, anyone not familiar with Dalyan will think we are completely mad. Restaurants changing names, staff and owners moving from one place to the other seemingly overnight, the trouble is it is true. Yes we had a meal at the Golden Crab and yes the waiting was unacceptable as is the waiting at Ekim club, 2hrs once and we were the only customers, not going back to either.
If you have a favorite chef, sometimes it is better to follow him, so get to know the chefs not the waiters.

[Julie]

Bin Kaya does look good, but have not eaten there. Called in on market day for a refreshment stop and a slice of superb lemon meringue pie. Run by Christophe, a French guy from Paris, and his wife,and opened around 3 months ago. They are styling it as a boutique hotel, and the rooms look really good - spacious, all with flatscreen tv and dvd player ( if you want that sort of thing).Reception light and airy with some nice artwork on the walls, small garden patio area and pool. Menu lokked interesting, and I seem to remember about 20/22 for the meal of the day
If you do go to Safran Tubby2 then no worries this year about taking an unscheduled swim - now a fence along the river edge and new lighting

Fancied mexican last night - last year a good rest. next to Tin Tinbar with real mexican chef so good food, but alas now gone and turned into another rest. that looks like all the others, so ended up at Adilan - another old favorite of mine. Menu as normal llike most of the others, but presentation has a twist with a double baked jacket potato and green beans in a lovely crunchy potato skin basket, whch makes a difference from the others. Good chicken on hot sauce which was almost the same as I get at home from my local chinese.
Probably eat at Ali Baba tonight> Mustapha never fails to give a great meal. Even warns you if you have the lamb casserole then don't think about starters as you will never get through the lot. Another good sign is that last year we both fancied steak, so were told not to have one each but have his steak for 2 ( chateaubriand on other nenus), as it would cost less, and taste better - he was right as usual

Unfortunately one one more meal tomorrow night before we hit the road on Friday - but only 9 weeks or so before we return.

One last restaurant - Hidden Garden ( formerly JaJa, Ricks Sports Bar or Shelale depending when you were here) - redecorated, well spaced out tables, attantive service and a very enjoyable stir fry so will end up in my top 5 list

And finally - one disappointment this year - the Golden Crab where I always had their tasty crab cakes. Friends with us ate most nights there last Sep, went on their first night this year and despite only 5 others in there waited over an hour and still no sign of any food, so decided to walk out - 6 or 7 tables full then a wait is inevitable, but 5 people and over an hour? I know there is a new chef, but still............
Have looked across there every evening nad never seen more than half a dozen sitting - complete contrast from last year when it often difficult to get a table around 9pm

Hi Banjoman found this photo which was taken at Andys Birthday at the Bin Kaya.

[m1cksut]

Do you know, anyone not familiar with Dalyan will think we are completely mad. Restaurants changing names, staff and owners moving from one place to the other seemingly overnight, the trouble is it is true. Yes we had a meal at the Golden Crab and yes the waiting was unacceptable as is the waiting at Ekim club, 2hrs once and we were the only customers, not going back to either.
If you have a favorite chef, sometimes it is better to follow him, so get to know the chefs not the waiters.

must agree, we normally go to bodrum area, (well since 2000 anyway) and we have always found out where our favourite chef is working and eaten there, well worth the trouble to know you wil not be struck with some dread stomach bug.
his name was bayrum, should you ever go tobodrum, he used to work at thre hong kong and the mystic pizza, find him and you will be well fed.

[Banjoman]

Hi Julie

now I know who you are - we met last week in the Bin Kaya when we called in to check out the villas they rent, and Christophe gave us a guided tour
no more reports from me now until September - we should be arriving on 4th

[Andy]

We Sure Did Sir

must have missed you on Saturday as we sneaked in for coffee

[Julie]

Hi Banjoman,
It was nice talking to you.Are your friends going to stay there? :Happy:

[The Winters]

The Hidden Garden (as was Ja Ja and also The Waterfall) is Fatih's new venture we ate there two weeks ago with 2 very fussy small bodies, they went out of their way to ensure that the meals were right, result being to happy little souls and grateful grandparents - our meals were superb also, would certainly recommend it. We also ate at Ramazans he still has the same chef as last year (known to us as 'the mad chef') still cooks steak to die for!!

:Cool::Cool: