As a new expat living in Istanbul, it can be difficult to find those special restaurants that have both a unique history and an inimitable ambiance. The family-run Galata House, located about 1 km from the Galata Tower, is one of those places. Housed in a building that used to serve as a British prison in the early 1900s, the Galata House is not only small and intimate, but also of historical interest.
You won’t find any menus or in-your-face waiters outside this unassuming restaurant. Like many others before me, I first heard about the Galata House through word of mouth; a close family member convinced me to go with him on a recent Sunday evening. While I was initially impressed by the building and its decor, the unique blend of Russian, Turkish and Georgian food that came out of the kitchen was what really won me over.
I especially enjoyed the flavorful cold mixed appetizer platter for two, which featured tasty cheeses, yogurts, dolma and lentils. They also offer warm Russian borscht and crepes as appetizers. Another highlight were the Georgian ‘Hingali’ raviolis filled with minced meat and garnished with a spread of tomato sauce for that extra taste factor. As for drinks, we sipped on the more than adequate house red wine throughout the meal. We finished dinner on a very high note, with a piece of layered chocolate forest cake to split and a cup of Turkish coffee to wash it down.
One drawback of this family-run restaurant is that some items on the menu may be unavailable depending on what time you dine; only a certain amount of food is cooked for the evening and when it runs out, that’s it. But the elderly Turkish couple who own the Galata House more than make up for this shortcoming. They warmly welcome locals and tourists alike, and they even take the time to discuss the restaurant and its history with curious customers.
Simply put, the Galata House is a delightful restaurant with great food and a charming environment. It is a bit on the pricey side, with the average two or three course meal costing between 50-75 TL per person. But the food and the ambiance (for instance, there is live piano music at 8:00 pm each night) are worth it. It’s the perfect spot for a date night or anyone looking to impress out-of-town guests.
There are a limited number of tables available, so I’d recommend making a reservation on weekend nights. For more information or to book a reservation for dinner, check out their website at www.thegalatahouse.com, or e-mail them at galata61@hotmail.com.
Galata Evi – The Galata House
Galata Kulesi Sok. No: 15 (61)
Karaköy, Beyoğlu
Istanbul
Benjamin Weinberg is a contributor to Yabangee
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