“Where can I go for a set menu and cocktail in the middle of the week?”
If you’re quick on the RSVP and in-the-know, you can get an amazing meal at Juno in Nişantaşı on one of their guest chef nights. Almost every other week in the fall and winter, Juno invites an up-and-coming amateur chef to scale-up and serve a set menu for up to 90 people in their chic yet cozy restaurant. Usually held on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the meal includes three courses and a dessert for 65 TL and an accompanying cocktail, prepared special for the night, at 25 TL.
On a recent rainy Wednesday my husband and I walked to this hip yet relaxed spot for just such a meal by #ZestCrew. #ZestCrew consists of Kurt Önalp and Ceylan Tüm, a teacher and lawyer by day, respectively. These friends and cooking buddies put together an unbelievably tasty menu for the diverse group of diners.
The whole evening went as smoothly as it did thanks to Ömer and Selin, the business partners who own and run Juno. They pulled it all together with many thoughtful accommodations, even printing an English language menu for me! Selin seated my husband and I at one of the few communal tables (while most tables were just for one party), and we had the delight of meeting some amazing new people who became quick friends. We laughed and chatted all night long while we ate our plates clean. I had such a good time that the first and last photo I took was of my drink (the Pimm’s special) and my Turkish and English menus side by side!
My husband and I discussed the meal with our new friends after the final course, and we all agreed that the food was carefully considered and elegantly complex. I rank the fish in the top five fish meals of my life, and my tablemates found the soup deceptively simple, yet memorable in its smoky taste and light delivery. The middle course of baby potato crisps with yogurt sumac sauce was indeed light and surprising while the pear crumble was tied together nicely with the timeless taste of lavender.
You can follow Juno on Facebook to make sure you don’t miss this truly one-of-a-kind dining experience. You may even get a meal from #ZestCrew, who will be cooking with Juno again sometime soon. I can recommend Juno for food or coffee any time of day or night, but this particular collaboration is pure magic.
Address: Mim Kemal Öke Cd. No. 15, Nişantaşı
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