One of my favorite types of restaurant to discover in this city is of the unassuming variety – I pass by the place often, sometimes might even make a mental note to check it out, but generally find myself frequenting the familiar and not taking the opportunity repeatedly presenting itself. Then, after finally getting around to taking the plunge, in true cliché fashion I can clamor about how it was right under my nose the whole time. So it is with Il Sud Istanbul, in the heart of Moda on one of the area’s busy side streets leading to the coast, and that you dear reader have likely found yourself on if you’re the Moda-frequenting type. The three-story restaurant catches one’s eye almost immediately, especially when seeking it out, with a large dignified portrait on the side of an aquamarine green building, and charming lovely yellow tables set directly outside an inviting entryway.
Housed inside is one of the city’s finest Italian restaurants – an intimate and warm atmosphere perfect for a romantic date night or close group of friends to gather for some delicious, authentic cuisine and long conversation over drinks.
It was early evening when we took our seats at a table on the second floor, with the restaurant likely in the early stages of their dinner services. My fellow guest and I were delighted for the quiet space allotted to us and poured over the menu, trying to figure out in which direction we wanted to go in our culinary adventure. The menu is concise, with an offering of starters, salads, pizzas, pastas, main courses, and desserts that has something for everyone (very vegetarian friendly), while limited enough that one can be confident in the expertise of the kitchen to prepare these dishes. In anticipation of what was to come, we also made sure to indulge in some house wine to help with our assessment skills.
For starters we went big, with a Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana), the Arancini (Sicilian rice balls with parmesan sauce), and the particularly interesting Vitello Tonnato (which included veal roast in a tuna, capers, and anchovy based sauce). Of the three, the standout was certainly the Vitello Tonnato, a unique dish created by the head chef that on paper might sound outlandish but in practice was a real delight, especially if you like the aforementioned ingredients individually. While the eggplant parmigiana was the most familiar, it was delicately made and filled with flavor, a tribute to the fresh ingredients included. As for the Sicilian rice balls, I would not have guessed it was filled with rice if I hadn’t read so beforehand, and the impressiveness of this dish remains an ongoing mystery for me, as the parmesan sauce paired quite well and I can’t quite put into words what stood out for me, but it was certainly something I’d reorder on a future visit.
Each dish came out in spaced succession, allowing us to indulge at a comfortable pace, while the house wine was an excellent pairing throughout the entire evening. For our main courses, we opted on the Ravioli Verdi con Quatra Formaggi (four-cheese ravioli) and the Oxtail pizza – omitting the tomato sauce, and going all in on the fresh mozzarella, Oxtail, parmesan, thyme, and extra virgin olive oil. Our dining party was composed of two serious cheese enthusiasts, so the ravioli was a true show-stealer, and although we were verging on being too full to eat, it was too delicious to stop.
The pasta itself was perfect, fresh and expertly cooked, while the cheese burst with flavor in every bite. Meanwhile the pizza was a venture into the unknown for the both of us, being unfamiliar with Oxtail and not usually taking on pizza without tomato sauce (a decision we made at the suggestion of our server). However, it turned out to be a winning move, as we both ended up being big fans. The crust of the pizza was fantastic and again, the quality of ingredients stood out such that we likely would have been passionate about whatever choices we had made.
Ending things in style, we did our best to finish a tasty crème brûlée, and despite it being bigger than anticipated, we managed to polish it off. An ideal, sweet closer to a dinner where every dish was worth discussing and earnestly enjoyed. For what we’d regard as a fairly fancy dinner, pricing is reasonable for a nice night out and we appreciate that it’s shared on their website. The staff accommodating us on the evening were all smiles and warmth, and we respected that despite the tone of an upscale Italian restaurant, it never felt pretentious and was an especially welcoming experience.
The décor and layout of Il Sud is also worth taking a moment to note. Each floor possesses enough tables to provide a communal dining atmosphere, while still retaining an atmosphere of intimacy. Some tables are tucked away such that a small group of friends could essentially take an area entirely to themselves. On crowded nights, a secondary bar upstairs also ensures that drinks can continue flowing at ease. As night falls, the lighting of the restaurant really stands out, with private lighting for each table and stylish, minimal lighting for the restaurant at large, adding to ambiance they strive to provide.
As we ventured off into the late evening, a bit light-headed and particularly satisfied and full, we had every confidence we’d return to this restaurant that we now shared fond memories with for every future passing on their busy Moda street. Il Sud Istanbul deserves all the positive press they’ve been receiving, and we have every confidence they’ll deservedly grow in popularity in the years ahead.
Caferağa mah. sarraf ali sok. no:15, Kadıköy
ciao@ilsudistanbul.com
https://www.ilsudistanbul.com/
Instagram: @ilsudistanbul
+90 (532) 564 00 73
Every day: 12:00 – 00:00
Images courtesy of Il Sud Istanbul and Ruaa Shaar.
