My first evening I didn’t want to travel too fare for my dinner and I didn’t want to eat at the restaurants around the corner that was packed of tourists – so once again TripAdvisor pointed me the right direction.
Mr cook Cafe & Restaurant
Alemdar Mahallesi, Mollafenari Sokak, No 39,
Fatih, İstanbul
Istanbul 34110
Phone; 212 522 4846
Turkish & European – $ (no website) – link to TripAdvisor
4 min walk from the hotel, but it took about 15 min because I had done the map in direction from the restaurant to the hotel, so I was lost straight away and nobody I asked had ever heard about the restaurant … in the end a lady that stood outside a hotel helped me out, she went on Google, got their phone number and phoned them and they were only 2 min walk away. How could I get Lost????!!! when it was only 4 min away from the hotel!!!!! It’s all about how we read the map.
The restaurant wasn’t very busy … at the time, was there about 8pm. 6 tables maybe – most of the outdoors was taken. I got a table inside with the doors open against the street. It was a lovely evening but the air was a bit chilly. A nice place away from the tourist herds on a quite street.
Nothing fancy, just good home cooking and loads of heart. Family business with two brothers in the kitchen and two in the dinning room.
One of the brothers is the true charmer – what an entertainer – talk a bit of French, Italian, German, Spanish and very good Englishm, but no Swedish. His name is Faysal.
The restaurant have free and excellent Wi-Fi too.
I have been trying ordering Testi kebab every time I been in Istanbul, but it’s only served for 2 people. Mr Cook have it on their menu and when I asked about it – I was told that because I was such lovely and beautiful lady they will make it for one person specially for me. No other restaurant has offered me that.
So soon I sat down I got what I think they call Lavash (Lava) bread – blown up like a football and served with tapenade. Also called puff bread by us silly tourists. Love it.
Testi Kebab is a mixture of lamb, mushroom, tomato and local herbs and spices, cooked in a sealed clay pot and when serving the pot is cracked with a metal stick … should be a sword what I understand. Very impressive when it’s served … all on fire.
You image the smell when the pot cracks open from all that good stuff inside. It’s was so good as it looked.
Next to me sat two girls from Netherlands, that was going home the next day. They had eaten at Mr Cook a couple of times during their stay.
They serve pizza, Turkish specialties, pasta, salads and grilled meats. Also they have a great breakfast menu.
More guests was dropping in all the time.
I didn’t have a starter, but I had a Vodka & Tonic and with the lamb stew I had a big glass of red wine … and chocolate souffle as dessert with a great cappuccino. And my bill came to 92TRY/$34/£22/€30/280SEK
It must have been just after 11pm when I left the restaurant and guests had just be seated.
When I came back for lunch on my last day I had a grilled chicken salad that was very fresh and crispy. I also could check in to my flight the following day while having lunch, because of the wi-fi. Sat outside in the lovely sunshine and life was at it’s best. Had a dessert, can’t remember what I had … but it must have tasted good, because it disappeared straight away.
There wasn’t any locals guests at the restaurant at all, at least not when I was there.
Mr cook Cafe & Restaurant is rated as #2 out of 11.124 restaurants in Istanbul. Rated by ordinary people, like me. That is saying something. It’s a fun place and very relaxing . It’s not a gourmet restaurant, it’s a genuine place with great food.
And with charming Faysal telling me how beautiful I’m a couple of times … who can resist??? Not me. That is just for show, but it’s done in a very nice way. He knows exactly how to take care of his guests, men and women. If I had a restaurant he would had a job with me.
I will go back next time I visit Istanbul, because I felt at home there and we (the guests) had a really good time. Before I left after my lunch, Faysal and I had a very intense Swedish lesson and he picked up the most important phrases.
I dedicated this song to Faysal … because it’s about “Mr Right”!
Välkommen tillbaka – Welcome back – Tekrar Hoşgeldiniz!
“Charm is a product of the unexpected.”
Jose Marti
What a wonderful place to eat. Food looks fantastic.
Yes, it’s a great little restaurant …. for us tourists that want to get away from tourists. Food was very good.
You found a gem of a place to eat. The service sounds great and the food too!
Yes, all thanks to TripAdvisor – always use them to find restaurants that is a tucked away, but I also had a fantastic evening on Istanbul’s best restaurants, Milka Review will come.
What a lovely place and the food looks divine!!
Terry, yes… I had a great meal and a great evening. Lovely place and I will go back the next time … I’m in Istanbul. I really felt at home there, but I wouldn’t eat every meal there … I’m more adventures than so. *smile
So glad you are enjoying your life
Terry, life is what we make it too …. and so long I’m able to travel I will do so, but it cost money and a couple of more year is my pension okay – but when 70 some of it will fall away for me, so I have to do so much as I can before then. Then also my health issues … make it tougher for every year, but still I’m alive and kicking. Thank you so much for your kind comment.
That’s one of the things I like about you. You got spunk!!!! love and hugs dear friend
This is adorable! I love how you describe your good–sounds as delicious as it looks.
Describe your FOOD!
Describe my food???? Now I’m a bit lost, Loisa!!!!
Sorry, Viveka. I was correcting myself. My initial comment said ‘I love how you describe your GOOD’ and I meant to say ‘how you describe your FOOD. So sorry! 😀
I thought that was what you meant …. but I wasn’t 100% sure. No worries …!!!
That clay pot stew was fantastic .. and the aroma that came from the pot after the lid was cracked was amazing, the herbs, lamb .. and vegetables. And the lava bread … I eat a whole big bread myself. Great home cooking.
Sounds like a fantastic little find, Wivi….I shall expect to go there when we go to Istanbul!! 😉
Sue, of course you should go there … great little place away from all the tourist buzz – even if all guests are tourists or visitors.
🙂 You have no idea how hungry this makes me… 🙂
I wish I could be there now.
Have a wonderful evening xo 🙂
Dia, yes …. I just had my dinner and before I started I wished at Mr cook.
I wish you the same!!! Hugs ..
Oh Heck! Swedish lessons 🙂 And you’re wearing your Summer look.
Jo, I got a comment from the owner of the restaurant and I notice that I have missed your comment AGAIN!!!! Yes, he was talking quite a few languages, but no Swedish .. so we had a very short and intense crash course in Swedish. I’m sure when I come back … he will use some of the phrases.
Such a charmer. *smile … Summer look???? There I got lost.
Your Header had just changed! I had to come back here to see what I was wittering on about as well! 🙂 🙂 How’s the ass?
Okay …. now the penny fell down. Thanks for asking … it’s very sore today.
I’m sorry, Vivi! It seems so hopeless sometimes. I hope you can get a good night’s sleep and be better tomorrow. I’m watching a TV documentary about the children of Gaza and Israel. Poor little scraps! How can they do this to each other? It’s a nightmare. I mostly don’t watch this kind of thing but I’m in on my own and I just can’t turn it off. Hugs, Vivi!
You know Istanbul more than me 🙂
Nia, so true … but still it would have been great to meet up with you!
hello with love from viveka.istanbul
Hi there, thank you for visiting me. I hope everything is okay with you and the business. Lots of love from Sweden.