Every day in Istanbul we hear that a new restaurant has opened. Turkish and foreign investors continue to invest in Istanbul's social life. The increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists and the improving economy lead people to eat out and socialize more. Here are some of these new restaurants.
The first is Galvin, the new brand of famous businessman Tayfun Topal. Part of the Jupiter Group, the venue is impressive for its central location in Nişantaşı. Having taken the place of the French restaurant Le Petit Maison, Galvin offers Italian cuisine. The ambiance makes you feel you are in an elegant Italian restaurant. High ceilings with carvings, long pillars, dim lighting, antique sculptures and stylish chairs create a wonderful atmosphere. The marble in the bar area, paintings and curtains give a classic feeling to Galvin. My favorite area is the mini market place with fruit and vegetable baskets that make you feel like you are in a village market in Tuscany. The open kitchen area, right next to the market and the pasta machines, makes visitors feel cozy.
For dinner, I loved the burrata for a starter. It is fresh, and the pesto sauce was quite tasty. For the main courses, I recommend the sole fish and walnut pasta with cheese. For dessert, tiramisu is a classic taste that should not be missed by lovers of Italian cuisine. The menu design and the selection of plates and cutlery are also very nice. It is obvious that Topal works meticulously on Galvin. I was happy to see that Galvin, quite a large venue, was full even during the week. Visit Galvin as soon as possible, but make a reservation. Steeve recently opened in the Kanyon shopping mall. Famous chef İsmet Saz created wonders with the restaurant TOI, which still operates successfully in Kuruçeşme. Steeve, his second venue, has a casual style. The venue, located in Intema Yaşam (Intema Life), is remarkable with its open kitchen and large bar area. It shares the same floor with household appliance and kitchen product brands. The balcony offers a view of the most pleasant part of Kanyon.
Steeve's menu, more of a sharing-based tapas style, has many interesting items. Chef Saz's success is not just a coincidence. He had lots of experience in the United States and Turkey. The venue name, Steeve, is what his friends used to call him in the U.S. His success and unique experience are reflected in the menu. Mussels marinara and sour dough crossini are my recommendations for starters. For meat lovers, I suggest the corn beef open face sandwich with pickle and arugula. The main dishes, homemade mushroom and butter gnocchi and grilled entrecote should definitely be tried. Desserts change daily. You can organize special events and workshops in Steeve's kitchen area. In particular, apart from dinners, stop by for lunch. Tasty, trendy and a different venue.
My last suggestion is Mitte, which has been in Karaköy for a long time. It has new management, decoration and menu. Run by Yusuf Çavdar, it is much more stylish now. High ceilings, oil paintings and floor tiles from Italy await elegant ladies and gentlemen. The tables by the windows are quite pleasant. The service and staff are very stylish. Most of the dishware is from Bali. In the VIP area on the mezzanine floor, you can host special guests.
You should definitely try the sushi. In particular, I recommend the Tornado option. On the other hand, tuna tataki can be an excellent starter. Try the cod fish as a main course. For dessert, panna cotta with sagu, coconut and avocado is simply amazing. It's unfair to call this dessert panna cotta because it is something way beyond that. An Aegean menu is served for lunch. A very unique menu of Aegean vegetables and herbs are on offer. Obviously it is not easy to find such a healthy lunch menu in such a stylish restaurant. The motto of the place is "Wise Cuisine." I would like to congratulate the chef of Mitte, İrem Esen, and the manager, Yusuf Çavdar. Don't miss the venue's DJ performances on weekends and make certain to visit the most popular spot in Karaköy as soon as possible.
