Booking restaurants in advance!!

[jujujones]

Heading to Kalkan in Mid June for my second trip- this time with 2 friends who are first timers. We tried some great restaurants on the last visit and the top 3 for us were Kalamaki, Sofra and Olive Garden. For our visit in Mid june I would like to book in advance for the saturday night of our arrival so that we don't have to think too much about it (am thinking about Kalamaki) and perhaps for one or two other nights for the busier places. Don't want to shove my choices down the throats of the first timers too much but good to have had some experience. We are only there for a week so we don't want to miss out. Does anyone know how early I might be able to book in advance. And do you know how I might get contact details for kalamaki. Also what other restaurants do you think I would need to book and how busy will Kalkan be in mid June ( last time I visited with my husband was early october so it was relatively quiet!) Sorry so many questions- but getting very excited and it's still only February!!

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=9050.0

[hodstar]

We visited in the middle of June last year and never had to book for any restaurant (Mousaka, Kosk, Gironda etc). Only 94 days to go.

[Blue Lizard]

number i have found for kalamaki  is     +44 0242 844 1555           

[Enişte]

Hi juju.  I just sent you a PM

[Babs]

until last year we always went to Kalkan in August so in peak season.....we always book restaurants the night before and have never had a problem

now where shall I book for 28 June?......who am I kidding? it's a family tradition to go to the Korsan on our first night so we can have their amazing meze and as we will have two first timers with us it will be even more important! 

[chrissy1]

Hi JuJU
Kalamaki was also 1 of our favourites last year and if you want a specific night and a nice table it is always worth booking - do you know they have a facebook page and they update regularly so its a good way of keeping up to date. Also our other faves were Mussakka at the harbour also good idea to book as was very busy last year (also have a facebook page with contact details)and Coast (harbour also) Hope this helps - we are there in June also so may bump into you at one of them have a great time. Cant wait for ours we may try olive Garden this time round.

[kalkan4eva]

We've been in June lots of times and have never needed to book a restaurant too far in advance. If we wanted to be sure of a certain table or a particular time we'd pop in a few days before and book it, but generally June isn't incredibly busy. I suggest you try Gourmet this year (next door to Kalamaki) - our favourite last year. Oh and at the other end of the scale, you almost never have to book the Soup Kitchen 

[jujujones]

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. So much choice and only a week to sample. Will definitely put Gourmet on the list and Korsan. We tried Mussaka last time we were there but at that time there was just the one in town (Oct 2010). We were not overly impressed but perhaps it was an off night -we didn't find the service to be at all attentive and we were surprised and disappointed as people had raved so much about it.Oh well different strokes and all that- Think it might be worth trying the one on the harbour though.

Anywhere nice for pre dinner cocktails?? And what about wine? I know my husband and I found the wine quite palatable last time round but I am going with a friend who loves her wine and am afraid she might be disappointed with the lack of availability of imported wines. What are the good local ones again?? Have forgotten. Thanks again for your help and roll on june!!

[Charlie]

Love having cocktails in Aubergine, before or after dinner.  Beautiful setting, lovely ambience and just great for people watching.  last year all cocktails were 12.90 lira, they were large and beautifully presented. Wines we enjoy, white; Cankaya, Angora, Majestik, red; Angora, Majestic, Sade. Our fav restaurants last year Aubergine, Mussakka, Coast, Gourmet, Salt & Pepper, just to mention a few.  Enjoy!

[HolmfirthNicky]

My mouth is watering at the thought of going back to Kalkans fantastic restaurants!!
Our favourites were Mussaka, Kalamaki, Chapter One and for beautiful pasta, Zekis. We were there in June and like previous
posts have said we didn't need to book unless we wanted a specific table. Like Chrissy we want to try Olive garden this year as it gets so many good mentions also Gironda is on this years list.

[Cuddles]

For those who were looking forward to going back to Chapter One, don't! I am informed that they have ceased trading. No doubt someone else will set up there.

[HolmfirthNicky]

Thats a surprise, they seemed to be a popular restaurant, wonder whats happened.

[chrissy1]

personally I am not surprised (Chapter One) we tried it once and were very disappointed so much so we said we would never go back and we haven't the service was terrible and that was from the lady owner, whether she took an instant dislike to us I dont know but she was positivly rude and the food was not the best and we had saved one of our Sat nights for it as it had been recommended, but hey maybe we caught it on a bad night??

[BevJam]

One of my favourite places for pre dinner drinks and fabulous cocktails is the Gironda. If you haven't been before there is a beautiful inner courtyard with big squashy sofas. it's a great place to relax.

[tortoise lady]

I agree with previous posts that it is not normally necessary to book a table in June.   However if I want a particular table at a particular restaurant at a particular time then I do book a day or two in advance.

Nothing more annoying to find someone sitting at "our table".    Having said that we decided at the last minute one evening to eat at Kosk and discovered "our table" was occupied - but we had the last laugh as they found us one tucked in a corner round from the kitchen.    It turned into rather a chilly evening and we had all the heat coming through the wall beside us from the kitchen.    I have to confess to feeling rather smug.