Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => Holiday Reports and Reviews => Topic started by: Bez on September 25, 2014, 04:49:11 PM
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Hey all,
Every other year my wife and I return to Kalkan for a 2 week stay.
I am delighted to say that we just arrived last night so I thought to start up a holiday report and will update each day.
First things first, we had a bit of an issue with our transfer from Dalaman. We always book with transfers4u who then arrange a private taxi for us with Diana Travel. Upon arrival however there was no taxi in sight and they wanted to put us on a 2 hour coach to Fethiye before a mini bus to Kalkan.
NO WAY JOSE
Instead I got a refund and haggled a taxi for a swift transfer. The speedy journey meant we arrived in time for a late dinner at 10pm.
After dropping our bags off at Pasha Aparts we strolled to Chillies because so many people seem to like it. The kebabs were amazing and we agree that they are great value too.
I am a food blogger and my website is www.itsgrimupnorth.co.uk
I will be reviewing all my meals here and doing a special Kalkan food blog when i get back to the UK.
In the meantime I will post on here!
We have spent a relaxing day by the pool and after a siesta (or whatever that is in Turkish!) we are off to town soon. I have been growing a beard but will enjoy a shave before dinner as that is my holiday treat. .
I think we will try somewhere new tonight and head to the Olive Garden before cocktails by the harbour.
Please do post and recommend places for us to try!
Rgds
Bez
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Hi Bez how lovely to hear from you. We returned with heavy hearts yesterday after a wonderful three weeks. We love Chilies too get Mr happy to give you a massage. Without doubt our favourite meals this year were eaten at Asian Zgate right opposite Chilies. We went three times. Have a wonderful time and look forward to hearing from you.
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I meant to say our transfers were with Enes and they have never failed us.£55 each way.
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Hi bez our favourite restaurant is fish terrace enjoy your holiday
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Lovely to hear from you Bez have a great time!
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Hi Bez,look forward to hearing your reports.If you love really yummie,good value home made pizzas then try Foto pizza,just going down the hill, to the Pirat hotel, on the left.......and by the taxi rank.
For us,another "must go to " place is Alternatif restaurant,to be found down the little hill,opposite Moonlight bar. Their service is second to none and the fillet steak is amazing....such good friendly staff and run by Mustafa,a very larger than life character.
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Hi Bez, lovely reading your report, and so happy to hear your a Foodie! we are too. Spoilt for choice for restaurants, but one that we really like is Marina opposite the Pirat Hotel, personally I have had one of the nicest steaks that I have ever eaten in there. We ate in Asian Gate (or Asian Garry as it is known now on here) 3 times too in August, and it was fabulous food, so well worth a try if you like Indian or Chinese food.
Enjoy your holiday and look forward to hearing about your holiday.
Jayne
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Hi Bez, so pleased you have taken up joycie's baton so soon - yippee! Have a fab holiday and I'm sure you'll enjoy sampling some of Kalkan's finest fodder :) so difficult to recommend just one restaurant as we love so many for differient reasons. If I had to name a few, mussakka, Marina, kaya, Asian Garry, chillies, Hunkar and fener would be high on the list, but not just for the food alone and depends whether it's breakfast, lunch or evening meal too. We also love Adams, fab view and wonderful hospitality, it's a must but we prefer lunching there. I'm sure you will make your own mind up, after all one mans meat is another mans poison as they say!
Looking forward to your next report :D
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I am also growing a beard.......and it's coming off on Saturday afternoon at Sweeney Todd.
pw
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Hi Bez. We arrive with friends on Monday. Will be interested in your views on The Olive Garden we're booked there on our first night. Loving the post; :)keep them coming but most of all have a great holiday.
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Oh and you must try bodamye tepe restaurant in islamlar. Again we prefer lunch as the views are amazing and the road a little hairy after dark!
PW and Janeb - hope you both have fab holiday's too! 8)
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Hi bez, a food blogger in Kalkan - now, this could be paradise!
Our son, Oli, his girlfiriend Beth plus two friends are there right now. Oli & Beth introduced their friends to Kalkan and it was interesting to hear how their restaurant scene panned out....
While they have been there, it was one of their 21st's and for this they chose Mussakka and had an amazing evening one week ago.They went back for their romoantic evening last night - Fillet Steak in Roquefort Sauce & Chicken Arrabiata.,,,
They seem to have got themslves into bit of a routine sharing lunches & dinners between Cafe Vita & Fenner. They actually ate at Vita 3 ntimes on the trot, although one of them was a takeaway.
Cafe Ev has been the Thursday ritual before or after the Market, depending on the sugar level.
Their most recent sharing of restuarants was at Kaya two nights ago where apparently it was "their best meal ever" ( a term they had used before a few times already!) Their most popular dish, where 3/4 of them had the same, was dinner at Cafe Vita of Shrimp Casserole and home made chips....
Well there is some food for thought for you - have a fabulous time and keep blogging!!
Steve
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Thank you all for your lovely messages! So nice to hear from you everyone!!
We just got in from a lovely evening so let me fill you in with the night's events...
We strolled down the Kalamar Road and I had a shave just outside the post office. I feel smooth as a baby's bottom now, as always an amazing experience for less than £5...
After my shave we went for our first Kalkan stroll since 2012 and much has changed. Well actually not changed but morphed into a more modern version of itself. Mostly the same restaurants are here with the same guys stood outside but since our last visit these restaurants have spruced themselves up. Kalamaki and Salt & Pepper are good examples of restaurants looking posher and more upmarket which is nice.
The other difference is how busy town is. My wife first came in 2001 and she first brought me in 2010. There are so many more people here which gives the place a lively atmosphere but there is a downside. For the first time, booking restaurants is tricky and the best tables are booked days in advance. Lesson learnt.
We headed up to The Olive Garden at about 8 and the roof terrace was full so we settled in downstairs. We chose the traditional Turkish tray meal to share which was incredible!
To start we had the best chicken soup with olive bread. Mmm. Then they bring loads of plates for main including kofte, kebabs, rice, salad, mezze etc. So many Turkish goodies and a bit like tapas. Dessert was chocolate torte for my wife and traditional Turkish donut type balls with chocolate, lemon cake and ice cream for me. Pig.
A wonderful traditional experience of great food. Despite the restaurant being busy they looked after us.
After the meal we had a look at the view from the roof terrace and it is the best in Kalkan so we will return next week when my inlaws arrive! They haven't been to Kalkan since 2001 so they will be in for a shock... in fact, when they came the only restaurant open was Zekis with no rooftop!
We booked a few restaurants for the weekend (Kalamaki looks nice) before getting a taxi back to Pasha (lazy). Then a mega strong cocktail or 2 at the bar here and a chat with some of the other guests.
I added your recommendations to our list of places to try so THANK YOU! Keep them coming!
The weather looks rainy on Saturday. .. Any tips what to do for food on a rainy night?
Now time for bed. Placing bets now as to whether we will get up early enough for brekkie at Fener...
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Hi Bez,
Great report.Did you manage to make Fenner for brekkie ? Love Kalkan but it is definetly growing.What was a village is now a small town.
Fortunately,the sheer number of restaurants in Kalkan ( 150 to 200 ) means that you can still dine without booking,but to get the best tables with the best views you do need to book.
However,the best table with the best views and with great value.....................Has to be our front balcony..........unbeatable !!
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holiday lettings http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/kalkan/9407
o direct http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/accommodation/p8154298
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Oh I'm so jealous. Try Kosk as well their cheese cake for afters is to die for. Lovely report thank you.
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Breakfast at Fenner is a classic.....amazing Turkish breakfast with that view of the boats......16 days and counting!!
If it does rain on Saturday then a overly way to send it is holed up in your favourite bar with a good book!m :laugh:
We've had some rainy days when we have visited in October and Mussakkas has a cover which means you are sort of inside but outside......if you see what I mean.....if it looks as if it may be a wet evening book to be sure of a table.
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Great report on The Olive Garden. This rates as our favourite restaurant in Kalkan. We always book a few days in advance and get a table at the front of the upstairs terrace. It is nearly always full and as they don't have a greeter at floor level, this speaks volumes. We always recommend this restaurant to other people.
What sells it to me is it is a traditional Turkish restaurant, well priced with excellent service. Whilst I am sure the Indian and Chinese restaurant is good I like eating Turkish food in Turkey and not Asian cuisine which I can eat when at home. It really is each to his own where food is concerned.
Kalkan Meze is always worth a meal or two.
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completely agree about Olive Garden, we had a fab meal here earlier this week. its one of our favourites, excellent food, service and value.
Isis
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Are you there for one week or two Babs. I arrive with a friend on 18th ( we live in Marden so close to you).
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Ah yes Helen....I remember! We arrive on 11 October for 10 nights.
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Latest update!:
We never made it up for brekkie yesterday. The new kitten at Pasha ended up in our room wanting cuddles all night so we were tired the next day. Instead we had a Chillies delivery for lunch by the pool (yummy chicken wrap and lamacun).
After a good swim and many chapters of Lord of the Rings, we realised we hadn't booked anywhere for dinner. We hatched a cunning plan to eat early and watch the sunset so headed to town at 6.30pm.
It was quiet and relaxed so we booked a few places to eat over the next few days.
Kalamaki were fully booked but offered us a lovely table at 7pm if we finished before 9. No problem there for us so we had a truly wonderful meal. The cocktails were great and I loved the Kalamaki Special. If you go, use the loo because it had a brilliant sink system! Haha geek.
We then ended up at Fener for a triple scoop ice cream and some people watching before getting a taxi back to pasha for an early night.
HURRAH. We got up today for brekkie at the Ada Pattiserie. Hannah had a gigantic Turkish breakfast and I had eggs with Turkish sausage. Mmm. Service a bit slow but can't complain at the food.
It is overcast today but the much anticipated thunderstorm never came. Not sure what to do tonight yet... either a takeaway here, Asian Garry or into town with no reservation
Choices choices
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Thanks for the update, Bez - and now you have your own pet for your holiday, you lucky things! And as for choice, what a fabulous choice you have in a fabulous location!! Enjoy and we look forward to hearing what you choose....
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If you don't fancy getting over dressed one night try Oz Adana at the top of the village on the roundabout by the taxi rank...(parade of shops include butchers ,sweenytodd the barber and brave tours..it is tucked away in the corner..excellent wholesome food, puffy bread etc..very reasonable and turks eat there which is always a good sign...pick up a menu they deliver and we found it the best of several tried(comes with extra bits too)...didn't sell alcohol when we were there in june but you can soon make up for it elsewhere ;)
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our favourite places vary each year. Gourmet is excellent and we also love Mussakka, Salt and Pepper and Sofra. So many restaurants...so little time. Look forward to reading your reports, Bez.
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Having visited Kalkan a number of times it's been really good to visit as many Restaurants as possible...
Our favourites - after extensive research (!) are:
Sade
Korsan Fish Terrace
Hunkar Ockabasi
These are all consistently good in our opinion.
Really enjoyed Isos Kitchen on our first visit this year but were consequently underwhelmed on our 2nd which was a real shame :(
Not massively impressed by the harbour side restaurants, we've tried them at least once each time we've visited and have found then to be (relatively) expensive and the food not a patch on places away from the harbour.
Some of the best food we've eaten has been on day trips on boats out of the harbour, particularly Pala Boat and Neptune; simple fresh home cooking and amazing value given the overall experience.
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Sorry for the delay in posting. Had a lovely few days so now update time.
Saturday night was rainy so we chose to hide away with a takeaway. Unfortunately no where wanted to deliver in the drizzle... Our favourite Chillies laughed and said they don't come out when the road is wet. In the end the only place I found to deliver was Kalkan Kebab but we had a terrible experience. They forgot all the sauces and charged me 80TL instead of the 68TL the menu said it should be. Really annoyed.
Sunday saw us return to Chillies for lunch as the tavuk durum is amazing (chicken wrap) with lime and coriander in it. Sunday evening we had no reservation again but headed to Samphire and were given a lovely table. The restaurant is nicely done up and we had great service. The starter of apple and cheese was a tasty treat and Hannah had the fish delight which she liked. My lamb was lovely but didn't come with almonds and prunes as described. Still we enjoyed it!
Monday was the day my in-laws arrived but they had a 4 hour transfer after Diana travel messed things up. They got in at 6 and had a nap before the best meal at Gourmet. They looked after us and everything was yummy especially my marble steak. We rebooked for our last night.
The in-laws love Pasha so much they just booked for May 2015...
Today we went back for brekkie at Ada Pattiserie with a strong Turkish coffee and a maltepe! Heaven. Then a day by the pool reading more lotr (frodo is heading into mordor as we speak...)
This evening we tried Korean Fish Terrace and had amazing fresh fish. Very good with live music which was a nice surprise.
Only issue was with Salt and Pepper. As we walked past the guy stood outside came over and asked me why we missed our reservation. We hadn't made one but had spoken to him yesterday about coming later in the week... He wasn't joking and said he had waited for us. He was pretty rude which put me off going there in future.
I then went down to see Ali on Zeus to confirm our private boat trip tomorrow. He invited me for a beer and a chat with his friends which was lovely. Can't wait for tomorrow at sea!
More tomorrow!
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What a fantastic few days we have had.
Picking up where we left off:
Early Wednesday morning we headed to the harbour and boarded Zeus. We had a private booking and spent a memorable and peaceful day at sea with Captain Ali. He serves the best lunch and looked after us, even taught us all to fish!
That evening we popped to Kalamaki and had yet another lovely meal. The food is our favourite here even if the service is slow. The nicer restaurants seem very busy but the quality of food isn't reduced.
On Thursday we hit the market. I love haggling but can't understand why the stall holders are so in your face. Surely more people would browse and buy if they left you alone?! Also the prices start higher than town so haggle hard. I got a 90tl watch for 50tl and 5 olive soaps for 10tl.
After a pool relax we went to Paprika for a clay pot. It was very nice but they squeeze too many people upstairs so it feels cramped. I always promise Orlando I will eat here tho.
On Friday we rented a car and headed to the ruins of Patara. Then we ate trout in the beautiful Yakapark Farm. The drive is beautiful and it is so peaceful there. 4 people eating 3 courses came to 120tl.
Then we went to Saklikent in the freezing water before heading home.
That evening we started in Botanik for cocktails mmm! Before a cheeky smaller meal at Merkez Cafe. They do really good stuff there.
I won't lie, after dinner we went SHOPPING! I would like some t shirts but not sure which I like best.
Last night we had a relax day but us boys went to watch the footy and have a shave. I love getting shaved here and will miss it when I'm back home doing it myself.
Later we went to Botanik again and tried Kosk.
I must rave about Kosk! He gave us free drinks and mezze but we had the best service there, it is open spaced with police and attentive service. Plus the food was great. Try the château brand! Best steak here!
The puddings were great too!
More to follow!
P.S does anyone know how much the fake Lacoste t shirts are?
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Just been visited by the in laws! My mother in law treated herself to a lovely bag from Misty Mays. The relaxed shopping in the Old Town is much better than the market and more to come tomorrow.
I'm already looking forward to my cocktail at Botanik. The main guy is great and has been teaching me Turkish. Arkadaşim is my latest word friend!
Just another note on Köşk. I had preconceptions about the place being bad but I'm so happy how nice it was! Please do try it.
Has anyone been to Accessories which is near Belgins kitchen? Gorgeous shop with little trinkets too.
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Thanks for the repots Bez, sounds like you're having a fab time. We must give Kosk another try next time we are out too. :)
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Sad to say I am home after an amazing holiday.
Blog to follow...
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Oh no....where did that time go? Sounds as though you had a great stay and looking forward to reading your blog. Thanks Bez :)