2010 Restaurant reviews

[alshepuk]

If anyone has been to Kalkan already this year I would appreciate any reviews on restauarants/bars visited

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=5409.0

[elainecris]

Hi there, we were in Kalkan at the end of January, clearly things may change within the season but we had an outstanding Hot Mezze starter and then fillet steak with peppercorn sauce at Aubergine. Really very good food and excellent service. Oz Adana was also wonderful as usual. We were only there for a couple of days so no other meals out taken. Hope this helps though!

[Will]

Our favourite lunchtime places are Fener cafe, right on the harbour, under new management this year and doing really good food at reasonable prices, cafe Leon, just recently opened, good range of snacks, light meals and wonderful smoothies, unbeatable prices and very friendly people, Foto's place for great Pizza and great views  and Park Kalkan for lunches, drinks and snacks anytime and good chill out place in the evening. Park kalkan manages to combine being very child friendly  (swings, toys and a children's play area tucked into  a safe corner) with having plenty of other quiet, calm areas for the odd cocktail or three for adults

On Tuesday we went to Nar for dinner, very good food and great service.  Aubergine is always a favourite, so is Sandals,just opened again for this season,for the fish and truly imaginative dishes.

A new discovery this year, is Sun Terrace Restaurant.  We went there often several years ago and then somehow, kept meaning to go but didn't.  Have just been back and would highly recommend it.  Not fancy but wonderful roof terrace, superb Turkish food, charming service and very well priced.

Usually go every week-end to the trout restaurants in Islamlar our favourouties are Ciftlik and Husseyins.  The little boy from Ciftlik who used to do such a wonderful job waiting on tables there has been taken on as an apprentice by Nar.  Tragically his father died in an accident last year so he has had to leave school and work but the owners and staff at Nar are training him and looking after him very well.

Will

[waterskibabe]

We have just had an extended stay in Kalkan due to the air delays which was no problem!!! As we have been here for over 3 weeks it has been fantastic to discover new places to eat which DONT cost a fortune. (we had not budgeted for 7 extra days here!!) This year we have noticed that food has slightly gone up in price but a couple of our old favourites have also reduced the portion sizes!! This is fine for the likes of me wanting to loose weight but not for my 2 teenage boys!! So we began looking for new places that are value for money.
New this year is Cafe Leon tucked away just past Alternatif on the left. This is great place for lunch with lovely owners Jane and Levent. My boys loved the milk shakes and they were great value. look out for the homemade cakes!!! At night time it turns into a lovely bar.
The old BBQ/ Breeze restaurant on the roundabout with the Kalamar road is now Pizza Piazza. This serves some of the best pizzas we have ever had and prices are between 10L and 13L. One of the owners Engin will make you very welcome. They also do have Sky Sports there if you have teenage boys with you and the beer is cheap if you have husbands who also want to watch this!!!! not my idea of fun!
Oz Adana Kebab house and takeaway is still brilliant value and great entertainment.
We also loved Korsan Kebab house. My boys enjoy the homemade chips and i love the fantastic view of the bay!! This still represents  excellent value for money and has a fab view also thrown in! 
At the other end of the scale Kalamaki is still fantastic with gorgeous food, a wonderful ambiance and good portion sizes!!You are always so welcomed in there and always given something extra. My boys loved this restaurant!!
Obviously many restaurants were still not open as we left last week (Alternatif being one which would always get vmy vote!!) but if you are coming with the teenagers or just looking for value for money places to eat  I would recommend all of these!

[Andrew.]

Leaving kalkan tomorrow and have spent most nights down at seaport, the food was great, the views are brilliant and the people who work there are great and very friendly, a must vist when in kalkan, they have one of those things you sit in which with the views is very mice to sit in, they also have water pipes, all in all a great place that I discovered when in kalkan for my 4th time, it's next to kilo bar if you want to have a meal at a great place

[Wendy]

Luka at the top end of the town by  the end of the new new  road diversion. Always a warm welcome from Alev & family. Best chillie chutney (?) I have found, I always take jars full home. Reasonable prices. New road a paid in the butt at the mo.

Extinct (up the road by the side of Tesco) excellent food, we had  courses, 1 bottle of wine, 2 efes, 2 extra glasses of wine 100tl.  Yes we spent but we had excellent service brill food n wine. It's the alcohol that seems to bump the prices up.......

[Pembo]

Just returned from 2 weeks in Kalkan,and not so many there as last year in May.Without a doubt Alternatif was consistantly the most popular and full most evenings. Calves Liver andSteaks to die for and reasonably priced too.Kaya was also pretty popular.Doy Doy meal excellent,however an automatic15% service charge is somewhat over the top.Kosk again very good but numbers down.Nar staff very attentive and meals good value.Omars Kitchen just up past The NUR was a delight and well supported.The Merkez always fits the bill when you want something simple !!

[Alfaman]

Is it clear from the menu that a service charge is being made or just when you get the bill? Any others with an automatic service charge this year?

[jofoss]

We have also just returned yesterday from a two week trip. As Pembo mentioned, Alternatif was full every night, perhaps because they have kept the price of a steak under 30TL [just] with no less quality than previous years. We also noticed the DoyDoy service charge, they did this last year and it is NOT obvious so do CHECK your bill carefully. We thought that, while still good at DoyDoy, the prices were a lot higher, especially steak dishes at around 33TL! Didn't go back after our initial visit.

We didn't eat in the up-market harbour restaurants as we usually do and they weren't full at all. Prices for signature steak dishes as much as 38TL [probably due to extortionate meat prices in Turkey at present] Korsan meze was an exception with consistently good quality food and reasonable prices and a lovely welcoming atmosphere.

Another favourite was Extinct, excellent fish casseroles, meze on the house and coffee and desserts at no charge with great service from the owner. Must also mention Chillies on the Kalamar road, great pides for lunch and doing a roaring trade.We also enjoyed Kleo bar, their new seating is lovely and the bar looks very smart this year.

We were, however, stung in Salt and Pepper where we stopped for a drink one afternoon , a large efes and a small dark efes - 13.80TL!!!!!

[bassett]

been here 3 weeks now and our definite favourite is the new" chapter one" . service is excellent and anyone who loves liver. the chicken liver in a balamic and wholegrain mustard sauce is to die for. agree on the other restaurants as well especially extint and alternatif but chapter one has our thumbs up this year

[Enişte]

The post below about the Doy Doy service charge is incorrect.  They, like numerous other restaurants in Kalkan, add the same 10% charge as they did last year and the owner remains fully satisfied with the decision to do so.  If anyone doesn't want to pay the SC, say so!
 
To avoid any repeat of the accusations against me last year of favouritism and self-interest, I should add that, while the steaks at Doy Doy are in my opinion the best around, I have no stake in the business, but just don't want them to suffer from false information on here or any other forum.

[Alfaman]

Is littlechef correct when he says "numerous..restaurants in Kalkan add a 10% service charge"? Last year we ate out every night for a fortnight and Doy Doy was an exception in making a service charge - in fact some restaurants were drawing attention to the fact that they didn't make a service charge.

[Enişte]

Sorry!  I was told of several (better word than numerous) others.  No names, obviously, but well-known restaurants.  From what I have seen around, those that don't have a charge proudly advertise that fact - those that do charge are less likely to do so, but the advice is perhaps to ask first.
 
Anyone with some time on their hands could Google 'restaurant service charge' and see the rates paid elsewhere - apparently, 12.5% is fairly standard in French cities.  A lot for a large portion of attitude!

[PACHSU]

Simply, yet politely, refuse to pay it.

[Rockykalamar]

Wow ! Pachsu..I bet you're very welcome in any restaurant with an attitude like that.. UK or Kalkan!

[dylanleeds]

I was in Kalkan last year and can't wait to be their in 5 weeks time. What i cant understand is why pay a service charge full stop. Why should they put it on you bill if the service is rubbish the you have to go through the embarrassment of arguing. i would rather sit and have a nice meal and if its bang on give em a decent tip to say thanks for the cracking service.That's what we do in Yorkshire ha ha 

[Blue Lizard]

Yes.....if your Black pudding is served how you like ......give them a tip

[fidimax]

MR LIZARD !!!! wash thy gob out,I thought that a food lover like you would know that black puds are a lancashire thing.
The black pudding union in bury are planning a protest as I speak !!!!         

[Blue Lizard]

I will have you know i am a specialist in the art of Eckythump (remember the Goodies?)..this involves putting on a flat cap of inmmense size and wazzling your opponent around the ears with a black pudding
 
 
back on track....i don't see why i should pay to be a customer in a restaurant??? ..i will tip if i get good service but the choice should be mine

[fidimax]

Just up the rd from where I live is a place called Ramsbottom( true ) it is the venue for the annual WORLD black pudding chucking contest,entrants come from all over the world ( true ),you have to chuck black puds at a tower,about 50ft high and knock yorkshire puds of small platforms at different levels,which have different points,the person with the most points is the new world champion,this supposed to represent the war of the roses,yorkshire and lancashire.