Editor’s note: This post was written by “Meliz,” an intrepid explorer of Istanbul’s culinary backstreets and frequent Istanbul Eats guest contributor who would like to keep her anonymity.
While the Princes’ Islands make for a great escape from the city, it used to be hard to think of them as a culinary destination. That is, until Heyamola Ada Lokantası opened. The restaurant is a perfect storm of inspired food, chill ambiance and small-label Turkish wines, all at ridiculously low prices. Heyamola is reason in and of itself to organize a day trip to the islands, and if you’re already planning your island adventure, the place is a compelling argument for jumping off the ferry at Heybeli Island, often overlooked in favor of the more popular Büyükada.
At Heyamola, the meze tray rolls 20 deep and changes with the seasons. The selection often revolves around the herbs and greens chef Semra Hanım forages on the island. On one visit, a wild fennel sauté and a nettle and nigella seed salad truly blew our minds. Semra Hanım ran one of the best places on the Datça Peninsula for years, and she has a genius for innovative takes on Aegean standards.
The rest of this previously featured review can be found on CulinaryBackstreets.com, here.
February 24, 2016 Building Blocks
Editor's note: Our recurring feature, Building Blocks, focuses on foods and ingredients […] Posted in Athens
September 13, 2019 Lunch Rush
Update: Fonda Dakota is sadly no longer open.
At exactly the right moment, and not a […] Posted in Mexico City
March 28, 2013 Spring (Food) Break 2013: Istanbul
Update: Kantin and Gram are sadly no longer open.
Editor’s note: This is the fourth […] Posted in Istanbul
Published on November 27, 2015
Related stories
February 24, 2016
AthensEditor's note: Our recurring feature, Building Blocks, focuses on foods and ingredients that are fundamental to the cuisines we write about. Here we look at phyllo, an essential element of the Greek kitchen that tastes best when made by hand. It is thin, fragile, difficult to roll out and fiddly to work with – at…
September 13, 2019
Mexico CityUpdate: Fonda Dakota is sadly no longer open. At exactly the right moment, and not a minute sooner, lunch will be ready at La Cocina de Q.B.D.O. Generally, the magic hour of comida corrida – affordable, multi-course midday meals offered on weekdays and often Saturdays – is between 2-4 p.m., the typical lunch hour for…
March 28, 2013
IstanbulUpdate: Kantin and Gram are sadly no longer open. Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of “Spring (Food) Break 2013,” featuring our favorite foods of the spring season in each city Culinary Backstreets covers. This year’s Nevruz celebration, an ancient welcoming of spring, may be remembered for its political significance in which a peace…
