Asmalı Cavit

Great food in a lively setting with gracious and good spirited service. We had four or five mezze that were recommended by the staff and visited the display cabinet for another one or two. We shared the fresh sea bass that was perfectly grilled and washed it all down with the house raki followed by a delectable bahklava. Lots of locals in groups. A definite must!

We were excited to try this place after reading it was a «top choice» in the Lonely Planet. We went in and the décor and ambiance seemed to indicate this would be a good authentic Turkish cuisine experience… Albeit surrounded by fellow tourists.
We were very disappointed. Food was not great; the quality compare to other authentic Turkish cuisine was way below par. Maybe we just came on a bad day in the kitchen but I would not risk trying again myself given the prices they charge!

This meze place came highly recommended by our hotel where we were staying for the week and boy did it not disappoint.
Highlights of the dinner included the sardines (fresh catch of the day) and the eggplant (smokey and lipsmacking good).
Wonderful end to a wonderful trip!

After reading about this place in Lonely Planet and several places online, I put it on our list of must-​trys in Istanbul. Luckily, the street was also very close to where we were staying, and the place was easy to find. because I found it kind of difficult to navigate our way to some other specific places in Istanbul. perhaps switching to a Turkish keyboard on my iPhone would’ve helped… and yet, some street signs in Beyoglu are simply non-​existent!
But I digress! The food here was awesome! After starting off with a pretty meat-​heavy diet when we first arrived, it was nice to get some variety at this meyhane. We started off with some mezzo: an herb-​heavy fava bean cake, dolmas (not too impressed with these), delicious marinated haddock, and an exquisite taramasalata (fish roe spread) I still dream about! Seriously, just gimme a bowl of the stuff and nobody gets hurt.
Next, we had the fried lamb liver, which I’d read about. Be warned: you get a heaping plate of the stuff! It was good, but it was a LOT of damn liver. Enough to share with at least 4 – 5 people!
The service here was awesome and it was a great place to ring in our 5 year date-​aversary (we’re married now, but still celebrate the ol’ date-​aversary too!)
I was a bit disappointed that the atmosphere in this methane was not a bit more fun (I was expecting rowdy raki-​infused singing!)– maybe we were just there too early? Or the wrong night?
Anyway, next time I find myself in Istanbul, I would definitely return here!

I want to give this place 5 stars. I really do. But as Costanza said «It’s not you, it’s me.»
The aubergine meze is sublime. The spicy tomato one — out of control. Not to mention the grilled shrimp, haddock and liver mezes.
Frankly, you could just dine on mezes and skip the entrée.
Advice? Go early. This is a late night and weekend kind of place. Great energy and if you want to get in, you’ll have to eat with the rest of us Yanks.
Also, ask for the non-​smoking section. These days coming out of dinner smelling like a chimney is passé.

After two unsuccessful attempts to get into Asmali Cavit, we finally got in on our third try — a Tuesday night. After attempting to order some of the items on their menu, we gave up on the menu since they had obviously rotated their seasonal selections to different fish dishes. Eventually they ended up bringing out the fresh catch of the day on a platter and we just ordered a couple of the fish shown. The fish were amazing and prepared to really showcase the fish themselves. In one, it was deboned, then lightly breaded and served whole fish fried. In the other, they were served deboned and headless in a vinegar and oil grilled preparation. Both were equally delicious and we’d go back here in a heartbeat. We’d just skip the menu and ask what they have.