Mavi Melek Restaurant

This place is a tourist trap, avoid at all cost.
The food is fine, nothing special but not bad.
We ordered two entrees, a salad and a beer, and expected our total to be 60 Lira, according to the menu. When our check arrived, it said 80 Lira. We assumed it was a mistake, so we asked the server if he could explain. He said 10 Lira was for the water and bread that the restaurant brought out on its own accord. We never asked for water or bread. My girlfriend is gluten intolerant, so we never order bread.
The other additional 10 Lira was for tax, which we have not experienced at other restaurants. We did not see those extra charges on the menu. After fully investigating the menu, we noticed that, in Turkish only, and in tiny font, the menu said «cover» is 5 Lira per person and that there is a 10% service tax. Also, the «service tax» says 10% on the menu, yet we were charged well over 10% on our bill.
Our server did not speak much English and the manager was nowhere to be found, so it was impossible to settle this dispute. I should note that while the food selections have English translations, these hidden charges do not. Very tricky.
Another weird thing is that they bring their cold mezes out on a tray when you first sit down and ask you which ones you want. Instead of writing down your selected mezes and bringing out freshly prepared ones, they give you the mezes right off the tray. The servers walk all around the restaurant with these trays and you have no idea how long the mezes have been sitting there. This seems unsanitary, especially because some of the mezes are fish dishes and yogurt.

Ate at a few meza restaurants in the Pera area and this was the best! Meza appetizers all very tasty and a huge selection. Waiter did not speak much English but the host did and was most accommodating. Very reasonably priced including a nice bottle of Turkish wine. The presentation of the lamb baked in clay pot, flamed at the table and broken and served was as good as the flavor of the dish. My wife likes plainer food and enjoyed her lamb meatballs. Had a wonderful dinner that got even better when waiter brought a chocolate suffle (could be my favorite thing) complementary for dessert.

Ok. Full disclosure. We tried two restaurants across the street that were full on a Saturday night at 10:30 pm. The manager of the second one not only recommended this one, he escorted us across the street and personally handed us off to their manager.
The food. Awesome. The service. Attentive.
Our one gripe? We were seated in the smoking section when two tables decided to smoke anyway. What is wrong with Turkish people?
So, the manager opened a window and to make up for our inconvenience — FREE DESSERTS (plural). Without asking! Now that is service. Because when your customers are a-​holes, you treat the nice ones even better.
4 stars overall. 1 extra star for knowing how to placate their non-​smoking guests when the other customers decide to be A-​holes.
Thank you for saving our night.