Is it me or ?

[kiplet]

Restaurants here are getting more and more less appealing.
Poor food, poor service. Either that or I'm having a not so good eating out time ???
Any one else experiencing the same ?

[Soner]

Same here. Have avoided eating out as much as possible for the past 2 months. Happier with a bowl of cornflakes.

[fatouche]

We hardly eat out at all ; I resent paying money to eat out when I can cook it so much better.

[libby]

go to Taners Secret terrace and have the fish pie - I am sure you will not be disappointed!

[Keithcaley]

...Happier with a bowl of cornflakes.

...In that case, you're welcome to come around for tea anytime...

[woodspeckie]

Fish Pie is not something I would have in a restaurant, it is so easy to make, a nice substantial meal is what I look for.

[Keithcaley]

...oops!

Sorry, not you, woodspeckie, I just hit a wrong key...

[Groucho]

Fish Pie is not something I would have in a restaurant, it is so easy to make, a nice substantial meal is what I look for.

There's fish pie and then there's fish pie... Taners has a great following/reputation and I've never heard negative reports... They have made a name based on many simple dishes done really well and the portion sizes are more than ample I hear.

General points not connected with Taners

This time of year is a problem for many establishments - do they take on staff hoping the numbers will come? If they don't, can they cope? If they do, are they properly trained?

The weather is so hot the staff suffer.... it's a bit demotivating I guess, but I must say the prices, courteous staff, service and food at Bollywoods are always good.

Gavin

[Soner]

Keithcaley, get that box open, I'm coming around!

[kiplet]

Ok I will try Taners secret terrace and Bolywoods here's hoping ?
can you give me directions to both restaurants please ?

[mrsgee]

Taners is one of our favourites for a nice lunch....good food, good prices, and nice setting, and lovely host. Home made food. A few days ago Fikris mom was preparing freshly picked molehiya. Quite a task but worth it I think. Love the real chunky chips too. Well worth a visit. Go down from the main road towards the sea, in Karakum. Tamircam (The repair man) is on the corner. Can't miss it, there are lots of electrical appliances outside. Follow the road down and you will come to Taners on the left. Plenty of parking spaces. Bollywoods not a favourite of ours, never go, but one that never fails to please is Erols, especially Kleftico night, tonight!

[Ailsa]

Been to Bollywoods once, as some friends wanted to go there. NEVER AGAIN. It was just awful. Surroundings awful, green pool, dirty table cloths and S--t curry. Their idea of cucumber reita was just the small dish of mint and yoghurt that is served with pakoras etc. Anyone that rates that place has obviously never been out much!!!!!!! If you want a great curry with great service and surroundings and attentive staff then go to Jashans. Also I am looking forward to trying Ruby Murrys as they are getting rave reviews. Brian is certainly going to make a success of his new venture, just as he did with Whiskeys.

[Ragged Robin]

I rarely eat out, and when I do mainly stick to the Courtyard because of the Pool, and because the food is never really disappointing ei and the service is usually good.

But last year with visitors I tried several of the local restaurants. The unanimous choice (both sexes, different nationalities and age groups) was Riaz's at Happy Valley. Not the most glamorous of settings but the food is always good and the service polite and efficient - if you have to wait sometimes it is because they make sure it is properly cooked. And they do the best traditional fish and chips south of the Wash. Second prize (and first for Turkish) was Rose Garden at Ozankoy. A bit pricey but tables outside under the orange trees in summer, a variety of hot and cold mezzes and excellent kebabs

[mrsgee]

Hmmm Well have to say RR, of course always down to a matter of taste....as much as I like Riaz, sorry it is certainly not the best traditional fish and chips....Saltys is far better. Love the Rose Garden, Hasan is such a lovely host. but would not say it was the best for Turkish food. Sultans is better, more variety. And, never ever go to the courtyard.....Little Britain....say no more.

[Groucho]

Been to Bollywoods once, as some friends wanted to go there. NEVER AGAIN. It was just awful...... Anyone that rates that place has obviously never been out much!!!!!!!

You will understand if I find the last part of your response above somewhat rude and patronising.

All I can says is, it has not been our experience over a fairly long period of time.... and we make a point of travelling in from Esentepe to take a meal there about once a week.

If it was poor the one time you went that is regrettable - did you complain to the manager at the time?

It's very rare indeed that we have any issue with the food or service - actually struggling to think of an occasion other than maybe the japati not arriving with the tikka and rice until the waiter was reminded - but if we did have an issue with a dish then we would expect nothing less than the dish to be whipped away with good grace and a replacement made that is to our complete satisfaction. I have never known them to be anything other than mortified if anyone complains and unlike many places they don't get the hump if you do point out something - in fact they are more likely to offer complimentary drinks as a form of apology.

Their chicken tikka with medium hot korma sauce (this is my personal recommendation) is delicious as are many other of the varied menu choices like tuna steak, chicken fajitas, lamb's liver and onions, steak and kidney pie, all the standard curry options including our friends' favourite of chicken bedami curry and sag aloo, Our daughter who is vegetarian likes it because they will always make her a special curry dish with a great choice of vegetables.

[helendj]

tried out new panta restaurant the other night - absolutely superb - staff excellent, wonderful service, and freshly cooked delicious food - if they keep up this standard will never go to another chinese/thai restaurant. as for others - love rafters, lovely curries and excellent fish and chips on fridays - who could ask for more!

[Hippocampus]

One of the problems that restaurants face here is that the majority of guests do not bother to book, so they cannot plan. We once suffered appallingly slow service from one of our regular haunts, the owner was apologising to everyone. Apparently he had four tables taken the night before, and a full house this particular night, most of whom had not booked. He quite justifiably could not keep a huge staff waiting around every evening, nor could he afford to turn business away when it happened to turn up. The culture of not bothering to book needs to be changed, then the restaurants may be able to provide a consistent standard.

[waddo]

If I go out for a meal and have not booked I never moan about slow service or lack of all items on menu or how long things take to cook - that is part of going out. I don't book when I go to buy petrol but sometimes the service there is slow because of sudden demand. Sorry but if you run a restaurant then you either deal with "Bookings Only" or you have a "Maximum Table" and then its first come first served. In the UK I used a small restaurant where you were not allowed to book - you turned up and got a table or you waited or you went away and tried again another day - the place was always full of happy customers and I have know the management to turn away people who had driven 25 miles to get there and found no table available and a long que of "Hopefull's" at the bar. Proving the point that if you have a good restaurant that is consistently offering solid service and good food - you don't need to have bookings.

[Ragged Robin]

Unfortunately Mrs Gee I have a limited range as my small elderly car is intimidated , and has been driven off the road, by the large vehicles of today, so I dont even know where Salty's is, but certainly I have had lovely fish and chips from Riaz, and his other food is good too.

I know what you mean about the Cyard and little Britain, but I dont frequent the bar but go straight to the pool area, or on rare evenings the dining area

I have got the impression that Sultans' was rather noisy and a bit "psuedo", but not fair to comment as never been, maybe I will get the chance to try it sometime.

[Deniz1]

Crispy Squid do lovely cod and chips huge piece of fish and loads of hand cut chips 32tl.

[mrsgee]

RR, Salty's is on the main road opposite the new La Campana restaurant, by Tango to Buddha. Or, depending where you live of course, he has just opened another shop in Alsancak, on the main road heading towards Lapta.

Sultans is lively on Friday nights when they have a special evening of traditional music, Greek and Turkish Cypriot. Other nights are just normal evenings, with good food. Don't know what you mean by 'pseudo' I am afraid. I have never found it so.

[MrA]

Never dissapointed by food at Stroll Inn Karakum takeaways cheap and really good, Fish and chips better than Saltys or Crispy Squid IMO.

[Muad_dib]

Just got back from Silver Rocks,hadn't booked,got the last table albeit inside but the windows were open and the entrance so nice breeze,anyway he turned away 5 or 6 groups as they hadn't booked.The outside was packed but the service was fine as was the food.About 5/6 weeks ago went to Tervetuloa and I know she had a large anniversary party there but again Afet was turning away people so these two restaurants must be doing something right.Mind you not hard to work out why Tervetuloa is busy,great food and terrific prices'

[Soner]

I second that, Tervetuloa has great food, don't mind travelling from Gecitkale just to eat there, when I have had enough cornflakes for the week.

[PoshinDevon]

Just back home after an excellent meal in a restaurant in which we were the only non turkish speaking customers. Authentic turkish food, traditional turkish music and songs, not to loud so we could talk comfortably and all at a great price.

We know that everyone has an opinion about places to eat and we are very careful when recommending simply because we all have different expectations and what is good to some is not for others.

One we will keep to ourselves.

[kiplet]

Ah ! Spoilsport lol

[silverfir]

Aw, what happened to all the caring and sharing on Kibkom? I'm glad 'The Posh' got pasted yesterday now.