Kaşıbeyaz is a popular, old school franchise of Turkish restaurants in Istanbul. If I’m not mistaken there are eight dotted around town, this expansive branch opposite Migros in the Bakırköy neighbourhood included. Mezza and ice cream displays greet you as you enter followed by a large children’s play area – this is very much a family-oriented establishment. There’s plenty of valet (and free normal) parking available outside should you bring a car. Although we booked a table from our hotel, there was no trace of our reservation. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t too busy, and we were quickly shown to our table for three. No one spoke English. Hmm.
Entrance 
Interior 
Children’s play area 
Interior 
Mezze display
Pointing is as good a language as any, so I went with one of the waiters to the mezza display at the entrance and pointed at everything from their amazing Patlican Ezme to my spicy favourite Acılı Ezme. Hungry from a day of travel we set about our delicious starters with the aid of some piping hot flatbread (which I didn’t have due to my low carb diet). My English friend Lloyd, a fiend for offal, ordered Böbrek Izgara – lamb’s kidney. I ordered Kuzu şiş kebap, Turkish shish kebab (also lamb), while the Azeri among us ordered the famous Adana kebabı, a minced kebab similar to Koobideh. We shared. I liked mine the best.
Mezze 
Acılı Ezme 
Böbrek Izgara 
Kuzu şiş kebap 
Adana kebabı 
Dessert
We ended our meal with an orgasmic Fıstıklı Şöbiyet (a type of baklava), a forgettable Kunefe and copious amounts of Turkish tea. I had a taste of both the desserts but did not give in to the devil perched on my left shoulder. Irrespective of the fact that no one at the restaurant spoke a word of English, we all found the staff friendly and accommodating. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meal, if not quite the rather dull, music-less ambiance. Foodwise though I would come back to this eatery if ever I found myself in the neighbourhood.
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.