Food&Drink
3 stars
Kadıköy is not the first Istanbul borough that comes to mind when on the hunt for fine dining, however tucked down a side alley off busy Bahariye Street is one of the chicest eateries on the Asian side, The Agapia Garden Cafe and Restaurant. Located in a three story turn-of-the-century mansion, the Agapia can’t be beat for ambience. This is the ideal place for anniversaries and first dates. Whether you dine inside or out in the heated patio garden, every bit of decor and every piece of furniture has been chosen with an eye for comfort and style. Candles light the tables at night and the likes of Miles Davis plays softly in the background.
Agapia offers a whole range of appetizers, from all the typical Turkish mezes to more adventurous choices. The "Mediterranean lokum"--crab claw fritters--were unimpressive. The fritters could have used a dipping sauce and the fries were cold, but the patlıcanlı pastırmalı paçanga boreği was excellent, with a light, flaky, crust, and a hearty filling of eggplant, meat, herbs, and cheese. My favorite was the cheese plate with 6 different kinds of cheeses, seasonal fruits, nuts and breads (11.50). Paired with a glass of the house wine, (6 TL) it was a perfect beginning.
Agapia offers a wide variety of entrees from world cuisine. You can find fajitas, bon file with Cafe de Paris sauce, and cheeseburgers among its eclectic items. I was disappointed with the anemic cheeseburger, but the Agapia Special (19.50) was excellent, with a sample of all the meat dishes served over a bed of eggplant puree and covered in a tangy tomato sauce, all arranged in a crispy, taco-shell bowl. The beef fajitas (14.50) came out sizzling in an iron skillet, and through the accompanying guacamole could have been fresher, the meat and vegetables were tender and full of flavor. Desert was slow to appear--thirty minutes--but it was well worth the wait--a warm chocolate soufflé, crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, with vanilla ice cream adorned with curls of pistachio and chocolate syrup (5.50).
Agapia is not a place to come if you're in a rush. The chef takes care to make each dish on order, and though the waiters are generally attentive, it takes time for your food to arrive, so don’t to grab a quick bite before a show, but to spend a leisurely evening and you’ll leave satisfied.
Agapia
Address: Bahariye Cad. Miralay Nazım Sok. No:10
Kadıköy
0216 418 36 36
No reservations necessary
Entrees 10TL and up
All credit cards accepted
Agapia
Writer: Jeff Gibbs
3 stars
Kadıköy is not the first Istanbul borough that comes to mind when on the hunt for fine dining, however tucked down a side alley off busy Bahariye Street is one of the chicest eateries on the Asian side, The Agapia Garden Cafe and Restaurant. Located in a three story turn-of-the-century mansion, the Agapia can’t be beat for ambience. This is the ideal place for anniversaries and first dates. Whether you dine inside or out in the heated patio garden, every bit of decor and every piece of furniture has been chosen with an eye for comfort and style. Candles light the tables at night and the likes of Miles Davis plays softly in the background.
Agapia offers a whole range of appetizers, from all the typical Turkish mezes to more adventurous choices. The "Mediterranean lokum"--crab claw fritters--were unimpressive. The fritters could have used a dipping sauce and the fries were cold, but the patlıcanlı pastırmalı paçanga boreği was excellent, with a light, flaky, crust, and a hearty filling of eggplant, meat, herbs, and cheese. My favorite was the cheese plate with 6 different kinds of cheeses, seasonal fruits, nuts and breads (11.50). Paired with a glass of the house wine, (6 TL) it was a perfect beginning.
Agapia offers a wide variety of entrees from world cuisine. You can find fajitas, bon file with Cafe de Paris sauce, and cheeseburgers among its eclectic items. I was disappointed with the anemic cheeseburger, but the Agapia Special (19.50) was excellent, with a sample of all the meat dishes served over a bed of eggplant puree and covered in a tangy tomato sauce, all arranged in a crispy, taco-shell bowl. The beef fajitas (14.50) came out sizzling in an iron skillet, and through the accompanying guacamole could have been fresher, the meat and vegetables were tender and full of flavor. Desert was slow to appear--thirty minutes--but it was well worth the wait--a warm chocolate soufflé, crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, with vanilla ice cream adorned with curls of pistachio and chocolate syrup (5.50).
Agapia is not a place to come if you're in a rush. The chef takes care to make each dish on order, and though the waiters are generally attentive, it takes time for your food to arrive, so don’t to grab a quick bite before a show, but to spend a leisurely evening and you’ll leave satisfied.
Agapia
Address: Bahariye Cad. Miralay Nazım Sok. No:10
Kadıköy
0216 418 36 36
No reservations necessary
Entrees 10TL and up
All credit cards accepted