TRY: Doy Doy Restaurant

Yummy chicken kebab dusted with pistachio crumbs!

Welcome back to Istanbul, Turkey! I'd wanted to go to Doy Doy Restaurant in the Sultanahmet area a few years ago, but I didn't manage to find it on my first trip to the charming city. With the help of my sister who's studying there at the point of writing, I finally managed to drop by the restaurant with a terrace for lunch.

Being informed about the closure of the terrace during winter made my BFF and me feel sad. That was when my Turkish-speaking sister used her charm by talking to one of the staff who eventually opened the terrace just for us. Wow! :)

Bean Soup ₺8.00 (~S$2.65)

Taste: 7.5/10

Having had the assurance from my sister that it wouldn't simply be baked beans out of the can, I decided to try the bean soup for appetiser. The white beans cooked in tomato paste were also seasoned with onions and olive oil. I thought it'd be better if it were a bit sweeter.

Beef Shish Kebab ₺18.00 (~S$5.90)

Taste: 7.5/10

We decided to share two main courses among the three of us as we weren't too hungry. The beef chunks were pretty flavourful, though they could be juicier. I particularly enjoyed the rice pilaf that was fluffy and tasty. Other accompaniments include cabbages, onions, pickled beetroots and chewy bread strips.

Baked Chicken Kebab with Pistachio ₺23.00 (~S$7.55)

Taste: 8/10

The dish of baked chicken kebab topped with pistachio crumbs was more appealing in terms of both presentation and taste. The white meat was tender, going well with the slightly pepper brown sauce and plain yogurt. The same set of vegetables and rice pilaf were there without the bread strips.

Kemal Pasha ₺8.00 (~S$2.65)

Taste: 7.5/10

The name of the familiar-looking dessert originates from the city where it was born, which is in the Bursa region. Akin to Indian's gulab jamun, the balls made of unsalted cheese, semolina and flour were cooked in simple syrup. Interestingly, they were dusted with grated coconuts.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7.5/10

Ambience: 8/10

Service: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.5/10

The restaurant is actually not far from the famous Blue Mosque. Pika's advice: Coming in a pair or perhaps a group of three small eaters? You may want to consider the Doy Doy Mixed Kebab that's priced at ₺65.00 (~S$21.35).

Doy Doy Restaurant

13 Sifa Hamami Street

Istanbul

Turkey

(Daily: 9.00am - 10.30pm)

*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)