TRY: Lunapark Restaurant

Colourful main courses with vegetables, fries and rice!

My sister, BFF and I had a truly enjoyable time at Buyukada, the largest of the nine Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara. The island is reachable from Kabatas in 2 hours by ferry. Before climbing up to Aya Yorgi Church, we had lunch at Lunapark Restaurant that's situated at the centre of the island.

Does the photo above make your mouth water?

Sigara Boregi ₺10.00 (~S$2.30)

Taste: 8.5/10

I wouldn't want to leave Turkey without having its deep-fried savoury filo pastry. The restaurant served very nice sigara boregi (lit. cigar pastry) with truly crunchy exterior and yummy cheese filling flavoured with herbs. Since my sister only took one of them, my BFF and I could enjoy one and a half each.

Pilic Sis ₺25.00 (~S$5.70)

Taste: 7.5/10

What a colourful main course! The grilled chicken was marinated well, although it wasn't as moist as expected. Having said that, it wasn't tough at all. The white meat was accompanied by an assortment of vegetables, fries and highly tasty, but sinful rice cooked with butter.

Kofte Izgara ₺25.00 (~S$5.70)

Taste: 8/10

Equally vibrant in terms of colours was the plate featuring grilled meatballs. Taste wise, I'd a preference for the minced beef over the chicken as the former was flavourful and tender. I also enjoyed the green chilis, which underwent a grilling process that brought out their sweetness. 

Levrek ₺40.00 (~S$9.10)

Taste: 8/10

One more grilled item that we shared was quite a big sea bass. It was adequately fresh with detectable natural sweetness, so it was worth the price. It came with fresh vegetables, together with a rather small wedge of lemon that turned out to have lots of juice to drizzle over it.

Sahlep ₺10.00 (~S$2.30)

Taste: 8/10

I had my virgin experience with the thick, starchy drink made of flour processed from the tubers of orchids two years ago at Camlica Hill in the Asian side of Istanbul. The one served at Lunapark Restaurant was good, but it could be served at a higher temperature. Topped with cinnamon powder, it was mildly sweet.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 7.5/10

Service: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.5/10

I wonder if there's a story behind the name of the restaurant. In Turkish, lunapark means fun fair or amusement park. Pika's advice: For a variety of grilled meat in one plate to share, you may want to order Karisik Izgara. It's priced at ₺75.00 (~S$17.10).

Lunapark Restaurant

1 Birlik Square

Buyukada

Istanbul

Turkey

(Daily: 9.00am - 12 midnight)

http://www.buyukadalunapark.com/

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)