A Traveller’s Guide to Choosing a Seafood Restaurant in Sultanahmet

A Turkish seafood dinner is often most enjoyable when the table is built gradually.

Instead of choosing one main dish immediately, guests can begin with small plates, add a warm seafood starter and then share fish or shellfish.

This guide explains how to create that rhythm at a Turkish seafood restaurant in Istanbul without ordering too much or missing the dishes that suit your group.

Step 1: Open the Table with Meze and Salad

Start with a small selection rather than covering the table at once. A salad, vegetable dish or cold meze brings freshness before richer seafood.

For two people, one or two starters are usually enough if you plan to order a substantial fish or shellfish main.

Ask which dishes are light, creamy, spicy or garlic-forward. Variety is more important than quantity: one fresh vegetable-based plate and one seafood starter create a clearer progression than several similar dishes.

Step 2: Add One Warm Seafood Starter

Calamari, shrimp, octopus or vongole can bridge the gap between cold starters and the main course.

Fried calamari adds crispness; grilled calamari is lighter; buttered shrimp is richer; and vongole brings a delicate shellfish character. If the main course will be lobster or a seafood casserole, choose a lighter warm starter.

Sharing is part of the pleasure, but portion expectations differ. Ask how many pieces or servings are included, particularly when dining with a group.

Step 3: Choose the Main Event

For a straightforward fish dinner, grilled sea bass, sea bream or salmon is a dependable choice. Turbot, red mullet and seasonal bluefish offer a different texture or character.

Paper-baked fish adds lemon, garlic and rosemary, while salt-baked or clay-pot fish turns the main course into a shared experience.

Shellfish lovers can choose lobster, whole octopus, jumbo shrimp or the By Kinyas Special for two.

If your group has different preferences, combine one seafood centrepiece with individual Turkish dishes such as Adana kebab, chicken shish, meat shish or lamb chops.

Three Sample Orders

• For two seafood lovers: Oysters or salad, one calamari dish, then salt-baked fish or the By Kinyas Special for two.
• For a mixed group: Shared meze and shrimp, followed by grilled fish for some guests and kebabs or mixed grill for others.
• For a relaxed lunch: Salad, grilled sea bass or a fish skewer, then rice pudding or fruit.

These are frameworks, not rules. Appetite, fish size and the number of starters will change how much food is appropriate.

Ask the team to help pace the meal and bring the main course after the starters are cleared.

Step 4: Finish with a Turkish Dessert

Baklava offers a crisp, syrupy finish, while rice pudding is softer and more restrained.

Katmer brings pastry and pistachio richness; semolina halva with ice cream contrasts warm and cold textures; and a fruit plate is a lighter option after a large seafood meal.

At By Kinyas, the rooftop view can extend the evening after the final course. Allow time for the meal rather than treating the restaurant only as a stop between attractions.

Practical Etiquette for an Easy Meal

• Ask questions about preparation, bones, portion size and sharing.
• Confirm the weight and price of items selected by size.
• Mention allergies before ordering, especially shellfish allergies.
• Do not feel obliged to order every course; a shorter meal can still be complete.
• Reserve ahead if a terrace view or special occasion is important.

Plan Your By Kinyas Experience

Build your own Turkish seafood dinner at By Kinyas Terrace Restaurant, from oysters and warm starters to grilled fish, sharing plates, kebabs and dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Turkish seafood meals have to include many meze dishes?

No. Choose a small number of contrasting starters and leave room for the fish or shellfish you most want to try.

Can seafood and kebabs be ordered at the same table?

Yes. By Kinyas serves seafood alongside Turkish kebabs, grilled meats and vegetarian dishes, which is helpful for mixed groups.

How do I avoid ordering too much?

Ask whether each plate is individual or designed for sharing. For two people, start modestly and add another dish only if needed.

Which dessert is lighter after fish?

Rice pudding, mixed ice cream or a fruit plate can feel lighter than pastry-based desserts, while preference and appetite should guide the choice.