Kantin

Incredible. Best think is their speciality thin pizzas and the mastika sour cherry pudding a must!

Having now had three very positive experiences at this nice quiet little escape, I feel comfortable recommending a visit to this restaurant. Located on the first floor above a little specialty food shop behind the big vertical mall, the atmosphere inside is warm and cozy. And when the weather is pleasant, there is a very nice outdoor seating area in the back. And the congeniality and helpfulness of the staff is comensurate with the ambiance.
But the reason to go is the food. The menu is written on a wall board and will need to be translated. But that is why the service gets a gold star: they are patient and most helpful in guiding you through the menu and making recommendations. Still, don’t be surprised if the English translation doesn’t accurately capture the meaning as you might know it.
I was contemplating dessert, and among the six or so items, one or two of them were obvious including one item listed as «cheesecake». Wanting to try something more indiginous, I wrote off that alternative. Asking for a recommendation from my waiter, she directed me to that same cheesecake. Despite my explaining to her my desire to try something more «Turkish» she insisted, so I gave in. What I was served was a bowl of sweetened corn grits over ice cream. And, as questionable sounding as it may be, I found I rather liked the dish.
Don’t take the above story as indicative of their entire menu. Everything else came as described and as I expected. But this semantic confusion resulted, for me at least, to an enjoyable culinary adventure at this lovely restaurant. When weather permits, there is a pleasant outdoor deck in the back of the restaurant that offers a quiet setting for dinner.

What a lovely place with delicious food and a serene courtyard seating area!
If you are looking for a peaceful and delicious lunch experience with the elite of Istanbul, then Kantin is your best bet. Kantin is tucked away from the craziness of Nişantaşı on a side street.
The staff is friendly, professional and fluent in English which makes it easy to order. Kantin has a charming atmosphere with a touch of nostalgia (dark walnut furniture, white table clothes, ceiling fans, etc.).
The menu changes daily we were informed but order with confidence because every dish we had was simply delicious. Also, ask for staff recommendations. That’s how we discovered the delicious thin crust pizza.
Tip: Walk right in towards the back and grab a table.

During my stay in Istanbul, I had one of my best meals here at Kantin. While the menu changes daily, the variety is great and the food is too. The food is local and homemade (something rare in such a touristic city), and the sauces are great. The restaurant offers some great service, as well as a very chilled and relaxed atmosphere. The location is great and I definitely recommend you check this place out!

As the menu changes daily, there are pre-​prepared food available to go. You can follow the ‘day of the food’ from the blackboard. Foods are well-​presented. Tables are adorned with flowers. Overall, it’s an over-​priced but classy eatery.

Kantin is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Istanbul. The food is all local, sustainable and seasonal and everything is house made, that includes the condiments. Their sourdough bread is such a breath of fresh air to the standard airy fluff served in most restaurants. When we went I had a curried cauliflower salad. It was incredible. It involved cauliflower, cabbage, pine nuts, golden raisins, herbs and chives, pickled sweet onions with some of the pickling spices and other things I am forgetting now. Each bite had a different flavor or texture that kept the salad exciting to the end. My husband had a roast beef carpaccio with a citrus dressing that was very very good. We bought a loaf of the olive sourdough bread and a loaf of the dill cornbread both of which were gone by the next day! I went back the next day for more olive bread but sadly as is their model, you must get there in good time because once the days allotment is sold, it’s gone. You must wait to see what the next day brings. That day we also tasted their house made falafel which was more like a mini veggie burger and I bought a really yummy wheat berry salad. We took home a jar of the house made pesto which I used that night on some homemade pasta, a perfect combination. I am so thrilled to have discovered this place and I am only sad that I wasted so many meals at inferior establishments. As it’s in my neighborhood I plan to be a regular. Thanks for being a standout in Istanbul Kantin!!!