Semolina Kafe & Restoran

Sooo good. In Istanbul, it is more challenging than you would expect to find non-​Turkish cuisine. This little spot in Kadikoy is a great alternative. It is cozy and hip place with an open kitchen. We went on a Friday night around 8pm and almost all 6 tables in the establishment were full.
I had just gotten back from Italy the week before I ate here and found the food comparable. They had a few appetizer and dessert options and a large selection of pasta. I ordered bruschetta, fettucine alfredo, and chocolate soufflé. While everything I ate was delicious, the bruschetta was the real winner. It is hands down the best bruschetta I’ve ever eaten.
I took a picture of it so I can remember it always.

We popped in for a quick lunch and were amazed at how good the food was. They had only fettuccine but the pesto and alla norma were both delicious. The pasta was cooked to perfection (not overdone) and while the alla norma was a bit unorthodox with the addition of olives, it worked quite well. Staff were quick and helpful, although they did not speak much English. I can’t speak for the rest of the menu, but the pasta is absolutely the reason to go here.

Home made pasta says it all. Cozy little place, nice seating and atmosphere. Classic pasta menu done well, fettuccini alfredo was delicious! One of the best little italian restaurants around.

I’ve been meaning to try this place since I discovered it a couple of weeks ago. It caught my attention with the menu that said there is pumpkin soup. Well, you know, it’s not a soup you can find everywhere and I’ve never tried it before so I thought this could be my chance! Great!
But when I went there yesterday I learned that their soup menu changes daily. This time they had carrot soup with ginger. I thought, why not? I’ve never tried it before either. So, I ordered and it came with a great look. At the first sip I thought I’m drinking latte! It had a really sweet taste and was totally different than I expected. I don’t think I would prefer it for dinner but if you’re open for trying out new tastes, you may give it a try :)
When you check the menu, you’ll see that this is actually a place to eat pasta. The biggest part of the menu belongs to pasta section and the other options are really limited. I ordered fresh pasta (yes, they have fresh pasta!) with Akdeniz sauce and it was truly delicious. If I ever feel like eating pasta again, this is definitely the place I’m going! It is a little bit pricey but I think the pasta I had was totally worth it.
The restaurant was rather small, had an open kitchen by the side of the tables and I felt like eating at home. The only thing that bothered me a bit was the garlic smell. It was all over the place because they prepare the meals right next to you. More fresh air would make me feel more comfortable but it was ok, I got used to it in the end anyway:)