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Galata House
Galata (follow Kuledibi Sok. from the Galata Tower) Cuisines: EuropeanAbout
Hidden along the steep slopes of Galata's historic streets, this little restaurant, the brainchild of an architect/city planner and his wife, occupies a row house that served as the British jail at the beginning of the 1900s. The coziness of the dining rooms -- three small salons and an outdoor upper balcony -- belie the building's earlier purpose, except for the few preserved squares of plaster etched by prisoners during periods of extreme boredom. At first, the menu selections appear Turkish, but they arrive with an unexpected twist of flavor: The menu reaches into Caucasian territory, with Georgian dumplings, blini, borscht, and chicken and pea salad with yogurt and dill. Potential visitors should take note, however, of the steep incline of the streets in this neighborhood (wear rubber soles!), and that this particular street is often unlit.
