Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: January 30, 2023 | 
| 中文
Mezze
Basha Istanbul is always full at dinner time, with almost two dozen people in the waiting line to be seated, the crowd that the restaurant pulls in even on a weeknight, is just one of the features that hit you when you visit this eatery offering Turkish and Lebanese cuisine. Having opened doors in September 2022, Basha Istanbul is situated in the F-7 sector on the top floor of a plaza that houses many other well-known restaurants.
The second thing that strikes all your senses when you step into Basha Istanbul is the ambiance and the décor. It’s a riot of colors, from flags to flowers, Turkish lamps and lanterns, wall hangings and sculptures, paintings and other decorative details, an open kitchen, and a long service counter. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor terrace seating but still feels crowded. As if this was not enough, there are half a dozen especially ornamented sections of the restaurant, designed for the selfie-takers and is ‘Instagram-able’.
Basha Istanbul's decor inside
With an extensive menu, Basha Istanbul has multiple options to choose from its 11 different sections that range from appetizers, soups, main courses, doners, Turkish pizza also called ‘Pide’, a Shawarma section, a Gyro section, Bar B Q (barbecue) section with over a dozen options of kebabs and koftas, and finally a desserts section with Babosa, Baklawa, Milky Cake, and half a dozen Kunafa varieties.
But nothing prepares you for the gastronomical experience that awaits you when it comes to food. Fortunately, the taste at Basha Istanbul matches the over-whelming ambiance. Order the Mezze platter and it is almost a meal in itself. Comprising of plain Hummus, Mutable, Tabouli, Fatoush, and Baba Ghanoush with four different kinds of bread. Served on literally a large wooden plank, add lamb or Chicken Hummus and you have a full meal for four to five people. I will give the Mezze at Basha Istanbul a 7 out of 10.
Hummus
Mezze is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Turkey, Greece, Iraq, the Balkans, and Iran. Mezze may be served as part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself. The word is found in all the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and originated from a Turkish word meaning a snack or appetizer. This, in turn, originated from the Persian word "mazzah" (taste).
While the Pasha soup is the most outstanding from the consommé section, for me the lamb Doner was a bit disappointing as the meat was rubbery and smelt strange. Doner is the style of making seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone slow cooked as the large skewer is slowly turned on a rotisserie, next to a vertical cooking element. Shredded cooked meat is then rolled into a loaf of pita bread with shards of freshly chopped vegetables. The vertical rotisserie was invented in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire, and dishes such as Arab Shawarma, Greek Gyros, Canadian Donair, and Mexican Al Pastor are derived from this. The Doner at Basha Istanbul can be given a miss as there are definitely better options available in Islamabad. I will give it a 5 out of 10.
Turkish Pizza called Pide, pronounced as “pee-DEH” is a delicious savory flatbread that is formed into a boat-like shape and baked in the oven on a stone. They are a favorite fast food for Turks, and they can eat their Pide for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These deliciously crusted pieces of bread can be filled with cheese, ground meat, spinach, or almost anything. At Basha Istanbul, you can choose chicken, cheese, lamb, cheese pepperoni, or a combination Pide. Already too full after devouring the mezzo platter, I decided to try the Pide some other time, and moved to the Bar B Q section of the menu.
Pide
Order a Bar B Q platter, good for 5-6 people, and you get a hearty serving of grilled vegetables, spiced bread, Chicken Kebab, Lamb Kebab, chicken Sheesh Touk, lamb Sheesh Tikka, wings with skin, Eggplant Kebabs, Inegol Kofte (Turkish meatballs), spiced potato, Kebab Pide, Lamb Chops, Turkish bread, Turkish rice, mutton liver, and smith bread. All that drama happening at your table doesn’t end there. The restaurant staff will bring liquid nitrogen and spray it under the raised platter and the spread gets engulfed in clouds. This will follow the server bringing a lamb fat skewer and a torch to melt the lard on your grub. The best part is that beyond all these interesting theatrics, all the food is good in taste too. The meats are tender and optimally juicy with the loaves of bread giving you a satisfying dose of carbs. I will give it an 8 out of 10.
Lamb Chops
If you have a sweet tooth, the Cheese Kunafa of Basha Istanbul is a must-try. Adequately sweet, it is yummy and once again, one serving can be enough for 4-5 people to share after this plentiful meal. Very similar to the ‘Phenian’, a Ramzan specialty in our part of the world, Kunafa is a traditional, Middle Eastern dessert made with fine semolina dough, soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, then layered with cheese, or with ingredients such as cream and nuts. The Kunafa at Basha Istanbul is a perfect 10 out of 10. I will go to Basha Istanbul again for Kunafa, if nothing else.
Kunafa, a Middle Eastern dessert
The overall experience at Basha Istanbul was enjoyable, the food tasted good, and the atmosphere is generally very family-friendly. Servings are large so you will surely get more value for money, if you go there in a group. With fewer items, Basha Istanbul can make more space for seating, but keeping the space clean would be a challenge. Don’t forget to take a picture in the room built like a glass cube full of Turkish lamps. That one will definitely make it to your Instagram.
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