HANE

"Perfection is many small things done well"

I much prefer simple, local food to fine dining. I find a disconnect between food and enjoyment so often when sitting in stiff surroundings where one worries more about one's behaviour than about the actual food being eaten. Hane was one of those "sitting in the middle" places, not really fine dining but not casual either.

After peering inside I opted to sit alone outside since the dining room reeked of money and snobbery.

After contemplating the QR menu, I ordered the Potato Salad with Sea Bass and the Lamb Shoulder as a main.

I could be projecting here, but I got the impression that the servers were not that interested in attending to someone wearing black jean shorts and a t-shirt. Perhaps they were eyeing a bigger tip from their classier clientele inside, or perhaps I was reading too much into it.

Needless to say, when it comes to simplicity, the best thing I ate at Hane was the cream cheese with thyme and olive oil that was served as a free side for the bread. Yes. It was addictive, and a flavour combination I had never thought of. The potato salad was tasty but lacked acid. Unfortunately, the main dish was a letdown. As often with lamb shoulder, if it's not cooked perfectly it eats dry and this was an arid experience. 

Not only was it overcooked but the accompanying sauce ate sweet, a flavour profile I am personally not a fan of. 

All in all, it was an interesting experience eating at a slightly higher-end restaurant than my usual gastronomic adventures in Kadikoy, but i'll stick to the places that the regular locals go to and have been doing so for decades.

These recommendations are just personal opinions based on my palate, things change, chefs get fired or replaced, places open-close, relocate, so take it all with a pinch of MSG  and discover your own gems too. But please do try a few of these, they have been researched exhaustively.