Herise İstanbul
Istanbul
Reseñas
We had a wonderful dinner; from the sourdough bread and butter all the way to the deliciously light and floral zerde dessert. Our favorites were definitely the creative soft drinks/mocktails & desserts (halva & zerde were really incredible). The service was very thoughtful and professional. We left with a very thoughtful gift to remember our lovely experience. Definitely worth a visit to try masterfully executed Turkish classics.
We found this restaurant through the Michelin Guide and it ended up being one of the best experiences we had in Istanbul. What immediately stood out was how much love and attention goes into everything here. One of the chefs, Asude, spoke to us throughout the evening and was so genuinely passionate when explaining the dishes that we were completely drawn in. You could really feel that food comes first here, and that makes such a difference. The absolute highlight for me was the Keşkek / Herise, a traditional Turkish dish recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. It is a labour-intensive dish to make, which made it even more special to see it prepared with so much care. My grandmother used to make it for me when I was younger, but because of the arthritis in her hands she eventually had to stop. I realised while eating it that I probably hadn’t had this dish in 15 to 20 years. One bite instantly brought me back to eating at my grandmother’s home. That nostalgic feeling alone would have made the evening special, but on top of that it was absolutely delicious. We also loved that they don’t serve alcohol, but instead focus on homemade drinks that are actually exciting and worth trying. My partner had the sour lemonade and I had the monthly house syrup with quince. Both were delicious. Also, come hungry. The portions are very generous and by the end of the evening we definitely needed a proper walk afterwards. Not a single regret though, because everything was worth it. What also stayed with me was how proud they are of their ingredients. They explain where products come from and really celebrate local producers in Türkiye. At the end of the meal we were even given a little boxed cookie to take home, which was such a thoughtful surprise. On top of all that, the hospitality was amazing. We got great restaurant tips for places in the area because we seemed to share the same interest in both refined Turkish cuisine and more traditional spots. We’ll definitely be trying those recommendations. If I’m back in Istanbul, I will 100% return. And if you’re visiting, this place is worth planning an evening around. It’s not just dinner, it’s a full experience.
It’s very good, and very special. I guess you have to be open minded to a special meal. If you are you are going to have a very pleasant experience with some very nice and well Prepared food - with a story.
What an interesting and educational lunch we had. I was intrigued by the regional menu and it didn’t disappoint. While we have enjoyed the ‘local’ food that is served as standard in most of the recommended restaurants in Istanbul, Herise is operating at a different level. Evidently home-cooked, with a huge amount of pride and care and respect for tradition. Food like this is to be savoured. The husband and wife team prepare traditional dishes and take time to talk you through why they are so important to them and the carefully crafted menu doesn’t disappoint. The food will in some cases challenge but you know it is genuine. Make the effort to stray from the beaten path and find yourself some original food that is not available anywhere else we have been to in the last 4 weeks in this amazing City. We were even gifted some delicious treats to take home. Congratulations also to the impeccable design of the restaurant - the loos alone are worth the visit.
After many years wanting to try this restaurant, we finally came! The concept is really interesting, focused on organic and local produce, fully turkish experience. Traditional food, in a sophisticated way, but that still feels like the real thing. Very nice service, friendly, professional and that you can see that they are really proud of what they do. We’ll definitely be back!
