Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Bar and Restaurant Questions and Discussions => Topic started by: chas cooke on October 19, 2008, 21:13:13 PM
-
If you want excellent food at reasonable prices then Harem Restaurant (first on the right as you step onto the sea front) is the place to visit. My family and I, 7 of us in total, had superb meals every time we ate there and the manager (or owner, we never figured out which) George, is attentive, polite, has a great memory for food and drink ordered on previous visits and is not pushy or insistent. It says somthing when it is the only restaurant we saw that was full every night we were there. The Harem special meatballs and the Pide are particularly good as is the special sizzling lamb for two.
-
Have been going there for years and can only agree!
Ps, Why not introduce yourself? Dont be shy ! ;)
-
:) One of our favourites too, ;) Hiya Chas:P
-
quote:
Originally posted by Jukebox
Have been going there for years and can only agree!
Ps, Why not introduce yourself? Dont be shy ! ;)
Might be the old Chelsea favourite JB :)
-
we have had a few nice meals there and george is a great fella
-
Went here after having a disastrous evening at SAT Restaurant where we ended up leaving before our food was ordered. We came across Harem on our walk back and were really happy with the food. Swordfish was delicious and the plate was just full with food. The veggies in our group loved the options available too. Ended the evening with a good chat with George the restaurant owner. Have to admit though I couldn't help but smirk when the waiters cleaned the tables in between courses with a hand held hoover.
-
can only agree with the positive comments. if it's on try the Triblex, strips of chicken & beef cooked in a proper stock and served with salad and rice with prawns in it. It was a special this Monday at a mere 18.5 TL. VERY yummy. George is great and likes a little joke with you. He is, in our opinion, one of the best restaurant staff you can be looked after by. We seek him out every year...
-
GEORGE the owner???
That's a new one on me, is it a new one for Mehmet too? :D
-
quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
GEORGE the owner???
That's a new one on me, is it a new one for Mehmet too? :D
Scunner
I take it that Mehmet is the owner. Although we've been going there for years we've never known his name(deeper voice than George) even though he's chatted to us a lot. A gentleman indeed who has now rented a restaurant in Spain to look after during the winter months: we assume that he has a manager out there during the summer. Although we wish him well with the new venture we hope that his roots will stay with Calis.
The Harem is indeed well worth a visit.
-
Obviously George isn't the owner then!? He had us believe he was and was telling us all about his hair implants! Well maybe he thinks he is the owner???
-
Him and his bloody implants, why does he think any of us is interested. I have no doubt he told you he was the owner. Mehmet is the owner (and has been since the year dot) unless George has won the lottery.
Mehmet is, as Clioman2 says, one of the gentlemen of life and someone I have great respect for.
-
Mehmet has just returned to Calis from his other restaurant in Majorca. He is a really nice guy.
-
Every summer my family and I have been dining at the Harem since this restaurant first opened. Mehmet and his family-run restaurant have consistently offered fantastic food served with superb hospitality.
My two daughters have just returned from Calis after an excellent two week stay in the Oykun Hotel and they regularly dined at the Harem.
I am delighted that Mehmet has returned from Spain and will add his personal touch to maintain the richly deserved reputation of his restaurant.
I will be rounding the corner at the junction on Tuesday and will enjoy a chilled glass of Efes as I watch the sun dipping over the mountains. These memories sustain you throughout the prolonged dark of a Sottish winter.
-
Enjoyed a few good meals at the Harem over the last 2 weeks and previous 15 years.
Only downside was that they have renewed all the furniture since last year doing away with the comfortable cushioned cane chairs and low tables which formerly fronted the restaurant.
These were perfect for a quiet drink before or after a meal or coffee and cake throughout the day.
Mehmet admitted that he had lost some business because of this and as a result replacements are on order.
Hopefully they will be in place soon.
-
We also thought it was a shame they removed the (comfortable) cane chairs and low tables along the front - as you say it was a lovely spot to sit at any time, especially for a late drink. It seems a shame that most of the restaurants feel they have to change their furniture to such stark upright chairs etc - we feel the Harem has lost its ambience and to be honest we were a bit disappointed with our meals there. We willl however give it the benefit of doubt and try it again in September.
-
Me and my husband have been going to Harem for 9 years. Memhet is a true gentlemen and a very dear friend of ours. The food is excellent and would highly recommend Harem We was out there in September and Memhet was not there he was in Spain, I have to say we missed Memhet. We have been told he is back and we are looking forward to seeing him.
-
Have to say, Harem was the worse meal in Calis, it was cold, the fries weren't cooked, the bread was dry and crispy, they tried to charge us for 2 beers which were actually included in the meal price. We were a table for 2 there was 2 other tables of 4 and a 3 in at the same time and we were all suprised how fast the food came out, but there again it wasn't cooked, when we left the group of 4 were agruing about their bill being wrong too. Not a good place to eat!!
-
quote:
Originally posted by Issey
Have to say, Harem was the worse meal in Calis, it was cold, the fries weren't cooked, the bread was dry and crispy, they tried to charge us for 2 beers which were actually included in the meal price. We were a table for 2 there was 2 other tables of 4 and a 3 in at the same time and we were all suprised how fast the food came out, but there again it wasn't cooked, when we left the group of 4 were agruing about their bill being wrong too. Not a good place to eat!!
Issey, I am surprised as I have been going there for the last 5 years and I have to say the food and the service has always been top notch (and I'm a fussy bugger at the best of times[:o)]) Mehmet is a lovely chap who always goes out of his way to ensure you have a first class experience. He would be mortified to hear your comments.
-
Was this a meal taken recently?
Assuming that it was,anyone else been in lately and want to comment?
As piscoe said the Harem has always been reliable.
-
as diamond says mehmet is calis's best kept secret a true gentleman and his place is so consistant great food and a service second to none look forward to seeing him again sadly missing for past 12 mths in spain.with a reply to issey are you sure you have the right place,7 years without a problem it cannot be the same place sorry
-
Its one of the few places we have never eaten in all the years we have been going to Calis, but George, yes we know George....and the implants, how many times has he told me about those!!! :)
-
We have been going to the Harem for the past 3 or 4 years, and like George and Mehmet, but as mentioned in our earlier post when we were over in June we were disappointed with some of the meals we had there.
-
We have just got back from our first visit to Calis, and whilst the standard of the food and service at all of the restaurants we tried was extremely good, the Harem was our favourite.
The pepper steaks, sword fish and especially the lamb chops were simply gorgeous, and the two or three course set menus were terrific value for money. We will be going back on our first night next time.
And the views are priceless!
-
susan hello and welcome to the cbf
-
I have just returned from an excellent holiday in Calis. My wife and I ate every night at the Harem Restaurant. That totals 46 evening meals and every single meal was prepared and served with the highest standard which is so typical of Mehmet's concern for the enjoyment of his customers. Mehmet has high expectations of the food which is served in his restaurant and would want to know why any customer did not enjoy his or her dining experience. I cannot comment on other restaurants on a first-hand basis in Calis, but I am sure there are many which are of equal standard which will be highlighted by other contributors. But I offer a word of caution when you are strolling past reading or hearing the offers of free beers or free starters. Which area has been trimmed to entice you with this offer? I trust implicitly in the judgement Mehmet has of the suppliers of the produce delivered to his restaurant and in the preparation of superb meals by his chefs. On speaking to many residents, throughout a long association with Calis, I know that Mehmet Ipar's reputation as a restaurant owner and gentleman is impeccable.
It was with a great deal of sadness that our holiday came to an end but we look forward to our yearly pilgrimage to Calis Cennet (sorry if the spelling is out).
-
You may well be right but as it seems you have not eaten anywhere else I do not think you are qualified to pass comment on anywhere else.
-
Brian, you remind me of my Mum and Dad God rest them. They always loved travelling abroad, however, it did not matter what place they travelled too, they found one restaurant they liked and went there every night. I remember when I was a kid spending 14 nights in the same place in Barcelona with them, even took the same table.... Much as I love and miss them, I now always try a variety of restaurants when on holiday.
-
A careful reading of my last post would establish that I have not passed any comment on other restaurants. I merely cautioned against any inducements being offered by other restaurants eg free beer or free starters. During our stay we would frequently go for a stroll along the front before returning to the Harem for a coffee and ice-cream. These offers would only serve to question the quality of the food that lay behind the offer and be confirmed by the lack of clientele in the restaurant.
Anyone holidaying in Calis would only require to read the reports of unfortunate "dining experiences" which are recorded elsewhere in the Forum to appreciate the need to be reassured of the Harem's well-deserved reputation.
My reply to this particular thread was prompted by a previous contributor's experience of the Harem. We spent 23 evenings (30 June-23 July)and were witness to satisfied customers (from the young to the notso).
If you are looking for different places to eat the Forum had an interesting thread concerning 7 favourite restaurants for a 7 day holiday. I have always responded to recommendations made by people I respect and have long given up the gamble of the untried restaurant with "baited bread".
-
Hi Jacqui
I would exercise the same caution were I at home or on holiday. Thanks for the comparison to sounding like your Mum and Dad. I hope that my own children will remember us in the same way. Both my daughters holidayed in Calis this year and like yourself when they travelled with us in the past they ate in the same restaurant. I am sure an overriding desire was to ensure you were safe and they felt the restaurant in which you ate should offer the same standard of quality as they would provide at home.
Whereas my daughters and their boyfriends ate many times at the Harem they sampled other restaurants --all to mixed reviews. They were enticed by freebies but these did not compensate for the quality of food provided. The experience of their first independent holiday in Turkey could have been blighted by their encounter with the con-men and pseudo-friends which all popular resorts harbour. Fortunately, these experiences were countered by the well established friends they have met throughout the years.
-
We have been going to Calis for 3 years, and like to eat in different places, and always try a new place or two each visit. However, if I had to pick a favourite it would be the Harem. The steaks must be the best in Calis (according to my partner). When we took my teenage boys there this summer they just had starters and the obligatory pizza, so you wouldnt think they would think it much different to anywhere else. However, thought I would ask them where they wanted to go for the last night, and they both said The Harem. Obviously we were happy! I just put it down to the lovely setting, the way you are made to feel so welcome, and the great service. Oh yes, and they had pizzas again!
-
Have the comfortable chairs and low tables been returned to the front of the Harem yet and is Issey going to tell when she had the meal she complained of ?
-
Hi John H
Tables and chairs which were at the front of the Harem have gone. Restaurant furniture has been renewed-solid, substantial and very comfortable. Mehmet does not envisage the return of the low cane chairs which have featured at the front for many years. Like yourself John, I was interested to hear when Issey had this experience which prompted an outrageous remark viz "not a good place to eat".
-
Hello Brian,
In June Mehmet said he was going to bring back low tables and comfortable chairs to the front of the restaurant.
He did in fact say they were on order.
Must have changed his mind or the customers have adapted to the new furniture.
We will still be there in September,but I do miss those chairs.
-
Can anyone update the situation on the low tables and comfortable chairs?
I really enjoyed drinking while in those chairs.
Coming back very soon and was hoping that they had been re-instated.
Only comparable ones are at the Sim Bar of the Seketur Hotel.
A bit petty I know, but I was in a very comfortable 'rut' at the Harem.
-
Nope still not there! But late on or during the day theres nothing stopping you from having a relaxing drink there.
-
Think Mehmet has been asked quite a few times about the outside tables and chairs, us being one of those asking, he told us that he is getting them back again and that the staff set the seating out when he was in Spain, so I think that there must have been a few of us in the comfy rut that John was in.:P