Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Bar and Restaurant Questions and Discussions => Topic started by: Susiepink on May 03, 2015, 07:39:27 AM
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We went to Bella Mamas last night for a meal, it was my first time there, and it was quite simply excellent. Why I have never been there before I don't know but it has gone to top of my favourites list, I am really impressed. The food was superb, beautifully presented, exactly as described on the menu, and delicious, and looking at some of the other meals that were coming out of the kitchen, they all looked amazing. We couldn't find room for a desert unfortunately as they all looked delicious too. There were plenty of attentive waiters, something that I think is the downfall of some restaurants. We had started out at Bambu for a cocktail, and after our meal we meandered round to the Gitachi bar for a couple of drinks, a thoroughly enjoyable evening, I count my lucky stars I live here :D :D :D
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Bella Mamas is definitely our favourite too. In all our years there, it has never failed to deliver.
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Agreed. One of my favourites, however I have been a little reluctant to visit yet as last year we went on two occasions just after it had reopened for the season and it seemed they were still getting in stuff as I looked to order two dishes and neither were available :( .
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The best in calis there lasagne as good as mine 1 st class.
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Bella Mamas a favourite of ours since it first opened, we always make sure we eat there a coupe of times at least. Will definitely be sampling their menu in a few weeks time :)
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The best in calis there lasagne as good as mine 1 st class.
You rate your own lasagne quite highly then :D
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We have been to Bella Mamas and you do get good food there, but it is not like the other restaurants in Calis where you know the waiters by name and they welcome you each time and of course, you always get a kiss. Then you get a chat and some banter and generally have a laugh and a good evening.
In Bella's it is very formal, you get welcomed with a handshake, you get seated and get your lovely meal eat it and move on out so the next people can eat. Frankly, it is somewhere to eat with no atmosphere and no character, (with no characters). I know the food is the most important thing in a restaurant and Bella's is good, but for a meal out it is nice to have all the other extras you get when eating in Calis.
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Bella Mama is our absolute favourite - we actually like the fact that they are a more reserved and efficient, although when we go in invariably the waiters come over and say hello, even if they are not actually on our side of the restaurant - they go out of their way to come over to us. We are always welcomed with a smile and an efficient service - sometimes we have to wait for a table, but never for very long. The meals are excellent (agree the lasagne is lovely) we love the pasta dishes, steak and chicken - in fact most of the menu !! Everyone we have taken there has throughly enjoyed their meal. Already looking forward to our first meal there soon. We often go in for lunch which is again excellent value, and as, at lunch time, they are not so busy they often come over and chat to
us.
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I don't think that there is a restaurant in Calis or Fethiye that do not want to put as many bums on seats as possible during an evening.
I would rather Bella Mama's professional, efficient approach rather than have a smiley chatty waiter trying to cover up inferior service.
Also it's my experience that restaurant staff have much less time for banter when they have other customers waiting to sit down :)
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I would rather Bella Mama's professional, efficient approach rather than have a smiley chatty waiter trying to cover up inferior service.
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i cannot agree with this, there are many restaurants in Calis that give you great food and wonderful service, service, that is not inferior.. In fact, you yourself H, have given awards to the Meeting Point. A place that is so warm and friendly, they always give you a great welcome and the food and service are really good, probably why they have won the CBF award for two years. As as for being busy with bums on seats, it is best to get their early, as it is always full and a lot cheaper than Bella Mamas. ;) They also do not rush you out of the place, you are always welcome to sit on and they always offer you a tea or coffee on the house.
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We havent eaten in there for approx 4 years due to the fact that three of us ordered lasagne and it arrived stone cold, we complained, nobody interested, full bill, nothing off, argued with them, basically was if you dont like dont come back and we havent, if i am asked for a reccommendation i always reccommend Casa da Mammas. The thing is i used to like the place but no more.
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I would rather Bella Mama's professional, efficient approach rather than have a smiley chatty waiter trying to cover up inferior service...... Highlander.
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i cannot agree with this, there are many restaurants in Calis that give you great food and wonderful service that that is not inferior.. In fact, you yourself H, have given awards to the Meeting Point. A place that is so warm and friendly, they always give you a great welcome and the food and service are really good, probably why they have won the CBF award for two years. As as for being busy with bums on seats, it is best to get their early, as it is always full and a lot cheaper than Bella Mamas. Unlike Bella Mamas, you always get a free starter and are not rushed out at the end of your meal you are welcome to stay and are alway offered a free cay or coffee. :)
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Jacqui - a few points if I may.
Hard as it may be to believe but I am aware that there are restaurants that give great food and service.
But, I have on more than one occasion had an experience where a waiter has tried to cover up inferior service by being over chatty.
I am sure that Mehmet likes chatting to his customers but I am equally sure that he wants to put as many bums on seats as he can.
I seriously doubt that The Meeting Point is "a lot cheaper" than Bella Mamas.
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Over three weeks in Turkey last year on our last visit, ate out most nights. Meeting Point was the cheapest meals we had.
I cannot recall any waiter being over chatty to cover up inferior service as I find the service in all the places we visit is so good.
It would also seem that Dycedon suffered inferior service from Bella Mamas and they don't chat at all. ;)
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Personally i think the best Italian place was La Soranata in Fethiye. I think that closed for them to open Bella Mamma's?
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Jacqui - we will have to agree to disagree on prices in The Meeting Point and Bella Mamas (at least until I get there in the summer) ;).
But have you never had poor service in a Calis Restaurant :o :o :o
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When Bella Mammas opened it was a revolution on the prom - there was now them and around the same time the Lighthouse - doing new things in terms of menu and service. And 28 other places doing the same menu as next door with rice chips and salad.
For me it was a much needed opportunity to have a meal with the family without the waiter larking about or worse still wanting to show me the plans for his father/uncle/cousin's new apartment project. It was nice to have the choice - if you wanted efficient and a bit stiff they provided that, and if you wanted banter and a kiss ( ;) ) then you went elsewhere. Sometimes we went there just for that - to be left alone :D
We haven't been in Bella Mammas for a few years now - mainly as we tend to stay in Calis but eat in Fethiye. I know a few people who have had what they consider to be a bad meal there but I can honestly say I've never once had a bad meal, nor any of the family or anyone we have been there with.
I think we might be eating there this year :)
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Personally i think the best Italian place was La Soranata in Fethiye. I think that closed for them to open Bella Mamma's?
Both were open concurrently for several years. La Seronata closed for the usual reason, a ridiculous rise in the rent.
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I used to like the Italian in Paspatur, think it was called Il Floria or something like that.
I cannot recall poor service, but we had a bad meal at Serkul I and would not go back.
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Il Fiore in Paspatur was always our favourite place to dine, we were saddened when it closed a few years back. Baris, their charming front of house man now works at the restaurant directly opposite the amphitheatre.
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Got to agree with Il Fioria, was really good and friendly, yes Baris is working in the place at the end of the Marina, across from where all the banks are cant remember the name but we ate there a few times last year and the food was good.
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We tried Bella Mammas last night on the strength of the good reviews on here and had a very nice meal. I tried the famous lasagne, asking for a small portion (because I get shy tummy when I see too much food on my plate!) Well it was a perfect size and truly delicious, I will def have that again. M had chicken Snitzel which was also very good, juicy, not dry which it often can be. Wine was reasonably priced too. We will return! ;D
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That's beautifully put Lotty, I too have a "shy" tummy when I see a plate full of food that I know I cant eat. When eating in Turkey I always ask for the chips to be omitted only for the plate to be filled with extra rice or salad!!
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There was absolutely no embellishment on the plate echogirl1, only the lasagne (about a child's portion) perfect! To accompany it there was just the perfunctory small dish on the side with careful rows of salad, shredded carrot, cucumber and tomato if you wanted it. Nice :D
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We also prefer smaller meals, although i do find the normal portion of the lasagne from Bella Mama is ok, and i can get through it and enjoy the meal. Agree also the wine is very reasonable there. We often have the lasagne for one at lunch time and share it. When we go to the Meeting Point I ask Ahmet for a small portion of his lovely chicken curry and that is exactly what I get, and thoroughly enjoy. It is such a shame when presented with a large plate of food, you feel beaten before you start, and feel embarrassed at leaving so much.
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I must ask this question although it would not bother me at all. Do you pay the same as the normal portion if you ask for a smaller portion ?
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We generally find the price is the same. Can't answer for Bella Mama as have never asked for a small portion there.
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M thinks we were charged a reduced rate of 12tl but not sure. I would have paid whatever the regular price was anyway. The meal was just right for me. :)
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I do not mind paying for a full portion rather than feeling ill at the sight of too much food. The times I have returned home with a plastic bag full of left overs, though when this happens at home the dog is always pleased to see me!! The 1st time we went to Calis we were presented with a puffa bread each with assorted dips and a plate of salad. Needless to say I didn't eat any of my main course but I livened up a slightly sad looking street dogs evening!!
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Soooooooo pleased to see this thread as I too cannot eat if I have a huge meal put in front of me; one of the reasons I cannot do AI as the table full of food just makes me clam up! Love Bella mammas and stayed a couple of days in their pent house apartment a couple of years ago. I will now have no embarressment in asking for a small portion. I have always worried previously that if I left a large portion the owner would be under the impression that there was something wrong although I have always tried to impress that it was because of my small appetite! I have no problem with paying the price of a normal sized meal but would much prefer to be given the option of a smaller meal size.
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Not to take the topic away from Bella Mammas - but Mrs Scunner had the same problem at Mozaik Bahce - a portion of most things was way too much for her. Now she orders from the kid's menu and enjoys it thoroughly :)
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Stunner, I have always wanted to order a child's portion but have never done it in case it appears that I don't want adult food, or to pay for an adult portion, both of which is totally not the case.
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Sorry, my iPad corrected your name to "stunner". You know what I meant, but if I were you I would prefer the corrective text!
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I appreciate the compliment. :)
It isn't an issue at MB as it was Nichola's suggestion and it is still a 'normal' looking meal - it's not like she's sitting there with chicken dippers and chips. ;)
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Glad to hear that as it is always embarrassing to send half a meal back, looking as if it was awful rather than "sorry, I am full"
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Looks like there are several of us who have the same problem with large meals. Good for Nicola to let us order from the kids menu, feel like that in some places but never dared ask. If I had a smaller main course then I could probably manage "afters" which would benefit the restaurant as well. Everyone needs a little something sweet after a meal. I enjoy the smaller breakfast at the Brothers restaurant but cant face the mountains of food at other places. I have always had a problem with huge plates of food, puts me off straight away!!
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Yes but again I think the problem isn't ordering from the kids menu, it's generally the dire choices that offers over there - in Calis it's nearly always fish fingers and chips, sausage & chips and maybe spaghetti bolognese - not exactly the range you small appetited ladies are looking for. Mozaik Bahce's kids menu is not like that, making it ideal.
Maybe there is a market for this - maybe a 'light' menu.
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I agree Scunner, perhaps some of the restaurants who read this forum would consider offering a smaller portion menu, I don't think "light" is the way to go, sounds a bit calorie counted!! don't want to diet just don't want to be overwhelmed with too much food. Agree the choice from a childrens menu is usually on the scale of fish fingers and chips. Even small children could do with more choice than that.
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The easiest way is to just ask for a half portion - Turkish people will and there doesn't appear to be any problem with it at all. I remember telling Turkish friends that the problem with having pide for lunch is that I found one was not enough and two far too much. They just looked at me as if I was an idiot and then said "order one and a half then".
Seems the norm :D
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Or even as I dare say, what our incredible local pub offers for a Sunday roast, a small, a standard and a large meal. All made up of the same food, but in three different sizes. I have even been known to have a dessert there because I haven't been so over whelmed by the size of the main meal. It has nothing to do with the cost, as I have banged on on numerous occasions, you eat with your eyes, and if I see too much, I switch off immediately. M.G. Wins hands down on their sampler menu days as the food is put in the centre of the table and diners can choose how much to put on their plates, but at the same time, they are not faced with mountains of food as is often on offer at AI diners. Well done Nicola and Dugan .
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Some time ago scunner set members 3 challenges (one involving dolphins, one involving Dalaman and another which I don't remember).
This years challenge might be to convince the chef(s) in Mozaik that a smaller portion is at least possible :).
Signed: He of the ever expanding waistline.
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Some time ago scunner set members 3 challenges (one involving dolphins, one involving Dalaman and another which I don't remember).
This years challenge might be to convince the chef(s) in Mozaik that a smaller portion is at least possible :).
Signed: He of the ever expanding waistline.
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I know lots of people (mostly men) are extremely happy to deal with a plate full of mountains of food, but if its profit the restaurants are after, I can drink more, and have a second course if I eat a smaller main course, so its a win, win situation .
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Hear, hear Echo girl.
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Went again last night to my favourite restaurant, and unfortunately it was not half as good as last time, definitely no longer 10 out of 10, very disappointed. To elaborate, we got there about 8.30, had to wait about 20 minutes to get sat down, it was boiling, no air con. We ordered starters which arrived quite quickly and were ok but then had to wait over an hour for the mains, which finally came out at 10.35pm. I ordered fillet steak with gorgonzola, it arrived with mash and 2 onion rings, no veg or salad and it was not a fillet steak, it was 4 thin pieces of well done meat when I had ordered medium rare. My daughter ordered a chicken dish which was too dry to eat, yet again we brought home a doggie bag and my animals ate well again last night!
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And here we go again! >:( >:( >:( will they never learn?
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When eating out please do not ask for small portions, take a plastic bag or some foil with you and before you start your meal put what you know you wont eat in the bag or foil and then give it to a street dog or cat.
We were in Calis last week, on holiday from Side, and ate at Bella Mamas, found it excellent as usual, hubby had two starters as he doesn't eat a lot, so that could be the answer for small appetites, unfortunately it doesn't apply to me!!!!
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Never ever enjoyed Bella Mamas in nine years for a variety of reasons so give it a big miss
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When eating out please do not ask for small portions, take a plastic bag or some foil with you and before you start your meal put what you know you wont eat in the bag or foil and then give it to a street dog or cat.
We were in Calis last week, on holiday from Side, and ate at Bella Mamas, found it excellent as usual, hubby had two starters as he doesn't eat a lot, so that could be the answer for small appetites, unfortunately it doesn't apply to me!!!!
That's fine Catsrus, put please don't give the food to street dogs and cats on the prom, as they will only go and crap on the beach, and there have been plenty of posts on here about the state of the beach. Happy Hols.
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Yes Des its about time they. Built some proper toilets for the dogs 8) :-* >:( ;D :angel:on the beach,
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Why is Angel on the beach?, has she been kicked out of the Nil Bar, shame if so :( shes been there for years. ;) :)
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Agree with the 10/10 rating. My family go to Bella Mamas every time we are in Turkey and never disappointed with our meals. This summer we went with a family of 10 and all raved about our food. However, La Casa Di Mama's pizza's just edge it for me... ;)
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After all the recommendations we gave it a try again in June. Meal was lovely, service was great, no complaints, but still have the feeling the place is a bit souless no atmosphere and very clinical.
We also went to Casa De Mama and got a good welcome from the staff and also had a lovely meal, which was as good as Bella Mama's and a bit cheaper.
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Bella Mama is our favourite restaurant in Calis, but we do struggle sometimes to eat all the meal and hate leaving it, so we asked if we could have a smaller portion on my favourite meal Steak Swedish, and they came up trumps. I got a 'junior' portion which was absolutely spot on. Even better, they only charged half the price for it.
it is good when restaurants agree to supply smaller portions, as we hate to leave food but can hardly ever finish the large meals we seem to get in Calis.
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I have just commented about this lovely restaurant on another thread - I think their food and levels of service are the best in Calis.
I have never felt rushed there or that it is without atmosphere - quite the opposite actually. I don't want to be fawned over in any restaurant - I do like to be acknowledged, welcomed and served/assisted professionally and in a friendly, polite manner.