NEW PLACE: Turkish Food, Drinks and Decor at EatStanbul

“When we visit Istanbul, all we do is eat”

Last updated: 9 September 2020

In Istanbul, the iconic Turkish city with a mix of ancient cultures and heritage connecting Europe and Asia, a foodie and a serial entrepreneur met at a restaurant called Saray (‘palace’ in Turkish). It inspired them to open a restaurant of the same name when they moved to Cape Town.

On 7 June 2019, they opened a second halaal restaurant, called EatStanbul based on a personal joke, “because when we visit Istanbul, all we do is eat.”

MEET THE OWNERS Veysel Bogan from Sanliurfa, Turkey, and Naadiya Moosajee from South Africa are the husband-and-wife team bringing the culinary flavours of Istanbul to Cape Town. Bogan spent 13 years in the restaurant industry in Istanbul before they started Saray Restaurant in De Waterkant three years ago.

Moosajee, is the serial entrepreneur and engineer who co-founded her first venture, called WomEng, at the age of 21. It’s a non-profit to develop women and girls in engineering and tech. She also runs an incubator for women entrepreneurs and is building a co-working space for women.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE MENU “We would say we are going to ‘EatStanbul’ – because the food is so amazing in Istanbul,” says Moosajee on how the name came about. Now the couple are bringing those flavours home with spices, teas and coffee (khave) imported from Turkey.

There are traditional mezes, like hummus and falafel, for around R30 and Turkish breads baked on-site. But Turkish food is also about coal grills, which gives meats a smoky taste. The platter of mixed grills will go for around R195, and don’t forget to try the kebabs too.

The main course of güveç (seasonal vegetables cooked in a clay pot), as with most mains, will average at R140. You’ll be able to order baklava, the Middle Eastern confection made of honey-soaked phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts, and other traditional desserts such as sütlaç, which is traditional Turkish rice pudding made with exotic vanilla powder.

INSIDE EATSTANBUL The decor, too, comes from Istanbul, including the cut glass lights and Turkish tea glasses.

“We want to transport our customers to Istanbul and give them a truly authentic experience, from the meals and the shisha to the design and decor,” says Moosajee, about the new blue-hued eatery on Kloof Street that’s soon to be on everyone’s Cape Town restaurant list.

EATSTANBUL Address: 64 Kloof Street, Gardens Hours: 7 days a week from 11am–11pm (lockdown curfew applies) Contact: +27(0)214221989 | www.eatstanbul.co.za