The famous destination for Kuru Fasulye (Cannellini Bean Stew)
Husrev Lokantaları continue their adventure started in Rize now in big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. The chain founded by Abdullah Husrev has covered a quite big distance with the significant contributions of the recent generations. Now it’s a national brand. Beans Anatolian soil serves find their value in the hands of Anatolian hands again. This restaurant leading the list of best bean stew in Istanbul has charmed me further with their boiled lamb shank.
An amazing Lamb Shank
Another reason why I like Husrev is because the waiters are in good communication with customers just like in old Istanbul restaurants. Even if it’s been long since you were there, they might actually remember you and call you by your name. How many of those waiters can you still see? Those who know what to bring to your table when you say “just as usual”.Or to how many restaurants you go so often? This is still valid at Husrev Restaurants. Another plus is that they serve you food from their open kitchen. The food heaven where nice butter smells come from is just right in front of your eyes.You can see their huge copper caldrons in the kitchen. You feel at ease, and you can eat as much as you want with the comfort of having no doubts about hygiene.
The main reason why I like Erzurum’s famous İspir beans is because it doesn’t give you any discomfort while digesting. These beans with a hint of sweetness get bigger when soaked in water. Besides, the skin doesn’t get off. After boiling the beans, they roast them in the oven for a while. By this way, they get softer than İspir beans. These slightly sweet beans cooked in abundant butter are definitely among the best you can taste in Istanbul. However, I find the beef in the stew overcooked. I believe the meat got dried up in the oven. If it didn’t have meat, I feel it could taste better.
Pilaf is cooked well and buttery. Just as in the restaurants that make the best local food, most of the ingredients come from the best places of the region. The rice is from Thrace region. Their yogurt is served cold in earth pots. Clotted cream is in the right consistency, full of fat and is a taste similar to condensed yogurt. If it were made from mater buffalo milk, it would make it even more special.
Husrev is renowned for their bean stew, but during my recent visit I had an unforgettable lamb shank experience. There’s nothing else to say about the taste of this soft meat actually. I would like to talk about the broth which is as tasty as the meat itself. While boiling the bones, they prepare the broth by adding vegetables such as carrot and potatoes. They’ve managed to reflect the full character of meat in this broth. When you have one sip, you want to have more and more. Then what are you waiting for? I strongly advise you to sip it down! It’s more than food, it’s like medicine. It’s the medicine for soul, stomach and happiness… I’m sure you’ll also be amazed by the taste of this broth. Please try to capture that sweet taste carrots contribute. Compared to this lamb shank, bean stew seems less appealing to be honest.
Husrev Lokantaları should acknowledge this. From taste to presentation, everything in this restaurant where they serve good examples of the Black sea cuisine is excellent. Except for the meat in the bean stew…
Bean stew is 14 lira, Pilaf is 8 lira, Lamb shank is 35 lira. I think the balance of quality and prices is quite reasonable.
Evaluation: 8.5/10
Address:Yildiz Posta Cd. Dedeman Is Merkezi 48
Gayrettepe/Istanbul
Telephone:0212 347 42 10
