Olta Balık has been a favorite city restaurant we’ve chosen to dine at periodically, either during the day or evening, for about ten years. Because we enjoy it so much, we often invite not only our immediate family but also friends and relatives. Over the years, most of the staff has remained the same, allowing for consistently great service and a sustainable quality experience at this restaurant.

Olta Balık is right by the sea, though a wide pedestrian path separates it from the water, so you can still enjoy views of the blue sea while dining. The restaurant is spacious, offering open and closed seating areas, smoking and non-smoking sections, and a play area for families with children. Parking options include nearby ISPark and other paid private lots.

As the name suggests, Olta Balık focuses mainly on fish and seafood dishes. For starters/cold mezes, a tray of options is brought to your table, allowing you to see and select what you prefer. They offer cold fish mezes and typical mezes with yogurt and olive oil. The hot appetizers include shrimp, calamari, octopus, fish, and pastry dishes. Olta Balık also serves a unique hot appetizer we haven’t found elsewhere: Lavinia. It’s a delicious, crispy, and filling dish made of shrimp, calamari, octopus, and various vegetables, formed into a ball and fried, then served with soy sauce. It’s so good that sometimes we go there just to eat it. Depending on the season, you can also try grilled fish for the main course. There’s a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. After the meal, they offer a complimentary plate of seasonal fruits. Classic desserts like fig dessert, Hayrabolu dessert, and warm tahini halva are also available.

Of course, prices have changed over the years, as with everything. While affordability is subjective, we can say that this restaurant has always had a loyal customer base, and despite having many tables, it often fills up in the evening, especially on weekends and holidays. Considering the quality of food, service, and location (close to the sea and within Istanbul), Olta Balık remains reasonably priced for its category.