For about seven years, this has been a seaside city restaurant we’ve chosen to visit periodically on weekends, either for a spread breakfast during the day or for lunch/evening meals. Over the years, we’ve found that this restaurant consistently offers a high quality of service, so we’ve always left with positive impressions. It’s also a great option for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or marriage proposals, and they host live music nights featuring different performers on certain days of the week.

The restaurant has a wide, sandy area in front. During the summer, the seating arrangement changes; umbrellas and sun loungers are set up on the beach during the day, with dining tables and chairs arranged with garden furniture nearby. Dining isn’t as enjoyable at these times since the view of the sea is blocked by people and umbrellas, and it can be noisy. However, it’s a nice option for those renting loungers and umbrellas and enjoying the restaurant’s services. After beach season, you can enjoy a peaceful dinner at rustic wooden tables on the beach or at tables on a covered wooden deck. In colder weather, you can relax indoors, where the sea view and warmth from the fireplace create a cozy atmosphere.

As suggested by its name, Şömine specializes in meat and seafood. We tried both options, and everything was generally flavorful. For starters/cold mezes, the usual yogurt-based and olive oil-based dishes and a selection of cheeses are available. Hot appetizers include liver, stuffed meatballs, mushrooms, pastries, and seafood. Main dishes feature various grilled meat options, such as meatballs, chicken, lamb, and beef. They also serve items like pide, lahmacun, skillet dishes, fast food items, and salads, so there’s something for everyone. The drink menu includes a sufficient selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. For dessert, they offer classic syrup-based and milk-based sweets typical of such restaurants. They also serve a spread breakfast, featuring cold items like cheese, olives, jams, clotted cream, tomatoes, and cucumbers, along with hot items like pastries, fried potatoes, and eggs. The spread breakfast for two is very filling.

Visiting before sunset is quieter, but it gets busier later in the evening. There’s ample seating, so we’ve never had trouble finding a spot without a reservation on regular days. However, it gets very crowded on special occasions like Valentine’s Day, so a reservation is recommended. Although we haven’t been during live music nights, we suggest booking ahead for those events as well. Considering the quality of food, service, and location (seaside in Istanbul), the restaurant is fairly priced within its category, without being overly expensive or luxurious.