I thought we’d pass the summer of 2020; and stay in the city for the whole season. By the end of June, our family opened up the summer house in Cesme and asked us to come. Since we’re still working from home, we drove over from Istanbul and started working from here.
In Istanbul, we were compulsively sanitizing (which made me feel half-crazy), used e-commerce channels to do all the shopping, cooked & ate at home, left house only to have short walks and get some air. Once we’re in Cesme the overwhelming feeling of staying indoors have changed. Even though we’re still within the territories of the house, we feel more “normal”.
Dining out is a major motivation for me, both for the food and the experience. Losing that in the first months of Covid have made me feel really down. What is life without restaurants?! But as we’re phasing to our new lives with a new reality; we decided to give it a try and visit some of our favorite restaurants in Cesme.
I want to share with you the ones we felt safe, and dined without anxiety.
Horasan Balik
Temperature Check: No
Pre-packed Cutlery: No
Open Air: Yes
Waiters Wearing Mask: Yes
Hygiene Products on Table: Yes
If I’d only have one choice to dine out while in Cesme, I’d choose Horasan Balik.
Cevat’ın Yeri, Dalyan
Temperature Check: No
Pre-packed Cutlery: No
Open Air: Yes
Waiters Wearing Mask: Yes
Hygiene Products on Table: Yes, when asked.
We also love the meze’s and seafood at Cevat’ın Yeri. Since its near seaside, and the distance between tables are really open, we felt good.
Kolburano’s
Temperature Check: Yes
Pre-packed Cutlery: Yes
Open Air: Yes
Waiters Wearing Mask: Yes
Hygiene Products on Table: Yes, when asked.
Reyan Pastanesi
Temperature Check: Yes
Pre-packed Cutlery: Yes
Open Air: Yes
Waiters Wearing Mask: Yes
Hygiene Products on Table: Yes.
Arpège Patisserie
Temperature Check: No
Pre-packed Cutlery: No
Open Air: Yes
Waiters Wearing Mask: Yes
Hygiene Products on Table: Yes, when asked.
At both Reyah and Arpège, you have the take-away option.
Stay safe!
Ozge
Good City Guides 