Believe it or not, it is actually possible to eat a traditional Turkish meal at a reasonable price in Sultanhamet. Located on the sloping, cobblestone streets behind the Blue Mosque, Köy Sofrasi specializes in traditional village cuisine. When you arrive, be sure to first find one of Istanbul’s best and craziest multilingual waiters, Maryo. Maryo, a native of Romania, speaks fluent English, French and Italian, to name a few. He has endless, endless energy and will gladly offer you advice, anecdotes or whatever else you need over a cup of Turkish coffee or tea at your table. Aside from the exuberant staff, the seaside neighborhood, one of the last living Ottoman areas with charming wooden houses and narrow streets, is worth a visit in itself. At the restaurant you can enjoy wonderfully fresh meze, grilled chili peppers and all styles of kebaps and other meat dishes. The food is made to order over an impressive wood-burning grill, visible to guests in the back of the restaurant. The atmosphere is homey and intimate with an eclectic collection of village antiques and decor. On a typical evening you can expect to see as many Turks as tourists, a rare occurence in this part of town. The Köy Sofrasi restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner.