Sade

A lunchtime favourite with TeraMare Holiday staff, this small roof-top joint packs a big punch and is therefore rather popular. If you’re heading down for dinner, do make a reservation. Delightfully understated is how we’d describe it, and the food to match is simple and delectably satisfying.
 
The entrance, via some narrow, side street in the bustling old town is one you could easily miss. Once you’re up the first flight of stairs you’ll find yourself in the kitchen where the chef and his diligent staff are hard at work behind the scenes. There is balcony seating on this floor, and you have a choice of two balconies. Alternatively, climb a second flight of stairs to the breezy terrace, where the atmosphere is cool and casual; the simple décor emphasising the no-frills charm. Also, that sea-view beyond all the rooftops is something to be admired. When it gets too dark to tell the horizon apart from the night sky, there’s always the people gazing option, as the streets below get lively come sun-down.

Now we’ve been told by smirking wait-staff that Sade’s chef has a collection of 412 recipes for salads alone. An hour of gullibility proved that our grasp of the Turkish sense of humour requires some honing. Nonetheless, the salads we have tasted to date are pretty damn good as are the mezzes. Most ingredients are locally sourced, right down to the little pot of complimentary olives they’ll serve you once you’ve ordered. These come from the village of the guys who run the place. And the guys who run the place, being such a warm and friendly bunch, will be all too happy to engage in casual chatter about everything from olive harvesting (what ones are good for pressing and what for pickling) to local gossip.

The menu is relatively expansive, without being overly ambitious. We suggest you go for the steaks and the seafood –but ask Erhan (the matre d’ cum owner) for advice so he can recommend the freshest catch.