Istanbull Katz

I recently visited @istanbullkatz a new Turkish restaurant specialising in authentic cuisine and some of Turkey’s most loved delicacies, so I was excited to try it

The owners are also behind Brighton’s iconic @catcafebrighton and the newer cat workspace @purrfectspacebrighton so it felt fitting that they continued the theme here. Even better, the restaurant donates a portion of its profits to a cat charity in Istanbul, giving you an extra reason to visit

We sampled a variety of dishes, including several that were completely new to me. Standout starters included the ‘Aubergine Mutabbel’ with strained yoghurt, garlic mushrooms, tahini and paprika butter; the ‘Siron’ (my favourite!) a comforting oven baked dish of handcrafted manti with pulled short ribs, minted yoghurt and spicy butter sauce and the ‘White Cabbage Sarma’ filled with spiced rice, fresh herbs and a vibrant dried tomato salsa. Each dish was unique, full of flavour, and beautifully presented

To drink, we paired everything with a Turkish Narince wine, which was crisp, citrusy and complemented the food perfectly. Definitely one I would have again!

For mains, we shared the ‘Katz Style Iskender Short Ribs’ which was slow cooked pulled beef served with pita croutons, spinach, chickpeas, yoghurt, burnt butter and spiced tomato sauce (yum!) and a ‘Slow Cooked Lamb Shank’. Both dishes were rich, tender and deeply flavourful, offering something refreshingly different from other Turkish restaurants I’ve visited in the past.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The venue is lovely, the concept is meaningful, and the food truly delivers. I brought my Turkish friend along, and she was equally impressed, which says a lot about the authenticity

They’re currently offering 50% off your food on your first visit in March, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to try something new.