Two Turkish friends of mine had, on separate occasions, recommended Poseidon as their favorite seafood restaurant in Istanbul. My visit confirmed that it’s an unforgettable experience. Poseidon is located along the Bosphorus coast in Bebek, the poshest area of Istanbul. When the weather is nice, they open up the outdoor terrace, which has an amazing view of the Bosphorus and of the Asian side of Istanbul. Scenery aside, the food at Poseidon is excellent! From the mouth-watering meze to the fresh fish and delicious desserts, I enjoyed every bite of our meal. After starting with a selection of cold and hot meze, including eggplant dip, peppers stuffed with cinnamon rice, artichoke, marinated white fish, pickles, salad and grilled squid (the freshest and most tender I’ve tasted), we selected the bonito because it was in season. My Turkish friend Cem explained that the bonito would be better fried than grilled, because it was early in the season and the bonito had not developed enough fat to remain juicy after being grilled. The fish was pan-fried so it was not greasy but had just the right amount of flavor and oil. The meal was delicious and the service excellent. Poseidon is just one of the many lovely things about Istanbul, but it’s certainly at the top of my list.