Seraser is the best restaurant in Antalya for fine dining. Located in Kaleiçi (Old Antalya) on quiet, pedestrian-only Karanlık Sokak just one minute’s walk from Kalekapısı (map), it is a cut above other fine restaurants in Antalya in terms of setting, service, and cuisine. It is a proud member of the Chaine des Rôtisseurs.
“We wanted to do something special,” says Mr Aziz Tankut, the restaurant’s owner. “The highest possible quality, equal to Istanbul, London or New York, with style and a romantic atmosphere.” In my opinion, he has achieved his goal.
The Atmosphere and Food
The open-air terrace is shaded with citrus and banana trees, brightened by bougainvillea, its tables cloaked in snowy white tablecloths and set with fine glassware. The interior dining rooms are like a classic European salon with stone walls, rich fabrics and dark wood. Cool jazz or European classical music plays softly in the background. The warm-colored lights are low, accentuating the romantic atmosphere.
This is not a Turkish restaurant in the old style. The menu is more akin to those in Paris, with inventive entrées (first course), followed by main courses made from Turkey’s bounty of ingredients but created in their own style—not Turkish, not French, not nouvelle cuisine, but…Seraser. The wine list is a selection of Turkey’s best from Turkish and European grape varieties, with hints on what to expect. Desserts are the same: some familiar elements you know and love to see on the menu, but presented in new and alluring ways.
The Service
It’s refined, careful, and of the highest professional standard as you would find in any top restaurant in the world, yet at its heart there is still the spirit of Turkish misaferperverlik: traditional hospitality. The waiters feel their duty is to provide you with the best, most enjoyable experience. As for the chefs, "everyone in the kitchen has a university degree" in culinary arts, Aziz tells me.
If you’re looking for a restaurant with a smooth, romantic atmosphere, refined cuisine and careful, attentive service, Seraser does it. To make a reservation or view their menu, visit their website.
Want something less formal, lower budget? Try the neighboring Il Vicino Pizzeria
Seraser Fine Dining Restaurant
Tuvana Hotel (map)
Karanlık Sokak, Kaleiçi, Antalya
Tel: +90 (242) 247 6015
Fax: +90 (242) 241 1981
info@seraserrestaurant.com
-Photos by Sonia Anand
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