The Taste of Istanbul Menu
Welcome to The Taste of Istanbul, nestled in the heart of Dereham at 21 High St. This enchanting eatery brings authentic Turkish cuisine to life, earning rave reviews from locals and visitors alike. Customers have praised the tremendous flavors and exceptional value of their meals, highlighting dishes like lamb shish and mixed kebabs as must-tries.
Freshness is a standout feature of the menu, complemented by friendly and attentive service. Whether you choose to dine in or opt for a takeaway, each dish promises generous portions and a delightful combination of salads and Turkish bread, ensuring a satisfying experience.
- Authentic Turkish flavors
- Generous portions
- Friendly staff
The Taste of Istanbul is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey that captures the essence of Istanbul, making it a must-visit for both food lovers and newcomers to the area!
Salad
Coban Salata/Shepherds Salad
Tomato, cucumber, red onion, fresh parsley & sumac, topped with extra virgin olive oil & pomegranate molasses
Chicken Salad
Grilled chicken with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, topped with (vegetable oil or olive oil - please tell your waiter)
Ezme Salad
Finely chopped tomatoes, green peppers, parsley, onion, garlic & olive oil dressing
Hot Ezme Salad
Finely chopped tomatoes, green peppers, spicy red pepper flakes, parsley, onion, garlic & olive oil dressing with spicy bullet chillies
Greek Salad
Chopped tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, feta cheese & olives
Red Onion Salad
Finely sliced red onions crunched with parsley, sumac, olive oil & lemon juice, drizzled with pomegranate molasses
Chargrilled Onion & Mushroom Salad
Grilled onions & mushrooms drenched in turnip juice & pomegranate molasses, extra olive oil & sumac served warm
Baklava
Baklava is a rich sweet dessert pastry with layers of filo filled with nuts, sweetened & held together with syrup or honey
Baklava with Ice Cream
Cheesecake
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Carrot Cake
Ice Cream (3 scoops) Chocolate or Vanilla
Desserts
SHARING PLATTERS
FULL PLATTER (FOR 2 - 4 PEOPLE)
Adana Kebab, Lamb Shish, Chicken Shish, Lamb Ribs, Kofte Kebab, Chicken Wings
JUMBO PLATTER (3-5 PEOPLE)
2 x Adana Kebab, 2 x Lamb Shish, 2 x Chicken Shish, Kofte Kebab, Chicken Wings & Lamb Ribs
Hummus/Houmous
Pure crushed chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice & garlic, finished with a drizzle of olive oil, olives & parsley.
Taramasalata
Freshly prepared whipped cod roe pate
Saksuka
Fried aubergine, courgette, green peppers, red peppers, mixed with tomato sauce.
Marinated Olives
Gemlik olives in a herb marinade, dressed in extra virgin olive oil with a hint of garlic
Cacik/Tzatziki
Cucumber, mint, dill with a hint of garlic in creamy strained yoghurt, finished with a drizzle of olive oil
Kisir
Bulgur wheat, tomato puree, herbs, fresh mint, dill & spring onions, seasoned with pomegranate molasses, extra virgin olive oil & lemon juice
Ali Nazik
Pureed aubergine prepared with yoghurt, olive oil & garlic
Yaprak Sarma
Stuffed vine leaves
Atom
Pureed aubergine prepared with yoghurt, olive oil, garlic & spicy chilli peppers
Mixed Meze Platter
A selection of chef's special mezes, served with stuffed vine leaves
Cold Starters
Hot Starters
Hot Meze Platter
2 sigara boregi, 2 kalamari, 2 sucuk, 2 halloumi, 2 falafel
Calamari
Tender calamari rings floured off & golden fried, served with tartar sauce & lemon
Garlic Mushrooms
Mushrooms sauteed in butter & garlic, topped with cheddar cheese
Sigara Boregi
Golden fried filo pastry stuffed with feta cheese & parsley
Falafel
A mixture of mashed chickpeas, broad beans, coriander, onions, garlic, peppers, carrots & mixed herbs moulded off & fried, served with tahini
Arnavut Cigeri/Albanian Liver
Fresh cubed lamb liver, lightly flamed off, pan fried, served with red onions, parsley & herbs
Hummus Lamb
Hellim/Halloumi
Charcoal grilled halloumi
Sucuk (4pcs)
Sucuk (2pcs) & Hellim (2pcs)
Chicken Shish
Lean chunks of chicken breast skewered & grilled over charcoal
Lamb Shish
Lean & tender cubes of lamb skewered & grilled over charcoal
Kofte
Minced beef with herbs made into meatballs & grilled over charcoal
Mixed Shish
A mix of lamb shish & chicken shish
Paltican Kebab
Mince meat, aubergine & tomato sauce
Adana Kebab
Lean hand minced lamb, seasoned, skewered & grilled over charcoal
Vegetable Kebab
A combination of seasoned vegetables skewered & charcoal grilled
Vegetable Musakka
Aubergine, red peppers, green peppers, tureng potato & onion
Chicken Wings
Charcoal grilled chicken wings, marinated in the traditional way
Lamb Chops
Succulent, juicy lamb chops marinated & grilled over charcoal
Lamb Ribs
Succulent, juicy lamb ribs, marinated & grilled over charcoal
Cop Shish
Chopped marinated lamb, grilled over charcoal
Ciger Kebab/Liver Kebab
Grilled lamb liver grilled over charcoal
Sirloin Steak
served with garlic, herbs, chips & salad
Ribeye Steak
served with garlic, herbs, chips & salad
Istanbul Mixed
1 x adana, 1 x chicken, 1 x lamb
Mains
Fish
Cupra
Charcoal grilled seasoned sea bream servedwith fresh salad & fries or rice
Levrek
Charcoal grilled seasoned sea bass served with fresh salad & fries or rice
Salmon
Mediterranean Burger
6oz beef patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, gherkins & mayo with chips & tomato sauce
Chicken Fillet Burger
served with chips & drink
Burgers
Wraps
Chicken Wrap
Lamb Wrap
Adana Wrap
Yogurtlu Chicken Shish
Lean, tender cubes of chicken breast skewered & grilled over charcoal, chopped on a bed of bread, topped with tomato sauce then drizzled with our special burnt butter. Served with strained yoghurt on the side
Yogurtlu Lamb Shish
Lean, tender cubes of lamb skewered & grilled over charcoal, chopped on a bed of bread, topped with tomato sauce then drizzled with our special burnt butter. Served with strained yoghurt on the side
Yogurtlu Adana
Tender hand minced lamb, seasoned, skewered & grilled over charcoal topped with halep special sauce, made with spicy tomato & onions
Sarma Lamb Beyti
Marinated minced lamb, seasoned with garlic & grilled over charcoal, wrapped in lavash bread topped with tomato sauce and chopped into pieces, then drizzled with our special burnt butter. Served with strained yoghurt
Special Dishes
Casserole/Tava
Chicken Casserole
Chicken casserole, a combination of cubed chicken, onions, peppers, tomatoes & butter
Lamb Casserole
Lamb casserole, a combination of cubed lamb, onions, peppers, tomatoes & butter
Karides Tava
Prawn sauuted in butter, garlic, onions, green peppers & tomatoe sauce
Pirinc Pilavi/Rice
Bulgur Pilavi/Rice
Strained Yoghurt
Bullet Chillies
French Fries
Onion Rings
Extra Bread
Sides
Kids Meals
Fish Fingers
All served with rice or fries & drink (orange juice or apple juice)
Chicken Nuggets
All served with rice or fries & drink (orange juice or apple juice)
Chicken Shish
All served with rice or fries & drink (orange juice or apple juice)
Kofte Kebab
All served with rice or fries & drink (orange juice or apple juice)
Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite
Sparkling or Still Water
Ayran
Apple or Orange Juice
Salgam (Turnip Juice)
Soft Drinks
Hot Drinks
Turkish Tea
English Tea
Herbal Tea
Turkish Coffee
Espresso
Americano
Hot Chocolate
Cappucino / Latte
Tekirdag Raki
Tekirdag Gold
Raki Shot
Turkish Spirits
Spirits
Jack Daniels
Gordons Gin
Smirnoff Vodka
Absolut Vodka
Bacardi
Baileys
Courvoisier
Malibu
Hennesey
Sierra Tequila
Efes Draft (500ml)
Zero Alcohol
Corona
Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime
Kopparberg Mixed Fruit
Cobra Draft
Budweiser
Beers & Ciders
Red Wine
House Wine Ephesus
Has a good balance & red fruit flavours. - Turkey.
Yakut Kavaklidere
Okuzgozu - Alicante Bouschet Carignan - Bogazkere Ruby red in appearance with definitive cherry & strawberry aromas on the nose, velvety finish. - Turkey.
Lo Tengo - Malbec
A passionate, purple coloured malbec, cherry, cinamon & fresh fruits on the palate with a velvety mouthfeel & rounded finish. Pair it with steak, lamb chops, filet, mushrooms, herbs, spicy courses or similar dishes. - Argentina.
Raiz De Chile - Merlot
Deep in colour with aromas of cherries, plums & notes of caramel & toffee. - Chile.
Anycra - Kalecik Karasi
Made from grapes grown in the Kalecik & Kirsehir vineyards in central Anatolia, is a balanced, lively & smooth wine with elegant tannins & persistent red fruit aromas & floral notes. - Turkey.
House Wine Ephesus
Well balanced wine with linden & citrus aromas.
Raiz De Chile - Chardonnay
The wine has a refined, harmonious taste with soft, velvety tannins, notes of ripe fruit, berry jam & a persistent finish. - Chile.
Cankaya Kavaklidere
Emir - Narince - Sultaniye Long with fruit flavours, mouth filling. - Turkey.
Ventiterre - Pinot Grigio
Beautiful, fragrant Pinot Grigio with a clean, slightly dry profile & lots of grape, lime & white flower notes on the palate. - Italy.
Anycra - Sauvignon Blanc
This elegant, persistent & well balanced white wine is best when served at 6-8C. Matches perfectly with grilled fish, sea food salads, pastas with tomato sauce, grilled chicken & fresh cheese. - Turkey.
White Wine
Rose Wine
House Wine Ephesus Rose
Made from Calkarasi & Shiraz grapes that are cultivated in Denizli. - Turkey. It is suitable with all light snacks & grilled meat.
Anycra - Blush
Pleasant, bright pink Pinot Grigio with aromas of wild strawberries, pears & dried fruits. Hearty & dry on the palate, good as an aperitif or with any dish of choice. - Turkey.
Canti Prosecco White Wine
Harmonious, aromatic prosecco with a bright sparkle & straw yellow colour, having a refreshing feel, delicate mousse & lots of apple notes on the palate. Perfect with any dish of choice.
Pamukkale Gold Sparkling Rose
It is dry, food friendly & adds an element of festivity to any gathering or meal. - Turkey.