Feriye, Istanbul

Feriye is spectacularly located in what were once the Ottoman sultan's palatial grounds, high above the shores of the glistening Bosphorus Strait. The co-owner and celebrity chef, Vedat Basaran, readily admits to an indecent obsession with Ottoman cooking. He's even taken pains to learn Arabic script so he can read the original Arabian recipes. The mouth-watering result is an original, innovative menu filled with dishes that appear to be traditional Turkish fare, but which are garnished with a delicate finesse that would be almost impossible to find anywhere else. In summer, there are several tables outside.