Amedros, Istanbul

In summer, several candle-lit tables are set up on the pavement in an attempt to catch a cool breeze. Come wintertime, guests retreat inside where a lovely crackling wood fire accompanies the fine European and Ottoman cuisine on offer. The house special is Testi Kebabi: succulent baby lamb roasted with garden fresh vegetables in a sealed earthenware pot which is cracked open right at your table. The sensational aroma emanating from the first Testi Kebabi order of the evening ensures that orders keep coming all night long.