Balıkçı Rıza

Balıkçı Rıza is in Kurşunlu, Bursa's summer retreat on the Sea of Marmara, an hour and a half from Istanbul.

Right on the water, Balıkçı Rıza is a real pleasure in good weather. The menu is inventive and ambitious, offering guests dishes well outside the usual.

Of what we tried, the octopus bulgur, the anchovy kaygana, the rock samphire, the cibez, the sea bass in vine leaves, the fried courgette and the sole with artichoke were all delicious.

You can find Italian echoes on the menu too. We had no room left for the seafood pasta Rıza is ambitious about, so we've left it for next time.

Kurşunlu and Balıkçı Rıza make a lovely escape from Istanbul in good weather.