Located just off İstiklal Street on the rapidly developing Kumbaracı Yokuşu, Morro is one of Istanbul’s newest Italian restaurants. When you walk in you immediately notice the elegant and understated décor: the checkered floors, warm wood tables, black and white photos on the walls, and marble fire place. All these details lend Morro a classic European restaurant feel. This décor along with the good selection of lounge music makes for a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The menu at Morro is solidly Italian, no fusion twists or surprises here, but rather just what you would expect at one of Istanbul’s classic Italian restaurants. Instead of importing ingredients from Italy, Morro instead focuses on getting the freshest local ingredients that are in season in Turkey. They freshly bake their own bread sticks and tasty tomato and whole grain breads, and have a wood burning pizza oven.

Appetizers include grilled asparagus, a cheese and prosciutto plate, and various salads, topped with goat’s cheese, grilled chicken, or sea bass. Main courses include rosemary chicken, grilled seafood skewers and sirloin steak, and sea bass cooked in beet leaves (a very popular option). Pasta dishes include linguine with seafood, a four cheese tortellini, and saffron risotto.

With a wood burning oven at the back, it comes as no surprise that the restaurant’s specialty is pizza, with a wide selection offering something for everyone, including some with a clear Turkish influence. Toppings include a range of cheeses and vegetables, smoked meat, smoked cheese, olives, and caramelized onions. There are also a few that offer prosciutto, cotto ham, and chorizo for those who really enjoy their pork products.

Wanting to leave room for all three courses, we decided to start our meal with a simple salad of arugula, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. I had the daily special, which was the vegetarian lasagna with spinach and goat’s cheese. While it was very hearty and tasty, the lack of tomato sauce made the dish more reminiscent of a cross between lasagna and a Turkish börek than traditional Italian lasagna. My companion had the Pizza Pidos, a simple pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and chargrilled eggplant. The crust was pleasantly thin and crispy while the eggplant had a nice smoky flavor, particularly when complimented with a dash of hot sauce.

The dessert menu once again offers a selection of Italian classics, such as Panna Cotta, Tiramisu and Napoleone. We made a delicious end to our meal with the chocolate soufflé, which was rich and decadent, served with vanilla ice-cream, as well as a portion of orange-chocolate and raspberry ice-cream, which comes from Cremeria Milano.

Morro is a nice addition to this rapidly developing neighborhood, a good option where you can enjoy a nice Italian meal in a warm and welcoming setting without breaking the bank. Kumbaracı Yokuşu No.66 Tünel; P: (0212) 292 25 50