ruth24s,

Just head in to the old village and you'll find plenty of places to try traditional Turkish food. I can't remember the names of the ones I've been to, but have a walk down the streets and see which ones take your fancy. I've never had a bad meal and you'll find the prices much cheaper than the canal and main areas.

Darren

In Turunc we've found that the places that don't look anything special, often do some of the best Turkish food. There is a pancake house that has plastic tables and chairs, pretty basic, but has a board up saying 'Casseroles, 4 hours notice'. Their food is really nice, you get lovely home made meze as well as the casserole, not much choice of food or drinks, but they do beer and wine. Also very cheap, and if you're not picky it's great Should imagine there is probably similar places in Icmeler

Nefis pide is very popular with the locals and is becoming more so with tourists, asparan is very good but it is quite a way out you will have to get a cab if you don't have a car,Sunday's it is very very busy with locals,marmaris is far better for local eateries particularly round the back of the bazaar ,there is a place that overlooks marmaris near the aqua park called tepisi (I think) that is excellent and a Turkish place next to club Julian in armutalan that is my personal favourite but I can't for the life of me remember the name I think it's kervansaray (?!!!)but the food is faultless ,

We stayed in the village in October and found some lovely restaurants.
My husband tends to only only eats steak when hes on holiday but I like to try Turkish dishes so try and find places that do both.
We love Kardelin,opposite tansas.
Theres a lovely Turkish kitchen opposite the entrance of the big Litera hotel near where the underground back entrance used to be.
I think its called Agra and the food is lovely.

I think maybe I should make a bit more of an effort when there to go to these places this time. It's too easy to just plump for the closest places.

re asparan... is that the one that is kind of high up and overlooks mountains? I will defo give nefis pide a go this time though.

Try the Hanedan - it's just down the road from the Lal, but on the other side. Wonderful authentic Turkish food. Cafe Rose in the old village is also very highly recommended. Kayra (I think that's how it's spelled) which is along the road from Tansas going towards the market, is just like a little cafe (ie nothing fancy) but does good Turkish food and is usually full of locals - always a good sign!

Asparan is just off the cut through to the main datca Rd it has a little menagerie and a playground for children it is set outdoors and has duck ponds with little wooden bridges over ,I think it is owned by the same people who own the golmar ,the jeep safaris pass it usually.we have caught the dolmus from marmaris (the datca,hisaronu,bozburum,or orhaniye ones) you pick them up from a small car park/station in marmaris just further up the Rd from where the old tansas was on the same side,ask the driver to stop for asparan and it is a 15 min walk down a quiet country Rd although it might be too much during the hot months !!or get a taxi it is around a 15 minuite drive should cost around 30 lire but I can't be sure about this.The places mentioned in icmeler are very good but the back street ones in marmaris are much cheaper although by the time you have forked out for the dolmus/water taxi/taxi its probally even