i went to veranda pera last night (july 1) after a friend invited me to join him and some others for dinner. the owner is a high school friend of my friend, but just to speak about the quality of the food and service, i wasn't asked to write this review; i simply want to do so. we had a sample of mezze, which included hummus that as a lebanese-american, i can safely affirm that few in istanbul get right. the muhammara (red pepper paste) was incredible, and the octopus as an entree was delicious. easily the best octopus i've ever tried. coupled with a good view and cozy terrace ambiance, i highly recommend it -- especially for a couple looking for a date night or a big group of friends. afiyet olsun!