Just a help to remind names
-Dried raisins: Kuru uzum
-Pistachio: fistik (Antep fistigi: pistachio from the city Antep)
-Pomegranate molasses: Nar pekmezi (mostly to dress salads for sour taste)
-Grape molasses: uzum pekmezi (very sweety, almost Anatolian equivalent of maple syrup)
-Molases: Pekmez (can be made of mullberry, locust, grapes, pomegranate)

Just to add, I am not a high-end addict. And Istanbul is full off different tasting experiences for any kind of budget.

dear antman, you might be right for some but belive me no-body can beat BEYTI's meat. So, it worths. It is not an everyday eating. If you haven't tried yet, pls. do. If tried and saying so, something wrong.

Most of the suggestions here are all budgetary. There are also mid-end and high-end tasting experiences in İstanbul. Fish restaurants, try Yeşilköy area (close to the Atatürk Airport) one of my favorite is OGÜN Restraurant. Very typical fish meyhane in a very narrow street next to a church. The other possibility is Balıkçı Sabahattin in Cankurtaran (walking distance to Sultanahmet). Those selections are a bit expensive meze-fish-drink(liquor) -sweet/fruit-coffee 70-100 USD per person.
For meat/kebab, again Florya coastal area (again very close to the Atatürk Airport) is very rich in meat restaurants. Emmim, Kasaba, Ziya, Uludağ are some. The best is BEYTİ in Florya. Again those are about 50-100 USD per person.

You must try breakfast in Van. There are several restaurants serving breakfast. You do not need to choose sthg from the menu (I doubt if there is a menu) just ask the waiter to fill the table. It is served like "meze" several local cheeses, olives, butter, bread, milk, tea. Probably you cannot find filtered coffee. For a traditional experience, try hot milk or tea.

had the same experience in May

http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/esta...

seems it is not alive anymore