Is the a la carte restaurant at Turkish all-inclusive hotels worth it?

Some guests have a positive take on the à la carte restaurant: food was tasty and filling, and there's evening animation/entertainment with friendly, not pushy staff.

Booking the à la carte restaurant can be straightforward if you do it in the morning: guests were able to choose menu items at signup, and staff helped with recommendations. So access itself seems easy, even if a child starts the registration.

For a special occasion, the hotel may offer extras: a card and chocolates were delivered to the room before dinner, and floral table decoration in the restaurant was available for an extra charge.

By 9 PM at the main buffet, everything is gone — including desserts that normally go untouched. Crowds have grown noticeably. Best strategy: arrive right at opening to get fresh fruit and popular dishes before they run out.

The a la carte seating runs 7–9:30 PM on paper, but staff may start clearing your table before 8 PM — removing untouched plates, taking half-finished wine glasses, turning off lights. Getting a proper meal in that window is very difficult.

On top of the rushed service, even bread is rationed — one small roll for two people, with no refills offered. Celebrating a special occasion here is likely to disappoint: not enough time to eat properly and no real atmosphere.