Deniz is an authentic Turkish restaurant in Dubai Marina which specialises (as its name implies) in Aegean cuisine. It is also famous for its breakfast. My friends and I went there late on a lazy weekend for what was supposed to be breakfast. But one look at its tempting menu and we ended up ordering mains. And just like that, we turned breakfast into brunch. The restaurant is located at the base of the Torch Tower, opposite the Marriott. Its interior is simple with just enough touches to create a believable ambience.
Our order started with their breakfast platter, aptly named the Sunrise Feast. To this we added Menemen and a half dozen mains. Most notable were the Manti, Çökertme Kebab, a delicious kabab from Bodrum made from marinated strips of veal, the Kofte and the brilliant, must-order Eggplantamole – flame charred eggplant mixed with diced tomato, garlic and capsicum. Also commendable was the Girit Ezme, a spread made from cheese and nuts and flavoured with garlic. It goes very well with the in-house made bread. All in all, it was a delicious meal which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Although the outdoor deck is no longer useable during the day (too hot), it should still be ok for another couple of weeks in the evenings. The indoor dining area is refreshingly cool. Service is friendly and prices are reasonable making this a very good option when considering Turkish for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Xerxes (pronounced Zûrk’seez) – Food Adventurer Extraordinaire – Shamelessly Exploring the Boundaries of Gluttony
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join him on his culinary journey on Instagram: @ravenousxerxes or reach out to him via email on xerxes@dellara.com.