Akbuk Rob's 2011 Restaurant Review - 2012 review will start soon
Welcome to the third year of this ever popular review of Akbuk
restaurants. My trusted team and I will be trawling our way around all
the main restaurants in town throughout the season and reporting our
findings. In addition to the restaurants below, a number of very
pleasant beach-side café bars and Turkish tea gardens spring up in the
summer. We hope you will visit as many of our local restaurants as your
digestion allows.
Recommended and Highly Recommended ratings
These awards based on feedback from genuine tourists/visitors derived
partly from comments submitted to our guest books and partly from direct
contact with diners. They are not based on Rob's opinions.
Rob’s Restaurant Review (In alphabetical order) -
A Location map of all restaurants is in our Akbuk Brochure
Akbuk
Restaurant
Last
Reviewed June
2011
Closed For Winter
The Akbuk Restaurant is a good choice for an evening meal. The food is
great and they have some very tasty Turkish dishes, the chef can be
little heavy handed with the pepper & spices, personally that's the
way I like it. The seating is comfortable, toilets and kitchen are
spotless, service is excellent. Prices are reasonable when you take into
account the free bread & mezzes starters. No views of the bay
because they are in a side street. Don't be late, they close early.
Akvaryum
Last Reviewed April 2011
One of the busiest restaurant/bars in Akbuk during the summer season,
largely due to the lively entertainments such as bands and Turkish
nights etc. Good food & drink (reasonably priced), good hygiene,
very friendly and helpful staff, clean modern toilets. Akvaryum also
offer free wireless internet, Sky TV and local car service.
Ali
Baba
Last Reviewed June 2011
A great Turkish street café owned & run by the former head chef of
Pizza Hatti with his wife and son. A limited menu but very tasty food
and cheap prices, all cooked by Ali himself. Fast service and a very
friendly welcome. Pop in for a spicy kebab durum (wrap), you won't be
sorry. Only one toilet but clean and fit for the purpose.
Ankara
Körfez
Last Reviewed June 2011
Set in a quiet location on the sea front just 1Km from the town centre,
a very pleasant short stroll. This year it is being run by new patrons
Omar & his wife Nalan along with their excellent staff, there is a
real nice atmosphere here and so friendly, they really do their best to
make you happy. Completely redecorated this year, nice new furniture, a
delightful new rear garden area, inside, outside and sea front
seating/dining areas. There is actually seating for 200 people. The
toilets have also been repainted etc and are very clean & spacious.
The new menu offers a wide range of English, continental and of course
Turkish cuisine. Snacks, burgers, bacon butties, pizzas, pastas, salads,
steaks, casseroles, sea bass & bream, Turkish kebabs, in fact
something for everyone (including the kids). Complementary mezzes &
lavash bread are served before main dishes, The food is as always,
superb, they have all the right ovens & grills for the job. Free
wireless Internet.
Update October 2011 - Now back in the hands of the Körfez family as the
new patrons failed to make a go of it.
Bizim Café
Last Reviewed April 2011
A pleasant little Turkish café owned & run by the very friendly
Hatice AĞAN and her husband. Very clean & tidy throughout. A limited
menu consisting of soups, Turkish snacks, burgers, chips and rice.
Liquid refreshments include tea, coffee, beer, wines and spirits.
Çamli Seafood Restaurant
Last Reviewed March 2011
A lovely restaurant in a beautiful location just off the main road about
one mile or so from the town centre (look for the sign on the main
road). The menu is very limited and basically consists of two kinds of
fish, kofte meatballs or chicken, the food is very good however. Toilets
are a bit grotty.
Celebi
Restaurant
Last Reviewed September
2011 Recommended
The best tavuk güveç (chicken goulash) in Akbuk, in my opinion. The
Turkish cuisine is always excellent here and Yilmas the owner is still a
very nice, hard working man. The menu is a bit limited compared to some
other local restaurants but portions are generous and the prices are
amongst the lowest in town. Service if usually fast & efficient,
toilet are clean. Free wireless Internet is available and they also
offer a take-away service. Convenient parking alongside. Avoid Friday
nights if you're on holiday here, it's ex-pat's quiz night and some
participants are somewhat serious about it.
Covent
Garden
Last Reviewed May
2011
Recommended
Closed for winter
A very popular restaurant bar with a continental style menu and a good
choice of steaks. The complimentary mezzes are very nice (not too
spicy). The roof terrace offers beautiful views over the harbour and
bay. Toilets OK and kept sanitized, service is excellent and the staff
are very friendly. Food is very nicely presented. Free wireless Internet
and free local car service.
Derby
Hotel
Last Reviewed June
2011
Closed for winter
The Derby is the only restaurant/bar with a pool and it is certainly a
good one. New management have only recently taken over this year and as
yet they are not geared up as a restaurant and won't be this year, they
told us they would be closing shop around Sept/Oct to return to their
business in Fethiye. So this year they are only offering snacks, but you
can use the pool if you buy a few drinks or a snack. The toilets were
basic but clean when we visited. They have live music on some nights.
The place looks a bit daunting as you go past on the beach road, with
some wailing sound coming from a couple of cheap tinny speakers and no
customers, but up at the pool area it's very nice and comfortable
seating. They were all very friendly.
Garden
Restaurant
Last Reviewed July 2011
One of the most established restaurants in the town. Food is certainly
1st class and they have some great Turkish dishes on the menu. Ramazan
the owner is in his 7th year at this restaurant. Service is good and the
staff usually smartly dressed, toilets are modern & clean. Car
service is generally not available. Rob's favourites here are Sarma
Beyti and Iskender, delicious.
Garden Mehmet Restaurant
Last Reviewed April 2011
Next to the Garden Restaurant and Pizza Hatti the Garden Mehmet (or
Aile) is managed by the brother and former chef of the Garden. The food
is top notch as is the friendly service. Slightly less fancy than his
brothers restaurant although improvements were made last year including
a new small but serviceable toilet at the back of the building. Very
reasonable prices and some super Turkish cuisine.
Liberte
Bar
Last Reviewed June 2011
Situated in a great location right on the beach with a jetty, the
Liberte is very popular in the summer season for relaxing on the beach
and drinking by the sea at night. Although well established the Liberte
has all the facilities for offering restaurant food but at present its
basically just snacks & chips. Sunbeds & parasols are available
on the beach for 5 TL. Free wireless Internet access. Owner Özgür is
always very helpful to people.
Liman Café
Last Reviewed June 2011
The oldest bar in Akbuk has undergone a complete refurb this year,
everything is new and pretty smart. Located right on the harbour with
stunning views from the roof terrace, worth a visit just for that. Efes
beer is available on draft. Food wise they have a selection of Indian
curries, onion bhaji etc, if you are a curryholic you will enjoy this. I
know for a fact that this Indian cuisine is not made on the premises but
who cares? It's still gorgeous, I wouldn't bother with the nan bread
they don't have a clay oven to do it right. They also have a selection
of Turkish and continental dishes.
Marina Café Restaurant
Last Reviewed
September 2011
Recently opened the Marina offers a varied menu including fish, Turkish
and continental cuisine. There is also a children's menu. The kitchen
which includes a traditional Turkish oven is open plan so you can see
the food being cooked. This is a very pleasant restaurant/cafe aiming at
speedy service and keen prices. The owners & staff are very friendly
and experienced. Toilets are new & clean. At the moment it is
spacious outside dining but they are planning improvements to allow for
all year round opening. Free wireless Internet, Sky TV and local car
service, for car service you can phone 0090 (0)553 242 3385.
Mavi
Deniz
Last Reviewed May
2011
Closed
Now in their second year patrons Denis & Dawn provide good service
in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu is a mix of English, continental and
Turkish, vegetarian options are always available and Dawn will always
try to cater for special requirements. You get good portions here and
the prices are very reasonable, their best seller is chip shop style
fish & chips, Cod is not available in Akbuk, they use Mezğit which
we think is just as good if not better, the batter is light & crispy
and at just 10 TL it's the cheapest in town. Their Sunday lunches from
12 TL are another popular favourite. For the cider drinkers they have
bottled Strongbow. Toilets & kitchen are spacious and spotless. Free
Internet and "wii game" (whatever that is).
Olivia
Restaurant
Last Reviewed July
2011
Recommended
A comfortable restaurant in pleasant surroundings. Olivia's advertise
authentic eastern Turkish and Indian food whilst still offering things
like English breakfasts. Clean & spacious toilets, clean kitchen,
comfortable seating, nice tableware. Owner Cenk is very enthusiastic of
his food as are the two delightful ladies who run the kitchen. So if you
fancy trying something from the east, why not give it a try. Free
wireless Internet.
Paşa
Restaurant
Last Reviewed August
2011
Recommended
Closed for winter
Pasa's continues to be a very popular and successful restaurant. The
staff are very polite and smart. Hagi the head waiter is very much a
gentleman, he is ably assisted by Robbie, one of the best waiters in
town. The food is first rate and includes Turkish, English and
continental cuisine, fresh local fish, steaks, curries and much more.
Very tasty snacks are also available at cheap prices. You can get
Strongbow cider and WKD Blue Alcopops here. Toilets spacious &
clean. Patrons Serdar & Donna also offer free wireless Internet
access and local car service. A selection of fine cigars are available
for those who like an after dinner smoke.
Pizza
Hatti
Last Reviewed April
2011
Highly Recommended
Owner & patron Turan Ozuag has completely rebuilt his restaurant
last year, kitchen and toilets are modern & very clean. Pizza Hatti
is a well established restaurant in the town which has always been one
of the most popular eateries in Akbuk because they offer great food and
an extensive menu of delicious Turkish kebabs, grills, pizzas, seafood
etc at very reasonable prices and always free bread & mezze
starters. If you want great Turkish cuisine this is one of the places to
go. Free wireless Internet.
Shari's at No.
4
Last Reviewed May
2011
Recommended
Closed for winter
A very pleasant town centre café offering a different style of food than
other eateries in Akbuk, more towards the Italian style but personally I
would not call it an Italian restaurant as their name suggests, however
the food is very good and beautifully presented. Service from owner
Debbie and her staff on our visit was just right and very friendly
without being too much in your face like a few places sometimes are. A
bit on the pricey side I thought. Toilets are fairly new and very clean.
I don't usually get excited about coffee but their cappuccino is
excellent. Free wireless internet is available.
Sultan
Restaurant
Last Reviewed June
2011
Recommended
A warm welcome awaits you at this newly opened restaurant, owner Alfie
(formerly of Kusadasi) speaks excellent English thanks to the 6 years he
spent working in restaurants there. We experienced a real family
atmosphere on our visit, head chef Hussein suggested I try one of his
specialities, steak topped with pineapple & cheese, it was truly
wonderful and very well presented, my wife thoroughly enjoyed her steak
with mushrooms. They are still expanding their menu which also has many
reasonably priced Turkish and continental dishes. Toilets fairly basic
but very clean. We have already received positive feedback for this
restaurant which is very encouraging considering they were still
awaiting a new sign on our visit. There is convenient parking alongside,
free wireless Internet and local car service. Sultans also offer
take-away & delivery services.
Sümer Café
Last Reviewed June 2011
A very warm & friendly welcome awaits from patron Sinan and his wife
Birdal. The food is always very tasty and well presented, comfortable
seating and surroundings. Toilets are spacious and kept very clean.
Nargile pipes are available (best in Akbuk) and free wireless Internet.
Premıer league football is broadcast here. Sinan will look after you
with car service.
Yosun
Restaurant
Last Reviewed July 2011
This is the old My Way restaurant, new owners Emine & Mehmet have
refurbished and made quite a few alterations including opening up the
kitchen so anyone can see what is being cooked, it is clean, as are the
toilets. The menu includes some very tasty Chinese, Indian and Turkish
dishes. What the owners didn't know was a group of our trusted reporters
were also dining there separate to us on the same night (we are sneaky),
everyone's meals were excellent. They were reluctant to admit that the
Indian curry's are not made on the premises and come from the same
source as the Liman Café use, but again I say who cares? It's still
gorgeous. They have a disco from 11pm most nights in the summer and free
wireless Internet.
Zara Café Patisserie
Bar
Last Reviewed June
2011
Only open Friday daytime until April
Located on the main road next to the Belediyesi, Zara's is now a popular
restaurant serving special evening meals from 7:30pm till late (summer
time) and boasts a menu including Surf n Turf, Lamb Shanks cooked in Red
Wine, Gourmet Steaks served with Roquefort, Mushroom or Pepper Sauces,
Prawn Linguine, Chicken in Marmalade, Fisherman's pie (Prawns, Salmon,
Cod and Mussels) and a host of other foods. The Menu Board is changed
daily so there is always a surprise in store. Their day menu is
available at all times and includes lasagne, panini, English breakfasts,
Cornish pasties, selection of pies and delicious home made cakes. Sunday
roasts from 6pm including a choice of starters, main course with all the
trimmings and a choice of desserts. Zara's now have a new 5* Chef who
has an extensive menu of Turkish Dishes, Char-grilled Steaks and Tiger
Prawns, Authentic Indian Dishes, International Dishes and a host of
other culinary delights, all freshly made on the premises and will cater
for any special dietary needs too.
I wish you all happy dining - Akbuk Rob.
