Tike Taste of Istanbul | The Beach at JBR

A visit to JBR is never complete without dining at one of their spectacular restaurants. Last weekend, after the plating competition, we stopped by at Tike that offers the finest Turkish cuisine in a beautiful setting. The restaurant spans over two levels offering spacious seating options – sofas or chairs, sports screening capabilities and a variety of sheesha flavors.

We started our dinner with a Turkish Mezza Platter featuring 5 different mezza options. Hummus, a creamy classic, was my favorite of them all. Next was Nazik which featured grilled eggplants with garlic and yogurt. Zeytinyali Fasulye was a delicious stew of green beans cooked with tomato, onion and garlic. Gavurdagi Salad, another favorite of mine, came with tomato, onions and parsley dressed in a pomegranate olive oil dressing and topped with crushed walnuts. Kisir was a refreshing mix of ground bulgur, capsicum, parsley and tomato puree.

While this would seem like an entire meal, it was merely the start to an exquisite feast. Our next appetizer was one of the Turkish favorites Kezartma Icli Kofta. These were essentially kibbeh, but with a major face lift. In fact, I have never tasted kibbeh so juicy before. I have always come across kibbeh that are too dry, but these ones were made with really good meat, covered in a bulgur crust and dipped in pistachio crumbs that adds a different angle of taste. The tahini dip on the side was epic. Following that, we moved to another Turkish staple – Lahmacun. This Turkish version of pizza with a thin crust pastry comes topped with a mashed mix of minced meat enhanced with herbs and spices. They recommend adding a little parsley, sprinkling a little lemon juice and rolling it up to get the best taste. Must must have! Moving on, we were offered the Peynerli Pide. Supremely cheesy, this hot-off-the-oven pie featured layers of kashkaval cheese (similar to a lasagna) and was topped with herbs. This one is famous as a breakfast staple in Turkey.

While we were still devouring the cheesy and meaty goodness, we were offered a glass of fresh orange juice along with their special Date Crush Mojito. This colorful, sweet and refreshing berry drink was quite the bomb, but a little less sweet would’ve worked just fine.

As expected, and delightfully so, we were served Mixed Grill for mains. After all, you cannot not order a mixed grill at a Turkish restaurant, right? This one came with Adana Kebabs that I love, Chicken Shish Tavuk, Lamb Chops and Beef Medallions. My favorite were the kebabs followed by tavuk, but I didn’t like the beef too much. It could’ve been juicier. The grill platter was served with rice, fries and a salad on the side. But that was not all for mains. We were also offered a baked Mushroom & Cheese Pie, which although an off-the-menu item, was specially prepared for us to sample. Piping hot, this pie features melted cheese mixed with whole mushrooms and covered with pastry dough. This one was a really comforting dish and would make a great choice during winters.

For desserts, we started with Tike Helva which was a warm semolina pudding topped with pistachio and cinnamon. Of course, there was also a grand Fruit Platter decked up meticulously to represent a swan, making it almost too pretty to eat. We loved the freshness of the fruits and all the hardwork put into bringing this together. Finally like all Turkish meals, we ended with the classic Turkish Tea. The presentation was authentic and the warmth was just right for the chilly weather. If you’re like me who likes tea with a little sugar, make sure you ask for it on the side.

Tike Taste of Istanbul

Location: Shop 1302, The Beach, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Dubai
Contact: 04 4303150 | 600545540

View this restaurant on Zomato