Eating the Greek way in Dubai

Authentic Greek food has made its way all the way from Greece to the tables of Eat Greek restaurant in Dubai.
Located in the newly opened outdoor mall, The Beach at JBR, the two-story casual dining restaurant has a prime place on the beach with a commanding view of the glittering Arabian Gulf and the iconic Palm Jumeirah.
Eat Greek offers an outdoor dining area overlooking The Beach at JBR with basic steel chairs, square wooden tables and umbrellas to keep you from the glazing Dubai sun during the lunch time.
Once inside the restaurant, you cannot miss the rustic urban feel, thanks to the basic wooden chairs, square wooden tables and long leather sofas. You will fall in love with the reused white bird cages wrapped with light wires that hang from the ceiling, they give a very country feel. The walls are designed with exposed bricks and at some places are covered with old wooden doors to truly reflect the edgy urban style of the restaurant. There is an open kitchen where you can see the food being prepared. In the center of the restaurant is a large communal table for diners who visit in groups.
The hall on the first floor has walls tastefully done in white bricks and are reminiscent of the Greek Islands. A smaller outdoor terrace offers a more intimate beach-side view.
You cannot help but feel at home, thanks to the welcoming and efficient staff who are always standing by your side to assist you in whichever way.
The menu is an easy read because Greek food is familiar to many Arabs.
For appetizers, we ordered the famous Tzatziki made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic and fresh herbs. It comes in a small bowl topped with an olive, olive oil and shredded cucumber. I would say it works great as a dip along with fresh bread that is served once you are seated. The bread basket comes from their in-house bakery. A visit to any Greek restaurant is incomplete without ordering a Greek salad. So we ordered the Eat Greek salad, it was light and colorful. Olives, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, green bell peppers and feta cheese, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil made the dish special.
The Baked Feta Cheese is highly recommended. It consists of creamy grilled feta cheese drizzled with olive oil and topped with fresh sliced tomatoes and onions.
We also loved the Octopus with eggplant mousse; it is a great choice for those who love seafood. You can taste the charcoal from the grilled octopus and the mousse is full of flavor.
For main course, you get to choose from grilled fillet steaks, burgers, Greek sandwiches, and grilled meats and fish among other dishes. The Moussaka Burger is made with a 200 gram beef pattie, caramelized onions and grilled eggplant, topped with béchamel sauce. It is a must try. The Pita Chicken Skewer Sandwich is a great choice, consisting of grilled chicken skewer mixed with tzaziki, tomato, onions and potato chips wrapped in pita bread. For sharing, the beef, lamb, chicken and vegetable skewers are a fantastic choice. They are beautifully presented — the skewers hang from a metal hanger over potato chips. The meat is soft and flavorful. I definitely loved it!
You should also try the Moussaka, it is a famous traditional Greek dish that was adapted to and twisted by the Arabic culture. In Greece, they make it with over-baked potatoes, eggplant, minced meat and cover it with béchamel sauce. You can eat it just like that or with rice or bread.
For dessert, we were confused with the variety of options the restaurant has. Some are traditional Greek desserts, while others are modern day favorites with a twist, such as the chocolate baklawa, which comprises hazelnuts, honey syrup and praline ice cream. This beautiful combination is flaky, flavorful and melts in your mouth.
Another great choice is the authentic Greek orange cake served with vanilla ice cream. You will fall in love with the warmth of the cake and you would not want to share it with anyone.
Most of the drinks at Eat Greek are freshly made with local and exotic fruits. The Virgin Katerina is a must-try. It is basically tomato juice with cucumber, salt and pepper. Another drink worth trying is Eros, a mocktail consisting of strawberries, cranberry juice, fresh lime and brown sugar.
Opening hours: From 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Expect to pay: AED 150
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