Nestled on the beautiful marina promenade, is a little piece of Greece called Grecian Grill. A restaurant that treats you like family and serves food that could easily be home cooked from a Grecian household, prepared with the same love and care as if you were a guest in their home.
Our verdict: Grecian Grill gives you an insight into being in a Greek home. You will feel welcome and be served meals that are not only delicious but are as authentic as can be.
The Food
Once you order your appetizers, the chef will show you a sampler of what to expect. We visited as part of a big group, thus, the staff started us off by showcasing their dishes. All the starters that we tried were vegetarian.
Tirokafteri [AED 29]: Something unexpected yet delicious. Crushed feta with chili pepper seems like a bit of an unusual mix, but it works! The olive oil and fresh oregano help add a freshness to this cold starter as well.
Eggplant Salad [AED 26]: A Greek version of moutabel but this is their own homemade recipe. Grilled aubergine is mixed with onions, apple vinegar, olive oil and herbs and topped with diced tomatoes to add some sweetness.
Feta [AED 27]: A traditional feta cheese which they serve that’s fresh and refined. You can definitely taste the difference.
Grecian Hummus [AED 20]: A different take on the traditional hummus we’re used to getting in Dubai. There’s a sweetness to it thanks to the addition of honey and an additional flavour due to the addition of spices.
Tzatziki [AED 25]: This is the popular Greek yogurt and cucumber dip, once again fresh and delicious.
Greek Yellow Fava [AED 24]: This was our surprise favourite. A smooth mixture of split peas, with lemon, oregano and caramelized onions. Definitely order this dish. The sweetness of the onions balance out the tartness of the lemon really well. Very tasty indeed.
Fried Feta Wrapped in Phyllo Dough [AED 49]: This dish is absolutely delicious. It’s a great combination of taste and texture, soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside with a touch of sweetness thanks to the drizzle of honey over it. We definitely recommend it.
Politiki [AED 31]: A fresh, crunchy salad, great to share with the table as a side with a meat dish.
Traditional Greek Salad [AED 44]: This salad stays true to it’s name. A proper Greek salad made by a Greek chef. Fresh ingredients and delicious cubes of feta cheese. Yum!
‘Dakos’ Salad from Crete [AED 42]: Another surprise favourite. We loved the crunchy pieces of toasted rusk, the creaminesses of the cheese and the sweet and tangy marinated tomatoes.
Moussaka [AED 58]: Well prepared with crispy edges and a creamy béchamel sauce.
Spinach Pie [AED 36]: We would have liked a bit more feta cheese in this, but since we love spinach we didn’t mind as much. The texture of the crunchy phyllo pastry with the softer spinach and feta mixture was great.
Mixed grill platter [AED 169]: This dish is huge, they say it’s for 2 people, but it could easily feed 3 to 4 people. We loved every single type of meat here. They cook each dish to order and their ingredients are fresh, this really comes through in this dish.
The Drinks
Loux: These are bottled sodas from Greece, the lemon flavour tastes similar to 7up.
Greek Coffee [AED 16]: A rich and strong coffee, similar to Turkish coffee. A perfect drink for M. You can ask them to make it strong or mild.
Greek Frappe [AED 19]: A cold coffee drink, quite nice if you like a sweeter coffee drink on a warm day.
The Dessert
Galaktomboureko [AED 29]: A delicious flakey pastry filled with a smooth, creamy custard. This dessert is a great way to finish off a heavy Greek meal.
Service
Grecian Grill’s service is really good. From the moment you enter you feel like a family member being welcomed home. The owners take personal care of you while the rest of the staff do an excellent job by being attentive, friendly and helpful.
The Venue
The ambiance and interior decor of Grecian Grill is not the stereotypical blue and white theme of the flag, rather it’s more like what we would imagine a Greek home to look like. With a bright textured orange painted walls and gold framed pictures of places in Greece adorning it to the tray ceiling trimmed with a gold Grecian pattern to some beautiful art made, in part, by one of the owners. The space is charming and unique, nothing fancy or over the top. The rest of the restaurant’s appeal is the Marina Promenade, which gives you a nice open European feel. The owners are a husband and wife team, who have poured their heart into Grecian Grill and it definitely shows.
How to get to Grecian Grill
Grecian Grill is located at the end of the Marina Promenade (Abu Dhabi Side). Unfortunately getting there isn’t the easiest thing, but if you put the location for Jannah Marina Bay Suites into Google Maps, it takes you right to the location.
By Car: When heading towards Abu Dhabi, take exit 29 and head towards Jumeirah. Then take the exit for Al Sebha Street. Follow the road till you can take the first left-hand u-turn. Once you take this, you will see Jannah Marina Bay Suites on the right side. Drive slow so you don’t miss it. Here you can find RTA parking or they sometimes allow you to park inside the location. However when we visited, they did not allow us to park inside. But do check with the reception first.
By Cab: It would be best to navigate the taxi driver using the instructions above, as there is no real landmark. If they know Wyndham Dubai Marina, then thats the closest landmark. But Grecian Grill is a few meters before this hotel.
Public Transport: The best option is to take the red line till JLT Station, and then walk from there. Its about a 18 minute walk, so maybe its better to take a taxi from the metro station.
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/sRr2UEFVKns
The Entrance
Once you enter the hotel, keep to the left and head down to the promenade. Once you get down the flight of stairs, Grecian Grill is on the right side.
Restaurant info
Name: Grecian Grill
Contact: 054-4332040
Location: Marina Promenade Level, Jannah Marina Bay Suites, Dubai Marina, Dubai
Cuisine: Greek, Casual Dining
Note: We were invited by Grecian Grill. However, our thoughts and opinions are unbiased and our own.
