Akdeniz: A Jewel in the Sea of Midtown Restaurants

The word Akdeniz means Mediterranean, or the sea in Turkish so by knowing this, you’ll know exactly what to expect from this “jewel in the sea" of Midtown restaurants.

Akdeniz was opened two years ago by Mike Kocak, Murat Aktas, and Suleyman Yeniler. Each member of the trifecta brings something “to the table.” Mike is an established restaurateur, owning Sahara’s Grill, Sahara’s Turkish, and Pasam (in Brooklyn). Murat has worked as a waiter and manager in several restaurants in the city. He immigrated from Istanbul, Turkey in 1999, and works at Akdeniz for more than fifteen hours every day from nine in the morning until closing. Suleyman is behind the scenes producing the delicious cuisine and has more than seven years of chef experience.

If you visit Akdeniz on a weekday, especially for lunch, don’t mind the wait (as the restaurant is usually “filled to the gills”) because you’ll soon realize why this little place has such a following.

Try Turkish Food at Troy Turkish Grill

Turkey is known for an abundance and diversity of foods and flavors because of its rich flora, fauna and regional differentiation. Turkish cuisine is considered to be at the crossroads between the Far East and Mediterranean, which translates to a robust selection of dishes that combine grilled meats, seafood, dairy, vegetables and grains at its very core. With Troy Turkish Grill’s proud heritage at hand, their dishes come together in a feast for your eyes and palate. Troy is a delight to behold.

Do yourself a favor and indulge and enjoy by visting their location or ordering online.

Some of the featured dishes are:
Iskender Kebab—Thinly sliced lamb grilled on a revolving skewer; served with cacik and tomato sauce on a bed of warm pita
Troy’s Mix—Lamb shish kebab, chicken shish kebab and Troy kofte served with rice, salad and sauce
Lamb Shish Kebab—Char-grilled marinated chunks of lamb
Troy Kofte—Ground lamb and beef patties seasoned with spices char-grilled to perfection
Adana Kebab—Skewered minced lamb seasoned with spices
Vegetarian Mixed Plate—Any combination of six cold appetizer