Sublime Turkish Food from Efes Grill
We of TMG are huge fans of Turkish cuisine. As such we are delighted that Efes Mediterranean Grill is now here in Jersey City. Their new outpost at 515 Jersey Ave. follows on the heels of their perennially popular spots in Princeton and New Brunswick. We may have come for the highly lauded lamb, but we stayed – and keep coming back for - the seafood, yogurt, and vegetable-centric dishes.
Not that we did not love the lamb – it was delicious as expected. We ordered the Lamb Aldana Kebab with pepper, paprika and rice. But it was our second Lamb Kebab order – served with sauteed bread and yogurt – that got us in the mood to explore the entire menu. We have now fallen in love with the following dishes: The Spinach Manti Dumplings – homemade dumplings filled with spinach and topped with yogurt. So savory and satisfying. Also tops on our list is the Mucver – an herby, fried zucchini pancake appetizer. Rounding out our favorite items are a trio of seafood dishes. The Pan Seared Tilapia is perfectly seasoned with garlic, onions, and peppers. The Grilled Sea Bass (Branzino) and the Royal Dorado (Orata) are both served as the whole fish and chargrilled to perfection. All 3 of these dishes are served with rice and salad.
We also must mention how lovely the Turkish Lentil Soup is and our two favorite pastry-style desserts. The Kunefe is filled with hot cheese and syrup between layers of phyllo, and the Kadayif is made with sweet pastry and filled with honey syrup, nuts, and butter. Either are a perfect finale for a great meal from Efes. So much flavor and finesse in this food.
515 Jersey Ave., Efes Grill is open for indoor dining at 35% capacity. Takeout and Delivery until 9:30 pm via https://efesjerseycity.square.site/