Marmara — Restaurant in Melbourne

Delicious Authentic Turkish cuisine, though with an unfortunate disappointing dessert.

I attended Marmara with my partner, looking for an authentic Turkish cuisine restaurant in my local area. I was thoroughly impressed by the Classic Banquet's appetisers (Cay, Pide,Dolma,Dips) and the mains (Bulgur, pilav, lamb cutlets & skewers). Delicious!

We then elected to swap the banquet dessert options with the Firin Sutlac (oven baked rice pudding), as this dish though a classic in Turkey, is difficult to find in Melbourne. However the dessert we were provided was a generic rice pudding with some cinammon sprinkling, that seemed like it came from a DrOetker packet, served in a glass. This was starkly different to the image on their website & instagram, that showed the more traditional firin sutac, burnt & caramelised top in the brown saucer, you would expect to have in Turkey.

I asked the waitress if there was a mistake, and she insisted that this is the same as the firin sutlac on the website, but just in a glass instead (Despite obviously not being oven baked/no burnt caramelised layer on top). Being Turkish myself, I clearly know this dish was no firin sutlac, and was inadequate by restaurant standards, and asked that they provide me the original desserts listed on the banquet instead, which they did (Lokum, Kemalpasa tatli - which were quite good!)

I later asked a second waiter what had occurred and if they changed their recipe recently, and he informed myself that they had actually run out of firin sutlac that night, which is why we were provided that replacement rice pudding instead.

If it were the case they had run out of the dessert, I wish they had just told us that and it would've been understandable, rather than rudely gaslighting us earlier.

It was disappointing, as otherwise I enjoyed the remainder of the meal, but it ultimately ended with somewhat of a...

Warm glowing date night lighting, silhouettes of what we assume is Istanbul. Marmara is just as we remember it from our college days, a welcoming spot with delicious food. One of the rare places we loved that's still around. . 🫖Apple & Black Tea 🍚Vine leave dolma 🥖Spinach and feta cheese spring rolls 🥧Iskender – tender lamb off the spit 🥩Mixed grill (serves 1) - karişik izgara 🥒Mixed pickles 🍧Kadaif - sütlü tel kadayif (nests) 🍦Semolina halva with ice cream 🧁Turkish delights . For starters we had rice wrapped in vine leaves and spinach/feta spring rolls. Mains were certainly the highlight with his dish being a clay out of paper thin lamb and beef mince from the turning roast (doner kebab) with a tomato sauce, finished with yoghurt. I also got the lamb (minus sauce aww) as part of the mixed grill platter (1.5 serves). Along with a skewered lamb & chicken fillets, kofte (skinless sausages) and a cutlet (lamb) served with garden salad & pilaf rice. All the meats were delicious, tender and juicy. Nothing dry. Definitely made the right choice. . The dessert menu was a page itself! Choices... he chose a semolina, very light in sweetness. While I had a fascinating dish, served up like nests. Menu says it's oven baked kadayif (fine strings of pastry), soaked in our unique milky honey syrup, topped with crushed walnuts and served with creamy mascarpone. Reminds me of fine vermicelli, so it was certainly an interesting dish. . Service was quick and very friendly. . 🇹🇷 @marmara_restaurant 📍Chapel St // Windsor 💵 $75 for two. We booked through @theforkau (formally dimmi) and got...

Exceptional Turkish Dining Experience What a gem! Marmara Turkish Restaurant exceeded all expectations tonight. After hearing rave reviews, we finally made it to Chapel Street in Windsor and we're so glad we did.

We decided to try their mixed grill alongside their famous kofta, and wow - both dishes were absolutely outstanding. The mixed grill arrived sizzling and beautifully presented, featuring an impressive array of perfectly grilled meats. Every component was cooked expertly - the lamb was incredibly tender, the chicken was moist and flavorful, and all the meats had that authentic smoky char that you only get from proper grilling technique.

The kofta deserves special mention - these weren't your average meatballs! They were expertly seasoned with traditional spices, incredibly juicy on the inside with a beautiful caramelized exterior. You could taste the fresh herbs and the quality of the meat immediately. Paired with their fresh bread and accompaniments, it was perfection.

What really impressed us was the authenticity - this isn't fusion or adapted Turkish food, this is the real deal. The flavors transported us straight to Istanbul. The fact that everything is halal-certified gives additional peace of mind without compromising on taste whatsoever.

The staff were knowledgeable and passionate about their food, and the cozy atmosphere made for a perfect evening out. After 40+ years in business, they've clearly mastered their craft.

Can't wait to return and work through more of their menu. Highly recommended for anyone craving authentic...