Restaurant Review: Berkan Steak House

If you've been to Istanbul on a vacay, then it wouldn't take you much time to familiarise yourself with the cuisine at Berkan Steak House at City Walk. If not, then here's a place you could try out to get a feel of Turkey (foodwise) where the dishes are influenced by Asian, Middle Eastern and European cuisines.
Berkan Steak House is the first Emirati homegrown, Turkey-inspired steakhouse at the City Walk. Expect to feast on a smorgasbord of meats here. The place, however, is not your typical steakhouse, in the traditional sense, but they serve varieties such as Porter House, T-bone, Dallas and other cuts of meat.
The ambience, décor and the menu reflect a Eurasian feel and flavours. For instance, the Cheesy Meatball - a meat patty stuffed with Cheddar and Kashkaval cheeses and grilled - comes with a special sauce, a red, mildly-spiced sauce, which could pass off for a distant cousin of a South Indian red chutney. Similarly, the use of spices, especially paprika in the dishes, gives an Asian touch while the use of olive oil and herbs give the dishes a Mediterranean flavour.
Considering the lovely weather we've lately been enjoying in the Emirates, we would suggest outdoor dining. There's no pleasure than gorging on a succulent, grilled Porter House steak under the open skies. That's not all, the sheer varieties of meat cuts at Berkan Steak House, cooked to your desire, are tempting enough to make you forget your dietary vows, at least for a day!
Taste: If you're a fan of kebabs, then Berkan won't disappoint you. The Turkish kebabs are simply outstanding. But we were a tad let down as the menu did not feature the Doner kebab. The standout dishes were the Lokkum, and the Baklava. Stuffed with homemade Turkish ice-cream, this is a must-have.
Ambience: The restaurant is spacious and has ample indoor and outdoor seating. We preferred dining outdoors, away from the smoky odour of the meats being grilled. A butcher shop-like counter in the dimly-lit main dining room lends to the outlet's 'carnivorous' nature.
Service: The dishes reached our table without the need for 'conversation breaks'. Service was regular but could do with some fine-tuning. You wouldn't want to be watched when dining, do you? That said, the waiting staff were friendly, warm and quick to respond to requests.
Presentation: Berkan did try to give a dramatic effect with the use of dry ice that lent a foggy, fusion touch. The staff made it worthwhile by serving dishes in an interesting style - juggling knives. A couple of extra service spoons would have made dishing out and sharing easier, though.
Value for money: Quality meats come at a price and Berkan's steaks like Dallas, T-Bone, Porter House at Dh259-329 ensure the best cuts reach you. More than the cost, taste and freshness is what matters. And Berkan satisfied on that count. A three-course meal for two will set you back Dh400.
michael@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining