Lamb Casserole in Side — Clay-Baked Lamb at Hawaii Restaurant & Bar

Lamb casserole at Hawaii Restaurant & Bar in Side is a Turkish Specialities plate of lamb pieces cooked with tomato, onion, green pepper and garlic on a clay plate in our stone oven. It arrives served with rice and chips — a warm, homely dish in the heart of Side old town.

What the dish is

This is comfort food done the Turkish way: pieces of lamb slow-cooked together with tomato, onion, green pepper and garlic. Everything shares one clay plate, so the flavours settle into each other rather than sitting apart. It's listed under our Turkish Specialities for a reason — it's the kind of plate you'd hope to find at a good local table, and it has quietly kept regulars coming back to Hawaii Restaurant & Bar since we opened in 2000.

No fuss, no reinvention. Just lamb, vegetables and garlic given time in the oven until they're tender and the tomato has done its work. If you like your dinner to taste like it was actually cooked for you rather than assembled, this is that plate.

How Hawaii serves it

The lamb, tomato, onion, green pepper and garlic are cooked together on a clay plate in our stone oven. That clay-and-stone combination is the whole point — it holds heat evenly and gently, which is exactly what lamb wants. The tomato and onion break down into the base, the pepper softens, and the garlic mellows into the background rather than shouting over the meat.

It comes to the table served with rice and chips, so it's a complete plate — you've got the rice to soak up the tomato and the chips for the people who always want chips. It lands hot from the oven, aromatic, and honestly a little theatrical when it hits the table. This is a sit-down dish; it rewards a bit of patience while it cooks properly.

Who it's for and when to order it

Order the lamb casserole when you want something hearty and genuinely Turkish rather than another burger-and-chips night on holiday. It suits cooler evenings, it suits a proper dinner after a long beach day, and it suits anyone who wants to taste local cooking without gambling on unfamiliar spice levels — it's savoury and homely, not fiery.

It's a natural pick for couples splitting a couple of Turkish plates, for solo diners who want one satisfying thing, and for families where someone always wants the meat-and-chips option. If you're eating your way through our best lamb in Side shortlist or exploring our Turkish food guide for tourists, this belongs on the list. Prefer your lamb from the grill instead? Our wood-fire and charcoal grill handles that side of the menu.

What to drink with it

Lamb baked with tomato and garlic is a rich, savoury plate, so it pairs happily with a glass of red wine or a cold beer if you want something to cut through it. There's a full drinks list at the restaurant, from wine and beer to soft drinks and cocktails, so you can match the casserole to whatever suits your table on the night.

If you're bringing the family, the kids can have an alcohol-free kids cocktail so nobody's left out. Time it right and you might catch Happy Hour, daily from 19:00 to 20:00. For today's drinks and prices, check the live menu at /menu/, and if you want a steer on the wine side you can browse our Turkish wine guide.

How it fits the wider menu

The lamb casserole sits in good company among our Turkish Specialities. If clay-baked cooking is your thing, look at our other clay pot and casserole dishes and the theatrical testi kebab. Kebab fans can range across the Turkish kebab atlas or go for a classic şiş kebab. And because we're an international kitchen — Italian pizzas, grills, curries and more — there's always something for the rest of the table if one person's set on the casserole.

Practical details

We don't print prices here so they never go stale — see today's prices on the live menu at /menu/. To be sure of a table, especially in high season, book online or message us on WhatsApp at +90 533 930 12 83. You'll find us in Side old town at 512. Sk., Manavgat/Antalya, open daily from 10:00 to 02:00.

Staying nearby? We offer free hotel pickup (round trip) from selected hotels, with an affordable two-way transfer available from further out. Want it at your hotel instead? We do takeaway and nearby delivery too. Come hungry — the clay plate is worth the wait.