Mediterranean Restaurant in Side — Grills, Fresh Fish & Meze at Hawaii

Mediterranean eating, the Side way — shared, grilled, unhurried

The Mediterranean table isn't really a single cuisine. It's a way of eating: plates arriving to be shared, olive oil and cheese to start, fresh fish and grilled meat over open flame, crisp salads on the side, and no one in a rush to leave. If that's the meal you're picturing while you wander the lanes of Side old town, Hawaii Restaurant & Bar is built exactly for it. We've been cooking here in the heart of the old town — a short stroll from the ancient harbour — since 2000, over a real wood fire and charcoal grill, with fresh ingredients prepped daily.

This isn't a page pretending to be something it isn't. Below is the honest Mediterranean spread you can actually order at Hawaii, drawn straight from our kitchen — nothing invented, no menu you'll be disappointed not to find.

Start the way the coast does — meze, cheese and olive oil

A Mediterranean meal opens slowly, with small plates to pick at while the grill gets going. At Hawaii that means our Mixed meze plate to share, Deep fried sheep cheese with its salty golden crust, and Oven baked white cheese in foil that comes to the table soft and steaming. Add Garlic mushroom, Calamari, or Fried shrimps with garlic and you've got a proper table of things to reach across for. If you want the full picture of how to build the opening course, our guide to starters and meze in Side walks through the best combinations.

Salads that actually belong on the table

Coastal eating leans green and fresh, and our salads are made to sit alongside the grill rather than as an afterthought. The Greek salad is the classic Mediterranean choice — tomato, cucumber, olives and cheese. The Season's salad keeps it light, and the Goat cheese salad with walnut and honey bridges savoury and sweet in a way that pairs beautifully with charcoal-cooked food. Browse more options on our salads in Side rundown.

Fresh fish over charcoal — the heart of it

If one thing says "Mediterranean" on a plate, it's grilled fish. Ours goes straight over the charcoal: Grilled Sea bass, Grilled Black bream, and Grilled Trout, all cooked simply so the fish does the talking. For something with more range, Grilled prawns bring smoke and sweetness, and the Mixed sea plate (for two) is the easiest way to share the best of the sea across one table. There's a reason this is what regulars come back for — read why in our grilled fish guide for Side.

Charcoal grills — lamb, köfte and şiş

Meat off the flame is just as Mediterranean as fish, and this is where the wood fire earns its keep. Lamb chops and Şiş kebab carry that unmistakable charcoal char, while Köfte — seasoned grilled meatballs — is the honest, everyday plate you'll want to order more than once. It all comes off the same open grill you can smell from the street. For the full spread of what comes off the coals, see our piece on the wood fire and charcoal grill.

A quick, honest note on what we don't serve

People searching "Mediterranean food" sometimes have hummus, tzatziki, moussaka, paella or tapas in mind. Those specific dishes aren't on our menu, and we won't pretend otherwise. What we do brilliantly is the grill-and-share side of the Mediterranean table — charcoal fish and lamb, meze, cheese and salads. If that's your evening, you're in exactly the right place.

Why Hawaii fits the setting

Location matters for this kind of meal. You're in the heart of Side old town, minutes from the ancient harbour, in a spot that's been feeding travellers and locals since 2000. We're open daily from 10:00 to 02:00, year-round, so lunch by the ruins or a long dinner after sunset both work. Staying out of the centre? We offer free hotel pickup from selected hotels (round trip) and an affordable two-way transfer for hotels a bit farther out — details on our free hotel pickup page. Prefer to stay in? Takeaway is always available and we deliver to nearby areas.

Book your table

Evenings fill up fast in the old town, especially in season. To be sure of a table for a shared Mediterranean spread — or to arrange pickup — reserve online at /reservation/ or message us on WhatsApp at +90 533 930 12 83. Tell us your group size and hotel and we'll sort the rest. Come hungry, plan to share, and don't rush — that's the whole point.