By Jason Scheer
His father and grandfather have owned and operated Denise, a restaurant in Turkey, for more than half a century. After moving to the United States, Kaya is serving up traditional Turkish meals to Baldwin residents as owner of the new Aquarium Grill Restaurant, on 2379 Grand Ave.
Kaya opened Aquarium in May, hoping to bring something different to the area. In addition to familiar dishes such as shish kebab and more exotic meals like yogurtlu kebab, which is ground lamb flavored with parsley, red peppers, garlic and pistaccio, Kaya says
he offers his customers a great environment to dine in, complete with elegant table settings, soft music and great service.
"It's a nice quiet, clean atmosphere," he said.
The customers reactions speak for themselves.
Bill Ramona, a Baldwin resident who was patronizing the Aquarium for the first time, said, "It's very nice. I like the decor."
In the front of the store, sitting at a table next to the large, open windows, sat a party of 8 close friends who were collectively enjoying their first outing to Aquarium.
Marty Juman was among those in the large party. He said what impressed him most was the variety of dishes on the menu.
"There's a great variety of food, we've had seven or eight different appetizers," he said.
Aquarium offers 13 different types of "soguk mezeler," or cold appetizers and four hot appetizers, called "sicak mezeler."
Tammy Waters was also among the large party and said that her favorite dish was the chicken kebab, a dish prepared with a boneless breast of chicken marinated in a special sauce and grilled over charcoal. "It's tasty, it's not too spicy and it's prepared well," she said.
Kaya said that the Aquarium is a place for all diners, whether they be couples, families or young people to come. They offer a children's menu, complete with gyros, chicken kebabs and desert. and the entrees are modestly priced, ranging from $3 to $14. All entrees come with a free drink.
Though the food is the benchmark of the Aquarium, some of the larger crowds amass on Saturday nights, when customers are privy to a spectacle of Turkish entertainment -- bellydancing.
"People really like the belly dancers," said Mehmet Dumen, manager of the Aquarium.
Ashley Dumen is Mehmet's daughter and also works at the Aquarium. She said that the bellydancers are just part of the different experience that the restaurant offers. "It's a different food, it's a new restaurant and it's a different culture," she said.
The Aquarium Grill is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Friday's from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
