There is a type of restaurant in Adana, a “balik” restaurant, that basically serves as a waterside place (usually) where they serve seafood, but also mezze. And breakfast. Turkish breakfast is a big deal. But Turkish breakfast can be confusing in Adana because liver kebabs are a traditional breakfast in here. (If you search for “breakfast” in google maps, you will also get results for liver… I already did that. I like eggs for breakfast.)
Back to the seafood restaurants. Most of them are along the river and lake in Adana. That does not mean that the seafood is from the river and lake. Most restaurants get their supplies from Metro, a Costco like store. The Mediterranean is about an hour from Adana so maybe the fish is from a purveyor from there? I usually order breaded shrimp. If you order the fish, they will cook and filet it for you. Sometimes the filleting is down table side.
The way it works at the seafood restaurants is that you choose your mezze and your fish. The staff then bring them to your table. Some places have photos online or on a menu but I prefer to see what is in the counter. I search out the spicy yogurt dip since I like spicy food, but there is a wide variety including eggplant salad, bean dip, and many dairy based dips.
There will always be bread and usually a “green” salad which is not just green. At some places, the bread will be freshly baked or warmed pita style bread. At others, they use the cheap standard white loaf. And as in the photos, the bread is the white loaf made into toast. The bread is unlimited.
Many of these restaurants are elegant a bit fancy, and often expensive. If you want a less expensive but equally nice view, then choose a non-balik place. Usually a water pipe/night club type of place that also serves breakfast or brunch (kahvalti is usually from 9-2). Many of these have amazing views. The views may also be people watching and in some places everyone will get involved in a friendly way. For example if there is a birthday or marriage proposal, everyone will sing and clap along.
Whether you go for breakfast or dinner, the dress code is up to you. Some where shorts and t-shirts (most men) and some where more formal clothes. Depending on the weather, people will sit outside or the restaurant will have opened the walls to the outside. Another thing is that there will always be smoking. And tea. No meal is complete without tea or coffee.
Sometimes having coffee or tea ends with tea or coffee. I’ve gone for coffee and then been offered tea. The tea is usually stronger than the coffee. The coffee offered is Turkish coffee which is a tiny cup and not filtered (so don’t drink all the way to the dregs at the bottom). Also, if you have Turkish coffee, you might find someone who knows how to read coffee grounds and they can read your future.
As for the seafood restaurants, I do not frequent them often because some of them cost me $65 per person. That is expensive for a meal in Adana. But the price of food is a whole other discussion…
