Makara

After passing this place many times (usually when I wasn’t hungry) and reading all the glowing reviews I finally got the chance to try this place. The interior is very nice and as I had arrived just after noon I had my choice of tables. I sat by the window for a nice view out onto the street. While I was waiting for my meal I was served a bowl of warm flatbreads (apparently made in-​house) and a little bowl of olives.
The main course I opted for was adana kofte served with rice and salad. The lamb was cooked on skewers which are then removed before serving leaving two perfect pooh-​shaped sausages on the plate. And very tasty it was too despite the slightly off-​putting appearance. The salad was very nice and a generous portion too. I just about managed to finish my meal (washed down with a glass of tango) despite the flatbreads almost having filled me up.
The bill arrived along with a small, but greatly appreciated, cube of turkish delight. Service and ambiance was excellent, I look forward to returning and trying something a little less pooh-​shaped.

I always know I can rely on Makara for a decent meal out. The standard never drops and the food is always delicious, filling and served quickly. Make sure you go there hungry as you get a lot of food!
The free bread is seriously good it’s hard not to keep eating it… but save room for the main courses. Me and my husband have tried a lot of the menu and everything has been great. It’s nice to get some different starters to share then we sometimes even just share a main course.
Our favourite main is probably the Sarma Kuzu Beyti for £12 which is flavoured lamb wrapped in the delicious bread and topped with yogurt and tomato sauce and comes with rice & fresh salad.
You also get a free little dessert which is a piece of the most delicious baklava… yum!
It gets very busy on weekends but if you turn up and there’s no table free just put your name down and go for a drink round the corner at Hove place whilst you wait :)

I would highly recommend this restaurant to you because it’s amazing. As we came in, we were hearty welcomed and got some bread and olives that tasted really good. After they served our ordered food, we didn’t have to wait a long time, were filled up and satisfied in the same time! In the end we got a traditional turkish dessert. So not only bread, dessert but also a bottle of water — this for free! Delicious food and pleasent service is really worth it!

I am writing this review whilst eating.
I sat down a few minutes ago.
They have given us hot bread. Sophie is eating it faster than I am.
She will be gutted when they offer us hummus and she has eaten all of the bread.
It’s quiet here. Most people have not finished work yet because it is around 5.30pm. There’s one other couple across the room. They look like they want to stay here. They aren’t really talking to eachother but they are smiling and seemed to have eaten all their food.
This feels like the kind of place where I can relax, phone in hand, without anybody moaning at me about table manners.
Even Sophie isn’t moaning at me. The complimentary bread is a welcome distraction.
I hope I don’t have to pay for this bread.
There are complimentary Olives too! I don’t like Olives though so Sophie is chewing away on them. They are black and appear to have some kind of pip in them. No thanks.
She seems satisfied though.
I asked for some tap water and the man didn’t frown upon me. I like this place even more now.
I told Sophie I am doing a «live» review. She just asked me to stop.
Starter hummus is here! I will finish this off later…
—
The hummus was like a lentil caramel. To me, that was fantastic.
We had the mixed grill for 2.
The chicken was juicy but also barbequey.
The lamb had NO FAT.
The ribs had a magical seasoning. These were my least favorite because they were not meaty but they were very tasty.
There was also a special kind of rice and side salad that came with the mixed grill. I ate all that too.
I was watching Sophie in the hope that she would say «I am full».
Then I could eat her remaining share.
You know when food is good when you’re keeping a tally of the other person’s share.
—
When I asked for the bill the man bought out a little treasure chest with the bill.
But he also presented us with two forks and… complimentary baklava.
I don’t really know how to rate baklava because I don’t really like it that much.
I ate all my baklava.
—
There was no service charge automatically added to the bill.
The bread was free!
This is my new favorite place.

I persuaded Scott to take me out for dinner this afternoon. Well, I actually wanted to grab some Thai food to take home from UniThai after seeing all the rave reviews on Unilocal!Unfortunately, when we got there, the noodle bar was closed! Boo hoo.
On the way home, we decided to pop in to Makara. We walk past it all of the time as we live close by, had the odd look at the menu but never made it inside! Today was different though.
It was quiet inside, perhaps because it was only about 5.30pm and people hadn’t finished work etc yet. We were seated and straight away some hot fresh bread and some olives were placed on our table. Nice!
We decided to order some hummus with lam chunks to go with our bread — it was incredibly tasty. For the main we had a mixed grill to share. Scott’s eyes lit up when it was brought to our table — chicken breast, lamb chunks, chicken thighs, lamb kofta, ribs and lamb chop. It was mouth wateringly delicious. The Kofta was especially nice. I could have eaten loads of that.
I was absolutely stuffed by the end of it. When we asked for the bill, the waiter brought it over, along with two pieces of baklava! FREE BAKLAVA! I love the stuff but I struggled to eat it as I was so full!
We couldn’t believe how good value for money our meal was — the bread, olives and baklava were free of charge, and there was no service charge either! We definitely left a tip.
I’d recommend this place to anyone that’s looking for high quality Mediterranean food in Brighton and Hove. 5 stars from me!

A brilliant place that Hove has to offer. If you like meat, you cannot go wrong.
The place has an indoor barbecue!
All the meat is cooked right in front of you.
Turkish food, mainly kebabs. A great array of starters too.
We went for the Special Mixed Grill for two.
All meals come with complimentary bread and olives.
Service is friendly enough and the décor of the place is great.
Great value, quality food. A great place for lunch or dinner

A small, nice and really cozy place in Hove. The atmosphere is really homie there. Service is very good, waiters are very friendly and polite. Food is awesome (quite simple, but so yummy). You must get ayran there! Prices are ok, mains are served with kind of grilled bread — omg that was the most perfect bread on the planet! (I was literally fascinated how bread can be so perfect). There are some veggie options, but this place is more for meat lovers. Anyway, it’s lovely!