Iliana Restaurant

Name: Iliana Restaurant
Address: Beachfront setting, Jumeirah Marsa, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +971800323232

Umm Suqeim

Greek restaurant Closed 0 800 323 232

Iliana is a Greek restaurant in Umm Suqeim with elegant indoor dining, an outdoor terrace and a rooftop overlooking the Burj Al Arab. Reviews point to standout dishes such as grilled octopus and sea bass, making it a strong choice for a scenic lunch, date night or celebration.

Reputation Score

4.2

★★★★☆

506 ratings

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The Good Stuff

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Greek seafood

Seafood is a clear strength, with reviewers praising the octopus, sea bass, scorpion fish and lobster linguini.

Octopus standout

The charred or grilled octopus is repeatedly singled out; one diner called it the best octopus they had had in Dubai.

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What to Eat at Iliana Restaurant

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Iliana Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 3

Greek salad Net +4

“We started with the crispy calamari and the Greek salad both were fresh and delicious.”
Orzo Net +2

“I did feel a bit disappointed with the orzo though. The dish itself was really good, but the bread crumbles on top didn’t make sense to me. Keeping it simple would have been perfect.”
Shrimp saganaki Net +2

“The Shrimp Saganaki was interesting and flavorful, and the crispy fried calamari was a perfectly executed, no-fail order.”

Honorable mentions (27)

Charred octopus starter Net +1

“The charred octopus starter was tender with a beautiful smoky depth, the grilled beetroot was earthy and elegantly composed, and the mains were faultless.”
Chicken souvlaki Net +1

“For mains, we had the orzo which was incredibly tasty and comforting, almost like a homemade dish, and the chicken souvlaki which was perfectly cooked.”
Courgette salade Net +1

“The food was excellent! The courgette salade is on point, the meatballs were delicious but the short ribs orzo exceed editor my expectations !”
Feta in crispy phullo with a touch of honey Net +1

“The Feta in crispy Phullo with a touch of honey was an absolute standout—delicious and addictive.”
Fish fillet Net +1

“The home made spreads were varied and delicious as were the moussaka and fish fillet.”
Fried fish (red mullet in our case) Net +1

“Really enjoyed the vibrant dishes and fresh ingredients. I especially love it when veggie dishes are made exciting, and Iliana’s menu has plenty of them. Highlights of our lunch were the salads and fried fish (red mullet in our case).”
Greek frozen yogurt Net +1

“We finished with the waitress's recommended desserts, featuring the must-have Greek frozen yogurt, a delightful end to the meal.”
Greek yoghurt ice cream with honey and walnuts Net +1

“Their sea bass is fantastic along with their Greek yoghurt ice cream with honey and walnuts (you can’t miss this)”
Greek yogurt with honey Net +1

“They offered us a complimentary dessert at the end, the Greek yogurt with honey was delicious.”
Grilled beetroot Net +1

“The charred octopus starter was tender with a beautiful smoky depth, the grilled beetroot was earthy and elegantly composed, and the mains were faultless.”
Grilled chicken Net +1

“This is my third time at Illiana - the food is just amazing! Can't wait to go back again for the greek salad, grilled octopus and grilled chicken - the pide was nice too but we were so full at that point we couldnt even order desert!”
Lobster linguini Net +1

“The Shrimp Saganaki was very good, packed with flavour, while the lobster linguini and the tenderloin steak were on another level absolutely amazing and cooked to perfection.”
Pide Net +1

“This is my third time at Illiana - the food is just amazing! Can't wait to go back again for the greek salad, grilled octopus and grilled chicken - the pide was nice too but we were so full at that point we couldnt even order desert!”
Ribeye steaks Net +1

“The Tenderloin and Ribeye steaks were also exceptional—perfectly cooked as requested, tasty, and incredibly juicy.”
Scorpion fish Net +1

“The Scorpion Fish was perfectly prepared, full of delicate flavor, fresh, refined, and memorable.”
Sea bass Net +1

“Their sea bass is fantastic along with their Greek yoghurt ice cream with honey and walnuts (you can’t miss this)”
Sea bass carpaccio Net +1

“The sea bass carpaccio was fresh and perfect, and the Greek salad was amazing.”
Seabass baked in salt Net +1

“For our mains, the star was the Seabass baked in Salt. It was cooked to perfection and delivered with a wonderful, entertaining tableside presentation.”
Short ribs orzo Net +1

“The food was excellent! The courgette salade is on point, the meatballs were delicious but the short ribs orzo exceed editor my expectations !”
Souvlaki Net +1

“The souvlaki is authentic Greek and the orzo gemista is a different story.”
Taramasalata with white truffle oil Net +1

“We also loved how the classics were elevated with creative touches, especially the taramasalata with white truffle oil, which added a fantastic depth and richness to the flavor profile without overpowering the dish itself.”
Tenderloin Net +1

“The Tenderloin and Ribeye steaks were also exceptional—perfectly cooked as requested, tasty, and incredibly juicy.”
Tenderloin steak Net +1

“The Shrimp Saganaki was very good, packed with flavour, while the lobster linguini and the tenderloin steak were on another level absolutely amazing and cooked to perfection.”
Tenderloins Net +1

“Must try there grilled octopus and there tenderloins , wonderful taste and mix.”
Zeus' zest Net +1

“Zeus' Zest in the mocktails was a standout, the coffee mocktail very ordinary.”
Lamb chops Net 0

Mixed feedback

“Perfectly presented lamb chops and fish that was delicate, well-seasoned, and expertly executed. Every plate showed precision.”
Moussaka Net 0

Mixed feedback

“The home made spreads were varied and delicious as were the moussaka and fish fillet.”

What to Avoid (3)

Food 2

Shrimp pasta Net −1

“Unfortunately, the food didn’t really match the setting for me. I ordered the shrimp pasta and was genuinely surprised when it came with only 2 prawns… and I had to deshell them myself. The portion was tiny — probably the smallest pasta dish I’ve ever been served, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was gone in about 4 bites.”
Sorbet Net −1

“I also asked for a dairy-free/vegan dessert and was offered a single scoop of sorbet in a small bowl. Nothing wrong with sorbet, but it felt very uninspired considering how many creative vegan desserts exist nowadays. Even small touches — extra scoops, fresh fruit, honey (its a greek restaurant overall), cookie crumble, something visually interesting — could make it feel much more thoughtful and memorable.”

Drinks 1

Coffee mocktail Net −1

“Zeus' Zest in the mocktails was a standout, the coffee mocktail very ordinary.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Book outdoors. Book ahead and request the outdoor terrace if the Burj Al Arab view matters; one reviewer said it makes a difference.

Allow extra time. Build in substantial arrival and service time, especially for dinner in the resort complex, where one guest reported an hour getting inside.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Beachfront setting, Jumeirah Marsa

Al Arab - Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai

0 800 323 232

Mon	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Tue	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Wed	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Thu	12:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Fri	12:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Sat	12:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Sun	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM

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Common Concerns

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Slow service

Several diners reported long waits, including almost an hour for dessert and 30 minutes without attention on a busy evening.

Small portions

Portion sizes can feel poor value: one guest received two prawns in a tiny pasta and left hungry after three courses.

Customer-reported prices

These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.

around 270 aed

coffee and soft drinks

“We each pay around 270 aed with coffee and soft drinks no alcohol”

Google review · May 2026

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Iliana is a Greek restaurant in Umm Suqeim built around an elegant setting and a direct Burj Al Arab view. It suits date nights, celebrations and relaxed lunches, particularly when you can sit outdoors. The rooftop and terrace add atmosphere, while the poolside area has been described as peaceful and well maintained.

The food has genuine highlights. Grilled or charred octopus is one of the safest recommendations, with one diner calling it the best they had eaten in Dubai. Reviews also praise sea bass, scorpion fish, Greek salad, Greek dips, shrimp saganaki, orzo and lobster linguini.

Desserts are mixed, although the Greek yoghurt ice cream with honey and walnuts received a specific recommendation. Service is often warm and highly attentive, but it is not completely consistent. Some guests experienced slow ordering, long dessert waits or courses arriving too quickly; a birthday visit involved an almost-hour wait for dessert and another 20 minutes for coffee.

Portions are another watchpoint, with complaints about tiny shrimp pasta and only two lamb chops. Access through the resort can also take considerable time, so allow a buffer. If driving, one reviewer advises validating the hotel valet card before leaving.

A reported bill of around 270 AED covered coffee and soft drinks for a brunch visit, without alcohol.