Some restaurants simply spare us the cooking and dishes. Others make us wish we had done them ourselves.

But a treasured group manages to wash away the drudgery of everyday life, helping us forget our cares for a few precious hours.

That group includes Edgewater's Mavi Meze Grill, which boasts one of the region's most dramatic outdoor spaces. One step onto its outdoor deck – overlooking the Hudson's crashing waves, bobbing geese and a skyline that stretches down to the sparkling Freedom Tower – is as good as hopping on a plane for the night. (Try to face south if you go, because north-facers mostly get the George Washington Bridge and, for now, the sinking Binghamton ferry boat.)

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Mavi Meze Grill ** 1/2

725 River Road, Edgewater

201-941-0066

mavimezegrill.com

Food: Turkish; grilled kebabs are a highlight.

Ambience: Casual Turkish restaurant with stunning Hudson River/New York City views.

Service: Friendly and laid-back; pace can be slow.

Value: Prices on the high side – well worth it considering the view, but not for takeout. Appetizers $4.95 to $12.95 (meze platters $12.95 to $18.95), entrées $14.95 to $29.95.

Would be good for: Casual Turkish meal while enjoying a view.

Less appropriate for: Anyone looking for a fancy restaurant with a view.

Recommended dishes: Mixed kebab platter, manti (Turkish dumplings), fried calamari.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Liquor, wine: BYO.

Noise level: Wind and waves crashing are the soundtrack outdoors; the indoor dining room was empty or mostly so during our visits.

Credit cards: AE, D, MC, V.

Reservations: Recommended for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings – you can reserve a table outdoors.

Accommodations for children: Menu, highchairs.

Dress: Casual.

Early-bird specials or deals: No.

Takeout: Yes.

Parking: Lot.

Reviewed: Aug. 10, 2012.

About the ratings
O Poor
* Fair
** Good
***Excellent
****Outstanding
In determining ratings, each restaurant has been compared with others of the same type and level of ambition. Reviewers make at least two anonymous visits to a restaurant, and the newspaper always pays the tab.