Petra Mediterranean Bistro
2501 4th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98121
Petra Mediterranean Bistro Menu
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Address :
2501 4th Ave
Seattle, WA, 98121 - Phone (206) 728-5389
- Website https://www.petrabistro.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
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Angela N.
After yoga my friend and I were craving Mediterranean food, so we decided to give Petra a try. This bistro did not disappoint! Appetizer: Hummus (Chick peas with garlic, salt and lemon juice.) The texture was creamy and the flavor was perfection! Entrée: Lamb Kabob. The lamb was sliced and served over rice with a veggie kabob on the side and there was a scrumptious garlic sauce drizzled over the lamb. The flavors of the lamb with the sauce and a little rice in a bite made my taste buds very happy! (The server recommended mixing a little of the hummus with the rice which was awesome too!) Service was excellent, food was fabulous, ambiance was great (it's a quaint little corner bistro.) It's wasn't to loud so you didn't have to shout to have a conversation over the fantastic food. Definitely recommend giving this place a try!
(5)Kelly Z.
I was excited to try out this place after seeing such high ratings on yelp and it was highly recommended by friends but I was a little disappointed maybe because it was so hyped up. Food was great but very salty and spice filled. I got the gyro shawarma with lentil soup and pita and I really liked the gyro shawarma. The dish was a good portion of meat with rice and veggies. The meat was delicious, melt in your mouth and tender. The pita was above average and fluffy but you can't go wrong with pita. The soup was too salty for my taste and I can really tolerate really salty dishes. Sidenote: I drank a lot of water after the meal. Service was disappointing. The food came out really fast but we were also really rushed the entire meal. There was one party waiting for seating but I didn't understand why we were rushed. There were many other tables that have been there for a lot longer. Overall I liked the food but it was not the best I ever had and pretty over priced. Glad I tried the place but not sure if I'll be coming back anytime soon.
(3)Anthony M.
When there are mediterranean chains that are better than most sit down restaurants (looking at you Zankou Chicken) you better have a lot to offer as a sit down mediterranean place. I was on my way to check out the Space Needle and wanted a high quality meal. 4 1/2 stars for this place clearly caught my interest. Once arriving I was greeted promptly, but something seemed off. They clearly do lots of takeout orders as half the clientele were waiting in the small waiting section/entrance. Once seated I started noticing the strange attitude the wait staff had and possibly the manager who was very firm in asking if people were there for dine in or picking up take out. My server also didn;t seem to be enjoying himself as when asked for recommendations, basically just pointed me to the most expensive items. I ended up getting the Mediterranean Prawns, which comes with veggies and rice and a garlic sauce. The sauce was very good, but the shrimp seemed over cooked as the tails were sticking to the shells. I also ordered a side of hummus and pita, but for a nice restaurant, the pita bread could have been much better. The hummus however was also very good. -1 star for value, -1 star for service, -1 star for lackluster (but not terrible) shrimp and pita
(2)Charles C.
Best falafel I ever had hands down! The rice was also really delicious too and the presentation was so perfect. I went there before lunch rush but I can see the place getting very crowded for dinner and weekends.
(5)Katie T.
Made a stop in at Petra's during a recent visit to Seattle. Opted for the mezze lunch platter which featured delicious hummus AND Baba Ghanouje. The Dolmathes were probably the most disappointing on the tray - just no "wow" factor. The Falafel was well-balanced in its flavor (not too much green), and honestly, what sealed the deal was the pita. The pita bread was fluffy, warm, and so comforting. WOW! One of the best pita breads I have ever had. Unfortunately, I didn't read the menu close enough to realize this dish also included Labnie, which I actually don't eat. But, if you do eat it, you get a heaping portion as part of the mezze platter. I would recommend making a stop. I did take-out so I cannot comment on the service, but my experience ordering take out was pleasant. It came out quickly, hot, and by a friendly face!
(4)Liz O.
What isn't there to love about Petra? The restaurant has a very welcoming vibe - extremely comfortable and homey. Reservations aren't necessary but suggested if coming for dinner! So yes, coziness helps. But then there is the dolmathes, the kafta kabob, the falafel, and their house salads that are mouthwatering and jaw-dropping. The heavy pours of wine helped too! Apothic red = fair-priced and yummo. The dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) were my least favorite as they aren't as flavorful as some others I've had elsewhere. The falafel had a really crisp exterior which my boyfriend would describe as "the way falafel should be made". I personally like them a tad softer but that's just a preference. We had to ask for more sauce for this appetizer because the falafel hardly has any sauce drizzled so they were a bit dry; once the extra sauce came out we were in heaven. Kafta Kabob is where it's at! Served over soft rice and with pita bread... just, whoa. One of my favorite Mediterranean spots yet.
(5)Garrett L.
Summary: Delicious and great service. Food: Absolutely nothing to complain about. The soup was delicious, the meal was extremely flavorful, even the pita was above average. Service: Our waiter was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. Knew which dishes were vegetarian (of which they have plenty options) and helpful in advising which dishes to choose based on our flavor preferences. Value: Is it the cheapest option ever? no. But their prices are solid for the quality of food and service. No complaint. Location: Street parking only. A bit far for walking from most popular areas but with limited seating inside that helps keep the wait down. Comments: I've always wanted to go to Petra, and now I can say I have... sort of.
(5)Tiffany T.
Atmos: Thin and long interior, about 23 tables or so. Lots of natural light if you're here during daylight hours. The curtains and lamps give a middle eastern feel. House Soup: Good! A cumin lentil theme. Not too salty and spiced in a balanced way. The texture is creamy with pellets of dry lentil that spread across your tongue. Falafel Plate: Ok. They were a bit dry throughout and a bit on the salty side. The spice does a nice job of sneaking up on you a the end. Lamb Shawarma: Good! Strongly flavored! Well balanced flavor. The flavor is similar to Fajitas - lovely spices like cumin and chili powder can be detected.
(3)Amanda S.
Great food and good service. Petra has 4 halal options which is why we decided to give it a try! We ordered the veggie meza platter for our appetizer which was comprised of hummus, baba ganoush, grape leaves, falafel and rice. All were very delicious. My favorite was the baba ganoush. I felt the grape leaves were a bit over cooked and the falafel a bit dense. But overall great appetizer. For my entree I ordered the beef shish kabob. It came with a salad which had raw white onions which I picked around. The entree itself was great, only the beef was not on a kabob rather just pieces on the plate with a veggies kabob. The flavors were great and the portion was large. I had lots of leftovers. Service was great but we got a new waiter mid way they our meal without an explanation of why (the other waiter was still working the tables around us) Great food and ambience. We will be back soon :)
(4)Finla P.
The only good thing on their menu was the red lentil soup & the salad. My entree was falafel plate which was just okay kinds, mediocre falafel & thick rice. The husband ordered lemon garlic chicken plate which turned out to be just okay again. I have eaten better. Great looking place and cheerful server, I wish the food was better. Hummus tastes better here than the entree plate.
(2)Tinie T.
Ducked into this restaurant on a rainy Seattle afternoon, purely by chance. My dining companion absolutely loved the food! We started out with Baba Ghanouje (grilled eggplant, mixed with garlic, sesame oil, salt and lemon juice; served with two warm pita). It was a delicious start to the meal! I'd recommend it for an appetizer. I had the Red Lentil Soup (or part of it, at least). I was pretty full from the appetizer alone, so I took most of the soup to-go. It was alright, but I think I'd go for one of their dinner entrees next time! A lot of people rave about the lentil soup, but I didn't become a huge fan. My friend got one of the dinner entrees (I don't remember which one, but it had meat). He thought the food was amazing! The menu is pretty pricey, to me.
(3)Eryck Q.
Review Based on Service Only: Overall tone of the waiter/host that greeted us was rude. We came in for lunch with a party of 7, and although there were 3-4 tables available we were told it would be at least 15 minutes. We then asked the other hostess/waitress that we would be willing to split into two tables, but before she could help us the host came back and reasserted that they could not put tables together and seat us (completely mis-understanding our attempt to split our group up to be seated quicker). Food might be good (we'll never know) but overall service was terrible. It was clear he didn't really want our business. We went next door for highly rated french food. (which we were also underwhelmed by) Side note - the restaurant has a very pungent odor. needs better ventilation.
(1)Nikhil R.
This review is based on my 'n'th experience with Petra. I am blown away by their consistency! It's phenomenal how a business can achieve so much success just based on consistency of serving great food and repeating that feat day in day out! Not once have I found anything lacking in their food. Perfect seasoning, tender meats, flavored and aromatic rice, amazing soups.. And the list goes on. It's my To-Go place for lunch/ dinner takeouts. My only recommendation to the business is to show some intent of rewarding their returning customers. If a rewards/loyalty program were to be in place, I seriously envision a number of customers (like me) returning more often than they'd expect. Keep up the great work !
(5)Melanie E.
This is a cute little restaurant with what seems like a steady and regular clientele. We ordered the falafel, calamari and shawarma. I did not like the calamari. I eat calamari all the time and I didn't like this...it didn't taste good to me. I'll say it must have been my taste buds were off because I'd hate to think it was frozen calamari. The falafel was o.k. A little heavy and not as crispy as I like it. The shawarma was moist, delicious with plenty of meat and perfectly seasoned. I wish I had just gotten that. Very nice server. The bathroom is shared in the building and you go out of the restaurant and down a hallway to get to it, but it was kept clean and not an inconvenience.
(3)Tim C.
Delicious Mediterranean food. My wife and I came here for dinner and were not disappointed at all. Here's what we ordered: -Hummus for appetizer - Excellent choice to start off the meal. There was a generous portion of sesame oil and garlic, two things we are big fans of. :) -Lentil Soup - Very hearty and tasty. I'd recommend it if you're a lentils fan. -Mediterranean Salmon - My wife got this and thoroughly enjoyed it. One downside was there were still some bones in her fish. But it had excellent flavor and was cooked to near perfection - not too raw, but not too well-done. Plus, the portion size was enough to feed her for the next day. By the way, the house garlic sauce was AWESOME. -Combo Shish Kabob - This is what I got, and it came with chicken, kafta, and lamb. The chicken was dry, but the kafta and lamb were great. I liked the hint of cinnamon they put in the kafta - it gave the meat an interesting flavor. And once again, the house garlic sauce was AWESOME. We had to ask for more of it, because we were dipping everything in it. Multiple times. I wish we had tried some dessert, but perhaps next time. The service was excellent, super attentive, and incredibly helpful when we had questions or needed something. It's worth checking out!
(5)Ashton G.
As a vegetarian, I freaking love Petra. Their veggie combo is the best deal - has a little bit of everything. Their brown lentil is delicious (though I have to pop a couple mints after). I work nearby, and used to come for pickup so often they stopped asking what my name and order was. The only reason I didn't give this place a glowing 5 star review is the service. It's not bad, it's just REALLY inconsistent. Sometimes, they are the best of the best. Other times, you try to get someone's attention and they say, "we're really busy, you need to wait your turn". I get that they are slammed during the lunch hour, but they seem to forget their manners sometimes.
(4)Ivan S.
I used to love this place. My wife and I had dinner and lunch there as frequent as we could. In less than a year I saw both food quality and quantity decline a bit. I still like it but if you'd ask me one year ago it would have been a solid five stars.
(3)Hussein S.
Great food and great service. Lots of the food had a bit too much acidity from salad dressings to the garlic sauce and lemon flavored meat dishes. However other than that it was a delicious meal we had the beef shawarma and beef shush kabob. Pretty darn good. Will be back. Oh and the service was excellent we didn't have any reservations when arriving on a Friday night and the manager /David was very hospitable and still arranged to seat us quickly. Top notch service and very professional!
(4)Marie B.
Restored back to five stars. Stopped in earlier today with my original soup container from 4/3/15 that I previously wrote about. Turns out this is indeed the volume for a large bowl of lentil soup takeout. There is a larger volume available, just not on the menu. Good to know for future reference. Either that, just buy the soup mix (also available for purchase at the restaurant), make a giant vat, divvy it up and freeze it in smaller quantities.
(5)Cameron M.
It's great for what it is. I wouldn't consider it a great sit down place (the atmosphere isn't right), but it's excellent if you want to grab take out for lunch. The price is low and I genuinely like the gyro plates. The service for lunch has always been great.
(4)RJ S.
Extremely tasty! Quick service with excellent hummus. The house tahini-garlic sauce was a bit overseasoned for my tastes, but an overall very good experience.
(4)Lisa P.
My family picked this restaurant after using Yelp to search for somewhere close to go to dinner after visiting the Chihuly Garden and Glass. We couldn't have been happier with our choice! The food at Petra was all delicious. We started with the hummus (so smooth and flavorful) and drinks. My pain-in-the-neck father ordered a perfect manhattan and explained exactly to our server how he would like it made. Our server was so nice, when he came back with the drink he commented that he tried his best, but it was the first time he had ever made this, so he would take it back if it wasn't up to par. Luckily, my dad said he did a great job. I ordered the gyro salad (huge portion, perfectly cooked lamb), while others in my group ordered the prawns and chicken shwarma. Everyone was raving about the garlic sauce on both of these dishes for days. I loved Petra and would go back tonight if I was in Seattle.
(5)Michelle W.
Wanting an authentic Mediterranean treat? Get to Petra Mediterranean Bistro! I had the lamb kabobs, which wasn't really lamb on a stick so much at it was veggies on a stick and grilled, spiced to perfection lamb on a bed of buttery rice, mmmmmm.... My husband had the garlic lemon chicken, which he loved. And we shared a dessert sampler platter, which was so melt in your mouth delish. Turkish coffee with dessert, so tasty, we looked for a built in store for purchasing some take home. Yes! We left this wonderful bistro with a bag of Turkish coffee (instructions in English too!) and a glass jar of Petra spices for chicken, beef and lamb. Mmmmmm... Enjoyed the authentic atmosphere, music, decor and locals speaking in their home tongue. Will be going back soon!
(5)Rita R.
Great Lebanese food! The veg platter & the cauliflower plate were yummylicious! Definitely one of the best places to have Mediterranean/Arab food.
(5)Andrea S.
SO GOOD! Got the Petra fries, garlic chicken and rice, and hummus. Everything was amazing! The fries had a taste I've never experienced before. Chicken was cooked to perfection and I'm really weird about meat. Hummus was fresh and tasted amazing! Had so much flavor. They also included a salad which thank goodness was not filled with crappy white lettuce but with dark healthy greens! LOVE.
(5)Alex T.
Had lunch here and ordered the combo kebab plate with a side of labnie. My date ordered a gyro wrap with petra fries. All totaled $26!!! The combo kebab plate appeared small when it first arrived but it was filling!!! The flavors in the plate were fragrant, salty, tangy, and creamy. The rice was cooked to perfection. The meats were a bit on the tougher side but dousing it in garlic sauce and labnie helps. Overall, I love this dish and would recommend it. The gyro wrap was delicious! It is even better with garlic sauce doused on it. The petra fries (ketchup garlic sauce and cheese topped fries) were flavorful and unique but it wasn't my cup of tea. I would definitely recommend getting the house salad side because their dressing is amazeballs. I will definitely be back! It's only 2 blocks away and their lunch prices are decent. This place will have to do as I am not in SoCal to eat at my favorite Mediterranean resto, Papa Hassans! No outdoor seating and no dogs allowed!
(5)Priyamvada B.
We went to this place for lunch today and wow, great Mediterranean food. We (2) started off with Mosabaha (hummus with almonds) as starter, it was delightful. Since it came with a lot of pita bread for us, :), we ordered only one dish in main course: Vegetarian Kobob with rice, the rice with touch of lemon to it was refreshing. Not to forget, the main course came with a side of lentil soup which was yummy!!!! We ended it off with Turkish Coffee, which I had tried for the first time and yes, it is unique and very different from the coffee we are used to. Our server was very friendly too, we had a great time and would surely go again.
(5)Rohan K.
Outstanding food, decent portions, friendly service. Can't ask for more. We waited 10 minutes for a table during peak lunch rush on a friday. That is pretty awesome. All entrees come with a soup or salad so they started us off with those. They were simple and rustic but tasty. For appetizers, we split a plate of Baba Ghanouje. It was absolutely delicious. The consistency, the cook, the seasoning, the olive oil and the pitted pickled olives, even the warm pita bread with it, everything was just perfect. Moving on to entrees, the "Lamb Shawarma" was outstanding. The lamb was very tender and juicy, perfectly seasoned with a spot on proportion of veggies and sauce. It comes with rice which is also tossed in tahini making it amazingly flavorful. The "Petra Spice Chicken" was delicious and very nicely cooked as well. My friend also ordered the "Beef Kaboob" which he said he really liked. I would highly recommend this place if you like mediterranean food and are anywhere around downtown. It's a wee bit pricey but then it's a proper restaurant with great service and not a food truck/stall so it's worth it. I will most certainly be going back here.
(5)Dwaa A.
Small setting felt mm to close to people no privacy, lots of garlic in everything over powering, but food was pretty good took a while to come out but id go again
(3)Geoffrey C.
4.5-stars -- value-weighted. For an incredibly delicious (and relatively) modestly priced meal, Petra offers an unique Jordanian stance on Mediterranean cuisine. We loved all of our dishes -- the baba ganoush appetizer was creamy, but packed with smoked eggplant goodness, the lemon chicken was tender and full of flavor, but the best was the specialty entree Ouzi (meat choice lamb). Although the dining room was not packed (Monday night), we could see deliveries constantly coming and going -- a great option no doubt. Although we enjoyed the chianti, my 1/2 star deduction emanates from an inspiring wine selection. Nonetheless, we were already discussing out next visit before we even finished the meal!
(5)Carmell N.
Is it normal to be this excited about food? I have to give 5 stars because it's seriously that amazing. The fresh garlic sauce that is drizzled on every dish is so mouth watering. Each dish on the menu is unique and made with love. You feel like you are on vacation with such authentic tasting food and traditional atmosphere. Saturday nights you can dine and watch some beautiful belly dancing. Be sure to say hi to the Owner Kal and thank him for bringing us such good food.
(5)Bob K.
We are a bit biased in that we love Greek good. On the other hand if food is not good we can be harsh with our criticism. Not a problem here. We were seated quickly despite being crowded. We got the red lentil soup... that is not red.. And the Gryo salad and the garlic lemon chicken. The salad was just good to very good. The chicken was amazing with tons of lemon garlic taste in the chicken that sits on saffron? Rice. The soup was the surprise. Best soup i have had in a long time. We will definitely be back go this place.
(5)Molly L.
The food here is very delicious! Mediterranean is one of my favorite types of food so I can be very picky. I was pleasantly surprised on how tasteful the food is. The hummus is delicious but can be heavy on the spices, which was fine for me but if you're more of a bland hummus person, I wouldn't recommend it. I also tried the lamb kabob with veggies and rice. It was better than expected with enough for leftovers! Also note the veggies were also heavily spiced. If this is not your style - you might want to ask for lightly spiced. A few negatives which is why this is not a 5-star review: it is a bit pricey. I've been to other similar establishments which was not as pricey but the location probably is probably a factor. Also, service is slow. I had to wait awhile for my food as well as too long for the check. I would say higher than the average wait time. So, I decided next time I'll just call to pick it up. I placed my order and the person on the phone told me 10 to 15 min. I thought it seemed a little quick but still showed up at the 15 min mark. I had to wait about 15 min, standing in their small entryway. I wouldn't of had a problem if it was 30 min, I just wish I would've waited in my apt versus standing there, awkwardly (very small establishment), watching others eat.
(4)Zori P.
One of my Favorite Mediterranean places. good value for the large amounts of food you get no skimpy soup and salad to go with your meal You can't go wrong with the house made hummus either. It was pretty full today but service was still fast and friendly.
(4)Claudio V.
Good food Pass this place every day on my walk home from work and wanted to give it a try for a good while.
(4)Taz F.
There is no sense of Customer service, here, service was horrible. The lady at the counter was unfriendly, clearly unhappy to be there, Not helpful. They also advertise is being Halal but the Gyro's aren't. Doesn't quite make sense why 90% or the menu is halal but one item isn't but it comes in all meat category. Eaten lots of Mediterranean food and this doesn't compare. great reviews online but I'm not a fan.
(1)Sabrina N.
Came in tonight and ordered a combo kabob plate--really good, taking some home in a box. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and the lamb and kofta were quite good, with great seasoning. Atmosphere is nice with beautiful furnishings and music, and the server was very quick and attentive. There was an obnoxious guy at the table next to me driving me (and I think also his date) crazy, but that isn't Petra's fault. The only thing that keeps this from a full five is the tea. I ordered black tea, and was disappointed in the tea bag. I'm middle eastern myself, and don't often resort to tea bags. While I can understand a restaurant's concern in always having tea ready without necessarily being able to forecast number of drinkers, middle eastern homes always have tea ready to go for unexpected guests. I would be willing to wait the 10 extra minutes for a real cup of brewed tea over a lukewarm tea bag, especially since the baklava I ordered took about that long to arrive anyways. Speaking of, the baklava is also not quite what I am used to, but was a nice sweet way to end the meal. Overall I recommend and will return, but will wait until getting home for the tea. ;)
(4)Audrey N.
Went in here for an early Sunday lunch after just waking up, and oh my.... They weren't wrong about having the BEST hummus. I forget which two we had ordered, but there was one w such a nice limey taste to it, and it was plated nicely. Forget the box hummus you buy at Safeway, this is the real deal. I was amazed by how good it was w the warm Pita. I do hear that this place gets packed during the evening time. I didn't see the crazyness because I came during opening. The interior is so pretty. This is prolly the only restaurant I've looked around and admired the colors, curtains and everything along w it. Wouldn't mind going back here. Every time I'm in Belltown, I have such good memories of how great the hummus was. Still taste it :)
(4)Thao T.
Best lentil soup and hummus I've ever had! Great food and good service, in a cute and quaint little neighborhood.
(5)Emily H.
Petra is one of the reasons why I come to Seattle--it's that good. I'm a notorious chicken hater and their lemon garlic chicken... WOW. Tender, moist with an out of this world sauce. So garlicky and tangy plus it comes with a ton of sides that are fresh and high quality. Hummus- if you love garlic, you'll love Petra. This hummus is the most complex and delicious one I've ever had. Service, price, quality.. All top notch.
(5)Julia D.
Best Mediterranean food I've ever had. The salad, the meat, the rice, the cocktail!!! My entire experience isn't even worth dissecting. I chose Petra as our first food stop in Seattle and BOY, WAS IT WORTH IT. I recommend it! I'd return if I were local!
(5)Gina B.
I came with a party of 4 for a late lunch. The service was great! We were seated immediately. The place was clean. The decor was elaborate. The food was SO GOOD. We shared the "Petra fries" which are freshly made fries with "garlic ketchup" topped with parsley. The sauce was amazing! I even ate some sauce on extra pita. I ordered the Garlic Lemon Chicken lunch special (Shish Tawook). It came with rice and soup. The rice was flavorful. I ordered the soup of the day, which had many spices in it, and was perfect for the chilly weather. The chicken was perfectly marinated and perfectly cooked. We also ordered the veggie combo. This place is very vegetarian-friendly. I would definitely recommend this place!
(5)Masha B.
Stopped by this place for a lunch and it was a good choice to make :) I ordered a lemon garlic chicken which came with a side of soup or salad. I had the salad which wasn't good :( but the dish itself was amazing! The rice was cooked and spiced perfectly so was the chicken! My sister had the petro chicken which was deli ships as well :) I would highly recommend both of the dishes! The atmosphere in the restaurant was friendly and chill :)
(4)Melissa C.
The lentil soup was very strong and bold, that it was bother line salty. We ordered the ouzi and the gyro shawarma. Both plates are just warm when it was served and the gyro meat was almost cold. The taste is good, especially the lamb in the ouzi; but I bet it would taste 10x better if the plates are served hot. The server was super nice though and that was definitely a plus. I'm hoping maybe they are just having an off day and plan to go back to give this place one more try. :)
(3)Sin-Yaw W.
We were hungry, it was 8:30pm. We never been here. So here we went. Got a table right away, but that was luck. Soon after we sat down, the long line developed. Hmm, is this place that good? Most patrons seemed to be either mid-easterners or Indians. They were comfortable here. Ate and talked at ease and relaxed. That atmosphere was nice. We order vegetable Sharwama. It is supposed to be a gyro like cooking method. The vegetable version is a sauteed variety of vegetable on a bed of rice. It was well made and felt no need for meat addition. Then we had the combo kebab. The Kafta took some thinking to figure out what was in them. The chicken was a bit overdone. The veggie was excellent. The bed or rice was soaked in some very intense and delicious sauce. Very nice.
(4)Marie-Eve M.
Friendly staff and delicious! There was a line up when we got there and were told a 15-30min wait. It was only 10min in the end! Just make sure you check your teeth before you leave as the spices love to get stuck...eeck!
(4)Marisa E.
Hands down favorite, most authentic mediterranean food in the city. The baba ghanoush will redefine your palate. You'll come to crave the wholesome yet exotic cuisine here quite immediately. Do not miss the lamb (any) or the baklava.
(5)Dawn G.
I've eaten here for lunch and dinner over a few months. Ever time it's delicious. They have great friendly service. The soup and salad combo is always good served with warm pita.
(5)Joy L.
We moved from Chicago to Seattle late August. Petra is a block away from our apartment, so we tried it on our first night. Since then I have been obsessed - their hummus is excellent, and the garlic lemon chicken is one of my favorite dishes ever. The Petra fries are a new find - and like everything else we tried there they are amazing.
(4)Seth S.
The best mediterranean restaurant in Seattle - hands down and the waiters are so attentive - almost cult like. Well worth it and the belly dancing is supreme!
(5)Sid K.
This is the best Mediterranean food that I have ever had. The food is very fresh and each dish is very, very flavorful. Dont forget to order the cashew baklava in the end. It is the best in the world!
(5)Natalie G.
It's been two years since I wrote my first review of this restaurant and they are still a 5 star place in my book! You cannot go wrong here every dish here is delicious! The Ouzi with chicken or the Kafta are my favorite. If you have a group of 4-6 people they have a great sampler platter of most of their appetizers which is great to share. Also every entree comes with either soup or salad. I love the red lentil soup they have, although their salad is good too with a garlic dressing.
(5)Shereen A.
Petra's food is consistent. It's delicious and filling. The Petra fries are a MUST. If you love fries, garlic, and ketchup you have to try them! If you get an order for the table, also get one for yourself. These babies are gobbled up quickly (especially if you are eating with the kind of boys I eat with)! I enjoy is the Shish Tawook over a bed of salad instead of rice when I'm not feeling so carb friendly. It's just as satisfying. I normally don't have leftovers (yes, because it's that good) but also because the portions are just the right size. I'm full without feeling fat. The start soups are delicious. There is a strong flavor of cumin while not insanely overwhelming. Some days they have belly dancers for entertainment. I often ask for extra garlic sauce on the side. I like that they aren't greedy and give me a generous amount for dipping. Because of the background on their website, the online menu is challenging to read. I find myself highlighting the text. As garlic's number one fan, I approve!
(3)John N.
Petra is an excellent restaurant with delicious food. We have dined at Petra many times and always look forward to returning, and we have enthusiastically recommended it to our friends and acquaintances. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the service has always been attentive and courteous. However, our most recent visit last Saturday evening was an exception. Our dinner was effectively ruined by a very officious, tall, young waiter (new?) who, despite our having arrived very early in the evening, at a time when many tables were available, nevertheless assigned us to the worst table in the restaurant. When we asked for a different table, we were denied seating at the many empty tables available and assigned to the second worst seating in the restaurant,. He insisted that the other tables were not available because they were being saved (not reserved) for parties of four, this despite the fact that on our previous visits these very same tables, which line the wall of the restaurant, have been used to seat couples. What made his overbearing attitude especially galling was that, as the evening progressed, other couples who arrived later and without reservations were offered these very same more pleasant and private tables. We would like to suggest that this waiter, who is the only flaw we have experienced in our long history with the restaurant, be properly trained and initiated into the traditions of Mediterranean hospitality, which the other servers in the restaurant exhibit so well, and which we have enjoyed on so many occasions.
(5)Katherine C.
Tried this after Comicon. I went based on Yelp reviews and did not feel let down...The place is spacious and very cosy. The waiter was quite attentive. Tried both the red and brown lentil soup. I would stick with the red. The brown was too cinnamony for my taste. The red had a perfect blend. Tried the Petra fries and it was delicious with the garlic ketchup...but eat quickly because not as tasty as it cools. Tried the royal lamb dish, beef kabob, and lemon grass shrimp. They were all tasty and very filling. The warm pita was tasty accompaniment.
(4)Last T.
This place was good. The rice came out a bit cold, but overall I enjoyed it. Lots of garlic in their hummus.
(4)Jax A.
I ordered the Ouzi with lamb. It came with soup or salad - I chose the salad, which was nothing special. Beware, the house vinagraitte is very vinegary, and almost impossible to eat. The lamb on the ouzi was delicious - cooked and seasoned perfectly. But the rice mixture it came on top of was cold. More importantly, the service was horrendous. My husband ordered the Hummus Royale as his main dish. It had an awkward taste and was very spicy. He complained to the waiter who told him that the taste/spice was because of a certain spice ingredient which he said was listed on the menu. Insisted so. We checked the menu, it wasn't there. He went back to the kitchen and said that he was mistaken and the taste was from the garlic (no way). He didn't offer to change out the meal or compensate us, and actually refused to do so when we asked. That's pretty unacceptable in our view.
(2)Carl S.
The food and service was absolutely amazing. I will definitely come here going forward.
(5)Eyad H.
The best middle eastern food I had in a long time. We went there for lunch on a Monday. The staff were very friendly and very efficient. The host explained the menu well. We the started with the mezza plate, everything was so tasty, the labneh, hummus, olives, falafel were fresh and crunchy and the bread was warm. Then we had the chicken shawirmeh plate which was amazing, it came with a lentil soup which was so full of flavor. Large portions, reasonable price, flavorful food and great service. I love it. Definitely coming back again.
(5)Rosalie S.
Love this place! They have a great lunch menu and now I've tried the dinner menu too and have to say it's excellent. I usually get the gyro wrap and petra fries for lunch and at about $8 for this, it's great for a quick lunch while I'm working. The petra fries are delicious! I had dinner there with some friends recently and tried the chicken shawarma. It was so delicious! Came with a lentil soup too which was nice. We happened to go on the belly dancing night which was a total surprise. My daughter got a kick out of the dancing. It was pretty cool and totally unexpected. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. If you have a large party, I'd call ahead because this place is pretty small. With that said, we were a party of 3 adults and 2 babies and they had room for us around 6:30 pm on a Friday night. It was packed though so we were lucky!
(5)Sara D.
Even though I was somewhat underwhelmed by the calamari and they were out of hummus (at 3:00 pm on Saturday!?!?), the Ouzi was absolutely spectacular. Like wow, do you deliver to DC delicious! By far the best greek dish I've ever had!
(5)Hannah W.
the lemon chicken is to die for
(5)Ian L.
Delicious, great choices for veggie lovers (and meat lovers too!)
(5)T F.
Just finished an amazing meal at Petra. The food was excellent. The lamb kabob was the best lamb I have ever eaten. It wasn't gamey and the mild garlic sauce it came with was the perfect compliment.
(5)L. H.
I came here for a work party once and had the shish tawook - absolutely delicious. I've had shish tawook at other places and it's never as good as Petra's. Everything I've eaten here (mostly shish tawook and salad) has been delicious. Always friendly service as well; never had a bad experience.
(5)Julie P.
Amazing food and spices. My mom had the lamb kebobs, I had the Mediterranean shrimp. After living in the Middle East I've found it really difficult to eat food from that region in the US, but this place totally pasts the test. I'm in love.
(5)Ashley S.
Stopped by this place to check it out for lunch while visiting Seattle. Had the calamari, petra fries, house salad, lentil soup, and lemon chicken with tamer hind to drink. Everything was fantastic. The lemon pepper chicken was literally out of this world. Service was exceptional. I will definitely check this place out again. Great find! :)
(5)D C.
We're so glad that Caviar started delivering because we got the opportunity to order from Petra and it was amazing! My coworkers and I are hooked! We could eat it every week if we could! I usually get the Lemon Chicken with extra garlic sauce. It's delicious! Extremely impressed!
(5)Chris N.
Great food, very unique twist on some middle eastern dishes. The mezza tray is a great sampler of all the different dips and appetizers. I enjoyed the lemon chicken as well!
(4)Michael R.
Plate looked great, see picture. Opened gyro and there was 2, read TWO, pieces of previously frozen gyro meat from a box and not fresh or from a spit as it should be. Tzatziki sauce was watery and flavorless too. Good service and good fries.
(2)Robin W.
Excellent! The most flavorful I've had anywhere in Seattle. Great value too. Staff is warm and attentive.
(4)Janice T.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots in Seattle. Their lentil soup is the best I have ever had and the fries with feta are a nice compliment. Good service, decent prices
(5)Stan L.
small portions.. over priced.. meat was overcooked.. lentil soup was a salt bomb.. it's not as good as Mashawi in lower queen anne..
(2)Robert B.
Why this restaurant gets so many 4- and 5-star reviews is honestly a mystery to me. I am both of Mediterranean extraction and passionate about the cuisine of the Levant. After seeing so many good reviews, I came expecting a nice meal, but ended up sorely disappointed. I can only assume the Belltown trendies who seem to make up the bulk of the clientele have no clue what good Eastern Med food is (for that matter, they probably couldn't tell you what Petra is or what country it's in, much less find it on a map). I guess they just go cray-cray with the garlic, cinnamon, and ras al hanout, and are happy ('Josh! Megan! Check this place out, it's got funny names, so it must be awsome!'). Or maybe they're too occupied with their smartphones to actually notice the food. I dunno, it's weird. THE ROSES: On the positive side, this is a popular Belltown restaurant that ISN'T owned by Tom Douglas. They do make good hummus. This isn't necessarily saying much, as it is very easy to make good hummus. On the other hand, their brown lentil soup was very good. Service is competent as well. THE THORNS: I ordered the Combo Kebab, which is generally a great dish and a good way to test the mettle of a restaurant which features Levantine cuisine. You get shish tawouk (chicken), shish kebab (lamb), and kafta kebab (ground beef). The chicken was flavorless and badly overcooked (hint: don't use chicken breast; it's too tough to 'nail' over a grill. Go with thigh meat instead). The waitress suggested I dredge the chicken in the hummus. WTF? All you're doing is tasting hummus, 'coz the under-marinated chicken has no damn taste on it's own. As far as the shish kebab goes, rather than use chunks of lamb, you get a couple of measly thin poker chip-sized slices of lamb, and they were as dry as the aforementioned poker chip. Don't get me started on the kafta kebab; it was so dry as to be nearly inedible. They had three pitches down the middle, and couldn't connect with one. Sorry babes, but they're no minor league nights in the majors, and your kitchen is strictly bush league: one star for you! Lastly, they do not carry Retsina. How the hell can you call yourself a Mediterranean restaurant and not have retsina? That's like having a Japanese restaurant without sake! I realize it's not popular with most of the white-bread Seattle crowd, but you should always keep a few bottles in hand for the folks who know this cuisine. Take West Seattle's Turkish restaurant Ephesus: they keep a few bottles of Turkish (!) wine on hand; they don't list them, but they do include a note on the menu to ask about what they have. SUMMARY: One star is probably a bit harsh, but I wouldn't go higher than two. I'm hoping this 1-star review will get the owner's attention, so they can fix things in the kitchen. Seriously, 3 different kebabs, and your kitchen couldn't get even ONE right? That's really pathetic. This outfit is skating by thanks to an apparently largely ignorant, easy-to-please clientele. Try Mashawi on Roy St., or even the humble Mawadda Cafe. They may not be trendy, but at least they know what the hell they're doing.
(1)Ju L.
I just had dinner there tonight. Everything I had was excellent -- quite possibly the best Middle Eastern food I've had in a long time. I tried the Red Lentil soup, house salad, Mezze Platter, Ouzi, Beef Schwarma. Everything was perfectly cooked and very tasty. I'll definitely come again if I can whenever I'm in Seattle.
(5)Jamila H.
I like the food at Petra, but It's nothing special. There is a lot of great Mediterranean food in Seattle, and don't think Petra is that great. It's a little overpriced, and the owner doesn't seem like a very good person. One time the owner was really rude to me on the phone. They forgot to put my pita in my to go order with hummus, and the owner scolded me for a while telling me that I didn't order hummus. He said there were no orders of hummus on any of the receipts, and that I accidentally ordered the side order that didn't come with pita. After a while, he realized that I did in fact order the hummus ($6-$7) and, he basically said that it was my fault I didn't get pita, because I used grubhub. I probably won't go back. I got the vibe that the owner doesn't treat his employees very well. I understand that pita is an easy thing to forget in a takeout order especially on a busy Friday night.. I worked at a mediterranean restaurant, and this happened occasionally. I wasn't upset. I just wanted to let them know. The owner sure let me know.
(2)Kelly M.
First of all, these photos are extremely misleading. Nothing my boyfriend and I ordered looked half as good as these pictures. This place is wildly overpriced. When menu items say "on a bed of rice," they mean your plate will have approximately 4 cups of rice and little else. We ordered what the waiter said were his 2 favorite dishes and were not impressed by either one. Also, they are very stingy. They charge you $1 for a piece of pita, even if what you order should be eaten with pita. Would not go back.
(2)Calah Y.
Let me preface this review by stating that I rarely ever give 5 stars. I keep those five stars in my pocket and reserve them for the instances in which I take a bite of food and I'm left blown away with a flavor so complex that I can't figure out the ingredients. Amazing food, great service and reasonable prices. A win-win-win! We rushed into Petra for a quick meal before catching a movie. In and out at a sit-down restaurant in less than an hour? I was thinking we'd likely end up missing our movie when we walked in. I was sure wrong and it was all due to our great server. He was super on top of things...not to mention very friendly. We made the movie with ample time. I ordered the Greek salad. I know it's hard to get excited about salads, but it was great. Super fresh with a yummy dressing. As good as the salad was, my 5 star rating comes not from my salad, but rather from a single bite I took from my daughter's order of hummus. Oh wow! I don't know how it's possible to pack so much flavor into hummus, but they sure did. Best hummus I've ever had. Ever. It left me blown away and left savoring the flavors. I'm hoping we have more time the next time we visit!
(5)George H.
I enjoy their shawarma and the belly dancing on the weekends! It smells rally good from the street even before you get through the door. Everyone I was with enjoyed the assorted appetizer plate.
(4)Kevin J.
il start off with the bad. the calamari ! WOWOWOWOW SO DISGUSTING, the breading was so mushy and sick, it was so disgusting. i LOVE calamari but this place ruined it. i had to cut the mushy calamari off just to eat the thin white pieces of naked calamari. (which looks like frozen pieces they order) asked to send it back since we didnt even eat anything but they wouldnt. he said its good because of the "spices" in the nasty breading. um ...NO they werent good. it was cheap and nasty well.... now to the good. the grilled chicken plate was good! the sauce is a good mix with the fluffy rice. the chicken was juicy and perfectly grilled. the spicey grilled chicken was so silmiar just looked darker...not sure what they did to change it but the sauce is necessary to make this place good. if it wasnt for the sauce i would of probably just walked out. wish they would of gotten the sick calamari off the bill but overal this place was average. service was on par. nothing bad, nothing exceptional. drinks were alright, little steep for a small place during happy hour though
(3)Katie G.
The hummus is absolutely amazing. It's very strong on the garlic but that's the best part! Just don't plan on getting rid of the taste out of your mouth for a day or two, even after brushing your teeth. The Greek salad is not my favorite. Not a lot of lettuce for how expensive it is and isn't what I would consider a classic Greek salad. Also I wish the restaurant would make their own pita bread. It's kind of tacky to buy pita bread and give it to take out customers in the bag it came in.
(3)Gene Y.
Very disappointed. Service was mediocre, falafel was dry and the swawarma was meh. We hardly ate anything and the waiter didn't even bother to ask why. Disappointed
(1)L. Edward J.
Everything here is delicious! I love to go here on a weeknight for a quick bite. The staff are friendly and efficient. My favorites are the spice garlic chicken, the chicken shawarma and the hummus. You can even pick up some of the spices and bring them home to make your own.
(5)Sean B.
Best hummus I've ever had and best ouza chicken. I ordered on grubhub for pickup and it was worth the mile walk from my hotel each way. Even the house salad is amazing. A must if you are here from out of town. I can't wait to have the other half for breakfast tomorrow!
(5)Chris M.
This was a great find! Thanks, Yelp!! We ate here with our 9 year olds and they loved it too. Great flavors, generous portions and the service was spectacular. We had the lunch mezza, Greek salad, gyro wrap, beef kabob and chicken shawarma. The wrap was my favorite but we were not disappointed with anything they brought to our table. Highly recommend!
(4)Rachel W.
Very nice! Met a friend for dinner tonight @ six. The fries were definitely 5-star. We had decent wine (Mezza Corona as house wine though... meh) and WONDERFUL dinner. Dinner companion had had vegetable shawarma, which was good, though I'm not a green pepper fan, I had a veg combo, and the hummus and baba ghanouj were terrific. Felafel was a tad dry but good. My friend's soup was delicious! Very good service, good food, servings a bit large. I'll certainly be back!
(4)Will C.
Would love to give four or five stars - the food is very good. Zero complaints about the food. The problem was with the bill. I ordered something called the "Petra Royal dinner for two." Here is how it is listed on their website. Petra Royal Dinner for Two 29.95 Treat yourself and someone special to a five course dinner. Soup, salad, shared appetizer of your choice, entrée of your choice, and we will top it off with our house Baklava. What happened was that I was given double the food, and charged double the price. I really only wanted that - what I ordered. Leftovers are great, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I'll happily order food from there again, but, either update your menus or policies or something.
(1)Britt B.
YUM. This place does not disappoint! I loved the lentil soup, hummus, well everything really. I got the veggie combo and my husband enjoyed his lamb kabobs.
(4)Matthew K.
I'm hard-pressed to think of a better mediterranean restaurant. My girlfriend and I find ourselves eating here once a week. I highly recommend the petra spicy chicken or the lemon and garlic chicken (the difference is basically the spicy has dark meat). They also have a very good, smooth hummus. What I love is the lentil soup. I swear I could just order a vat of it. They are happy to do a to-go order.
(5)elaine b.
Service was a little slow, but the food was excellent. The spice chicken is delicious; kinda melts in your mouth. I also liked the lamb shawarma and highly recommend it if you like lamb.
(4)Cara D.
The food was awesome! I just moved to the apartment building across the street and plan on being at the restaurant a lot. I had the garlic lemon chicken (or something like that) and I wanted to lick the plate. I tried a bite of my friend's meal too and it was equally as good. The atmosphere was lovely as well. Very authentic. The appetizer leak soup and balaclava was also really good. The prices were reasonable, definitely two money signs but not outrageous for the quality. The pomegranate martini was strong and tasty as well.
(5)Noa N.
Petra is an excellent place to take a date or meet up with good friends and eat incredible Mediterranean food. I came across it when I was looking for a place to eat between Myrtle Edwards Park and the hotel I was staying at. It's also very convenient to the Seattle Center and a nice place to go after checking out the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. On my first visit, I was looking for a meal with a lot of veggies and not a lot of carbs. I got the gyro salad - it was a nice mix of lettuce with tomatoes, maybe a few other vegetables, fresh feta, and a light tzatziki sauce. The gyro meat was perfectly cooked and that salad filled me up. I also tried a side of the hummus and the pita. The hummus is topped off with paprika and other seasonings - I loved it with the pita. 1 pita and the hummus could be enough for 2 people who enjoy hummus. I came back to Petra another night during my trip and tried the Petra chicken - since it's chicken thighs I was expected a bone in thigh but it is actually thigh cutlets presented beautifully with a spectacular garlic sauce and other seasonings on a bed of rice. If you like garlic and chicken - you have got to try this dish out! The walnut baklava was delicious too - it was a much larger piece than I expected - explains the cost of $4.50. If you like baklava, I definitely recommend it. I would have liked to see a larger wine list - only 3 red and 3 whites. I think they could expand their non-alcoholic drink menu to include regular coffee and not just turkish or perhaps a iced tea or lemonade that includes spices or herbs popular in the Mediterranean. Service was attentive and the food came out pretty quickly both nights I visited.
(4)Kevin L.
The hummus was great as everyone has commented here, very creamy and smooth. I had the garlic lemon chicken. The sauce was amazing, and rice went perfectly with it. However, the chicken was way too dried, had to drink water to swallow it. I will give 4 stars for the hummus, the rice and sauce of the garlic lemon chicken, and the waitor, who provided an excellent service. But 1.5 star for the chicken itself.
(2)Joseph P.
A small little restaurant with fairly good service. I've been here a few times. One of the more popular dishes, Garlic Lemon Chicken, is above avg, but I wouldn't order this dish unless you really like Garlic Lemon Chicken. Instead, I would recommend the Combo Kabob because you get a taste of 3 types of meats instead of just one. It's a pretty simple choice if this is a first time visit. Can't go wrong with Salmon, it's Seattle.
(4)Kelly J.
Found this place on yelp and decided it was a "must do" after reading other's reviews on yelp. Those reviews did not disappoint! The food was amazing! The lemon garlic chicken is to die for! I wish I could make something like it. And their choice of spices they use in all of their dishes is impeccable. I wish I lived in Seattle so that I could eat here more often!
(5)Tarheelfoodmonste R.
I've been eating lentils my whole life and this lentil soup was something special. I was surprised the veggie shawarma didn't come wrapped in a pita but the rice was perfect. The lamb was also probably the best that I've had outside of someone's home. Quality.
(5)David H.
I was traveling through Seattle and craving some really good middle eastern food. I Yelped this restaurant and was immediately surprised. First, the vodka tonics I was drinking had a very generous amount of vodka. Then, the waitress brought my hummus ... OMG - I was in heaven! I had to stop eating it because I needed room for dinner. I had the mixed kebab plate and it too was orgasmic. The chicken was a bit dry, but everything else was perfect. If I were lucky enough to live in Seattle, I'd set up home in this neighborhood so I could easily be a regular.
(5)Lily H.
My new favorite place in Seattle! My friend's bellydance teacher was performing here tonight, so we came for dinner and the performance. We shared a plate of dolmanthes, and I had a glass of sangria, the lentil soup, the Petra Spice Chicken, and a pastry with custard filling. The food was to die for, really, and $30 for everything. My chicken was tender and perfectly spiced, the pastry melted in my mouth, and the service was top notch, but the best part was the live music when half the restaurant got to its feet to dance a line dance along with the live music, which let me tell you, is a feat given the design of the restaurant. Also entertaining was catching a glimpse of the kitchen staff dancing BOH (Back of House for you nonservice people). It was pretty clear that this was both a great place to eat and work; the owners were warm and welcoming and made us feel as if we were eating at their home, not their establishment. When we first sat down, we knew it was a good sign that we were the only one of two tables of Americans eating there, but once the music started we all forgot we were in Belltown- we could have been anywhere in the Mediterranean, and on a cold, rainy May night, what more could you ask for?
(5)Mohammed A.
Petra is the best place to eat Arabic food in the northweast.
(5)Maureen E.
I work nearby and love this restaurant. The red lentil soup is delish but my favorite is the veggie shwarma. I could eat it every day if I had my way! Very garlicky though - so can't say my co-workers would love it if I ate it every day. Highly recommended - service is always good and the lunch menu is affordable. Yum!
(5)Rachel H.
I gave this place a second chance after a so-so first visit, and I'm so glad I did. Even the best can have their off moments, and Petra's comebacks have definitely made up for that first setback. Which was oddly dry chicken and undercooked rice, if you must pry. This place is now our Monday night post-gym tummy joy party hot spot. I LOVE the lentil soup and can never resist it, then follow it up with the perfectly-balanced Petra chicken salad. My boyfriend eats the lamb kebab, substituting hummus for rice, with whatever beefy soup they might have. We ignore the pita bread because it's uninteresting compared to all the good stuff. The service is genuinely friendly and fast. I loved the time when one server who obviously wanted to get the hell off work for the night tried to make us order to go instead of dining in, but his counterpart intervened and let us sit down. She didn't have to be so accommodating, but it definitely helped earn our loyalty.
(5)Andrea S.
I had a great dinner here last night when I was in Seattle for work. We started off with the Petra fries that had a delicious garlic sauce on them and the hummus with warm pita which was good but I usually my hummus with a little more garlic. I ordered the Mediterranean prawns and had the choice of either a soup or salad to go along. I ordered the lentil soup which was superb. It had a blend of spices that I've never had before and I had to stop myself from eating the whole bowl in order to save room for my entree. The plate of six shrimp came out on a large plate of rice with grill onions and tomatoes and garlic sauce. The flavors were great and the portion was huge. (note - if you don't have a huge appetite think about sharing an appetizer and an entree among two people). The service was fast and friendly and the prices were reasonable. If you are looking for some nice Mediterranean spiced food in Seattle definitely check this place out.
(4)S. Alicia S.
Petra Mediterranean Bistro served me up an excellent home cooked meal. The kind my mother would make, except they put lemon in the bean soup. Lots of lemon. But it's really good like the yummilicious way. And I got this in a restaurant. This is quite the shocker. Before Petra, I enjoyed some wine. Got there and decided to drown myself in Pellegrino. The chances of finishing my plate of rice and well-seasoned vegetable shish kabobs were slim. A gratifying entree that just wanted to come home with me. I like me too. And to be a decent person, I enjoyed a serving walnut baklava. Petra Mediterranean Bistro might really just belong in the suburbs with the dim lights and home-style multiethnic food. But tonight, I was happy they could be found in Belltown. Because I really needed to enjoy a good home cooked meal.
(3)Jamie M.
I think we had built up too many expectations about this place based on the raving reviews from a coworker. I expected to be blown away by our meals but ended up leaving with thoughts that it was good, but not amazing. Our meal started off a bit negatively since they opened half an hour late for lunch. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal but we had theatre tickets that afternoon and didn't want to feel rushed for lunch. Luckily our meals came out really fast so we weren't crunched for time. We both ordered gyros with fries. I loved the seasoning the put on the fries and I could tell their gyro meat was much better quality and less greasy than what I was used to. I'll come back but I'm still on the hunt for the best Greek food in Seattle.
(3)Beth H.
I work at a nearby business and was invited to have a free meal at Petra so that I might recommend it to my customers, which was very cool. I stopped in for lunch with a friend today and had a difficult time choosing from the menu. Everything was reasonably priced and sounded delicious. I settled on a plate of Petra Fries to split with my friend and the gyro wrap. He had the beef shawarma wrap. Both of these came with a house salad. I asked for Turkish coffee to be brought to the table after the meal. The salads were underwhelming. Most of my greens were beyond wilted - to the point where they kind of disintegrated off my fork. The Petra Fries were very tasty! Someone here said they were like Mediterranean poutine and I'd say that's right on! I will happily stop in for a quick snack of those before work in the future. My gyro wrap was also very good. Can't comment on the coffee because it was never brought to us. That brings me to the service. It was so-so. I think this was the kid's first job as a waiter and to that point it was rather endearing. I could tell he was uncomfortable but I have faith he'll catch on eventually. In the end I felt a little rushed, despite there being several empty tables. I didn't bother hassling him about the Turkish coffee because I was pretty ready to go. Final score: The food (minus the salad which felt like an afterthought anyway) was great. I'm really happy I have this option before I start my work shift. Don't go for the service. I am tempted to go back sometime in the evening to see how that compares to lunch. Will update my review when that happens.
(3)Elton P.
I've had catering from here and eaten at the restaurant and both experiences were great! In the restaurant we ordered a mezza tray, petra spice chicken, and mediterranean salmon and all of it was amazing! That was for four people so portions are fairly big here - don't let the prices deter you. This is probably the best you'll find in Belltown for Mediterranean (Lola is more just Greek than Mediterranean). Service could've been a little better, but entrees were out in a reasonable amount of time so no complaints there.
(5)Carl H.
My companion and I have eaten here twice and we enjoyed both meals. The ouzi, the salmon shish kabob and the shish tawook are good. The sauces are flavorful and balanced, the portions are very satisfying, and the food is presented nicely. The service is friendly and courteous. The chicken tends to be a tad dry, however. I suppose that's the way it goes with grilled chicken breast, but I would enjoy it more if it were prepared in a more succulent way. The red lentil soup is excellent. I know of two lentil soups offered by Petra, and I believe it's the red lentil soup that has the nice lemony flavors. Definitely order it!
(4)Adam A.
The BEST fallafel and humus in Seattle...that's all you need to know. Service was fast and portions were large.
(5)Lizzie C.
Partway through my veggie kebabs, I realized, "This is one of the best things I've ever eaten." Nothing fancy--just food so good you wonder if someone drugged your Diet Coke. That's the good news. The bad news is that once you eat their rice, you'll never be able to eat rice again without a little twinge of resentment that it's just not as amazing. My friend and I asked the waitress what the magical spice on the food was. I forget what she said. Something I would never have guessed. You'll just have to go try it to believe it. Also try: the signature fries, lentil soup, and lamb shwarma (my non-veggie friend raved over it). I'm already percolating excuses to go back.
(5)Oleg K.
The appetizers were delicious, and huge! They, plus the soup / salad included with the entrée were enough to fill us up. Maybe that's why the actual entrées seemed rather lackluster compared to the hummus and baba ganoush? Both the lamb and the salmon seemed too sour and slightly overcooked. I want to go again and just order multiple appetizers. :-) The ambience was great, and the waiter was very helpful and cheerful.
(4)Rachel M.
Ok, so we ordered take-out so I can't speak for the service or ambience or any of that mess. The phone service was polite, the order was prepared quickly, and there were no mistakes made. Very reasonable prices for the large portions. Now, on to the FOOD... This place is doing so many things right. The hummus is super creamy and smooth, though it only comes with 2 pitas- I would have liked a third. The spanakopita was so flavorful and topped with a wonderful garlic sauce. I took the advice of my fellow Yelpers and got the lentil soup and wowza, that shit is banging. Small portion though, booo. I'm really excited such a tasty place is in my neighborhood, yay!
(4)Mark W.
Best gyros in Seattle. Hands down!!!
(5)James D.
Best lunch I have had in years! Seriously wow. Spiced chicken with red lentil soup- amazing.
(5)Lee S.
Good flavor, some dishes are up and down. For example the hummus isn't great but the kebabs are lovely. The lentil soup is fantastic. Sometimes I think I should just get that and skip anything else. The atmosphere can seem a bit down, which is a pity.
(4)Katie B.
Love this place, everything on the menu is delicious and the servers are soo helpful. I just recently had them cater my office party, they did great!
(5)Huan Q.
House soup is good
(5)Alyana V.
This place is amazing! Delicious authentic Mediterranean food and wonderful service. I came here for dinner with a friend and had ordered the baba ganush as an appetizer and beef shawarma with their house salad on the side as my entree. Super generous portions for the price! The food was so tasty, I wish I had room for more! I am definitely coming back to eat healthy tasty food without any guilt. Our server was very sweet and helpful with her suggestions, since it was my friend's first time eating Mediterranean food. The ambiance is relaxing, and I heard they do live dance performances some nights! I'd love to come back!
(5)Jackie K.
Ate here twice while visiting Seattle. Amazing food, friendly efficient service, and a comfortable environment. The salad that came with dinner was fantastic - dark leafy greens with fresh veggies and great garlicy dressing. Definitely eat here if you're looking for Mediterranean.
(5)Brittany W.
Petra Bistro is an awesome choice for vegetarians! We started with the hummus (sooo good!), and then I had the veggie shawarma and my husband had the veggie royale. Both dishes were so flavorful; even the rice was awesome. Yum, yum, yum!! The service was also really excellent. I seriously don't have a bad thing to say about this place.
(5)Jessica V.
Started with Mahabaha hummus with fresh pita bread that were both very good! Best pita I have ever had. Lemon garlic chicken: if you are not a fan of lemon u won't like this. The chicken was great but the combo of lemon rice and lemon chicken a a bit too much for both of us, even for a lemon lover like myself. Ouzi with chicken: the rice with ground beef was very flavorful, the chicken was ok and very thin. We actually preferred the lemon chicken with the Ouzi rice. Red lentil soup had a ton of spices, I wasn't really a fan. It wasn't bad, I just did not care for it. House salad with garlic dressing was full of flavor and had a kick to it which was a surprise, but a plus. I thought the Tamarind drink with rose water was refreshing and sweet, my friend loved it. The restaurant had a steady amount of customers and good service, I would come back for the hummus and pita for sure.
(4)Kerry C.
The calamari is delicious. I highly recommend. The portions are large my friend and I barely managed to finish one appetizer and a kabob.
(4)Malia M.
I've actually only had delivery or take out from Petra and am never disappointed. Favorite items: The BEST hummus. Smooth, no grainy texture, and perfectly flavored. Garlic lemon chicken, grilled to perfection. We live in the neighborhood and ordering take out is very common. I'd love to actually sit inside someday, as it looks very comfortable and has a great welcoming vibe.
(4)Shilpa K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. It is my to go place when I crave for a good Mediterranean food. I live close and have my share of hummus and pita twice every week. My favorites are lemon chicken, the Mediterranean platter, hummus royale with chicken and their delicious lentil soup. I pretty much order the same thing every time I visit. The hummus is very creamy and delicious and their pita breads are so warm and fluffy. The combination is just heaven. May be I am exaggerating little bit but you know what I m talking about. They also have belly dance between 7-8 every Saturday which I tend not to miss.
(5)Shawn K.
Great meal with wonderful flavors. I had the Mediterranean salmon and my wife had the garlic lemon chicken. No complaints on the flavor or portions. Would highly recommend to others we just wishes there were more vegetables with the meal. It did come with choice of soup or salad which was a bonus. My wife said the soup was amazing.
(4)Claudia R.
Vegetarians: drop everything and order the Veggie Royale RIGHT NOW. 3 days later and the boy is regretting leaving his precious leftovers in Seattle. This place was BOMB. Lowkey, good beer selection and amazing food.
(4)Tim O.
Fresh pita bread! 4 stars! Done, moving on. One of these days I will get tired of making fake out first portions like that before continuing on with the review anyway. Someday, but not today. We ended up at Petra on our way to the Space Needle from downtown (after Lola was turning into a bit too much of a wait). It's a quaint little place, possibly over decorated but it gives it a nice atmosphere. The place was packed, so there was a bit of a wait (and since they don't really have a waiting area, all of the people waiting for a table sort of get bunched up at the doorway). We got a table after about 15-20 minutes, and then our service came about 10 minutes after that. I don't mean our server came, I mean service. There was no service for the first 10 minutes or so...then all of a sudden one of the waiters came over and we had awesome service the rest of the night. He kept checking up on us, clearing dishes, refilling water, the whole shabang the rest of the time. Had it started sooner after we sat down I might have been so inclined to bump Petra up to a 5. Anyway, food time. We started off with the calamari...and honestly we could have ended with the calamari. As in we could have ordered plate after plate of the calamari and been completely satisfied with out meal. It was so good, probably some of the best I have had. We almost came back here in our 4 day trip because of that. I'm trying to remember the entrees...I think I got shawarma of some sort and my fiancee got a salad. Regardless all of the food was good, no complaints there. And yes...yes fresh pita bread. I love pita bread, for whatever reason. No hummus with it, just the bread. I should go get some from Trader Joe's right now...heat it up in the microwave...pretend it's fresh.
(4)Aaron A.
This is my second time here. The most creamy and tasty hummus I've ever had. My problem is I fill up on it. I had the mixed kabobs the first time, they were all tasty and more than enough. The red lentil soup was good, not great. My second time I had the medateranian salmon, it was also outstanding. It had tomatoes and onions covering the salmon with lots of spices. The place is small but seats a lot of people without feeling crowded. Great atmosphere. A bit pricey ($15-20) entrées, but worth it in my opinion.
(5)Jaymin T.
Yelp should allow me to rate zero star for this restaurant. . .. because they guys deserve zero star.. Service guys are so rude and very cheap behavior... I think they guys should learn how to behave with customers. Do proper business. I never go back with this guy's anymore. I would say god may bless them ..
(1)Angela B.
Not a huge fan of Mediterranean restaurants as they usually make my stomach upset but not only was the food fantastic here but also no tummy upsets! We ordered two entrees plus this gigantic appetizer plate with mixed app's on it. Not sure which was yummier, the entrees or the apps, it was all delicious! Despite that the restaurant was packed on a Sat night around 6:30pm, they found us a table within a short time frame. No reservations needed! Then our waiter was fantastic! We needed to go to the symphony and were hoping to be out of the restaurant within an hour, I think we made it in 45 minutes. In a restaurant that packed, eating multiple courses, that is quite impressive. And our server was so nice and friendly despite the amount of tables he was juggling. So impressed and definitely coming back!!!
(4)Jeanette R.
So pleased we were able to get a table here at the last minute. We came on a Saturday night and waited for the belly dancer! Yes - atmosphere is fun and cozy, you forget you're in the NW - I guess, it feels a little more like a place you'd find in SF, but that doesn't even matter. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING! Ok - we had the fava beans and hummus plate to start with baba ganouch (I know that is spelled wonky) really good way to start, however, I was already feeling full by the time I started with my lentil soup, which was so flavorful and full of colorfully tasty spices that I wish I could figure out! There was something so bright and fresh in that soup that I could not stop eating it! Next we decided to order a few dishes and eat everything family style so we could all try the delicious morsels. The menu is huge - it was difficult to decide. We had the lamb shwarma and that was definitely my favorite. There was a wonderful yogurt sauce drizzled atop and it laid on a bed of buttery garlicky rice. (this is not a diet or paleo place - do not waste your time or theirs trying to avoid white stuff here) Next we had the falafel, which had a light crispy crust and a tender middle - no soggy balls here! The chicken dish we tried was also super fly, I just cannot remember the name. Don't worry about it, just order stuff, you won't be disappointed. Finished it all off with Baklava because we could, but probably should not have. I went home and felt full until morning. Cannot wait to return and try more menu items. I'm not sure what cuisine I ate exactly, their menu claims several countries of origin, which isn't always a good thing, but they make it work.
(4)Jessica B.
Petra is undeniably tasty! I've been there for both lunch and dinner, and enjoyed both! Lunch is much more reasonably priced ($9 for an entrée instead of $14) and the same portion size. They have a decent craft beer selection and a better wine selection. I love how many vegetarian options they have! Shawarma all the way, folks! And the lentil soup is killer! However, what other reviewers said is true- you will taste garlic for the rest of the day... and the rest of the following day too. For me? TOTALLY worth it! Let's just wait a day or two to make out. Service is outstanding- super friendly. They don't do lunch reservations and I've never had to wait, but they've been precariously full. Street parking is pretty easy. Go for it!
(5)Julie P.
Wow, I definitely have been missing out. This is the best Greek/Mediterranean food I have ever tasted! I visit Seattle at least 3-4 times a year, and I can't believe I have never been here. I can imagine the restaurants in Greece tasting exactly like the plates served at Petra because the food was superb :) I usually care a great deal about the atmosphere, service and the interior of the restaurants. So even though this place was pretty empty (went in around 5-6pm), service was pretty okay and the interior was not so pretty.... I still give it 5 stars!! We got the Petra Gyro Salad and Garlic Lemon Chicken. Both were so delicious!! Best tzatziki sauce and pita bread. The chicken was so tender and juicy with perfect flavors! The portions are big so it's great to share and try different plates. Don't take my word for it, you have to try it yourself! I don't want to hype it up too much, but really, I dream about this place.. hahaha. I've been obsessed with Greek food and sadly no Greek restaurants in Dallas beats Petra. So I can't wait to visit Seattle again so I can eat here!
(5)Phil C.
This place is great, so let's get the bad out of the way first: not a place for drinks. The martinis were oddly balanced, and the namesake Petra Tini managed to be the most nondescript alcoholic drink I may have ever had; neither good nor bad, no discernable flavor, and not even an aftertaste of alcohol. It was just kind of... there. But the food is stellar! We went ahead for the Petra Royal Dinner, which includes five courses: soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and Baklava. Be sure to choose the lighter version of their house soup (as the darker one (different beans?) tasted a bit off), and the house salad is straightforward and enjoyable. We chose Taste of Africa and Petra Spice Chicken as our entrees, both of which were fantastic but I'll be returning to try the former again as it was just slightly the better of the two (chicken, sauteed garlic, and charbroiled veggies aplenty? Yes please.). The Baklava is very good, and one would be wise to order it even if not having the Royal Dinner. Great service, convenient downtown location, and well informed staff.
(4)Rina Y.
Food is good, typical Mediterranean place. Staff is okay, not amazing. Low key Mediterranean place, good neighborhood joint.
(4)Sarah M.
Highly recommend trying this place. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options. I had the hummus plate for an appetizer, and the fresh pita it comes with is amazing. I also had the Veggie Royale for dinner. It was extremely good. The veggies were lightly fried. And the seasoning they put in everything is so good you wont even consider adding salt or pepper. It was actually almost too much food. My only advice is to make a reservation if you're going on a weekend night. It can get quite busy. Without a reservation, we had to wait about 30 minutes for 2 people on a Friday night.
(5)Ronnie S.
Perfect! Went with the entire family and we were all very impressed with this place. I started out with the Red Lentil soup. Very, very good. Creamy and spicy and very delicious. Next I had the Taste of Africa. That was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The combination of the grilled chicken, vegetables and rice was better than I'd expected. So tasty. I want to come back and try some of the other dishes but not picking the Taste of Africa again is going to be very hard.
(5)Jeremy S.
Great food super quick service. If you're in the mood for this type of cuisine definitely check this place out.
(5)Caroline P.
The food was delicious, I loved their Kafka kabob. I forgot what my friend had but she also ordered a side of delicious pita bread for only $1, worth it! 5 out of 5 if it was based on food. However, our server wasn't very attentive. Maybe b/c she had to cater to a large group, but we had to flag down someone else to bring our check. And she took our plates away and left pretty quickly, without asking us if we wanted our leftovers to go. I was too shy to ask her to come back. We're on vacation, so maybe the next time I'm in Seattle, I'll probably order takeout for their delicious food.
(3)Megan B.
I ate there with my picky husband and two kids (ages 9 and 12). We were amazed by the wonderful unique food and friendly service! The Lentil soup was superb. Just the right amount of spice without being overwhelming. We all ordered different dishes and shared. There was not one bite from anyone's plate that I didn't like! We will definitely be back next time we are down town.
(5)Krys P.
Amazing mediterranean food! Eat the ouzi. The flavor profile is off the charts. The house made hummus is good too. I went there around 6pm for dinner on a Friday. It was super busy. Couldn't believe we got a table. We left fed and happy, past the line that emerged that spread to outside. A sign the food is good and worth waiting for. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Alex S.
I ate here after reading all the great reviews, and I have to say they were right on the money. Incredible food. It's not often I clean my plate, but I did so here, and the service was great also. My only surprise here is that it's a pretty basic restaurant in terms of decorations, nothing fancy. I had expected a bit more of that SLU chic, but honestly the food is good enough these guys don't need a fancy ambiance.
(5)Tammie E.
Authentic garlic heaven. The hubs & I have been exploring our new Belltown restaurants and Petra, of course, was on our list. It lived up to our expectations. Great service with comforting food. We shared their scallop appetizer (oh-my-gosh so good!) to start. Then my husband ordered a beef dish and I ordered a garlic chicken dish. So good. The dishes are super flavorful, light, and huge quantities. We had to take half of it home for leftovers. Drinks were overpriced, but the food was top-notch. We called ahead and made a reservation, so didn't have to wait long. Overall, delicious Mediterranean!
(4)Tim P.
Came here with to check out the food. The food was different and good. Service was not good. The person who seated us was not friendly since we came in with a stroller. Our waitress was really slow and would go missing.
(3)Eric H.
You can find better Mediterranean food in Seattle. I think the reason this place charges so much is real estate prices in downtown but not sure.
(2)Carlo C.
Wow, the food here is superb! Everything had such a depth of flavor, and they are not shy about using spices. This restaurant does Mediterranean right! We ordered the hummus first, and it had this garlic-lemon bite to it that was tasty. I got the lentil soup as a side dish and the lemon and cumin really came through, making it absolutely delicious. I got the "Taste of Africa" as my main course, and it was cooked to perfection. The rice had that nice chew, and the chicken and vegetables were well seasoned. The creamy tzatziki sauce brought it all together. The servers were nice and pleasant, and the restaurant itself was clean and well kept. This place definitely gets a recommendation from me!
(5)Jody P.
We loved this place so much, we went two nights in a row. As tourists, we rely on Yelp to get us to the 'neighborhood' restaurants....where the locals eat. The locals were at the restaurant-early. Good sign, right? Everything was so expertly prepared...the hummus, the Red Lentil soup, the Lemon Garlic Chicken, the Taste of Africa" platter. My husband actually told the waiter to compliment the chef...and the chef came out! With the owner! Usually I'm embarrassed by that kind of thing, but we were happy to tell both of them how much we enjoyed the meal. Back for "round 2" the next night, we had the same waiter and the whole experience was just as wonderful. This reasonably priced restaurant with reasonably priced wine, was a joy for the palate. What a find! Go!
(5)Bashira B.
Very good food and good portion. Very fast and convenient. I will definatly come back again.
(5)Jade L.
All I can say is hummus. Get the hummus. It is amazing. The rest of the stuff is good too, but more on the standard side. Nothing else really stood out to me. Service is awesome too.
(4)Jen P.
I want to love Petra, I really do. Mediterranean food is my go to. I worked in a Greek restaurant in college. I ate my way through Greece (and I went there mostly for the food, and secondarily for the history). I work half a block from here. And yet... I just can't love this place About once a quarter, I order lunch from here, and I'm decidedly underwhelmed every time. The food is overwhelmingly salty and garlicky. It's like they only learned one spice, and it was garlic. The soup of the day was, I believe, Lebanese lentil. The soup was full of cloves of garlic - but was still so bland I couldn't finish it. I ordered the gyro shawarma for lunch. The meat was also incredibly bland and soggy and wasn't spiced in the way you'd expect traditional gyro meat to taste. Overall, the food isn't inedible, it's just not spectacular. If I'm going to spend $15 for lunch ($12 plus tip for takeout), I want to eat something that tastes great.
(2)Ren G.
Petra was such a delight. This is officially one of my favorite places in Seattle. The menu had so many tempting options that I ended up ordering a bunch of them a la carte so that I could taste them all and I'm craving it again right now just thinking about it. Breakdown of the food: Hummus--Absolutely rich and perfect. Some of the best hummus I have ever tasted. Creamy, thick, and served with olive oil. Pita--Perfect. Soft, warm, slightly chewy, with an incredible texture meant for grabbing hummus by the tablespoon. Kalamata Olives--Rich, tangy, complex, and perfect. I know the kitchen isn't personally making these, but they have a great supplier, and it isn't a Mediterranean meal without a bowl of these on the table. Spanakopita--Leafy, crisp, and deep with the rich flavor of decadent feta. The buttery crispness of the pastry crust with the grassy fibrous texture of the spinach and depth of the feta are a match made in heaven. Falafel--Crispy and complex with a gorgeous mix of spice. Cooked absolutely perfectly, and tastes even better with kalamata olives. The meal I had at Petra was filling, beautiful to look at, and divinely tasty. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I will definitely, definitely be back.
(5)Heather F.
Stumbled upon Petra the other night and was pleased I did. The place was packed and the ambiance was perfect. Got the veggie combo and the beef kabob. Everything was fresh and cooked well. I really enjoyed the spice blend they used, I would say it was a blend of cumin and cinnamon with some other spices added in. So far this is the best Mediterranean I have had in Seattle. At a lot of other places, the veggies and hummus are not as fresh. One thing I will add is, I think the prices are a bit steep for what your receive. I have had better Mediterranean for less. I will be going back to try other things off the menu though, it is a nice little spot.
(4)Florence C.
Petra is one of my favourite restaurants in Belltown. We get take out from here quite regularly and I just love their food. It's also our go-to place when we have out-of-town guests because the food and service has been consistently good. The food is flavourful without being overly spicy and always tastes so fresh. The entrees come with soup or salad and I highly recommend the red lentil soup. So delicious. There are lots of vegetarian options--a whole section, in fact! Also, they have a delicious cashew nut baklava.. not a flavour I've seen commonly in Mediterranean restaurants.
(5)Barbara S.
Fellow yelpers: you are awesome! On a recent stopover in Seattle (sans car), we were looking for a place to have lunch, off the beaten path, within walking distance of our hotel, and away from the tourist haunts around Pike Place and the Space Needle. You did not disappoint when your reviews led us to go to Petra Mediterranean Bistro. There were only a couple of other patrons when we arrived, but shortly thereafter, the place filled up. And judging by the conversations around us (not eavesdropping, but sometimes you just can't help overhearing!) most were locals - yeah!! Our kind of place! A must try: Gyro Shawarma! O.M.G. The. Most. Tender. Gyro. Meat. Ever! And so flavorful!! And a good-sized portion. Tzatziki was delicious, too, perfectly balanced. Also very yummy: Garlic Lemon Chicken (Shish Tawook); not too lemony, not to garlicky, but both flavors blended with other spices to produce a tasty meal. Both served on a bed of rice with grilled veggies. Our server was attentive, but allowed us to enjoy our drinks a bit before ordering, then let us enjoy the food, checking back to make sure all was OK. Petra is well appointed - love the camel head sconces - with a Mediterranean flair. Even with the tables fairly close together in this small space, we didn't feel like our space was infringed upon by the folks at the next table. Moral of the story: in an unfamiliar area? Yelp is your go-to resource! Don't know when I'll be in Seattle again, but when that time comes, Petra will be on my list!
(5)Graham C.
Great food, great service, some interesting cocktails. Highly recommended.
(5)Shondip C.
Excellent food! Definetly worth a trip. My only negative would be that they don't serve any alcohol (a cold Efes would have been nice) and their other drink selection is relatively thin. I would also say their prices are on the high side, but definetly worth it for the quality and portion sizes. Located right on 4th Ave. TIP: don't confuse it with the Petra Cafe on 7th and Virginia. Same company, just their location for light lunch, drinks and catering.
(4)Mark S.
Phenomenal middle eastern cuisine. They are very generous with their portions, speedy with the service, and the flavor is amazing. All the entrees come with a choice of soup (red or dark lentil) or salad (tasty dressing), both of which are a nice size by themselves. The entrees are well seasoned with authentic spices and not overly salty. Shwerma combines veggies with meat, a nice combo. Lamb kabobs are well cooked, though a bit thinly sliced. Veggie combo gives you a nice mix of dolmas, baba ganoush, hummus, and falafel. One suggestion... Try the entrees with no tahini sauce or the sauce on the side. It is a bit too garlicy and tends to overpower the rest of the flavors. This is a real deal, both in terms of authenticity and value.
(5)Sunny N.
Couldn't say if the food was good or bad. Couldn't get a seat with 4-5 tables open because they didn't want to combine them for 4 adults and 2 kids. They said 8 people were required. Waited for 20 minutes and left for Zeeks Pizza. Whoever the gentleman was at the front was unkind as well.
(1)FoodE Y.
SALTY!!!!! I don't know what the big deal is about this place! The food was okay! Nothing to write home about. Horribly salty! So many good places in Seattle, skip this if you can.
(1)Alexey D.
This place has an amazing atmosphere and a very good food. Try their hummus and eggplants.
(4)Bridgette F.
My waiter was not friendly in the slightest, the fries were less than average but the falafel wrap itself was delicious. Happy for vegan options and a good location.
(3)Vidhyashankar B.
No wonder this place is rated this high. I am a vegetarian and I am super impressed with the choices and the taste. Strongly recommend the house lentil soup(s).
(5)Ashraf H.
Great Jordanian food in Seattle.
(5)Jenny B.
I loved this place! The hummus was perfect. I had the prawn skewers for my entree. I loved the sauce on the rice. Service was great, but a little pricey if you start with an appetizer. However, it is totally worth it.
(5)Fernando F.
Love this place, good food, nice ace and the service is not bad at all. I would recommend the red lentil soup as an entree!!!!!!!!
(4)Richard S.
Easy walk from the Space Needle, so a nice lunch place if your out-of-town guests are looking for something different. Definitely try the baklava and turkish coffee for dessert.
(4)Ngan B.
Definitely one of the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. We went here for a low key Valentines dinner. There was belly dancing there, apparently they do it every Saturday. The dancer was really good, definitely helped the atmosphere. I ordered the Ouzi and the bf ordered the spiced chicken. Should definitely get the Ouzi here, tastes just like what it's supposed to. Trust me, I've been to Jordan. The baba ganoush was really good as well. We shared the baklava for dessert, extremely well made since it's something they make in house. Service was amazing, our water glasses never went empty. Overall, I highly recommend this place
(4)Kate B.
Went here late one Saturday afternoon, about 45 minutes before they closed to prepare for dinner service. There were only a few people in the restaurant and only a couple of servers dealing with all of the tables. Service was painfully slow but I felt bad for the servers- they were very understaffed and the ones who were there were clearly trying their best. The food was alright, but not amazing. My friend and I ordered the mezze plate to begin with and they only gave us two pieces of pita for the large spread of items we ordered (hummus, labneh, etc.). We wanted a couple more pieces of pita and we were charged for them. Its not a huge deal, but I'm used to mediterranean places generally service ample pita with these kinds of dishes (and not charging extra for refills). Our entrees were the grilled chicken and grilled vegetable kabobs and they were decent enough, though not outstanding.
(3)Seema R.
Wow. This ranks among the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. The garlic lemon chicken is a must. I was also able to try the lamb shwarma- also delicious, but you need to be in the mood for lamb. Unfortunately they were out of the house baklava, but the baklava fingers I did get certainly hit the spot (although, I'd get them without the chocolate sauce). Lentil soup was also a pleasure- I got the red bean, and it was delicate and delightful. I could not be more pleased, thank you fellow yelpers for not leading me astray!
(5)Taylor G.
Writing my first review after two years on Yelp; this place deserves it. Beautiful, delicious, diverse foods, and an environment to match. Server incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. I highly recommend their red lentil soup, and my father loved the salmon and pita. I could not have the pita and was allowed to substitute it with a side of rice which came with very good tahini-garlic sauce. I wish I could come here again soon to try some new dishes, but I'm just in town for the week.
(5)Dushyant R.
It was very Rude & Discourteous Behavior - Specially it was not expected from the manager. Petra has loose their respect after my last experience. They have to learn how to behave with customers. They must remember , they are not the only one restaurant in the Seattle who serves Mediterranean food. To Run Business Service is more important than food. I will never come back.
(1)Meghan G.
The lentil soup is amazing. Have gone here several times, I'm rather picky for Mediterranean food, but for its pretty low price point, the food is delicious and well made, if not at well presented as other pricier Mediterranean restaurants.
(5)Owen M.
Epic. I don't know where to begin. The lamb is awesome. The portions are perfect. The service is solid.
(5)Devina G.
What a fantastic little bistro! As with other Mediterranean places, Petra's distinction of hummus is what stood out the most. So good and creamy! I've ordered the Spice chicken and the garlic lemon chicken and both were equally good. Great saffron rice with garlic sauce. Portions are on the smaller side, but no complains since they are really really good. My friend had the salmon and that too was incredible. They have belly dancers on some nights, I believe Friday or Saturday. I recommend making reservations as this is a small place and fils up quick. The lentil soup was absolutely delicious as well. Save room for dessert because their Baklava is super yummy.
(5)Chris J.
This place was awesome. The food was great. Service was excellent. I thought it was a great value. Taste of Africa was excellent. Probably the best meal of our vacation at any price point.
(5)Jennifer Arlem M.
Order anything of the menu. You can't go wrong! Their Petra fries are deliciously fresh and you won't want to share. I will definitely be back.
(5)Gemini J.
All dishes comes with soup or salad. I had taken Soup, which was too delicious lentil soup. Loved the taste of Soup.. Veggie Kabobs was yummy dish, It came with grilled veggies served over rice. Then ordered, Veggie Combo all the items like, hummus, baba ghanouje, falafel were good, except dolmathes (I dnt like the taste of leave). Rest of the dish was yummy
(5)Martine M.
The cuisine here is very authentic! We were staying at a hotel in the area and came in for some take-outs to bring back to our room. The messa plate was delicious! These people know how to cook!! Their dolmathes are great - and it's hard to find a restaurant that really knows how to make them. They run heavy on the garlic which we loved but others may want to ask them to lighten up. A definite place to dine!
(4)Chris O.
Found this place accidentally on my way to an appointment in the neighborhood. I had the spicy chicken thighs over rice with the house salad. I loved it all. Delicious flavors on the chicken combining cinnamon with sumac..exotic and satisfying. The salad was so fresh and the dressing garlicky to perfection with the right balance of vinegar. This place is a delightful discovery! I'll be back with friends & family. Friendly wait staff, too.
(5)Patrick V.
Simply amazing Mediterranean food! Ordered the lamb kabob and meat was moist and well seasoned. Rice was flavorful and hummus was yummy. Lentil soup was also one of the best I've had.
(5)Caron W.
First of all the waitress was rude and abrupt, really had no interest in serving us. We acted patiently at our table whilst sitting mosquitoes buzzing around us. My husband asked for a particular brand of beer (from the menu) and was told they didn't have it. So he had to choose another. I ordered a margarita and was told that only had mango ones so I decided to give it a try. Well basically, they poured tequila into a glass and topped it off with mango juice, no ice, no salt, not shaken., so disappointing. We ordered salad to start, after two mouthfuls, I could not eat anymore for the overwhelming taste of garlic and vinegar plus only one slice of cucumber plus, a fly fly kept landing on my salad. I ordered the beef kabobs which were the skinniest I have ever seen and I grew up in the Mediterranean. They were sat on a bed of rice, smothered in their Mayo sauce and one skewer of very sad looking veg. My daughter couldn't eat her chicken as it was so smothered in a garlic sauce and the tap water we were served left a horrible taste in our mouths (I would have paid for bottled water!). The check (Bill) came swiftly after and was slammed on the table without the offer of seeing the dessert menu or to order coffees. It was expensive for poor shoddy service and abrupt staff. The overall hygiene was pretty shocking and I shall never go there again!!
(2)Mahesh N.
This place always has a special spot for my palate. If you are looking for Mediterranean good look no more. I'm a vegetarian and love these : the lentil soup, veg kabob, veg shawarma, veg falafal!!! Veg folks go here. Over n out
(5)Chris H.
Was very tempted to go back to Lola's but decided to try something new, and Petra's was super highly rated, with good reason it seems. Great staff. Attentive. Nice atmosphere. Authentic touches. The food. Amazingly stellar from start to finish and portions that are sized perfectly for the price. As with most Mediterranean places, I had to try the Mezeh plate even though I knew I wouldn't finish it. Best way to judge a restaurant like this. Everything was awesome. Hummus was good, above average, but didn't blow my socks off. The babagnoush however was out of this world. Great balance of flavored and spice. The puta bread was so perfect, it was tough to resist having another and another. Then came the main, a perfectly sized side salad with this lovely dressing. Ate it all. I ordered the garlic chicken on a bed of saffron rice. It took all my willpower to not eat everything on the plate. Perfectly cooked to juicy but done. The spice again was just awesome. Absolutely recommend if your in the neighborhood. I had the mint oregano tea with the meal which was a great pairing with everything. I wish I could take home what I didn't finish, but I'm. It even in my hotel room yet, so it had to go. Other then the pita bread, it was a pretty healthy, full meal for under 30 bucks.
(5)Chad W.
Love the Ouzo (drink) and the Ouzi (dish) but don't get the two mixed up! Meat Entrees - Ouzi is a delicious entree for any meat eater...I highly recommend the lamb. It is served with ground beef, rice, and veggies covered in delicious spices. - Mediterranean Prawns are a delicious alternative. I enjoyed the North African spices mixed with the garlic, onion, and tomatoes the best in this dish. This is a very flavorful dish but I would not recommend this on your first time. I did not think the prawns that I was served were all that great but I really liked the rest of the dish. Appetizers - Baba Ghanouje is very delicious - Petra Fries are full of spice and flavor...these are some of the best fries that I have had. Drinks - You must try the Ouzo at least once...it tastes like black liquorice and sneaks up on you Price - Dinner for 2 with appetizers and drinks was around $50. I think Petra is reasonably priced for the quality they offer.
(5)Naz D.
I've grown up with Mediterranean food, and this is delicious! I have only gotten food to-go at Petra, but it's always been delicious. This last time, I got a combo kabob plate and baba ganoosh. The chicken kabob is absolutely DELICIOUS and amazingly flavorful! Super lemon-y. Even the ground meat kabob was good, and I don't usually like ground meat kabob too much. The rice is also very tasty; I usually don't like the rice at Mediterranean restaurants. It was, however, a little too oily for me. The bab ganoosh was fantastic and came with soft pita bread. I definitely ate way more than I should have because it was all so delicious! I'm hoping to go in and sit down in the restaurant next time.
(5)Leonardo F.
Really great food. We didn't go for drinks. Best Mediterranean food I've had in Seattle area.
(5)Akshay B.
Amazing food. Began with an awesome Tamarind drink, went on the the veg platter which was terrific, and went to eat such an amazing baklava that we ordered it again! Perfect food and a great waiter (unfortunately forgot his name). Definitely ll go there again.
(5)Johnny Q.
Petra Mediterranean is located in clean , friendly and beautiful downtown Seattle... Having said that Our first experience in Seattle's restaurant scene couldn't have been better! From the decor ( very cozy Mediterranean ) to the service,was a warm welcome to this wonderful city . Our server tony , was extremely helpful , friendly And has a great sense of humor! But let's get down to business .my wife an I fancy ourselves well traveled food enthusiasts , and the food at Petra was absolutely delicious ! Petra is the real deal folks! From the creamy , smokey baba ganouj and soft ,tender pita starter... To the the main course dishes . My wife had the Ouzi ( rice with ground beef and lamb) which she loved! I had had a similar dish, but with prawns instead. It was full of that flavor you crave when the mood for Mediterranean calls to you. We both also had tamarind/ rose water tea, YUM! And the house brown lentil soup! Again I say, delicious. We will definitely return to expand our experience on the menu. We highly recommend for those who love the exotic culinary experience !
(5)Chelsea H.
Delicious! My super picky boyfriend was nervous to try it, but loved the food. We ordered the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and lamb shawarma. Great flavor! As well as the amazing hummus and pita bread. Pricey food, but definitely worth it. I've been craving the food since I had it!
(5)Sarah Z.
The food was authentic and flavorful. The pita was soft and warm, just the way it should be. I got the lemon garlic chicken which was tangy, flavorful and completely delicious! The portions were huge which is always nice, yay for leftovers. Also, belly dancing on Saturday nights is always a fun addition to the evening.
(4)Becky L.
Would recommend to anyone. The food is awesome and the service great. I'll come back.
(5)Jackelin T.
Healthy and delicious food made me feel guilt free for ordering 3 baklavas in one sitting...to share of course. First time having Turkish coffee ever and it came out in a miniature tea cup. What a delight it was, so strong so I sipped it slowly. The tamarind hind drink was refreshingly delicious. I love the rice and meat dishes here, so light and tangy. Try the garlic lemon chicken, you won't be disappointed. Service was great. Great ambience. Will bring my family and friends back to try more items on the menu.
(5)Doug H.
I came here for lunch with co-workers, two of whom as vegetarian. The meal, service and ambiance were excellent. I had the gyro shawarma with the house salad. The gyro meat was perfectly cooked and the accompanying vegetables were tender and very flavorful. The house salad was basic but had a very nice dressing. I also highly recommend the curry fries as they are delicious! My veg coworkers both had the veg plate with hummus, stuffed grape leaves and eggplant and thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Expect to spend about $10-12 total for lunch.
(5)Kate M.
Petra is by far one of the best restaurants in Belltown. The atmosphere is nice, the service is exceptional (very friendly,prompt,attentive) and the food is incredible. Very fresh and generous portions. Great place for a date night or for friends. I had the baba ganoush (sooo good), and my date and I split a lemon chicken dish, more than enough food. The wine is also good. My new favorite place in Seattle. These people know what they are doing.
(5)Maya R.
I honestly feel bad giving 5 stars, since the experience I had here was phenomenal and really deserves something along the lines of 7-8 stars!! The pita was nice and soft, and the hummus was exquisite (they even won Seattle's best hummus award). My boyfriend got a chicken entree and he loved it; the chicken was moist, tender, and well seasoned. The rice and soup that came with the dish were absolutely delicious and well balanced as well. What truly made this place a hit for me were the desserts and the overall service and ambiance. The baklava had a tenderness, sweetness, and subtle crunch to it that left me wanting for more...so much more. The workers especially made us feel comfortable and the good nature and friendliness of our waiter (Tony) were exceptional and definitely first class. We would go back again in a heartbeat for the food, the setting, AND the service. Great great great place to eat!
(5)Jennifer P.
I really enjoyed the lamb shawarma plate with rice. I ordered a lunch plate to go and there was plenty for two meals. If I am ever in the area again I would definitely return.
(5)Aram C.
I've been to Petra multiple times and I've always enjoyed it. The ambiance is nice, not too loud, parking is relatively easy for its Belltown location, and the food is great. But more than anything, they have the BEST HUMMUS in town. Hands down, the best I've ever had. It is by far and large my favorite hummus. Their Greek fries is also good - thin and crispy, with tons of garlic ketchup and feta cheese on top, just as I like it. The garlic chicken is great as well - very garlicky.
(5)Alexandria B.
Their Mezza Tray is beautiful and flavorful. The hummus was hot and garlicky, the baba was super smokey, the dolmas were a little mushy for my liking. The Petra fries are on point - the garlic ketchup kicks ass.
(4)Al Y.
Great place!! I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of baba ganoush, but after trying Petra's -- I am a fan! The atmosphere is great and the staff is always attentive. I would recommend the chicken salad as your entree and the baba ganoush as a side.
(4)Abby B.
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. I vegan and we stumbled across this place while just strolling down the street. My husband vacationed in Jordan once and has raved about the food. We walked in and noticed the lovely decor straight away. The music was perfect for a great authentic feel (so my husband says). We were seated and given menus and I was simply flabbergasted at how much food I could eat there as a vegan! I mean wow! Our waiter, who's name escapes me, says he has worked there for three years. He knew every ingredient and helped me with choices to cater to my vegan diet as well as a mushroom allergy. He even made sure to box my husband's leftovers separately from mine to avoid cross contaminating. And I didn't even have to ask :) We had so much food, I'm still working on leftovers. My husband was so happy. The owner was very polite and my hubby thanked him in the little bit of Arabic he had picked up on vacation. We had fries with garlic catchup and hummus with pita. For vegans, avoid the pita bread as it contains whey, but the veggies on the hummus were great. I ordered off the vegetarian menus and didn't need to change a thing to make it vegan. Amazing! This is our new favorite restaurant of all time. We will be coming back often, maybe on the nights there is belly dancing!
(5)Ben W.
If you want food that is overly flavorful, where it dances with your tongue without being too spicy hot, then come here. I darn near ignored my wine because my mouth was more interested in the food. I had the veggie combo, even though I eat meat... And I'm glad I did. The variety of flavors was amazing. This was my second visit (I don't live in town) and I will be back.
(5)Diane L.
This is a cute little gem hiding in Belltown. The red lentil soup that came as a starter with entrees was so good I could have devoured a whole gallon of it. The Ouzi chicken was delish and the rice was addictive. Friends ordered the shish tawook which was also delightful. The falafel was good but I found it to be on the dry side. Great vegetarian options. The turkish coffee was also surprisingly good. Overall, we had a great time. Would definitely recommend if you're in the mood for Mediterranean!
(4)E E.
Pretty good food. The lentil soup was excellent. Had a chicken dish that I forgot the name of that was good, the only problem was the is had a small amount of chicken (4 tenderloins). Had a glass of ouzo.
(4)Danielle C.
This place has really solid Mediterranean food. I especially like their lentil soups. It's so full of flavor and is definitely really filling. They don't put that many random vegetables in the lentil soup, which is awesome, because I hate munching on crunchy stuff or whatever in soup. The service here is really top notch. I've been here twice and the servers are always really nice and accomodating. A+ Their hummus is really creamy too. The white sauce on most meat dishes is also pretty yummy - not that cucumbery and also a bit watery. I have had the ouzi (Jordaninan royalty dish), and the almonds on the dish add a nice crunch to the food. The regular gyro meat is pretty decent too. Come to Petra for some awesome service and great Mediterranean food.
(4)Kristen Z.
Went here due to the raving reviews on Yelp and while it wasn't at all bad, it wasn't amazing. We didn't have reservations and only waited about 3 minutes to be seated. We navigated around the bellydancer to find our table and service was prompt. Ordered the hummus, and two entrees (a beef and chicken dish - each of which came with soup or salad). Hummus was tasty, and the portion was adequate for 2 people, but anymore and we'd be in trouble. Soup was good, but very heavy on the cumin. The salad was standard. The entree portions aren't huge and are heavy on the rice... which was disappointing since the prices were a bit high (example - the beef dish had only four very small pieces - each "piece" was equivalent to one bite or fork). Service was pleasant, but nothing to write home about.
(3)James M.
Hands down I think this is the best hummus available in Seattle. After moving here over a year ago from Phoenix where an amazing place called Pita Jungle exists I was in shock that there was hardly any hummus or Mediterranean places downtown. After some yelping I found Petra. We went in and ordered the hummus, baba ganoush, and the falafel. To be honest it was simply fantastic. We ordered some extra veggies on the side as well. I really enjoyed the taste of the hummus and everyone was really nice. Falafel were fantastic as well. The only thing that could be improved was that the baba was a little bit oily for my taste (although next time I will ask for no extra oil on top) and the pita was a bit disappointing. However I will be returning that is for sure!
(4)Laura L.
It's probably pretty authentic, which was unfamiliar to me. Wasn't what I'm used to, which is Belgian style gyros and hummus. This is more middle eastern.
(3)Articia H.
Amazing food, excellent service. Always been pleased with the entire experience. My favorite is the veggie combo. I bring all my friends and co workers here....
(5)Jennifer N.
Delicious wraps! Great shawarma. The fries have feta cheese and sauce on top of them which is awesome. Their appetizers with hummus are delicious as well. Great place!
(5)Sandeep P.
I had high hopes for Petra, based on the previous reviews. I came here on a Friday night with 3 friends and was pretty pleased with how quickly we got a table with no reservation. The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and patient as we were yakking way too much to make our orders. He also quickly deferred our vegan, gluten-free friend to the person most knowledgeable about Petra's menu. He was happy to bring multiple pitas to our table, which went great with the best part of our meal- the hummus. yummy! My entree, a plate of what I believe was lamb and rice, was rather disappointing. There was an excess of tahini on my plate, as well as meat that, despite its succulent appearance, was just too bland. I ended up enjoying the rice the most, but honestly, it wasn't even that good. I rarely finish my dinner at a restaurant, usually happy to take leftovers. But at Petra, I quickly declined that option. That should say it all.
(2)Alaina W.
I came here with ladies that I volunteer for. I'd never been to a Greek restaurant before and if this place is any indication, I've been missing out! It's a nice, cozy intimate place. The servers are very friendly and informative. But the menu is overwhelming for a first-timer. I should've asked for help, but I didn't. And then I saw it: Spanakopita. I've always wanted to try spanakopita so I ordered it. Holy crap! Dreamy flaky spinach and feta goodness! Great. Now I'm craving it. Gahhhhhhhhh. Spanakopita. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The only bad thing is that I smelled like garlic literally the WHOLE. DAY.
(4)Pamela F.
Good food, great service.
(4)David L.
Unbelievable food. Quiet and calm atmosphere. Baklava sampler was a perfect end (had to get them to go since we ate too much for dinner).
(5)Ali W.
This place has the best hummus and pita I've ever eaten. I also had the African plate and it was ridiculous. I literally ate so much I had to go get pepto afterwards, no lie.
(5)Chelsea J.
I celebrated my birthday here this last weekend and it was wonderful! Again everything was delicious and Khal and the staff were accommodating to our large party and very kind. My friend and I shared the brown lentil soup and the Veggie Combo. I also had some of the chicken and rice dish which was very good. Khal even gave me a little jar of their house seasoning as a birthday gift. I think I have a new favorite restaurant in the city!
(5)Gina T.
Goodness, I love Mediterranean food. Got the lamb shawarma. It's good. I'm happy.
(4)Aravindan M.
nice ambience and set up. helpful waiters and pretty quick service during lunch hours. the lamb shawarma was amazing. the lentil soup was good too.
(4)Rachel V.
The baba ghanouje, chicken shwarama and spiced chicken are yummy!! The lentil soup (starter) seems to be popular with most of my friends, but I prefer the salad. Overall the menu doesn't have a huge variety in terms of flavor, but if you are in the mood for Mediterranean, this is a good place to check out!
(3)Yekta A.
HOLY DELICIOUSNESS!!!!!! We were so surprised by how the food tasted, so fresh, juicy and tasty. I haven't tasted such yummy middle eastern food in a LONG TIME, better than Marakesh restaurant by far! Our waitress Jackie was awesome and cool, she made the best suggestions and explained what each food was and it was so good! We can't wait to go back!!!!!
(5)Karen L.
I don't know if I was just starving, but their food is amazing. I was running late, so my boyfriend ordered for me, and he got me the lamb shawarma entree. It was so amazingly delicious. Even my boyfriend kept stealing food off my plate! It was that good. The meat was tender and the rice was flavorful. Even the lentil soup that everyone gets at the beginning of the meal was delicious. So good!
(5)Nicholas R.
Everything about Petra is top notch. The service, the food, the atmosphere, and the price. Everyone in my party ended up asking the waiter for his favorite recommended dish, and no one was disappointed. The flavors were so robust and bursting, so we asked the waiter for a run down of ingredients and he was more than happy to share, all after reloading our feta cheese multiple times with a smile!
(5)Richard S.
Waiter was rude. I just wanted to ask him a quick question and he abruptly interrupted me and said ladies first to order. I know ladies are first, I just had a question. Not sure why he was rude. Everyone in my party was taken back too.
(3)Aprameya R.
An excellent place for mediterranean food ... The service was excellent, the restaurant is at the corner of 4th and Wall. The ambience is great and the music is just the right amount of subtle. The Salmon was very very good - grilled and the spices on it really made the taste.
(5)Yelp U.
I and my husband went here for dinner. We ordered the falafel plate for appetizers and couldn't believe how fresh it was. The salad it came with was amazing too! I also ordered a single piece of domathe which was the best I ever had. (I was looking for a nice dolma since forever). My husband ordered the Ouzi and I ordered the lemon garlic chicken. The food smelled amazing as the server put our plates in front of us. The Ouzi was great but it my husband's dish so i cant elaborate. Well, he's going to come back to eat it again. The chicken! Oh my god! It was sooo flavourful! I could not decide whether to eat the super delicious chicken or the flavour blast of the rice it was served with. Definitely going again!
(4)Bigfoot ..
Bababganooooooosh!! (order it!) The Lamb is okay, nothing special.
(4)Sunil G.
I admittedly haven't spent much time in Belltown, so I can't compare it to the neigborhood's other offerings, but Petra does a good job. It's a fairly small restaurant with a nice ambiance, friendly and unpretentious service, and tasty eats. I had the Veggie Royale. It came with red lentil soup as a starter, which wasn't actually red in color, but nonetheless was delicious. Don't be fooled by the price; this platter is no larger than the other veggie entrees and not much different from a veggie kebab, except for the addition of fried cauliflower.
(4)Guangming W.
I was impressed by their creamy pita bread, but the entrees are so-so, except the Mediterrian Salmon. So far I have tried Lamb Shish Kebab, Labm Shih Shaworm, Ouzi and Mediterrian Salmon. They give a good portion of salmon, but not for the lamb. I wish I had more lamb in the entree.
(3)Lisa S.
Ordered appetizers and dessert. Terrific food! Even though our server was very busy, they made sure we were attended. Highly recommend. Our kids also loved it!
(5)Paul D.
The chicken shawarma w/ fries is my go-to take out meal. It's super delicious and ready in 10 minutes!!
(5)Karen D.
We really enjoyed our first visit to Petra. We got the two-person special, which seemed like a good deal and included a soup, salad, shared appetizer, entree each, and shared dessert. I loved the lentil soup, which is their house soup. The alternate soup was a pinto bean with beef, which sounded heavy to me. The salad was fine but nothing special. We shared the scallop appetizer and it was good. My spouse thought the scallops seemed undercooked, but I like them that way, so it was all good to me. A nice touch was that our server, who was helpful, accomodating and top-notch all the way, brought us little cups of the alternate soup to just try out while we were waiting for our entrees. It actually was pretty tasty and not too heavy! We were both going to order the Mediterranean salmon for an entree, but at the last minute I switched my order to their special Jordanian celebratory dish, lamb ouzi. Wow, I was really glad that I did! It was absolutely delicious, and I can honestly say that I've never had anything like it. The way it's described on the menu does not do it justice...it sounds ordinary but the way the ingredients come together is fabulous. I only decided to order it because our server told us that it was her favorite dish. It is kind of like a "dirty rice" with grilled lamb slices and garlic sauce on top...even that doesn't sound like much, but honestly, it is great! It went perfectly with the glass of Cab/Merlot blend that I ordered. Delicious! Meanwhile, my spouse also really enjoyed the salmon, which was grilled perfectly and had the same sauce/topping of onion, garlic, tomato and spices that had been on the scallop dish but it seemed to go better with the salmon. Dessert was a fantastic square of walnut baklava that we shared. All in all, this a nice change from the usual Meditteranean restaurant that I frequent on the East side, and I'll definitely return!
(4)Allie R.
By far the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. Very nice and attentive staff as well. We had the big appetizer sampler with different dips and veggie and pita. It was amazing. Then split the beef shwarma. Very good. Different then I've ever had, with veggies in it, but amazing! And finished with baklava. Clearly made there. Not as heavy as store bought. But so good. We were so please to find this spot while visiting Seattle.
(5)Cindy C.
I can't wait to go back here. Fairly small place with great nighttime ambiance, interesting, excellent eats at great prices, tasty drinks, and fantastic service. The starter soup (red lentil) and fresh, spicy starter salad were delish. My Veggie Royale was to die for (she felt similarly about her Lamb Shawarma). My lemon drop was the first of that drink our (adorable, on-the-ball) server had ever tried her hand at, and she nailed it - fresh lemon, not too sweet... yum. We got there in time to catch the end of their belly dancing show - which includes willing customers getting up for a lesson! So fun! My new plan is to hold off on giving 5 stars until I've visited somewhere twice... but a very strong 4 stars it is.
(4)Steve H.
I actually think this place deserves a 2-star, but I felt compelled to offset their overly inflated 4.5 star rating. The food is passable, the service isn't offensive, and the atmosphere is clean and acceptable. All of which translate into a solid 2 rating at best. The problem I have with this place is its fabulous 4.5 star rating on yelp (not to mention a similar one on OpenTable). These ratings are SO far off the mark, that I have concluded that there must be some funky business going on with thei rating (despite the high number of reviews). I feel strongly that it is for the collective good that some discipline be applied to these dodgy ratings manipulators. So, in sum, you won't walk away from this place offended, but I would suggest you heavily manage your expectations going in (and on your way out, get on yelp and fix this rating).
(1)Nic M.
I honestly could eat at Petra everyday. I am heading to Petra after writing this review, to meet up with friends for dinner. Eaten everything on the menu and always everything soooooo delicious. Personal favorites would be Taste of Africa, Spanakopita and Petra Fries. Often I order all three (+dessert) and usually plenty to take home for next day lunch or late night snack. Can be a bit garlicky but I like garlic! Decent selections of beers and cocktails. Service is always top notch!
(5)Bell K.
For a standard vegetarian mezza platter, I would eat here again, all of it was tasty. It would have been nice if the mezza platter has 1 more thing like yogurt, it missed out on being filling. My biggest complaint was cold falafel. For $15, they could make them hot and fresh.
(3)Lisa W.
I must preface this review by saying that I'm a super tough critic of Mediterranean restaurants, as we have such a plethora of great ones here in NJ. My BF and I had gone to this restaurant a few years ago while in Seattle & loved it. What we distinctly remembered was the HUGE appetizer combo platter. However, this visit was a real letdown. For one, the platter was clearly not as plentiful as on our last visit, and I can't recall the price offhand, but I didn't feel it justified the quantity. Everything was just "OK"...no standouts at all. I had chicken kabob & he had some kind of lamb dish. Mine was again just OK, though it didn't have much flavor, and while his was pretty good, there really wasn't very much lamb in the dish. It's not a bad place, and the waitress was in fact very friendly, but I just didn't feel that the food quantity or quality justified the prices, which would've been fine if we had left happy. Instead, we left rather disappointed in the experience. I was actually going to give it 2 stars, but I think that might be too harsh (factoring in that I am, admittedly, a tough critic of these types of restaurants, as previously stated). Just don't go here expecting to hit a homerun.
(3)Jil C.
Their soup is hot water and ground cumin. The food is disgusting and there is NOTHING middle eastern about it. I would not go there ever again.
(1)Brian K.
The hummus is the best I've ever had. Everything else is simply fantastic. Love this place.
(5)Lisa S.
My husband and I went here based on reviews from Yelp. We were so happy we did! The place actually looked closed, but it was just the lighting, which was nice and cozy. The placed smelled wonderful and we figured we were in for a good meal. I ordered the Lamb Shawarma- fantastic!! and my husband got the prawns, also very good. House salad was great, dressing was light but flavorful. I am gluten intolerant and was happy to find the wait staff was familiar with gluten free issues. They brought out ingredient lists for me when needed and I didn't feel like a major inconvenience to them. Service was super friendly and attentive. If we are back in the area, we will definitely come back.
(4)Dakshina T.
I ve been wanting to try Petra for quite a while now. N we finally made it this noon. I tried Petra spicy chicken as suggested by the person there. N oh my I loved it every bit. No it was not spicy but an explosion of mild flavours inside my mouth. The chicken was perfectly cooked and it came on a bed of rice which was equally nice. My husband had chicken shawarma which too was very good. Yummy lentil soup N veg salad that came with the entree was a bonus and kick started our almost perfect lunch. Must say that the good pricing makes u smile wider at the end n the yearning for the next visit ll start the moment u step out!
(4)Douggers M.
The food was really good. The service was kinda snotty. Being reprimanded before we could get in the door, really? Clearly we knew she was early to a nearly empty restaurant. Really didn't need the update. Ugh, just a bad way to start an evening.
(3)Albert E.
Walked by this place for months on the way home from work. The smells always left me salivating. Finally, I got the chance to eat there last night. Food was spectacular. We had the calamari and it was the best I've had in Seattle. The calamari was crispy and firm without being chewy or greasy. It had this wonderful citrusy sauce that complimented it well. The hummus was also scrumptious with a good balance of chickpeas and spices. The pita that came with it wasn't anything spectular but it was acceptable. For dinner, I had the Kafta kabob. It was spicy and tender. It was paired well with a yogurt sauce and lightly spiced orzo. The food was quick but our waiter asked if we needed some more time before courses. They will let you decide whether you want a fast or leisurely dinner. Overall, I was very impressed and left full and happy. I definitely will go back.
(5)Cris H.
Best option in the neighborhood. Food is amazing, prices reasonable. Great place for a bite after the Space Needle and other close attractions.
(5)Michael P.
Fantastic Mediterranean restaurant (in Belltown, of all places). Great ambiance, friendly service, and the food! Couldn't possibly ask for anything better. Ambiance: casual, but quiet. I've been able to enjoy conversations with my party without having to shout across the table. Service: I engaged one of the wait staff in a conversation about Stephen King. That was a nice surprise. Food: Never been disappointed. Every dish I've tried the three times I've been there has been delicious. Would definitely return again. Have recommended Petra to my friends, too.
(5)Sam M.
The food was great. We got the chicken salad and it was chalked full of flavor. A lot a garlic, the pita bread was good, and the staff was fun and friendly.
(4)Nique F.
Not the most hip, happenin' place in Seattle, but if you're in the mood for Turkish they serve up some delicious, exotic comfort food. I went for lunch on Saturday and was surprised by the churchy-quiet atmosphere. Maybe it was just a dud crowd that day, but it almost felt like we had to whisper. Crank up the tunes, Petra! The baba ganoush was perfect - yes, the eggplant can taste a little meaty when you bake it, but I'm a fan. The Gyro Salad was the perfect combo of naughy & nice: spicy beef/ pork gyro meat sliced over a plate of greens. The lettuce looked a bit sad, but it made me feel less guilty for eating a platter of meat for lunch. It was the perfect amount for one hungry gal. Prices are very reasonable, while the ambiance feels plush, on the classy side for ethnic eateries. If you have a hankering for spicy, meaty, saucy grub, Petra ain't a bad idea.
(3)Suie C.
Very flavorful food. Ordered the Lamb Shwarma (sp?) and it came with a starter salad that was quite generous. The main dish arrived on a huge plate with pieces of lamb mixed with veggies in a garlic sauce. I loved the seasonings of the dish and portions were pretty big. I ended up taking more than half home. The garlic chicken was also very flavorful. Next time, I'm definitely trying the hummus, the aroma coming from the table next to us was phenomenal. Service was good, prices were reasonable ~$16/plate
(4)Ashley T.
Wow...what a memorable eating experience at this quaint, little restaurant. Our meals were so scrumptously spice-infused that I felt like we were eating in Jordan. I had the amazing Ouzi (Jordanian) with grilled chicken breast. The ground beef mixed with peas and carrot and rice perfectly seasoned and spiced but not spicy. It was topped with the grilled chicken breast sprinkled with toasted almonds and pine nuts. They also drizzled it with their tzatziki sauce. I could seriously eat this for dinner every night but it's not cheap. And seriously, I can't cook THAT well. However, it is worth every penny when you're in the mood for mouth watering Mediterranean food. The plain hummus is a must! The best in Seattle, hands down. Smooth, fresh and mild. Not strong or bitter tasting like some places. The pita that comes with it is so soft and chewy. Yuuummmm, yuuummm. The service was good and ambience was great. Just very relaxing and quiet. It's a restaurant where you can go and unwind and relax, not like some places where you have to scream to have a conversation. Ok, I am making plans to go back sooner than later. I think the baba ganoush is calling now....
(5)Paige F.
I took my husband and daughter there tonight because I knew they would love it....and they did! I had the Mediterranean Salmon, which was super moist and full of flavor. My husband had the chicken shawarma, and he said it was the best he has ever had.
(5)Melissa T.
The food here is quite tasty. We were especially wow'ed with the hummus. It's probably the tastiest hummus I've ever had, and I do eat Mediterranean food often. Their meat (we had both a lamb dish and a chicken dish) was of good quality and the portions were enormous. I think if I came back, I'd opt to split some of their appetizer trays with the table rather than order a huge entree. The ambiance was also nice; we arrived just before the dinner rush on a weeknight. There was no wait and the view from our booth, through the large window panes, was lovely. Once the restaurant became busier, the vibe turned more lively and group-oriented. This place was an unassuming, pleasant surprise.
(4)Char L.
I would have given this place more stars, but the fact that they completely drowend the scallop appetizer and the beef kabobs in garlic sauce was a bit unappealing. The sumac dusting was also extremely heavy handed. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic sauce and sumac, but it was so overpowering that the other flavors in my dishes got buried. Please be like other restaurants and have the sumac in a salt shaker at the table, put the garlic sauce in a lil dollop or cup on the side.
(3)Ray A.
We were looking forward to good mediterranean food, we arrived around 7 pm and were promptly seated. This was the higlight of the evening. 20 minutes later (yes it was that long, as we timed it), we still had not even water on the table. 3 different waiters passed us several times. We finally decided to leave (at the 20 min mark), with not a single wait person even bothering to ask us why. Keep in mind that the restaurant was not busy, there were 4 other tables with customers who were receiving service. We attempted several times to get attention of the waiters, with no avail. Save your time, don't visit this place.
(1)Michael L.
I was a little disappointed since this place had high reviews. They were really behind when we arrived. The kitchen was late and the servers were frantically trying to catch up as well. They seated us and it took them 15 minutes to bring us menus. But that's not all that went wrong. I ordered the lamb kabobs and they were super overcooked, the rice that came with the plate was also cold and unappetizing. the soup was overly salted and to top it off the portions were not what I was expecting. I understand that sometimes restaurants have off days but bad experiences last a lifetime.
(2)Pani F.
Great place to relax and have some awesome food! Nice decoration and yummiest Falafel ever!
(5)Anne J.
My husband and I were truly impressed by Petra as we enjoyed an delectable dinner there last night. Mediterranean is one of the staple cuisines of our diet and having just moved to Seattle, Petro is going to be one on our regular rotation. As others have mentioned Petro is actually Jordanian leaning in it's style and flavors. We decided to split the Mezza Tray, an appetizer platter perfect for four, and the Ouzi with Lamb and Jordanian Brown Lentil soup. We definitely made the right decision. The Mezza Tray was huge and gave us a great introduction to the flavors of Petra. I am a huge fan of Baba and this was one of the best I've ever had. We wiped the plate clean with their buttery, warm pita bread. The soup, which our waiter told us hasn't been on the menu since March, again showcased their ability to season without being too salty. The Ouzi was yet another hit. The lamb melted in your mouth and we had fun trying to name the different spices in the rice. Overall a delicious meal with wonderful service. I can't wait to eat here again.
(5)Jody G.
Just off an Alaska cruise and passing some time in Seattle with the family and we wanted a light, salad-type lunch while wandering around Belltown. The service was attentive and friendly and the food was nice and fresh. We started with the mezza platter. Unfortunately they were out of eggplant dip, but our waitress told us we could have double hummus as a substitute. It WAS great, fresh hummus, but I missed the eggplant. The yogurt dip and olives, were very good, but the pickles tasted a bit "jarred". There could have been more pita, but we were too shy to ask for it. The red lentil soup was wonderful. Fresh, aromatic, and full of nice chunks of veggies. The Greek salad would have been better without quite so much salty, vinegary dressing. Maybe we're used to WNY Greek salads with lighter dressing. This just seemed a bit over powered. We were too full for dessert, but now I'm regretting it. Home made Baklava. Maybe next time......
(3)Laleh J.
Pretty good shawarma. I ordered takeout but the interior looked very nice!
(4)Elsie N.
This place does not disappoint. It's deserving of 4.5 stars really. I love their lentil soup and their salad dressing. The first time I had the lentil soup, I thought it was perfect. This last time, although still very good, needed some fussing by yours truly. I had to add a squeeze of lemon and a generous dash of pepper to liven it up a bit. Maybe it was because it was the last bowl they could scoop up. And I appreciated that they gave me that bowl because, really, when I ordered it I was informed they were out. But because of my pouting (not really) and pleading, they took it from another patron's order and gave it to me :) We ordered the kafta and the garlic chicken. The rice that comes with each dish is so very good. The chicken was cooked just perfectly and the ground beef shish kabob was well-seasoned. Yes, if there's garlic listed as an ingredient, you will taste it for sure! But I'm a garlic lover and without having a "lover" of my own, I didn't have to hold back on eating all the garlic my heart desires. Service is pretty prompt and friendly (yay for the last bowl if soup!), and it's never too full. But don't let the emptiness fool you as this is truly a great and satisfying mediterranean place in Belltown!!!
(4)Liz S.
I love their warm and fluffy pita! The hummus is pretty good... it had a bit of a bite, which I'm guessing was from the tahini and a generous dose of garlic. The falafel was tasty too, crunchy on the outside and flavorful. The Greek salad is the only thing keeping this review from being 5 stars. It was good but too salty for my taste.
(4)Rebecca S.
I went to Petra Bistro a while back for lunch, and it was very enjoyable. The service was fantastic - our waiter seated us immediately, recommended items such as the lentil soup and answered our questions about the food, the owners and Petra. I went with our waiter's recommendation and ordered the house lentil soup, which was delicious and the garlic lemon chicken, Petra's specialty and hoo! - talk about garlic! The chicken had a bit of gristle to it, and the only flavor was garlic, which I got a bit sick of, but the rice it came with helped to even it out. My dining partner ordered the veggie combo, which came with hummus, baba ghanouje, dolmathes and falafel. While the hummus was still too garlicy, the baba ghanouje was flavorful and tasty. Next time, I'll probably try something with less garlic and definitely order a side of the baba ghanouje.
(3)Anish C.
Small place, amazing food. The service was ok, but the good food made up for it. Loved the Petra chicken; definitely something everyone should try.
(4)Greg N.
We found this place based on a high Yelp score. It was outstanding. Food and service top shelf, especially for a small restaurant. Have already recommended it to friends in Seattle who have heard about it but haven't yet eaten there. What a find. Thank you Yelp! I had the Mediterranean Prawns. We had the dolmades, hummous and Petra fries for appetizers and the fresh baklava for desert with sangria. OUTSTANDING!!!
(5)Lisa S.
If you don't like garlic you won't like this place. Everything was amazing. Even bought the salad dressing and a container of their spices to use at home. We will be back. Delish!
(5)Kay C.
Super liked this place - esp that it's close enough to Belltown to walk, but it doesn't necessarily have the whole Belltown feel. Loved the lentil soup, not sure what some of the reviewers are talking about, it was delicious. I had the gyro shawarma - huge plate, really great, your typical mediterranean meal. The prices are very reasonable, and the wine recommended was great as well. Service was a bit slow but it wasn't that bad honestly. I will definitely come back, esp the next time I want to get a drink in Belltown but feel like some great Mediterranean food.
(5)Pete G.
The food here had no flavor other than garlic. I love garlic, but if that's all I wanted I would have stayed at home and roasted a bulb myself.
(2)Pudding P.
Another extremely satisfied customer..this is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I've eaten here 5-10 times. Whenever I have friends from out of town visiting I bring them here. Saturday nights are especially fun (belly dancer!). The restaurant is beautifully decorated and comfortable. It's on the smaller side but hasn't been loud when I've been there. Everything I've eaten here (hummus, falafel shawerma, kebabs, etc) has been absolutely delicious. I don't think you can go wrong at this place. Given how good everything is, the prices are very, very reasonable.
(5)Arthur S.
Super comfy place, great location, nice staff, good food. Price was meh.. I'll be going there again for sure.
(4)Tom K.
Once again 5 stars! Service was great, food was excellent and it is a great atmosphere. Anyone coming to Seattle needs to try this food.
(5)Benjamin O.
This is the important part of the review, WARM BAKLAWA! You can get it at this place & that means that you should really probably stop reading reviews, save yourself the time, go here & eat already. Tried the baklawa sampler & every nibble & crumb was savory & sweet & at least 3 different kinds of amazing... Everything I tried here was absolutely delicious. Had the Petra fries & they were all jazzed up & looked real pretty on the plate, by the end of it we were using forks to avoid licking our fingers & making a scene. The shawarma is served with rice & comes with a soup or salad, the salad was very fresh & had wonderful flavors. Tried both the gyro shawarma & the chicken shawarma, both were by far the best I've ever had. The food is so good that it makes you want to keep eating until you hurt for it & what's better is that if you actually do (which I did, so I know by experience), the food is fresh & cooked in a manner that doesn't pit in your stomach so you're really only uncomfortable for about 45 seconds anyways, which is very important because you're going to want to order some baklawa for dessert.
(5)Adam Q.
SO GOOD. i have never been anywhere where no matter what i order, i wolf down the entire plate even if im bursting at the seams. Im anxious to bring a date here, but make sure its not the first date cause man that garlic is powerful!
(5)Lin F.
DELICIOUS, nutritious, authentic middle eastern food. Wonderful service and nice city atmosphere. The prices are doable. GO HERE BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Did I mention the food was really good?
(5)Greg B.
Like pillows for pillows. And more pillows beyond. But in your mouth. And the pillows are spice.
(5)T D.
Oh Petra....I'm in love! The flavors...the food...the garlic was amazing and memorable. I will be back! Arrived before 6:30pm for no wait. The service was attentive and wonderful.
(5)Lisa S.
The hummus is singularly good. It's creamy, flavorful, and goes great with the pita bread. I could probably eat an entire order all by myself. The baba g was not my favorite. The boyfriend ended up finishing it all. To me, it tasted like ham. But then again, I think smoked salmon tastes like ham, so it's probably the same thing. We asked a server about the flavor, and she said they smoke the eggplant for quite a while, and that's the taste we were detecting. I ordered the kabob combo, but I substituted beef for the lamb, since I'm not a fan. The chicken was very salty, but I dealt with it. The beef was the best selection of all three. The ground meat was awful. There was a strange and strong mixture of herbs that I just could not get over. Neither of us liked the flavor. I really wanted to try a baklava, but the waitress brought our check without asking if we wanted dessert, so we didn't bother. Oh, and there were these women there who looked like they were trying belly dancing for the first time. Their "manager" or instructor said that they'd be back every month, so that might be fun entertainment.
(3)Jill G.
Amazing! My fiance and I had the dinner for two which included an appetizer, soup, salad, an entree each and dessert! The waitress even offered to move us to a larger table for all our delicious food. Happy hour was great as well - $6 off our bottle of wine. Food was delicious all around. The seasonings were incredible and it was one surprise for my taste buds after another. The lamb was by far the best, but nothing disappointed. Baklava for dessert as well. I will definitely return!
(4)Wayne G.
Excellent service, food, atmosphere and ultra friendly staff! The appetizer sampler is perfect for 3 people, red lentil soup is amazing and the chicken shawarma is big enough for two to share! Very healthy and numerous vegetarian options.
(5)Jeff M.
Seated right away. Music was authentic, maybe a little loud but I am not here to nitpick. The food was simply delicious. I started with a Red Lentil soup (House Soup I believe they called it) and was impressed right off the bat. It was a cumin based soup with peas, carrots, lentils and onions (may be missing one or two ingredients). Girlfriend got the salad with an oil based dressing and found something a little bit mysterious and it was grated red cabbage which I thought was a nice flavor and aesthetic touch. We also got the Falafels because we have been making these at home ourselves and have been on the hunt for the best Falafel. Great profile of flavors, just not enough heat for me. Would recommend. My entree was the Lamb Shawarma and was impressed by their choice of spices. Lamb was the highlight but was complimented by the right spices. Girlfriend got the Chicken Shawarma and like my entree better but thought hers was good. Overall service was spot on, and would highly recommend as one of the best flavor for your dollar just about anywhere.
(4)Kirby M.
I honestly don't see any reason to eat anywhere else. Petra's tantalizing menu will wake you up from a dead sleep craving just another bite. My most recent time dining there, I ordered the Taste of Africa and made a complete glutton of myself. I've never tried anything from Petra that has not been simply perfect.
(5)Ideababa B.
When: My wife searched this restaurant on yelp. We went there with friends on saturday 7:30 pm because we also wanted to watch live belly dancing. Ambience: The ambience is good. During belly dance obviously the place felt more lively because of music. Food: Food is very good. We ordered veggie combo and veggie royale both came with soup. We also wanted to try baklava combo but we were already full. Service: Good. We'll definitely go back for baklava and belly dance.
(5)Autumn S.
I visited this place while on vacation with my foodie friends. The service was great and friendly with helpful suggestions. We devoured the hummus plate and I ordered the gyro meat platter for my entree. I ate what I could then a few more bites since so yummy that had me breathing hard:) Everyone at my table cleaned their plates and were in the same boat as I was over stuffed but it was worth it.
(4)melissa a.
This is delicious mediterranean comfort food. Portions are very generous and the food is really, really delicious. I get the mezza tray and shish tawook usually. Love it. Great fresh light salad, too. Must go!
(5)jeff d.
A-OK is right. Unfortunately, I was hoping for more. Anytime I try a Mediterranean restaurant the first thing I try is the Falafel. Like egg sushi at a sushi bar, for me it is a barometer of a restaurant and the Falafel was OK, not great. The Falafel lunch plate which comes with a very nice green salad and I also ordered the Petra fries as an appetizer. The fires come out nice and hot with garlic ketchup and Feta cheese and are quite delicious. The Falafel plate comes with six falafel balls on a bed of Yellow rice and 4 Cucumber and Tomato slices and a nice Tahini but the Falafel seemed to be pre-made and just reheated when served. Petra has so many great reviews on Yelp that I will have to try it again another day and choose something different. When I do, I will update this review. The service was attentive and efficient. Also, being able to make reservations directly from Yelp is a very nice touch. Good job.
(3)Brooke H.
The food here was so fantastically delicious I'm still craving it. The hummus royale with lamb and toasted pine nuts and almonds was so good I'm ready to hop a plane to get more. Everything else was delicious, too. The customers sitting nearby -- I wanted to try their food, too. I think I could eat here every day for the rest of my life.
(5)zil w.
First off, the food that I actually ate, and by report, that of my table mates was delicious. HOWEVER...the fries came COVERED with some kind of house made catsup. I can not stand catsup, and neither the menu, nor the server, mentioned this would be the presentation. Further, when I saw it, I tried to get new fries without the "red menace", but was unable to get the attention of the server during my meal (which, incidentally, also came a full 5 minutes after the other diners' at my table). Other than the catsup, and the inability to get the server to the table after the meal was dropped off (they were busy), I would give this place a thumbs up.
(3)Pat F.
I drool when I think about how amazing and flavorful my last meal here was.
(5)Tina L.
red lentil soup: i love lentil soup! this one has crushed lentils, not too salty, and a citrus lemon flavor. all the dishes come over a bed of rice that is flavorful, and a white garlic sauce over the top. i was pretty pleased with the favor and preparation of the meat dishes: Petra spice chicken Lamb shawarma Combo shish kabob *not the best lamb i've ever had, but it wasn't bad for a casual early dinner. friendly, accommodating service. oh! and if you like spicy, ask for the hot sauce! it's actually SPICY!
(4)Jingwen Y.
Great Mediterranean food served with aside of belly dancing, how can I not be a fan. After calling 10+ places to request a dinner reservation on New Year's Eve I was able to get a table at Petra. I was really skeptical about this place, however, the food was excellent and so was the entertainment. Service was friendly and attentive. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for mediterranean food.
(4)Carol O.
My husband and I dined here for the first time tonight and we were blown away! This is our NEW favorite restaurant. We started w/ their 2 lentil soups (their house Red Lentil and their special Lebanese Soups, which is brown lentil.) Both were excellent and we even ordered 2 bowls of Lebanese soup to go. For our main course my husband ordered the Ouzi dinner and I ordered the Lemon Garlic Chicken. We loved them both. BTW - If you don't like REALLY lemony and garlic-y flavors, then you should order something else, be/c this dish is heavy on both (which I love.) Our waiter (Joseph) was great! He was really attentive, informative and explained the different dishes perfectly. Another surprise is that the space inside is cozy and fairly quiet. From the outside it looks like a larger restaurant, but I was happily surprised to find that it wasn't. They had a lot of people picking up their to-go orders and we're thrilled to add Petra to our regular neighborhood haunts.
(5)Mark F.
Greek salad with chicken was excellent! Tons of flavor and one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I've ever eaten at. I'll be back every time I'm in town.
(5)Thomas N.
Soooo good! The red lentil soup is my fav. Plenty of vegetarian options which is important to me, though I've only heard rave things about any of the meat there too. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Ryan B.
Mediterranean from Jordan. Its unbelievably great food and an awesome wait staff. They obviously love the food they are making and that passion is translated into your experience. I'm so glad to have found this place. Veg delight plate and the falafel plate are so good. My favorite mediterranean fer sure!
(5)Jean Y.
As a dlsclaimer, ALL my friends rave about Petra. I may be the only person I know who found the food to be mediocre, so perhaps it was simply not to my taste (... or maybe I'm comparing it to the food I had on a recent vacation to Turkey!) The staff are extremely friendly and are very willing to answer questions about the menu and make recommendations. The interior is cozy but rather dark. The lentil soup was good, although it may not be what you expect depending on what kind of lentil soup you've had. It's a bit more watery than some of the lentil soup I've had elsewhere and make at home. The Petra fries were satisfying. (It's hard to go wrong with cheesy garlic fries!) The entrees that come on a bed of rice come in very large portions. I liked the flavor, but there was a bit too much grease and I didn't feel so great after eating the entire plate. The salmon was too dry one time I had it, but when I gave it a 2nd chance on a different visit, it was just right. As far as Mediterranean options in the Belltown/downtown area go, Petra is probably one of your best options. There are a lot of options on the menu, and I will probably be back when I crave Mediterranean food.
(3)Gautam M.
The Petra spices are woohoo!!! Having tried the Petra spice chicken, petra spice calamari, the petra spice fries and the shawarma over here over the umpteen visits, i can say with full confidence that this is the best Mediterranean food I've eaten in Seattle. Awesome food.. great service.. My favorite in the list is Petra spice chicken.. that is the dish that pulls me to petra over and over again.. And the foods been as awesome in every visit of mine.. 4 stars petra.. keep making awesome food!
(4)Erika M.
This place was the best.....the hummus was the best I've ever had....the pita bread served with it was so soft, warm and delicious.....I had the lamb kabobs over saffron rice....it wasn't served in a kabob but the tender slices were very moist and seasoned perfectly....great service....the lentil soup was absolutely delicious.....
(5)Josh A.
Holy smokes! The garlic lemon chicken is fantastic! Everything else I've tried has been good but the garlic lemon chicken?!? So. Freaking. Good. In case I hadn't made it clear, try the garlic lemon chicken.
(5)Kim K.
Great service...DE-LIC-ious food, and pretty good portion sizes. I'm definitely coming back when I'm in Seattle.
(4)Tanya B.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I never realized I liked Mediterranean food but when a friend invited me to try this I thought I would give it a go. I literally can't get enough of this place. The chicken salad and garlic chicken platter are must haves! I have now brought many people to this place and haven't had one complaint. The food comes quickly so if you are on a time crunch for lunch you can be in and out if need be. Service has always been great! Its always busy but I've only had to wait one time for a table. Highly recommend!!
(5)David O.
A very fortunate find and definitely a destination for those looking for a cozy place to enjoy a phenomenally flavourful meal. If you're in Seattle, this is a must visit destination. Trust me, you're mouth will love you for it. The staff are extremely friendly, very knowledgeable, and share the same passion for food as Petra's owner, Khal. That passion is very evident in the explosive flavour and texture of each dish we were served. Their signature lentil soup is incredibly tasty and is even available to purchase as a dry kit to bring home and create on your own! Joseph, our waiter, explained each dish and did a great job with wine pairings. Both he and Khal enhanced what was already an incredible dining experience. Petra Mediterranean Bistro will no doubt be a destination I will be returning to next time I'm in Seattle.
(5)Christi B.
A truly unique and exotic experience! The name says Mediterranean but the owner is actually from Jordan so it is different from other Mediterranean restaurants. Everything is fantastic but I recommend the Ouzi, it's truly unique !
(5)Sarah F.
I ducked in here with my two kids and parents, who were visiting from Kentucky. They love Mediterranean food, so I thought this would be a great spot. We were not disappointed! The spices were so wonderful and I am pretty sure that, with each bite, I kept making "mmmm" noises. We had the appetizer sampler, which was so good, and I had the chicken kabob, which was so flavorful! Best of all, the service was top notch, and they were so very helpful and accommodating with my 1 and 4 year old. The staff seem happy to be there, which, in turn, makes me happy to eat there! A true little gem!
(5)Hannah C.
Holy crap. This place has to be one of the best Mediterranean Bistro I've ever had. Everything I've tried so far on the menu (which sums up to be about 6-7 different dishes now) are ridiculously delicious. I mean ridiculous. The staff are very prompt and courteous, even knowledgeable with wine pairings to enhance the dining experience. Just go try it today. You won't regrent a minute you spend there. Do it, your mouth deserves it.
(5)Charlie W.
Excellent place. The spicy chicken was perfect. The meza tray, great. You can't leave this place hungry.
(4)Shana O.
I work in Belltown, and this place is my go-to for lunches! They are fabulous - food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly and quick! Special nod for the Babagnoush -- absolutely fabulous!!!
(5)Tonya N.
The food is excellent here. Healthy and just the right portion sizes. The hummus and babba ganoush is divine. I'm a total meat eater but could totally live off that stuff. Wonderful!
(4)Jenny H.
Wow, this place is amazing! Came here last night because I was super craving some mediterranean goodies. I like the ambiance of this place. It's dimmed, the music goes perfectly with the theme, and the staff was great. I ordered the garlic lemon chicken and my date the prawns kebob. It was yummy! They give you so much food too! They're fries are also very good too! I will be coming back whenever I have my cravings for mediterranean food.
(4)Gabriella G.
The Mezza Tray and the Salmon Kabobs were delicious and plenty for two people. Highly recommend this place!
(4)Vyom N.
great place for dinner, especially on Saturday. This is the 2nd time I visited them and this time I took my parents there since they were visiting for the weekend. We went on Saturday around 7:30pm, when their belly dancing starts and a casual dinner turned out to be a really fun event. Definitely worth a visit on saturdays, however I wish they did that more often.
(5)Annette H.
This is my favorite restaurant. The food is always good. The ambiance is relaxed and cozy.
(5)Tiffany S.
The food was delicious and they give you lots. I ordered the gyro shawarma and it comes with soup. The red lentil soup the waiter recommended was delicious. After eating the soup and shared appetizer platter, I could only fit a bit of my entree. The bread also comes warm, fresh out of the oven. So lovely. Service was impeccable. Our waiter was super nice to our large party even though large parties have guaranteed gratuity amounts already included in the bill. Other wait staff was great as well. I needed a water refill and made eye contact with another waiter, and after he glanced at out table he correctly diagnosed the issue. He just came right over to fill water. Didn't even need to ask him.
(4)Kathy C.
This place was just a-ok..it might have been because we were kind of full when we went. Nonetheless it wasn't as good as Mediterranean kitchen in bellevue. Their mezza tray was like half the size n just not as good. That was enough to judge as 3 stars. Probably wont return.
(3)Stephen E.
I wish I could get food like this at home!! A group of us ate there on a recent business trip. The food was amazing. I really enjoyed the Falafel plate while my wife loved the Lamb Ouzi. We got a couple of Baklawa's to go and they were a great late night dessert in the hotel room. Roberto took great care of us and we will definitely make this a must dine stop whenever we make it to Seattle.
(5)Ken D.
I seldom get up to Seattle, and specifically sought out a Mediterranean restaurant because we don't have a good one in Olympia. Totally blown away. The food was great, the atmosphere was cozy and pleasant, and the service excellent. Enjoyed the labneh so much I learned to make it myself at home. Everything rocked. Couple of up thumbs! My daughter approved this post.
(5)Lori M.
I love this place. It's a couple of blocks from home and never disappoints. Once we came for dinner by as they were closing, and the hostess said they were closed.. Disappointed, we headed out the door. The owner came rushing out the alley door, stopped us, and assured us it wasn't too late to have dinner. We had a marvelous meal, and didn't feel rushed. Portions are generous. Food incredibly tasty. Consistently great.
(5)Marcia H.
One of the best restaurants in Seattle and I rarely review anything on Yelp but I feel the need to tell people how good the food tastes here! I cook a lot at home for fun, so I can recognize real cooking and quality ingredients and trust me, at least 50% of restaurants don't really cook or blend their own spices . Petra's actually cooks their food with quality ingredients with a nice balance of herbs and spices. The whole menu tastes good so no matter what you order you will like it. They have great vegan options too. Just FYI, they are not open all day so check their lunch and dinner hours. Also, the place is a little small so they get crowded sometimes so call them to check if they take reservations.
(5)Jim H.
Surprised there was no wait last night on a Friday night. Got seated right away and had some delicious hummus with warm pitas. Soup was just ok, salad was pretty good. I had the ouzi with lamb and it was very good. Wife had chicken kabob and liked it but thought the ouzi was better. I agreed after tasting. Also shared the baklava sampler for dessert. They were all pretty good but the regular baklava was warm and by far the best. Would definitely make another trip to this place! Drinks looked a little on the high side, but that's Belltown for you I guess. They looked a lot cheaper during happy hour though so I'd try it then if I want to have some drinks with dinner.
(4)Suzann S.
I am a falafel fool and had seen great Yelp reviews on this one. I also run by it on my frequent morning runs. I called in a to go order for a Shwarma and a side of falafel. Both were just kind of meh, compared to the stuff I get in San Francisco. Fafafel was kind of soggy (like it had been sitting a while), not crispy on the outside like it should be. There has to be some better Mediterranean in Seattle.
(2)Marisa K.
Great food, great service! I had the lemon garlic chicken and I swear it was better than the food I had in Greece! The chicken was so flavorful and the sauce had a great tang to it. I could see someone possibly overwhelmed by the amount of lemon/garlic but for me it was great. Rice was also awesome but definitely was butter-rich, not that I'm complaining. It came with a salad appetizer but it would have been great to have the salad with the meal as some cooling bites of lettuce and vinaigrette would have helped cut the richness of the rice and chicken. Really incredible meal though! Try the tamer hind drink too!
(5)Ariela K.
From my limited experience with Mediterranean food in Seattle, Petra seems like a pretty decent option when it comes to the basics. The mezza platter is kind of ridiculous -- an absurd amount of food for $15, including hummus, labne, babaganoush, falafel, dolmades, and some greens, all covered in a garlic-lemon-tahini. It was enough food to fill up my party of four and leave us moaning when the entrees came out. The Petra Chicken Salad was fine, but overpowered by the aforementioned garlic-lemon-tahini sauce (I believe this is their signature sauce, and thus covers many of their dishes). Chicken was a little dry, but the spice rub gave a welcome punch of flavor through the dressing. Overall fine, but forgettable. My dining partners gave mixed reviews, and we all agreed that the apps are where it's at. I will definitely be back, but most likely to gorge on the mezza alone. What Petra lacks in sophistication, it makes up for in volume and price (and some friendly service). I don't usually choose my restaurants based on portion size and wallet value,* but Petra does well for what it is. -- * or I'd be at the Olive Garden for salad and breadsticks every night...
(3)Nina A.
Yum! food was like crack. devoured my leftovers that same night i took it home!
(5)Priscilla L.
Horrible service! I placed an order to go for a gyro. And when i got there they guy brought me kabobs instead. I told him i ordered a gyro and he was arguing w me that i ordered kabobs instead. Boy was i angry! He didn't offer to fix my order or anything. Just argued w me and insisted that I ordered wrong in front of other patrons. Even my coworker who heard me put in the order said i ordered a gyro. 0 stars for service and two stars for the food. The customer (me) is always right :) He should learn that golden rule.
(2)Nick P.
Best lamb kabob I've had yet. Grilled and seasoned to perfection. The service was just as good as the food. Highly recommend!
(5)Steve N.
I stumbled on this place while wandering around one evening on my first trip to Seattle. What a great find. I got the vegetarian platter and had a hugely satisfying meal. My server was also super friendly and attentive and made the experience even more enjoyable. I also loved the simple and understated middle-eastern design & music in the background.
(5)John M.
What a lovely dining experience. Hummus with lamb and the labne...yum! We even had an arguing couple next to us and that couldn't detract from the wonderful food and service. Well done!
(5)Brett L.
Fantastic food. Reasonable price for downtown. Friendly waitstaff. I recommend to anyone, especially if you can go during the week when it's not busy.
(5)Caleb D.
Friendly service, AMAZING food, and a wonderful atmosphere! I came here with my girlfriend on a date night, and it was one of our best dates ever. It was raining heavy that night, so to walk into a small, warm restaurant was a great start. We had a reservation, so our wait time was non-existent. Once we were seated, the servers were prompt and helpful in anything that we had questions on (drink and soup recommendations). We split a hummus plate with warm pita, which was delightful. I had a brown lentil soup (good, with just a touch of cinnamon spice) and my girlfriend had a green lentil soup (very good, kind of like split pea). Then the main course: I chose the gyro shawarma, and I can't even remember what my girlfriend had (I think chicken curry?) because the shawarma was SO good that I couldn't focus on anything else. The meat was so tender that I could break it apart using my tongue and the roof of my mouth, and it was spiced perfectly. In conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend this to anybody looking for good food, helpful waitstaff and an intimate setting. Not sure how it would handle larger groups, but if you have 6 or less, it should be just fine. Prices were in the $10-20 range for most items, so a good deal for those looking to manage their budget.
(5)Hailey W.
Went here on an anniversary date with my guy and it was definitely a nice little place that I would highly suggest. The food was five star quality and absolutely delicious. The Petra calamari was tender and easily some of the better calamari I've had. The hummus was an equal adversary of hummus I've had at my friend's Arabic family reunions. The gyro shawarma was very tender and enticingly flavorful, making it one of my favorite dishes. And finally the baklava was bar none, the best baklava I've ever had and you'll definitely miss out if you don't save at least some room for dessert. As for the atmosphere and restaurant itself, it was a little on the small side so I would recommend making a reservation. The atmosphere was cozy and chic while the waiters were warm and friendly. My only major issue with this place is that upon having to use the restroom, you'll be embarking on a random journey down a hall away from the restaurant itself. But all in all this is a must stop for anyone wanting a great bite to eat in a cozy and welcoming restaurant.
(4)K M.
Start your meal with the Baba Ghanouje and end it with the Baklawa. Whatever you order in between is up to you. One of the best meals my family has ever had! Wish I had this restaurant in our little town. They would get sick of seeing my face. Don't know what else to say I could say. Maybe, "Last Supper" if I ever needed to make that choice.
(5)Yumiko K.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this restaurant on Friday. It was busy, but not too packed. We were greeted and seated right away. We decided to order a shish kebab combo and falafal (appetizer) and a side order of spanakopita. The combo came with a nice and refreshing salad and lentil soup, which we devoured. They split the soup for us to share without charging a fee, which I thought was pretty nice. I really liked the spanakopita. It wasn't as crispy as I wanted it to be, but it was still tasty. The combo dish had soooo much food. In fact, I think we were pretty stuffed after falafal, salad, soup, and spanakopita, but we ate most of the combo dish (because being full doesn't stop us from eating continuously...) Our server was friendly and didn't hover over us, which is a plus!
(4)L C.
This place is amazing! Several vegetarian options, which are all delicious! The Falafel & Hummus are my fav.
(5)Kate S.
I still tasted garlic after brushing my teeth. I still tasted it after using scope... Good hell, what sort of mutant garlic was in my lamb Ouzi that was taking over my breath? If I had a hot date i'd know for sure where the evening wasn't going to head... This place is good, not great. I think my tamarind martini was the highlight of the meal, which is sad considering it was gone far too quickly and I was left with plenty yogurt topped, garlic infused, Mediterranean food-stuffs. My lentil soup was pretty good-- lemon infused and very cumin-y. The spanikopita was ok -- a bit soggy and not enough feta in my opinion. My ouzi was tasty but the more I ate the more overwhelming the garlic became. You get very large portions, and I have to say my dog was very interested in my strong smelling take-out box. The service is fast, and my particular waiter very soft spoken and brief. Made for a little bit of an awkward table-side manner, though he was friendly and made sure to ask my how I liked my drink. The waiters on a whole seem to give you your space which is fine for a place like this -- cute candle lit decor that might be sort of romantic if your meal didn't leave you needing 27 after dinner mints.
(3)Leann U.
I highly recommend reservations as the restaurant is small. On the Saturday evening there was a belly dance. I don't know how good the gal was, but I enjoyed the unexpected dinner entertainment. The food here is primarily influenced by the flavors of Morocco and the Eastern Mediterranean. We started with an ordered of Dolmathes a beer, and a Tamarind cocktail. My dinner companion ordered a house salad and I had the Red Lentil soup. The salad was beautiful and the house dressing was lovely. The Red Lentil soup was delicious; I would definitely order it again. For entrees, I we had the Spanakopita and Lamb Ouzi. Both are served on a bed of seasoned lemon rice. The lamb was tender, mild and seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices. For desert we order a Cashew and a Walnut Baklava and a cup of Oregano Mint tea. It was brilliant finish to meal. The only thing I didn't care for was how everything was drizzled with a yogurt dressing. I know yogurt is frequently served in Mediterranean food, but I would have preferred it served as a condiment on the side.
(4)Anjali S.
I was in Seattle recently and was meeting up with some friends for dinner. I hadn't seen one friend in over 8 years and we were really excited to be catching up, so we were a lot more chatty and paying very little attention to the menu. Our wonderful waiter was not only attentive to our needs, but not once during the 3.5 hours we sat there did he try to rush us or send us packing out the door. Did I mention that 2 members of our party were very late (they are doctors, so we forgive them)...so SERVICE = 6 STARS Now the food; everything we had was delish! But I would be remiss if I didn't mention the foul in particular. It was DEVINE! In addition we had the Lamb Shwarma, Falafel platter (great flavors but a little dry for me) and the grape leaves. We also tried the tamarind drink and the mint tea which was lovely. I know my (local) friends will be going back...and if I'm ever in Seattle again, I'll be there too
(5)Wickerlady V.
Over the past 10 months we have lived in Belltown. Petra has become our most favorite place to go. We have dined in, done take out and got home delivery, with great results. Their menu is great, their food even awesome, and the service is the best. I love it that they have a good vegetarian menu- I usually take the veggie platter or make a meal out of their baba ghanoush appetizer by ordering a few extra pitas. Their baba ghanoush is something that I haven't tasted better. The spices they use on the salad and rice are flavorful. The lentil soup is filling and tasty. My only gripe is that they are closed on sundays. Otherwise, I have always had a comfortable experience at Petra, with their warm ambience and great food.
(5)Amelia B.
This is my new favorite Mediterrean spot in Seattle. Not only is the food to die for, the waitstaff is amazing. My boyfriend and I had the BEST meal, and the BEST waitress. Even the busser filling our water was warm and engaging. We popped in here later Saturday evening, and were greetly promptly and warmly. The ambience is perfect--not ostentatious, very chill. We started with the hummus and a bottle of red wine--the wine was reasonably priced and the hummus was probably the best I've had in Seattle. Other reviewers have been commenting on the poor salads--really? Who cares about salads at a place like this? The prawn shish kabob was perfectly spiced, and so flavorful. Absolutely incredible. Portions are large, and not only did our waitress box up my entree, she also boxed up the hummus we didn't finish. To top it all off, we somehow forgot our leftovers on the table--our server came RUNNING after us after we left the restaurant to give them to us (in the nasty cold & rain!). You can't top service like that--I was thoroughly impressed, and will definitely be back time and time again.
(5)Jason D.
Best Medditerranean in Seattle!
(5)Whitney P.
Attentive service and great-tasting food. Would recommend for more intimate occasions. Well balanced dishes with delicious house-made pita bread, nothing greasy like with the usual Mediterranean restaurants in Seattle. Would return!
(4)Suraj S.
Stumbled in on a whim during my visit to Seattle. Tiny place with big flavor. I got the Veggie Shish Kabobs for take out. Didnt expect so much food! The staff was friendly and helpful when it came to answering questions about the menu items. I'll be paying another visit next time I'm in the area.
(4)Derek O.
My wife and I were going to split plates. It didn't work out so well. We ended up ordering two very different plates. She ordered the Mediterranean Prawns. I was surprised that she didn't lick the plate. She is usually a pretty light eater but this time.... I had the Ouzi and thought I had gone to heaven. The appetizer, entree, and desert were all well worth the price. It ranks with on of the top ten meals in my adult life.
(5)Anca S.
I suppose I'd better finally write a review, since I am the Yelp Duchess of Petra. Oh, before I begin I will note that they very recently changed their pita (which was good) and now it is fluffy and fantastic (and still served hot, of course). Lentil soup (well, there are technically two) is great and unlike any other lentil soup eaten anywhere else. Although to be honest, lately it's lost its luster for me -- might've finally reached my lifetime lentil soup quota. The house salad deserves mention for not being the standard lackluster restaurant house salad. The hummus is good and baba ghanouje tastes great, though a little richer than how mom makes it and prone to lead to a stomachache if I overindulge (almost always). The dolmathes here are skippable; I can't quite figure out what's wrong with them, but they pale in comparison to the ones Trader Joe's sold at one point. The falafel are decent, a little dry perhaps, and not as amazing as at Zaina. On to the (vegan-friendly) entrees...let's start with a shout-out to the new menu items (labeled "Petra Specialties"). The Veggie Royale holds a special place in my heart and belly. Also, gotta say I really like the yellow rice in all their entrees. Why does it need to be so oily? So your tongue gets addicted, duh. The Veggie Shawarma is another good option, especially if you don't have the guts to tell your mom you ate fried cauliflower (the Royale) for dinner. And if you like kalamata olives (salty goodness) or if you're not sure, this is the place to get a side of them. (Watch out for the pits.)
(4)Jacqui E.
Went here for dinner as the Greek restaurant closer to my hotel was closed both nights I tried to go. This was well worth the visit. Having spent a lot of time in Greece This was so authentic. The Babagnoush was as geodes any I have had while living in the Midle East. The the lamb main dish was cooked perfectly. Next time I am in SEatlle will go again
(5)M L.
I had the house soup and the Petra Spice Chicken. The soup was delicious, lots of flavor. The Chicken very tender, set on a bed of delicious rice. It was a little bit expensive for the portion though. The atmosphere was just okay. I would prefer a better lit room, since I had trouble reading the menu.
(4)Winnie T.
LOVED this place. Came here with some co-workers and we shared a variety of plates, family style. The tabouleh salad was fresh and delightful. The steak kabob plate had the best buttery rice, ever. The roasted cauliflower dish was so different and tasty. The mezza sampler plate was fantastic- huuuuge portion of a variety of delicious mediterrenean appetizers. Prices were great- we ended up paying $10 (including tax and a generous tip) each. Not bad !
(5)Ce Y.
The food was good and the service was wonderful, but they broke a cardinal rule on the food and I had to downgrade to 3 stars. Came on a late lunch with my baby girl. simply got the lamb kabob. YES I ORDERED A LAMB KABOB!!!! but what came was 4 smallish flatted grilled pieces of tasty lamb morsels on a plate of chicken stock flavored rice which was a bit on the salty side and a VEGGIE KABOB only. WHERE WAS MY JUICY SQUARED CHUNKS OF MEDIUM RARE GRILLED LAMB THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON A STICK???? I felt cheated - I am still craving for a real lamb kabob since that tragic afternoon!
(3)Rachel K.
My GF and I went to this little gem of a place while we were in Seattle recently, and it was absolutely amazing. The staff was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was nice, and the food was AMAZING. I had the shish tawook, she had the Taste of Africa. Both meals came with a salad course beforehand (soup was also an option, though we both had salad) - the salads were nice and big, a really nice mix of fresh greens (rather than the just romaine or ~shudder~ iceberg you get some places), tomatoes, sweet onions, all really fresh, and a nice house vinaigrette - I'm not sure what exactly it was seasoned with, but whatever it was was fantastic. The main course was even better. Huge plates, very attractive presentation, and that's before even taking the first bite. Both meals were served over a bed of yellow rice, very flavorful, very nicely prepared, a great compliment to the rest of the dish. The lemon garlic chicken was amazing, the white garlic sauce it was drizzled with was strong enough to lend the meat some great flavor, without overpowering the lemon the chicken had been marinated with. I didn't get to try the gf's Taste of Africa dish, but according to her it was also amazing - seasoned chicken breast with lightly charbroiled vegetables, topped with the same white garlic sauce. Both plates were big enough to easily fill up most anybody (I only made it halfway through mine and took the rest home - and yeah, it was still amazing reheated the next day). We decided to finish the evening off by splitting a walnut baklawa for dessert. The presentation was just as attractive as the rest of the food had been, and they even cut it in half for us before the waitress brought it out, and she brought two forks, too - more bonus points for the service, the little touches matter! This cozy little place is definitely going on our list for the next time we're back in the Emerald City.
(5)Kyel W.
Excellent! Very spiced and rich. The Tamer Hind tea is amazing, and mixed excellently with the flavors from the kebab. The meats all tasted spiced the same, but it was fantastic, so I didn't mind!
(4)Luca T.
It was my first time in a restaurant like Petra. I had a great experience with this cuisine... well a lot of garlic everywhere, but I guess this is their tradition because the food overall was tasty and well cooked. I liked the atmosphere e the service was superb, fast and efficient. Very great place to go!
(4)Juanita C.
The appetizers were delicious, the tamarind drink was really delicious, soup great, hummus and pita amazing, service was very friendly...entrees were just ok.
(4)Tri H.
On the eastside - I would go to Med Kitchen. On the westside - I would go to Petra Mediterranean Bistro If you had to pick, I would go to Med Kitchen. With that said you won't be disappointed at either place. The food at both places is FANTASTIC! The edge going to Med for rice and hummus.
(5)Cheri H.
Delicious Mediterranean food--the best I've had in Seattle. I LOVE the hummus, the Mezza tray, and the Shawarmas plates, and my husband loves the shish kabobs. Wonderful food! The service is efficient and friendly, and the atmosphere is very nice. The lunch menu is a bargain (for Seattle at least!). The dinner menu jumps in price quite a bit but is still affordable.
(5)Sonya G.
I recently went back for lunch with a friend, and while I was still very happy with the experience, I'm forced to demote from my previous 5-star review. It didn't seem like the kitchen put any thought into timing our dishes, as our entrees came out awfully fast after the salads. With an appetizer, drinks, and our already small table, this quickly became an awkward game of plate tetris. Not to mention, we just weren't ready for that course yet. Overall, still good food and consistently wonderful waitstaff.
(4)Jennily D.
This place is heaven to us with gluten allergies. We always get the salad with our entrees, and they are always very fresh with a very tasty garlicy vinagrette-mmmmm! My boyfriend has gotten the falafels, which are amazing when they're just served- warm, a bit crispy, and served over flavored rice and garlic sauce. Oh yes, I'm a garlic lover. I would get the veggie kabobs over their should-be-famous rice. The portions are always generous, so we're thrilled to have tasty leftovers the next day. Nice ambience, with the decor and the dim lighting. We've never had a wait, yet it's not NOT busy either. Service has been very attentive and we've never had a complaint.
(5)Robyn P.
Hard as I tried, I just couldn't put my fork down. We started off with Petra fries and a plate of dolmades. Garlic ketchup and feta on the former: delicious; mushy, unrecognizable rice mixture in the latter: not what I was expecting. Skip these and try the ones at Lola's instead. Because I ate way too much of the appetizers, I wasn't hungry enough to eat a whole entree for dinner. So I order the Hummus Royale with lamb and stole a few bites of my bf's lemon garlic chicken. The hummus ended up being as big as an entree, which worked out because it made awesome leftovers. It was creamy, nutty, and fragrant, and the grilled bits of lamb put it over the top. My bf's lemon garlic chicken is officially my current favorite dish on the planet. The chicken was fork-tender and juicy, and infused with lemon flavor without being overly sour. Same with the rice. YUM. The whole thing was drizzled liberally with a creamy garlic sauce that I think would make just about anything taste better ... kind of like bacon! After inhaling half the hummus, I was super stuffed. But the baklava beckoned, and I figured it would be a crying shame not to order it. I was right! Crunchy layers of phyllo + a not-too-sweet walnut filling + a sprinkling of crushed pistachios = best baklava ever. Glad I made the room! And even more glad that I finally made it over to Petra. The food was awesome, the service was great, and the portions were unbelievably generous. The menu offers a ton of options for vegetarians and carnivores alike, so come hungry, or come often. I plan on doing both!
(5)Akshaya M.
My fail safe mediterranean in seattle :) well, not the best I have had - but has some amazing hummus & baba ghanoush. I also love their kabob platters and the options for vegetreians are flattering. I have so had better mediterranean food, but definitely a decent option to check out. resrevations recommended on weekends, they get rpetty busy with belly dancing shows and such. Their cashewnut baklava,is to die for. Andm I do not have a sweet tooth ;)
(3)Mary O.
I love love love this place. The food and service are both top notch. I've never had a problem getting in without a reservation and take all out-of-town guests here. The hummus is an absolute must -- I've never had better hummus anywhere. I also love the gyro shawarma, lemon chicken, lentil soup and veggie royale. They have tons of great, flavorful options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I have nothing but love for Petra. Nice portions too!
(5)Eric M.
Petra is a walkable distance from my office and I've been going there for lunch lately. The food is awesome! I don't know what they do to get their chicken as tasty and moist as it is, but I'm a fan and I'm starting to ask for the seating near the kitchen door so I can peek at the chef and spy what he's doing to the chicken! I've had the lemon garlic and the spicy versions, both are excellent served with a rice pilaf that has a swirl of "secret sauce" (more garlic I think) on top. If you don't like garlic, maybe you shouldn't order that one. I plan to go back for dinner and check out all the other offerings. The service was attentive and the decor was, well, "homey", and I can live with that given the high quality food.
(4)Javi V.
Absolutely great. The best ribs that I had in my life. Soft and full of flavor, I don't remember biting them. The hummus is very good, and believe me I know about hummus (My girlfriend is middle eastern). The place has tons of space so you have your own private setting when going for a date. I recommend it for that, a great date. Also for groups celebrating for the same reason, the space. Don't miss it.
(5)Kitty C.
I love the Garlic Lemon Chicken salad and plate. I work on 2nd and Wall and call in my order. Never an issue never disappointed - which says a lot. Also - their lentil soups are quite fantastic. The ambiance is good, the wait staff are friendly and professional, and their prices are decent. My hubby and I like to come in for dinner as well. The prices are a little steep for a quick Tuesday dinner grab, but the food it worth it. It's exactly what Belltown needed.
(5)Roy W.
This is the best Mediterranean food in town, definitely. The atmosphere and ambiance of the place is absolutely top notch as is the service. In fact, if you'd like to know exactly what excellent service should be, go there and you'll find out. I had the Gyro Shwarma which was excellent, but the soups were great too especially the lentil. Be sure and try the tamarind drink, tamar ..something. It's delicious. Also their salads have a house vinaigrette dressing (actually freshly made by them) that's incredible too.
(5)David Y.
The interior is rather comfortable in a somewhat dim and nondescript way; at least that's the case when a server isn't bumping into you as she tries to flit between the too-close tables to fill water or take a plate. Sure, the ambiance is nothing to write home about, but it's overall positive. The food, however, is a completely different story. "Fresh," "vibrant," and "without a doubt worth every penny" were just a few of the thoughts that crossed my mind at Petra. If the difference between a place that makes fresh food and a place that buys pre-made or frozen is like day and night, then eating at Petra is like sunning yourself on a Caribbean beach. It doesn't get any fresher than this regardless of a restaurant's price. The lentil soup popped with cumin-scented flavor, the rice was perfectly toothsome in that way that reminds one how overcooked it is at the typical restaurant, and the Mediterranean shrimp were beautifully seasoned. I finished the night off with a piece of baklava and instantly and deeply regretted not having made it two pieces. Or even three. I spent a few years near Dearborn and have tasted some great Mediterranean fare. I'd put this up against any of them and walk away happy. If you're reading this and haven't been, you should go. And I mean soon, because they're bound to realize sooner than later that they can probably charge a bit more than this in Seattle.
(5)Casai D.
Such delicious food! I'm a falafel snob, and I love mediterranean food. Their falafel is fantastic! Flavorful and perfectly crispy on the outside. The rest of their food is amazingly spiced as well. The belly dancing they have at 7:30 on Saturdays is great as well. The dancer just dances down the aisles between the tables, and it's tastefully done, and she's very good. If you want delicious mediterranean, go here!
(5)Alice L.
This little bistro is a pleasant find in Belltown. Came here for dinner with a group of 8, the atmosphere and service here are superb. Loved the lentil soup! Definitely get this instead of the salad. The Petra Wings is surprisingly big for an appetizer, flavorful and juicy meat. I got the Gryo Shawarma, it's good but so-so compare to Mediterranean Kitchen or Garlic Crush, not too much flavor here, but the meat is very tender. Also had a taste of the Lamb Shawarma, and have to say it meat very well marinated, much better than the Gryo. Dinner pricing wise this place is couple dollars less than Mediterranean Kitchen, but the portions are also smaller. For eastsiders like me I'll still prefer to go to MK and GC for a quick craving fix (parking is also easier =p). Next I want to try their Mezza trays, more variety is always better!
(4)Milan R.
I think the best thing there is the fries with garlic ketchup. Also liked the Garlic Chicken dish (shish tahwook?).
(4)Stephen R.
Salmon was overdone, but gyro meat was nice and tender. More details to follow...
(3)Dan M.
GREAT Mediterranean food, highly recommended!
(5)Alexa H.
Food was delicious here! Some of the best I have had in Seattle.
(5)Arun S.
Petra has the best Mediterranean food I have ever had. I have been there for lunch and dinner but we usually get takeout since it is only a few blocks from where we live. They have some great appetizers, including their hummus, which is amazing. So smooth and flavorful that you just can't stop eating it. It can be shared between 2-4 people and is a MUST. Their entrees come with a choice of salad or lentil soup. I have never had the salads but the soups are great. I am not much of a soup guy, but the lentil soup has a bit of citrus and is just great. They have a range of entrees, must of which include rice with either meat or veggies with garlic/tahini-type sauces. They are large and can be shared by two people. Their meats are well flavored and seem authentic. Overall, this is a great place with a friendly staff. They are prompt when we do takeout. They are also very nice and professional when we eat there.
(5)Juliette M.
Lovely food - great Greek salad and shish kabobs. Great staff and very euro ambiance. Will return next time I'm in the area.
(4)Helen Y.
The food was delicious although maybe a bit on the smaller portion size considering the price for the ouzi entree. We also had the falafel which was yummy! We didn't expect a belly dancer so that was a fun surprise. The music was super loud when she was dancing but went back to normal once she was done. Nice ambiance and service so we'd definitely go back. :)
(4)Kristin B.
I thought Petra was great - the food was so tasty and at a great price. I got some dinner special that included an app of my choice, soup, salad, any entree and dessert. The falafel is yummy and so is the Taste of Africa -yum!! I ran out of room or would have eaten it all. My only tiny gripe is that the tables are all kinda close so our dinner lacked that overall intimate feel, but Petra is def work checking out anyway!
(4)Diana C.
Went for a late lunch and was seated right away. The waiter was nice but was very shaky. The place is a decent size and nicely decorated. The food is pretty good and they offer soup or salad, they both tasted very good. The portions are a bit small (I would say 1/2 to 1/3 the size of Med Kit/Garlic Crush). I would rather go to Med Kit or Garlic Crush, but if I'm craving Mediterranean food and I'm at work, I will definitely hit this place up again. :) Prices are also not bad. They also have turkish coffee and strange looking but yummy baklava.
(3)Shafaq C.
Right around the corner from where I was staying, my sister and I decided to hit Petra for dinner one day. Delicious! Good portions, tasty food. Wasn't crazy about the lentil soup, but the food was tasty. The hot sauces were all yum! We had the chicken and kafta skewers, both a hit. Price was a bit higher than expected though... Looking for mediterranean in Belltown? Give Petra a try!
(4)Brent V.
I love this restaurant. The service is polite and friendly, and the food is exceptional. They make the best tasting, freshest Mediterranean food I've ever eaten. Everything I've eaten here has been extremely fresh and flavorful, with one exception; one time the pita bread was a little on the stale side, but that's forgivable considering the fact that it's been perfect the other 15 or so times I've ordered it from here. I usually order the mezza tray, and have never been anything but extremely impressed with the taste and freshness of the food (aside from the aforementioned pita). It's also an excellent value since a dinner-sized mezza tray can easily fill up two hungry people and it only costs $14.95. The only thing that I don't love about this restaurant is the fact that the wraps are a little on the small side, but excellent nonetheless. The gyro wrap is a little smaller than I would like for the price, but it's passable. However, the shawarma wrap is so small that it doesn't really fill me up. If you're looking to fill up at lunch, I recommend the entrees or the mezza tray, which is so filling that I once ate an entire lunch tray and ended up wishing I had saved about half of it for later. And I can eat quite a bit when I'm hungry. Not as much as competitive eaters, mind you, but I digress. The wraps are excellent, however, so don't let the size put you off trying them; just be warned that you might want to add an appetizer like the regular hummus in order to make it a meal. This place is packed during the lunch and dinner rush and dead in-between them. If you plan to sit down and eat during the lunch or dinner rush, I strongly recommend reservations. There have been a couple times when I went in there to pick up my to-go order during the height of the lunch rush and have seen people (usually 2-4) waiting for a table to free up. The bottom line is that this place isn't perfect (but nothing in this world is, so you can't fault them for it), but it's as close as it can possibly get without officially earning a Michelin star. It deserves one, though.
(5)J K.
Who would've thought that a Mediterranean joint would make an awesome burger? Not me. They have a very tasty humus burger. Get it! You won't regret it.
(4)Kristen C.
We have been to this place twice now in the last few months and have been super impressed. When we were there for lunch, the place was moderately busy and when we were there for dinner on a Saturday night, the place was packed. The hostess was very attentive and kept us posted on when a table would open up for us, which turned out to be about 15 minutes. Next time we will make a reservation, but depending on the night, you can still probably get in without a long wait. Both times, our servers were very attentive and friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy working there. But now for the most important part..the food! It was, in a word, AMAZING. Our group included two meat eaters, a vegetarian, and a vegan and the menu had plenty of options for all of us. I have had the veggie shwarma both times and it was super flavorful. I also tried the lentil soup, baba ganoush, and fries with garlic ketchup. Everything was SO good. For dessert we had Turkish coffee and baklava. I loved the Turkish coffee. The baklava seemed a little dry and I wish it would have had more honey. But that is my only complaint and since the rest of the food and the service exceeded expectations, they still deserve 5 stars. We definitely plan on coming back here again very soon.
(5)Ashley W.
Went during lunch time and ordered the babaganoush, falafel and combo kebabs. Yum. I abandoned the pita (which were good) and ate the babaganoush with a spoon. It was delish. The rice served with the kebabs was super flavorful and complemented the tender meat. falafel was a bit dry and service was pretty decent. Good prices.
(4)Wendy M.
the lentil soup is very good. The food is so yummy. I had the chicken schwarma and the beef shish kebab. Love the spices they use - very fragrant. Hubby prefers the beef shish kebabs at Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue but they still are really tasty at Petras.
(4)Joe C.
Excellent! It was great we ate an all vegetarian menu, The appetizer sampler grilled veggies and their petra fries. It was tasty and had great service and warm decor
(5)Misty C.
I entered Petra all by my lonesome ready to try some of the local flare at an hour I can afford. I exited the chilly breezy outdoors and entered and warm happy envionment. Rather than be escorted to the corner, the host sat me in the heart of the restaurant and seated me "at the king's table". I appreciate not being hidden just because I am flying solo. I asked for a recommendation between two dishes and my server was very helpful. I ordered the lamb shawarma. I receive my salad so fast I didn't know what to do! It was made to perfection exactly as I asked. The lettuce was so tender and good. I ordered a side of baba ganoush. It was very interesting. It had a very, like, smokey flavor. It almost tasted like there was meat or something in it. It was good, just different than what I'm used to. Then came my shawarma. Oh man it was beautiful to behold. So many pretty colors from the meat peppers and spices highlighted by the yellow rice. There was some yummy sauce drizzled over it. The flavor, again, was fantastic. The lamb was tender and rich. The only reason I give 4 instead of 5 stars is for price. The lunch price is reasonable, and I understand its a bistro, but for $10 I would expect just a bit more meat. If there had even just been one more ounce the whole dish would have been perfect.
(4)Amanda F.
This place is fantastic - nice decor, plenty of seating, friendly and responsive waitstaff, located in Belltown. Only downside is the long walk to the sketchy bathrooms shared with other businesses on the block. I had to use napkins because there was no toilet paper. The food was amazing - we loved everything we ordered (hummus & pita, labnie, spanikopita, greek salad, lamb shawarma). Generous portions but the food is fresh and light so you feel good leaving even if you overate. I might ask for slightly less raw onions on the greek salad next time. Will definitely return and recommend to others visiting Seattle.
(4)Altaf R.
love their salmon dish.
(4)Shira W.
My boyfriend and are privelaged enough to live in the apartments above Petra and couldn't be more thrilled! The food here is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. We've visited multiple times and have never had a less than delightful experience. We always get the baba ganoush. It is absolutely exceptional, so creamy and with the right amount of smokeyness as well as a slight acidity. It's heaven with their grilled pita and that plate never leaves the table with a speck on it, I'm not ashamed to admit that i've used my fingers to lick the plate clean. We usually order our entrees from a rotation of favorites but I've yet to have anything I don't like from this place. ALl the entrees come with soup or salad, their lentil soups are so aromatic. They taste like Christmas and the lentils are perfectly tender. I love their house salad too, the dressing is fantastic and had a great acidity with a little bit of spiciness and lots of oregano flavor. The greens are always crisp and gorgeous too. Favorite entrees are the Ouzie which is their fabulous (and sinfully buttery) rice mixed with peas, carrots and ground beef and then topped with grilled chicken breast that has a delicious North African spice blend and is covered with toasted almonds and pine nuts. It's no wonder this is a house specialty. The chicken is so tender and flavorful and I love the sweet pop of peas and carrots with the savoriness of the beef. The shish ta wook or garlic chicken is also fantastic! The garlic cream sauce is so intensely flavored with garlic and lemon. The chicken is perfectly grilled and their delicious, buttery rice helps to keep everything well balanced. My personal favorite dish is the lamb kabob. It's not a traditional kabob, the lamb is served in thin, PERFECTLY seasoned slices. They're juicy and crispy on the edges and come accompianed by a skewer of many of my favorite vegitables that have been grilled and seasoned with their North African seasoning blend. I can't praise this lamb enough and my mouth is honestly watering as I write about it. The only critique I would give their food is that the portions can be a little overwhelming, however I love having leftovers and their prices are very resonable. It's an absolutley charming ambiance and while they have a lovely middle-eastern inspired decor it feels very cozy and familliar. Their staff is friendly and prompt and, while I don't remember her name, we've had the pleasure of having the same waitress on most of our visits and it's some of the most enjoyable service I've encoutered in this city (she's got short brunette hair and a very friendly smile). If you haven't eaten here yet go now and go often! We've been seeing too many newer Belltown restaurants go out of buisness and this place cannot be one of them!
(5)Ken J.
Quaint and delicious. The red lentil soup is very good (large serving as a starter). First time here I had the veggie royal and it was quite good. Good for vegetarians.
(4)Zlata Z.
Amazing new find for me in the heart of Belltown, this place has very romantic setting, great food and belly dancing on Saturdays at 7-8 pm. Be aware, the portions are large so it is the best to order an appetizer (I recommend dolmathes) and split a plate with your dining partner. We've ordered salmon that came on a bed of rice. It was moist and tender and very flavorful as all Mediterranean food should be. Also, I think they have a patio on the second floor. I'll have to check that out come summer.
(4)daniel h.
This is probably one of the better restaurants in Seattle you've never been to because it seems closed but its not. Every time I've passed by this place it has seemed empty, and the time I did eat there we were the only couple (at first.) I don't understand it because the food is fantastic, the staff is really nice, and it's reasonably priced. In addition, it's not Thai food or Pho. The portions here are large and should probably be shared. The meals are also great for taking home and feeding on over a couple of days. My favorites are the greek salad and the chicken shawarma. I hope more people start going here because it would be a shame to loose such a nice restaurant in a city with such limited selection of cuisine.
(4)Rix G.
GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE! What more could you ask for in a Restaurant?! You got to check this place out!
(5)Darius K.
I had lunch here today and was pleasantly surprised to see that they have a very nice lunch menu. Plenty of items, all reasonably priced. I had the gyro wrap with a side of the "petra fries." The fries were pretty good in and of themselves, but they are even tastier with their topping of aioli, feta cheese, and parsley. It's kind of like a mediterranean poutine! The gyro itself was good but not great. However, I'm very picky about my gyros, so that means they're better than most places. Everyone in my party really enjoyed their meals as well, and the server was very nice and joked around with us in a not-creepy way. I'm only in town for a week but I'll consider coming back!
(4)Marisa H.
I come from a town where nobody has ever heard of Mediterranean food, and it has left a hole in my heart. So, as you can imagine, moving to Seattle has been an absolute joy for me. Petra is a stone's throw from my front door, and I couldn't be happier. I've eaten here a couple of times. So far have tried the Mezza plate, which was a HUGE appetizer with baba ganoush, labnie, falafel, hummus, olives and veggies. Everything on it was fan-tas-tic! My husband and I shared this and a Kebab combo, which was chicken, lamb, and kafta (a ground beef/lamb mix). Also very very delicious. And way way too much food. We ended up taking the entire combo plate home and eating it for lunch the next day. The salad that came with the combo had a super garlicky dressing that was a bit overkill. If I ordered the salad again, I'd definitely put the dressing on the side. The second time, I tried the lentil soup - YUMMMO! I can't wait to go back and try more and more on the menu!
(5)Nick S.
Great Mediterranean joint. A little pricy but good.
(4)Leianna Z.
The price, service, and the food are all great!! The only complain is the all 4 dishes my husband and i ordered, are all sooooo garlicky so that hard to go out to meet and talk with anyone afterwards.:) But absolutely a good restaurant to try!!
(4)Valerie L.
Petra's is a cozy, Mediterranean bistro located in Belltown off of 4th Avenue and Wall Street. There are a few Mediterranean restaurants in the area, but this is one I frequent more often than the others, because the food is consistently good, service is great, and the overall value for what you get is superb. On average the main entrée is about $15, which comes with a choice of red lentil soup, or salad. I normally order one of their many kabob plates and opt for the salad where I like the tangy garlic dressing. Just beware if you're planning to hit up a bar afterwards and socialize you may just want to order soup instead, because the garlic becomes your companion for a few hours after. The kabob plates come with a bed or rice, which is very flavorful and a great compliment to your meal so you definitely won't leave this place hungry. BTW, I've altered between the combo kabob, beef, and chicken plates where I've found all are equally good. As for atmosphere, it's always intimately dark and from the outside it may look closed, but it's not. It's looks a little fancy with the candle light lighting, but it's not. In fact, I haven't found any place in Seattle that you can't just walk in casually dressed. In fact, even at El Gaucho's where you pay $60 for a steak, I've seen people walk in wearing sneakers and it's fine. At Petra's there's never a wait, where I think people just don't know about it yet or are more attracted to 1st street since there are more restaurants and bars. There's some street parking but not a lot so I'd advice circling a bit before you settle to pay for parking, or you can take a bus where there's a stop right across the street. They can accommodate large parties but not too many where it may get a bit crowded since the place is kind of small, but not too small where you feel like you're sharing the table with folks next to you. Overall, great food for a good value.
(4)tom h.
I've never ordered a Greek burger before; I expected perhaps a mixture of beef and lamb akin to gyro meat served on a bun instead of pita. Unfortunately I was served a pre-shaped and probably pre-frozen unseasoned beef patty. The accompanying (also likely pre-frozen) fries were topped with a rather tasty garlic sauce, parsley and feta. I ordered some tzatziki to try with the burger and fries that tasted of yogurt and not much else. The hummus appetizer was overwhelmed by tahini, but creamy and palatable. I tried some of my companion's salad, and the dressing was really flavorful with a nice balance of oil and acid, the greens crisp. Despite the mediocre food, the staff were friendly and our server was especially attentive.
(2)Cameron M.
My girlfriend and I went to Petra last night and it was a great idea on her part. She lives right across the street from there and we always see this place. I also remember seeing them build the inside during the summer time. So she got the humus and I got the soup of the day (chicken noddle type). And both were really good. But the humus was to die for there!! Best humus on our adventure to find the best humus in the Seattle area! It comes in a pretty huge plate even for 2 people. The humus was so creamy and kind of on the fluffy side. But it wasn't too greasy or anything like that. We even talked to our sever and she told us how they make it. So that was really nice of her to do so!! I would go back there in a heart beat, and I hope many others will go and try some of the food there at Petra.
(4)Conrad C.
I'm almost hesitant to review - my opinion differs so drastically from others' that I feel like I missed something. But anyway the food was just decent. I'm not sure if Mediterranean (a wildly broad term, of course) food is just not prevalent here or what, but this just seemed like pretty good food for a premium price. It wasn't crazy expensive or anything, but too high a price point for the quality.
(3)Vincent V.
You walk into a very clean establishment and with beautiful artisanship around you - nice start. I got turkish coffee - i love its bitter and raw taste, wonderful. and 4 glasses of Tamer Hindi - I never had it before coming here and it's really amazing, I couldn't get enough of it. It is made from the Tamarind tree which the legume is confiscated and mixed with some ingredients to make a culinary masterpiece. Combo Shish Kabob - was absolutely heaven! The lamb was great. My friend got the Mediterranean Prawns, I tried it, I need to order that next time - the african spices were so perfect with the dish. Our waiter was fantastic.
(5)Alex H.
The only thing I didn't like about Petra was all the widows. I like my restaurants dark and cavernous. With all the windows and street traffic passing by it still seems too much like the overpriced burrito joint it replaced. What was it called? Rockin' Burrito? That's just awful. I had the Gyro Salad ($9.95), a big pile of cold, crisp lettuce and lots of vegetables with hot seasoned gyro meat. I really like the hot/cold dynamic, like that McDonald's burger they had in the 80's. "Hot side hot, cold side cold". What was that thing called? McFreshy? Something like that. I just remember it came in that huge Styrofoam container with the bottom bun and meat and cheese in one compartment and the top bun with the vegetables in the other compartment. Then you put it together yourself. Like a model kit. My date had the Veggie Combo ($12.95) which was a heaping sampler of hummus, baba ghanouje, dolmathes and falafel. The baba ghanouje was particularly spicy and good and nothing was over-garlicked, which is hard to find in Mediterranean joints. I also had a glass of the delicious sangria.
(4)Melanie S.
Oh yes. Beautifully appointed interior + good service + very reasonably priced lunch menu + truly delicious faves like garliky hummus with a silky smooth texture and creamy-tart labne made for a delightful, vegetarian-friendly lunch. Even before noon the place was getting busy. The secret's out, it seems....
(5)Janice N.
Hands down one of the best spots to eat in Seattle. I was intrigued based on the previous Yelp reviews and this place definitely did not disappoint. Seriously GET THE HUMMUS!!! My god is it delicious. I also had the lentil soup, lamb shwarma and hibiscus tea. My boyfriend had the beef kabob and both of our plates had generous portions and we could barely move when we were done. Our server was attentive but not nosy and the entire service went smoothly. Next time I'm back Seattle this will be my first stop!
(5)Rooney N.
We ate here for lunch with our kids when we were starving our *&& off! The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Most importantly the food was freaking awesome. The baba ghanouj was of perfect consistency and the soup of the day (lentil and vegetable) was good. The lamb shawarma was OK with the overall flavor emphasizing the vinegar dressing of the cabbage; the lamb was a little over done. The lamb shish kabob was perfect. Definitely give it a shot....
(4)Taylor P.
I love this place! I have been for both lunch and dinner and also done take out a few times as well (why wouldn't you, the food is SO GOOD). Everything I have had is fantastic - down to the dressing on the salad and the soup. If it's your first time I would suggest having the soup with your meal but the salad is good too. I love the lamb shawarma but again, everything I have had is wonderful.
(5)Kari L.
A total circus in my mouth!! Really really great tasting food! My boyfriend, who is particular about his food, gives the hummus a 3, lentil soup a 4, garlic lemon chicken a clear 5- he also made sure to let the waitress know the food was outstanding:) We had a really nice time, with good drinks too, and good service! They even gave my boyfriend what was left over from the drink he ordered (what didn't fit in his glass!). We would definitely eat here again.
(5)Nick B.
The food here is really tasty. I had a Shawarma which is like a gyro only better and not as frustrating to pronounce (is it "GY-ro" or "HE-ro"?). Anyway I just babble Shawama and I get what tastes like awesomeness. The fries that come with it are also amazing although I felt like a Philistine when I asked for some good ole American cat-soup with it. I also had turkish coffee which put some hair on my chest and then burned it right off. That stuff is strong! Service was great, the only reason its not five stars is that I felt the portions were a bit small.
(4)John G.
The reviews don't lie. POW!
(5)Joni P.
I cannot write enough compliments for Petra. We visited over MLK weekend & when we initially called for a Saturday night reservation, they were booked but advised us to call back closer to our desired eating time to check in again. They were able to squeeze in our party of three and the meal was delightful. Everything was just right: friendly staff, excellent and authentic tasting food, perfect ambience & noise level. I heartily recommend it. The owner was very kind and friendly also. Wish we lived closer so we could eat here weekly, but we'll be back whenever we're in town!
(5)Elisha V.
I have yet to order anything at this restaurant that wasn't delicious-- I love garlic!! I've had the veggie, beef, chicken kabobs and falafel as well. The rice is delicious as are the fries with the feta cheese and special ketchup-garlic sauce. I also love the baba ganoosh (sp?) and hummus.
(5)Angela N.
Just when we're about to move out of the area, this charming place appears seemingly out of nowhere across the street. We went here for lunch one early weekday morning; the place was otherwise empty so service was prompt. The hummus appetizer was delicious-- fresh, flavorful, generous amount that went well with the pita. I had the chicken salad, which followed the same suit as the hummus. Fresh vegetables, yummy grilled chicken; unglamorous otherwise, but it left me full and satisfied. My boyfriend got the lamb skewer plate. We were asked by two different waiters how the food was, and the owner even stopped by our table to check on us-- they were all very friendly and attentive. The inside of the restaurant itself is lovely: comfortable booths and chairs, cozy lighting, lots of pretty paintings. I'll definitely be back again to try out the other things on their menu (which also has some Halal entrees, +1).
(4)Kelly K.
I have no idea what took me so long to try this place out. Met a friend for lunch here today and luckily got a table before the lunchtime rush at 12:30. Seating is comfy, service was friendly, and the food was exceptional. I am a hummus garlic kind of gal and the lentil soup followed by a gyros was a perfect combination. My friend got the gyros salad which also looked amazing. Prices are very reasonable. Perfect for a lunch date!
(5)Aubrey A.
dolmathes appetizer. not bad. the typical raw tomato and cucumber slices were not to my taste but I simply ignored it. dolmathes themselves were good along with the dressing. brown lentil soup. good flavors and not too heavy. salmon with garlic sauce on rice. fish a little on the drier side. the garlic sauce was good. large portion. ok atmosphere. music level could be a bit lower (more than ambience). interesting patrons. server kept ringing up the wrong bills for them. future visits maybe, if I have sudden strong cravings for mediterranean food and don't want to walk too far...
(3)Amanda C.
I live and work a block away from Petra, so I always pick up lunch for take out. In fact I'm about to call them for a falafel wrap right now. They also have the best gyros in Seattle, and the best lentil soup I have ever had. It's also in a great location, right on 4th and Wall, so it's away from the busier, clubbier parts of Belltown.
(5)Chris P.
I tried this restaurant for the "Dining Out For Life" event in which they participate (30% of the check is donated to AIDS service organizations). The food was excellent, the staff was very friendly, and the service was excellent. I highly recommend it. There is so much more on the menu I would like to try, so I will definitely be back. I had the Kafta Kabob and it was perfect. Great spices with some grilled veggies on a bed of rice. I can't wait to have it again. I highly recommend the Baklava for dessert. Normally it's not one of my favorite things, but their Baklava is the best. It's not a big pile of sugary syrup like you usually find. You've got to try it.
(5)Carrie S.
I met my husband down by his work for a quick lunch the other day. He brought me here. I enjoyed it immensely. Wonderful food, awesome service, and they didnt try to run us out when we just sat and talked for 20 minutes after we had paid the bill. Will be definitely returning.
(5)Genevieve P.
Well to be honest I was never a fan of mediterranean food, in fact I always said I hated it but my husband loves it and wanted to eat here so bad. So we went and I was surprised. The food was amazing! the seasonings the taste it was all good. None of the food was overbearing on the senses. Good flavor, I know for sure I will be going back there. I enjoyed it and the atmosphere is nice. I have no complaints on this place our waiter was nice, we had great service.
(5)Leah H.
I can't wait until lunch! I've always gotten my food here to go and I always end up wanting to lick the carry out box. That's not to say the portions are small because they are plenty and I'm a glutton for good food. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Allie S.
I discovered this place when I lived in Belltown, my husband and I stumbled upon it when it opened last year. We have been back several times, and we love it! The setting is intimate and romantic, with delicious food (I never knew that rice could have so much flavor!). One of our favorite menu items is the Petra Fries, french fries with feta and garlic tomato sauce...to die for! I haven't had a thing on their menu that I didn't enjoy. On one of our first visits the owner visited our table and introduced himself, he is from Petra (Jordan), and a lot of the decorations in the restaurant he brought from Jordan. Overall Petra is a great local restaurant, and I encourage everyone that enjoys Mediterranean cuisine to check it out! Help keep this little restaurant afloat!
(5)Nola D.
I am crazy in love with their veggie shish kabob! The vegetables are huge (on the dinner portion anyway, the lunch portion may be a little smaller, which is okay, because it's still too much food), and cooked just right. I don't know what the seasoning is that they use, but it's mouth watering. They have probably the best Zahra I've ever had, and their lentil soup is absolutely delicious. Have also tried the veggie Shawarma, which was my first time trying shawarma, and that too, was wonderful. The only thing I haven't been crazy about are the salads. I tried the fatouche the first time I went, and it was okay, but I thought they used too much dressing. The second time I had a regular salad with my entree, and I found the dressing to be too peppery. Too much pepper burns my mouth. At least I think it was pepper, unless it was some spice in the dressing. If you don't mind a little heat, it probably won't bother you. I will probably avoid the salads in the future, or ask for the dressing on the side. If you're trying to decide between the soup and salad option with your entree, I highly encourage you towards the lentil soup. :) The service was great both times, very friendly waitstaff. Can't wait to go back again, and try more dishes.
(5)Mayank M.
I would give this place a 5/5 without even thinking the best medit food ever we had lunch here and decided we will come back before we head back to nyc however these guys were closed on sundays we drove all the way but they were closed. their soup was amazing it couldnt be any better
(5)NicknSelena S.
Would have given 5 stars if we'd gotten more water. Very flavorful dishes, just a little lacking on the service.
(4)Jeff H.
Went to Petra's tonight for the first time. Found it on Yelp and it reminded me of the old Mediterranean kitchen on Queen Anne which I was a 2x month diner for decades until it closed. Oh I missed this place and now found a replacement. Had the shish Tawook which was every bit as good as The Old Med. The Lentil soup and Baba Ganoush were better than the old place so I found my new favorite place.
(5)HK J.
Amazing. I daydream about this place sometimes.
(5)Peter B.
Petra impressed me when I tried it three days after they opened and continue to do so now, a couple weeks later. At this point between myself and my lunch buddies we've had most of the lunch menu and have been very impressed with everything. Service and prices are good, a couple rough edges in the former but I have no doubts those will disappear in time. A couple specifics - they have a lentil soup which is absolutely great. I'm a pretty big fan of fries, the Petra fries are really good, but once I had that lentil soup I knew what I was getting with my gyro. The chicken shawarma was good, but I'm not sure I'm a fan of the peppers being grilled to crisp-tender. Made the whole experience a little more crunchy than I was anticipating. Also, be aware of errant juices spilling into your lap with the shawarma wraps - they've got a lot of it. I'm not sure how many Mediterranean places we need along 4th, but I'm glad Petra's one of them.
(4)Jennifer B.
Super friendly service, conveniently located, and the best Mediterranean food I've found in Seattle. They were also very accommodating to a canola-oil allergy in our party! My favorites? Anything with lamb. Their lamb is so tender and so perfectly spiced that it makes me forget about all the bad lamb I've ever had! Also their Mezza Tray is great for dine-in or take-out. Full of Hummus, Baba Ghanouje, Labnie, Olives, Falafel, and Dolmathes and drizzled with Tzatziki sauce and Olive oil. The only problem with this dish, is that it's almost a meal in its own!
(4)W W.
Petra's kabobs are out of this world! Seasonings are divine. The only thing I can live without is the belly-dancing. Warning, there's MSG in some of the food here.
(3)danielle f.
Tasty...worth the visit!
(4)Chris L.
Small, dark, and intimate dining room. The soup (red lentil) and house salad is a steal at $9.50. As an alternative to alcohol, try the Tamer Hind drink - hauntingly flavorful.
(4)Shawn D.
In an area full of Greek/Mediterranean food, this place is my favorite. One of the few places in Seattle with great food. It even has belly dancing sometimes. Highly recommended.
(5)ReeAnne J.
First of all, for someone who has never tried Mediterranean food before, this is the place to get a great first impression! Food was amazing. I went here with my boyfriend in January for our anniversary trip to Seattle, and we were both absolutely impressed! The dining environment was small and beautiful, perfect for a personal couple romantic dinner or for an afternoon lunch with some good friends. I recommend this place to ANYONE. A must go to place. A little pricey for two college kids but as my boyfriend always says "...it was worth every penny!"
(4)Wendy C.
If you are looking to try a Mediterranean restaurant you got to start with this place. The food were fabulous and service were really good. They will answer any questions or provide any suggestions for the food that you want to try. My boyfriend and I enjoy every moment of it. I love the Garlic Lemon Chicken and Baba Ghanouje!
(5)kimy a.
weekend getaway yelp helped us out with this one amazing salmon --- torrential downpour hummus salad lentil soup two days in a row
(5)Amol P.
been here several times ever since it opened up. I always get the garlic lemon chicken .. The service is efficient and on some days they even have a belly dancer gyrating to the tunes of middle eastern music. The ZAHRA - Fried cauliflower topped with our house tahini sauce is quite good too.
(4)Patrick T.
Hands down the best Mediterranean food I've ever eaten. I always get the spice chicken. Be sure to make reservations and have an appetizer. Joes is the most wonderful server in this city, try to be seated in his section.
(5)Jeff M.
I walk past this place all the time and my girlfriend and I finally made it in the other day. Simply put... Wow. This place is delicious. If you're looking for something different from eating the usual, this place will be your new regular place. It is for us.
(5)Chandler N.
Loved it.perfect date night !
(4)Shannon D.
The food is amazing. Fantastic hummus, lentil soup that was fantastic and a spicy chicken that melted on my tongue. Love the spices they use here, too. It's a very cozy atmosphere, intimate enough I could tell the Germans the next table over were talking about Indiana Jones and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but not so much I could eavesdrop. Quiet enough you can talk, but with a pleasant buzz that doesn't make silences weird.
(5)nanu b.
Petra is another hidden gem that we discovered through our good ole yelp. It's at the corner of 4th and wall st, tucked away in the residential part of bell town. Ambience is ok although slightly better than average Mediterranean restaurant. The place was rather empty for a Friday night making us rethink our choice to celebrate our anniversary. But we were so glad we came as the food was outstanding. We started with the petra fries, thin n crispy French fries with a little ketchup-mayo dressing and sprinkle of fresh feta for the salty goodness. For the main course husband ordered the Ouzi, the famous Jordanian dish offered to guests and family on special occasions. Ground beef mixed with rice, carrots and peas. Served with your choice of charbroiled chicken breast, Lamb or Beef topped with sauteed almonds, pine nuts, and house tzatziki sauce. This dish was OUTSTANDING something I have never had before. You have to try this dish at least once and you'll be hooked for sure. I had the mix kabob which came with succulent pieces of wonderfully marinated chicken on a bed of rice and a skewer of roasted vegetables. Again the dish was crazy good. We ended the evening with a strong Turkish coffee and house made baklava with walnuts. The baklava is to die for, a must try. Coffee was good as well. To sum up, the flavors at petra are unique unlike any other Mediterranean restaurant, service is prompt and courteous and prices reasonable that makes up a fantastic combo. This is definitely gonna be our go to place for north african-mediterranean flavors!
(5)Tracy W.
My sister and I just went to this restaurant for lunch and ended up leaving. I am a vegetarian. On their menu is a veggie shawarma. Below are shawarma wraps with your choice of meat. I order the wrap and ask for vegetables instead of meat. The waitress tells me no. Me - are you being serious? Just put vegetables instead of meat. Waitress - No, it's too messy. You'll have to get something. NO THANKS. We'll just go somewhere else. TERRIBLE service! Stay away!!!!!!!!!
(1)Jeremy W.
Awesome mediterranean food! Great service! We had the Taste of Africa and the Ouzi with lamb, delicious! Both dishes were incredible. We got the $25 fixed plate-style deal for two, which is a great deal. The only thing I didn't like was the red lentil soup (too salty). They offered to replace it but I declined, being so full! Wife got the brown lentil soup which was awesome. We ordered the appetizer with everything ... had so much food that we ended up taking a bunch home with us. I ate for 2 days afterwards! Yum! And they packaged everything so sweetly - they took a pen and labeled every dish and even separated out all of the dips and whatnot from our huge appetizer plate. So killer, I'm going back whenever I can.
(5)Nicolas T.
It was o.k. food. But they tried to rush us out of there so they can sit others (and I mean rush us out; food was pushed and waiter could not wait; we didn;t fall for it :-)
(3)Diggins J.
The lentil soup is phenomenal! I always judge certain restaurants by the soup. Minestrone, pasta fagioli, and lentil are key components to what a restaurant wants to be. It is most likely your first impression of the meal. When an Italian restaurant screws up the soup, I am immediately discouraged and not really looking forward to the main course. The same goes for Middle Eastern cuisine. If the lentil soup sucks, there is no hope. Let me tell you, this place has perfect lentil soup, and sets you up for the rest of the menu. I also had the chicken shawarma and tried the kafta kabob, both were amazing. I can't wait to go back and eat my way through the entire menu. My new favorite restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Barnett T.
Delicious food and great service! Must order the mezza tray which was a to-die-for appetizer! Surprisingly good parking in the area
(5)Dave A.
Attentive service and great food. Neighborhood gem.
(4)Eric C.
Excellent for lunch, the Shish Tawook is my favorite. A real treat for a very reasonable $10.
(5)Melissa S.
This place is not worth 5 stars I think it should receive 6. I have yet to have a bad experience here and I go about once a week. The staff and food is out of this world. Their hummus and lentil soup is worthy of the gods. I have tried a decent amount of the menu but I always return to the garlic lemon chicken. It has so many flavor explosions in your mouth that it is heavenly. If you haven't stopped in this amazing place in Belltown you have no idea what you are missing out on. Get here early because it can fill up quickly.
(5)Rachel T.
I'm a middle eastern foodie. I am unabashedly snobbish about all things Persian, Greek, Moroccan, Lebanese, etc., etc. In my mighty opinion, Petra may be the best Mediterranean restaurant in the Pacific Northwest. How have I not discovered it before? I had a lunch combo with three kabobs (one kafta, one lamb, and one chicken), which a starter salad, two falafel, and extra tahini garlic sauce for about $10. The kafta was as flavorful as kabobs I had in Kuwait City and the garlic sauce is sooo good that it burns my tongue. This place is a must visit!
(5)Tom A.
Went for dinner with friends last night and the food was great. I had the Gyro Shawarma and the it was very good. The ample portion size was a bonus. I had the house salad and it was the best 'house' salad I have ever had. Service was very good and the restaurant cozy. As Arnold said "I'll be back". Also the prices were reasonable.
(5)Dena P.
I've gone to Petra Mediterranean Bistro twice now. Once, I had the hummus as an appetizer and the second time I had a salad and the hummus. I am on a mission to find the BEST hummus in Seattle and I think I may have found it. Petra is located in Belltown on 4th & Wall. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the wait staff were very knowledgeable. I've also had a taste of the chicken soup (which was mighty tasty) and a taste of the babba-gonuche. I was in right before New Years and the waiter was telling me about the belly-dancing that was going to be taking place inside Petra. I thought that was really interesting since this place is fairly new (I believe it opened in August, 2009). I would highly recommend the hummus and salad at Petra.
(4)Margaret Y.
Petra has the best baba ghanouj I've ever had. It's a perfect blend of creamy garlicky goodness. I usually get the mezza tray but their lentil soup is so so sooo good! Also, the service is excellent. They are consistently friendly and helpful. I once ordered to go and when i got to Petra, I realized that I had left my wallet at home that day. I said that I would pay them with what I had and pay them the rest later that afternoon, the owner instead said that the lunch was on him. What a generous gesture!
(5)Hillary M.
Went here on a cold rainy December night and had such a warm experience. The food was delicious - I'm no expert in Med food but everything tasted great! Moreover the service was fantastic, really helpful, informed - catered to our every need in our party of 5. Soup was especially tasty. Now if they'd just expand their beer selection a tiny bit!
(4)Tiffany S.
Excellent service! Big bowl of lentil soup with a yummy side of pita and baba ganoush with a cup of tea for $10. Perfect place to run in for a quick bite. I'm looking forward to sitting down for a nice long dinner of shawarma or another of their yummy sounding platters.
(4)Jordon K.
I came here for dinner recently, and I'm glad I did. Petra is, in a word, exquisite. The large portions, polite service, and classy atmosphere make it worth every cent. Try the ouzi with lamb and the lentil soup for rich Mediterranean flavor. I'm looking forward to coming back for the lunch menu.
(5)Mathew B.
This was seriously the BEST Mediterranean food I have EVER had. The meal began with the a creamy baganoush, full of a robust flavor that I had never experienced. I can also see why the hummus was voted the best in Seattle. AAAAMAZING! At our table, we had two type of chicken and a beef... each with it's own unique blend of deliciousness. Petra will definitely become a mainstay in our Seattle eating. Thank you for a wonderful evening and experience.
(5)M Y.
Love love love this place. Great food. I can tell they use fresh ingredients. Beautiful, clean, and cozy interior, great service, and did I say their food is delicious? I've had mezza tray (appetizer platter), falafel plate, veggie shawarma, veggie royale just to name a few and they were all so delicious. Their shawarmas are heavenly. Makes me drool just thinking about it. I love their lentil soup and house salad too.
(5)Jannie M.
DELICIOUS Mediterranean food. I haven't eaten at the restaurant, but the company I have for sometimes has them cater. It's always a treat!
(4)Shana H.
Had the vegetarian special plate and loved it. The baba ghanoush and the foul were terrific. Nice ambiance, if a bit dark.
(5)Bailey V.
I showed up late to meet some friends for dinner here and was WOWed. The kitchen was getting ready to close so I ordered quickly and my meal was out in no time. The quality of the food was outstanding, the portions were huge, and the service was amazing. The prices were about $5 more than what I'm usually willing to pay for a meal but it was certainly worth it. I will return here without a doubt and definitely when I have more time to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)Aedan C.
Wonderful food and service. Generous portions. Try the Turkish Coffee.
(5)Skylar L.
very good. got the sampler as an entree. it gives you flatbread, so I'd recommend getting one.
(4)Walter E.
I lived across from here for a year. My excitement by their close location was soon replaced with depression when I waited not once but TWICE for over 15 minutes and not getting any service in an almost EMPTY place with one other customer! People have given me good reviews, I just don't get it.
(1)Brian G.
My wife and I ate here while staying the night in Seattle. The food was amazing and the service was more than excellent. I highly recommend this place for a nice change of pace.
(5)El Pirata B.
We tried this place for dinner and food was really delicious. We reserved and it was a good idea as the place was full. Will certainly visit again! Good and healthy food!!!
(4)Masanori T.
I went here for dinner on a weekday. I live on the same block so I figured I should try it. I'm no expert when it comes to Mediterranean cuisine, but the whole dinner was a really wonderful experience & highly recommend it to anybody. We started out with the deep fried cauliflower (not super oily, or fatty or anything though, and a very subtle flavor - thumbs up), had some lamb entree, grape leaves stuffed with things (rice, etc?). Also had hummus & baba ghanouje (AMAZING!) We got pretty full after the entrees, and didn't get to try their Warbat (filo dough filled with creamy pudding) - maybe next time. I don't really know what that is, but if you're interested, I suggest you Bing it :o)
(4)Britni L.
I finally stopped in here on a late wed evening, glad I did because it is amazing and only 2 blocks from my house. The whole experience was great! Service was nice and friendly and not too annoying. We started off with the hummus and I ordered the taste of Africa with the lentil soup and my guest had the garlic lemon chicken with salad. Both where amazing, I liked the African chicken much better because it came with vegetables in the rice with chicken and had a great season to it. Garlic chicken was similar minus the vegetable and the chicken was seasoned obviously with lemon garlic. The portions sizes where more then plenty enough, I was happy to say I had about half leftover to take home for later :) We had decided to share the Baklava the cashew one, you have a choice of that or walnut! It was so good we ordered 2 more to go and I was very sad I didn't order 10 more after I got home and ate it. I will definitely be back at least a few times a month.
(5)Sarah S.
I've been to Petra once for lunch and twice for dinner. Each time the food has been exceptional and the service excellent. This is the best Mediterranean food I've ever had -- EVER. (Even including in the Mediterranean!) The brown lentil soup came with my lunch and so I was surprised when it was set in front of me on the table. It doesn't look particularly appetizing, but it's absolutely fantastic. I also love the vegetarian platter with hummus, dolmades, baba ganoush, falafel, and some pitas. (I might be forgetting some key part of that platter.) The entire time I'm eating it I spend each bite trying to decide if the hummus or baba ganoush is better, and I can never decide. They're both stupendous. The falafel is the one exception to the entire meal: it's a little dry and just okay. But everything else is so overwhelmingly incredible that I can't even come up with enough enthusiastic adjectives to describe it accurately! My husband got a chicken dish whose name escapes us, but it was also excellent. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. And its prices are reasonable (and very good for lunch)! If you like Mediterranean food, GO HERE. It's the best you'll find.
(5)Mike S.
This is a fantastic little restaurant with beautiful decor and outstanding food! The staff was very friendly (and patient with us being caught up in conversation rather than looking at the menu). The hummus was quite good for an appetizer, and our entrees were also very tasty and fresh. Large servings all around. Street parking was fairly easy to come by (within 2 blocks) at 6:30 on Friday night.
(5)Molly T.
one of my FAV mediterranean restos in Belltown. Their food is CONSISTENLY good and tasty. My favorite dish is the Shish Tawook. lemony charboiled chicken with their tasty sauce spread over the chicken and yellow rice. It is on 4th and Wall St in the heart of belltown. Highly recommend!
(5)Emily W.
There aren't alot of great Mediterranean restaurant in Seattle, but Petra hits the spot in terms of excellent food and atmosphere. You can really judge a mediterranean restaurant by the base: the lentil soup with the right amount of lemon was delicious! My friend and I split the Ouzi dish, the meat was moist and the flavors were really yummy, the topped almonds were a great addition too. I'm definitely coming back !
(4)Randee B.
Been here several times... hands down my #1 favorite restaurant in Seattle. That is all.
(5)Orian I.
lentil soup of heavenly lemony-ness. So being from Portland and not knowing the area, what we did was park in close proximity to the EMP since we knew we were going there. We were a little off of lunch, perhaps around 1:30 ish or so. A lot of places were closing. We wandered and came across Petra. My boyfriend is very well versed in the different middle eastern styles and said "oh this is Jordanian middle Eastern food." First of off, the decor is so cute, I love those hanging lights. The staff is so friendly and just cute as a snuggle button. I love that the family was there joking around and laughing as well. OK now to food. That lentil soup zomg! I love it, it's exactly what I wanted, perfectly salted, lemony, zesty well cooked in a bowl. I got the lamb shawarma, and my boy got the chicken and we split it. man that was a righteous sandwich. the meat was incredible, juicy tahini dripping crunchy cabbage, we snarffled every little bit. I was in a spiced cloud of food happy dance. I would love to go back.
(4)Katy L.
good atmosphere and food. Definitely visit again. If you like garlic this is the place to go. I'm a fan, but I wish it wasn't the main flavor in all the dishes.
(4)Greg T.
I want to like this place because I love eastern Mediterranean cooking. The service is friendly and competent, and it's a pleasant room with lots of pictures of... you guessed it... Petra, Lebanon. I've eaten here twice, and had a similar experience each time. The meze (small plate starters) are outstanding... delicious dips, dolma, falafel, and such. The meze make you think you're about to have a great Middle Eastern meal, but the entrees are disappointing. The litmus test of this kind of cooking is the kebabs. They should be cooked through, but still hot and juicy, and full of flavor from the marinades, the onion, garlic, and lemon juice. Instead, these were way over-cooked, dried out and too chewy. The chicken kebab was lemony and had good flavor, but again it was too dry. This place could be really good with a more careful approach to the kebabs. I also wonder how long they sat waiting to be served.
(3)Pam C.
We've been here twice. Both times the service was great; the staff were warm, welcoming and attentive. I had the gyro schawarma, which was outstanding. The hummus and pita appetizer is outstanding; my only complaint is that the pita is so good, we kept needing to ask for more! Try the red lentil soup. It's great on a cold winter day! Portions are large, so there's plenty to take home to enjoy later!
(5)S V.
My first impression of Petra was the genuine friendly greeting of the staff as soon as I walked in the door. Being a huge fan of Mediterranean food, I had been waiting patiently for a day off to eat here. The flavors used in every dish are as inspiring as the photos of the real Petra on the wall. It takes dedication, precision and passion to create such beauty and this is also reflected in the food. I started with the Labnie - a strained yogurt with an array of spices, olive oil, cucumber, tomatoes served warm pita. I nearly fell out of my seat it was so fantastically delicious. Next it was the Petra chicken with rice and salad. I could have ordered more of it and gorged myself into a food coma - the flavors were so succulent. I washed it all down with a glass of Tamer Hindi - a very sweet and refreshing drink laced with orange blossom. I wish they sold it by the gallon. The simpleness of the menu really impressed me. They aren't trying to throw forty dishes out there to choose from; they have selected their best dishes to put forward. I must say I am so looking forward to going back to Petra. I hope they will be around for a very long time. Great service, great food, and a relaxing atmosphere.
(5)Felipe L.
Great value, good flavors, great service, great food. I come here pretty often.
(5)P H.
Had the gyro platter with fries. Wow, the wrap was fresh and cooked perfectly. I don't usually say anything about fries, theirs are topped with a sauce that gave them a zing and they were outstanding. I almost ordered another one because I just haven't had anything to come close and I lived in the DC area and currently in Silicon Valley.
(5)Tim M.
Very much enjoyed the food and the ambiance. We got the sampler appetizer and it was delicious, especially the falafel. The lentil soup was great. The salmon kabobs were a favorite. Would come again if visiting Seattle.
(5)CA F.
Visited for the first time this weekend - we will definitely be visiting this restaurant again. The food was delicious, but more importantly, the staff was so gracious and attentive, which added to the warm inviting atmosphere. A terrific experience. Thank you!
(5)Chika A.
I tried their Gyro Wrap with Petra Fries and Baklava. They all were yummy. Everything I had was all light but flavorful. (I don't like overy salted or overly sugared dishes. ) I don't know if they were authentic or not, but the food was very good. Decent amount, reasonable pricing and friendly people. I would go back and try other dishes in the near future. I gave 4 stars because I haven't tried all the dishes and I couldn't get to try Warbat... a creamy pudding filled filo. Apparently, they make this disert once a week for weekend... so it wasn't available for wednesday dinner. Another reason for me to go back to Petra.
(4)Travis L.
Great food but it felt like a lot of dips. Maybe that's just because of what we ordered. The service was good but I wish they had given us a little more attention so we didn't have to wait so long for bread to go along with our dip.
(4)Annie D.
If you're looking for great tasting vegan/vegetarian food at an excellent price, Petra is for you! The Baba Ghanouje (aka baba ganoush) is the best I've ever had! The Hummus is excellent, along with the Dolmathes. The Falafel and lentil soup is super yummy! I highly recommend the Mezza Platter, it has a little bit of everything and it's huge! I can't wait to try the rest of the menu! Plenty of veg options! A couple of warnings for the veg community: the rice and yellow lentil soup (red lentil is vegan) are made with chicken stock. The tahini sauce has a little bit of dairy in it. However, veg oil is used in the fryer. How many places offer excellent food and service for the bargain price of $7? (falafel wrap served with soup, salad, or fries) UPDATE: Tahini sauce is now vegan...no dairy. Yay!!
(5)D K.
I'm so glad to see that people LOVE this place. I've walked by it many times and finally had an opportunity to have lunch there. It is nothing short of amazing! I ordered the salad with chicken and then, because I was really hungry, started with a dish of hummus. The hummus was amazing when I had it with soft and splendid pita bread. I nearly licked the plate - which is really saying something about the hummus. I have no idea what they did to the chicken on the salad but I've never tasted anything like it before - grilled to crispness and lemony!! I could only eat half of the salad, I was so satisfied. Long may it wave!!
(5)Amina S.
Petra Bistro is a lovely Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Seattle. The food and service was outstanding. Hummus with lamb and almonds, shisk tawook and ouzi chicken with heshwee rice were perfect, taking me back to great meals in Lebanon. We'll be back for the music and also for the good take out deal - $25 for two large dinners to go - would easily feed 2-4. Thanks!
(5)Rodica B.
i'm fortunate enough to live very close to this place, but it's definitely a spot where i've almost become a regular. their lemon garlic chicken is my personal favorite, but everything tastes authentic and will make an impression. the friendly staff is a nice plus too. :)
(5)hobbes c.
Decent mezza appetizer plate. Large enough to fill one person. Very good baba ganoush, and the pitted olives were a nice surprise.
(4)Tracy S.
We are always excited with new restaurants in our neighborhood and We tried Petra last night. We did takeaway and the Shish tawook was fantastic as was the hummus. We will definitely be back.
(4)K M.
Love this place, great food, nice wine selection. I find myself craving the Taste of Africa platter and baklava!
(5)Lola T.
What a wonderful new place. Had dinner there this evening and was so impressed with the food and the service. Had the Lemon Chicken with Garlic and it was to die for. The hummus was creamy, garlicky and had wonderful olives, tomatoes and cucumbers to complement it. Our waiter couldn't have been more attentive and the owner even came out and introduced himself. This is a much needed addition to Belltown and I can't say enought good things about it. I definitely will re a "regular."
(5)Christopher J.
We live in the neighborhood so enjoyed trying a new restaurant close by. The food was great but the night we went with friends they had a band playing (along with a belly dancer) and although the music was enjoyable it was SO loud we had to shout across our small table. Our waitress also had a hard time hearing us and visa versa. I sound like an old cranky guy (and I'm not) but for such a small space they should really have a smaller band otherwise the dinning experience becomes a concert event!
(3)Janine S.
Between downtown and belltown, this establishment lies on a corner that is easy to spot. The decorations inside are quite nice, but as you walk in you may notice that the food there has a bit of an "odor" from the food, which goes away quickly after you get accustomed to it. The service is great - our waitress was very accommodating of our 10ish person group, and actually didn't do an automatic charge of gratuity, which always makes me feel like adding on more than the usual 18%. I ordered their classic middle eastern drink (Tamer Hindi), and it was deliciousness in a glass. Tart and sweet at the same time, the best I can describe it is like sour lemon/plum iced tea that is extra sour and sweet all at the same time. The bf and I ordered the Petra fries as an appetizer and shared an entree. Garlic ketchup on fries with feta cheese is surprisingly addictive (and reminds me of baseball games). The entree was lamb shawarma - something that tasted pretty decent but was a bit too strong in flavor and salty overall. The presentation of the dish also was not great since it looked like rice combined with a bunch of blackened veggies and lamb bits. The hummus was pretty good as well, "creamy and not gritty" as one friend described. Portions in general are pretty big so sharing isn't a bad idea. Overall a decent experience, but nothing I would brag about to your peers.
(4)Shelly W.
I'd been wanting to try this place for a long time. Today was the day. We opted for the busy lunch hour which may have been a mistake. Service was acceptable and hard to come by, I had to ask if we could order as they passed us by for three other tables though we'd been seated well before. I hate that. It's a pet peeve. The servers were running to and from tables, which is odd. Once we did get a waiter, he was incredibly pleasant and our food came out quickly, which we appreciated. The flavors are outstanding,,,we had hummus, tabbouleh, gyros and falafel. Everything was fresh and good quality. The gyro was a bit skimpy on the meat and the falafel were overcooked and hard. I forgive this because the flavors were so spectacular. The four stars is for the spotty service.
(4)Marty K.
I am new to the Seattle area and new to yelp. However, this food is so good that I just had to write a review. I have been there maybe 10 times in 4 months and we frequently order lunch from there for my work which is about 3 blocks away. I particularly love the chicken dishes. The spices are amazing and I just love the rice. And to top it off, they have the best baklava that I have ever tasted. Whenever my wife and I want to have a dinner that we know will always be right, we go to Petra.
(5)Mike L.
I am new to the neighborhood and based on recommendations by yelp i decided to check Petra out. I ordered the Lamb Shawarma and my wife ordered the Chicken shish, each comes with option of soup or salad I chose the red lentil soup and wife had the salad. Soup was Amazing !!! and excited me about our entrees. Salad was sopping with dressing and wife did not care to finish it. Both entrees were kind of lackluster, seasoning was good but for me the lamb was a miss. I have never had shawarma that is not nice succulent chunks of lamb. This lamb was small dry chunks that were almost discernable from the onions, not at all like the traditional shawarma I have enjoyed both in the US and abroad. It is a pity because the seasosning was spot on and obviously with a little more care this could have been spectacular. Cicken shish ka bob was not a kabob but grilled chicken breast which again is not what I am used to in Middle Eastern cuisine.
(3)Irene H.
So glad we chose this restaurant for dinner! Walking distance from the Space Needle. Excellent food, friendly wait staff, very accommodating. Will definitely be back!! Highly recommend.
(5)Glenn R.
Petra is amazing. I've eaten here every week for the past six months and have worked my way through much of the menu. Sometimes it's so good I have to pinch myself. Explosions of flavor in every bite, the freshest ingredients, a friendly and efficient staff -- hard to ask for more. They love garlic and salt, so be warned if those aren't your favorite flavors. Also, GO EAT HERE -- IT'S FANTASTIC.
(5)J T.
My first experience with shwarma was at the Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue. If I hadn't had it there first I probably would have liked this better. I don't know how to prepare shwarma or what the original recipe was like but this was unmemorable and underwhelming. The shwarma I had at Mediterranean Kitchen had me craving it for months.
(2)Paul S.
Great food. Small place, but the mezze in particular are very good. Fresh labni, hummus, etc. Selection of entries isn't that great, but filling up on the appetizers is easy enough, and the variety is such that you're getting a balacned meal in the process.
(4)Virginia C.
petra med catered an event at Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle it was DELICIOUS DELICIOUS lamb and chicken had wonderful flavor, great salad... excellent.
(4)Sasha P.
Amazing food. Freshest Mediterranean food I ever had.
(5)Fred P.
Absolutely love this place. My wife and I stumbled upon it for dinner and were delighted by the tasty food. Went for lunch with my co-workers the next day - they also gave it rave reviews. Every lunch/dinner entre sampled was amazing!
(5)Brenda B.
We are in town visiting, and last night we ate dinner at the Petra Mediterranean Bistro. We are frequent travelers to the Middle East, so we know what authentic food tastes like. We ordered the mixed appetizer plate, the red lentil soup, three different types of kebabs, ouzi (rice &chicken), mint and oregano tea, and then we had a wonderful cheese and banana filled filo pastry for dessert. The food was fabulous, the servings were generous (we all have leftovers for today's lunch), and the service was wonderful. We also had entertainment, a belly dancer was performing when we arrived at the Bistro. I would recommend everyone give the Petra Mediterranean Bistro a try, I bet you will go back again. My only comment about authenticity is that in the Middle East dolmas are eaten warm rather than refrigerated, but I haven't found anyplace in the US that serves them fresh from the pot.
(5)Moraine B.
Stopped in this Belltown restaurant for lunch today. I've eaten at many Lebanese, Persian, Morroccan, and Greek restaurants. As a woman alone enterintg the restaurant, I was treated well and seated in a lovely spot by the window. The host introduced the waiter to me who was knowledgeable and attentive. I ordered the hot mint tea which was Persian black tea with mint -- authentic and very good. I ordered the Hummus Royale which I had not seen on another menu before. It was excellent hummus with almonds, pine nuts, kalamata olives and chopped lamb. Would definitely order it again. In fact, before I left, I purchased a gift card for a friend who is moving to Seattle. Hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
(5)Richard B.
Stumbled across Petra for lunch while walking around the Belltown vacinity. We were in town from Los Angeles. This was absolutely, some of the best Mediterranean food I've had. In fact the next day we drove through the Cascades to do some sight seeing before our evening flight back to LA. We cut our dirve short and added a detour to have an early dinner at Petra before heading to the airport - its that good! Chicken Shawarma is out of this world!
(5)STEVE C.
I wandered into this place by accident since I was hungry and it was next to my credit union downtown. I love good middle Eastern food of all kinds. The hummus with pine nuts, almonds, and lamb was the best I have ever had in my life, and I assure you that I have sampled this dish hundreds of times around the world. The waitress was really sweet and attentive, but perhaps somewhat melancholy because this "baby restaurant" of only five months was virtually empty during a Saturday lunch time. Please go there and sample their fabulous dinner menu and help support this really fine Jordanian place.
(5)Ezra S.
everything tasted yummy and the atmosphere is just perfect.. highly recommend it!
(5)Shane M.
Very friendly and attentive wait staff. The soup was phenomenal and their gyro wrap was equally as good. Definitely a good choice
(5)Jennifer W.
Came here on a Friday night a little before 7PM and luckily got seated right away. Our server said he would get us some water but we saw him several times after that helping others, figured he probably forgot about us. He finally started walking toward our table to take our orders and realized he forgot the water and headed back into the kitchen. We went onto their website to look at their menu and decided on the Petra Royal Dinner for Two 29.95 but when we arrived we noticed that the website forgot to mention that it was $29.95 PER PERSON. Big difference. My boyfriend ended up ordering the Gyro Shawarma and I got the Beef Kabob. The food came out pretty quickly. Both our entrees came with House Soup or Salad and we ordered one of each. The salad was good but there was only one slice cucumber and tomato and the rest was mostly lettuce. The house soup was good but it wasn't as tasty once it got cold. The Gyro Shawarma was delicious but my Beef Kabob was super tough to the point it was difficult to cut with the knife and chew. The rice, veggies and Halal sauce were good though but the beef was just disappointing. Overall, the experience was just okay. Our server wasn't the most attentive but other servers did come to refill our waters. If I lived in Seattle, I might give this place another chance but would probably order something else beside the beef.
(3)Staci S.
Went back for dinner with a group of 6. We ordered two appetizers, and when we had hummus left, we asked for more pita bread. I was told it was in the oven but would be out shortly. It never came out. The rest of the food at dinner was fantastic. The sever was trying to show off and ended up spilling water all over the floor, but not my problem. I was just annoyed about the wasted hummus. Should have asked for it to-go but I was stuffed.
(3)Tyler R.
This has been an overall fantastic experience! The ambiance is great, very nice music, and their selection of food we just the right amount. The waiter was incredibly efficient and very nice. The food was incredible and had fantastic sauces and spices added with it (I highly recommend the Salmon Kabob). I have been in Seattle for a week and had a variety of food, and I think this place certainly topped it off! I would come back every day for lunch if I could! This place is a must see and must eat! If you want a great server ask for Dorian!
(5)Kayce G.
This place was amazing! The waiter was extremely helpful and accommodating. I'm so happy that we happened to find it! I can't remember what I got, but it was vegan :) the rice and their lentil soup = wow! Only sad that I couldn't eat the pita bread as it was not vegan. Great place!
(5)Rina R.
My friend and I came here a week or two ago to have an early after-work dinner. I got the beef kabob, she got the Taste of Africa. It took far too long for our orders to be taken even though there were only two other parties currently dining there. Then the food itself came out and we were both under-whelmed. I've experienced better Mediterranean cuisine for a far cheaper price in the U-District! Doubt I will return. The atmosphere was nice, but that's all.
(2)Kate N.
Fantastic food! The flavors are amazing, authenticate delicious! We stopped in to get take out and the service was prompt and delightful. We got the Taste of Africa with their daily red lentil soup, Beef Shawrama, Baba Ghanoujie with pita, and one additional red lentil soup. Taste: fantastic! Fresh ingredients, amazing spices, settles so well! The baba Ghanoujie was perfect, the puts fluffy, both entrees perfectly spiced and delicious, and we got the chicken rice soup whenwe ordered the red lentil. The soup was okay. Portion: the portions were generous, we both got a full dinner and have lunch for tomorrow. Price: price matches portions and quality. New go-to take out for dinner! Can't wait to try their hummus, labnie and Mediterranean prawns!
(5)Christopher I.
My fiancé and I had our first experience here during a Saturday evening. We failed to make reservations but were fortunate to be seated at the last available table. I'd definitely recommend reserving a table in advance, especially on Saturdays. A belly dancer was performing as we entered the restaurant. I don't know if she regularly performs here, but her presence added a festive element to the evening's ambience. My palate is unrefined and I'm certainly no expert when it comes to Mediterranean cuisine, but I thought the hummus was very good, as was my entree, the Petra Spice Chicken dish. Portion sizes were generous. We ordered no dessert. Service was prompt and courteous. (Our server, Joseph, was friendly and accommodating.) We'll definitely return to Petra.
(5)N M.
My favorite restaurant in Seattle downtown! The veggie shawarma is just the best!!! It comes with soup or salad- I love the red lentil soup.
(5)Kara P.
Hummus was some of the best I've had as well as the Tiramisu. I was disapointed with dinner, however. I've had better meat and rice from a food truck.
(3)Anuj S.
Petra was great! I had the falafel plate and it was really flavorful. I also ordered a side of hummus. It was a little small, but it was delicious. Probably one of the best hummus' I've every had. The service was really good and the place is also nice. Really can't think of anything bad to say. I guess I would say that the falafel aren't the soft melt-in-your mouth type of falafel. They were more dense than what I've used to at other places. They were still good, just different. Definitely wish I could go back here.
(4)Heidi W.
#NAME?
(5)Luke R.
It's obvious they put a lot of pride into their food and service, however both fall very short in my biased NYC opinion. Make sure you ask how things are prepared! A chicken schwarma on a flat plate with no pita? And how long does a schwarma take really to prepare?? Waited 15 minutes! The whole plate, rice too, was covered in white sauce (which to be fair was good and obviously house made). When asked for pita they brought me out wedged pieces, leading me to believe these servers don't know what they are doing and just work really hard at looking cool. Also the food was overly salty. Maybe this place is too posh for my taste. I think I'll stick with those less expensive tasty food trucks and street vendors
(2)Abby Z.
Great food, excellent service. We have been going to Petra regularly ever since we moved to WA in 2010. The owner is very friendly and warm. It really adds up to be a great experience. Lots of options for vegetarians. We love the 'Mezza-tray' and the 'Taste of Africa'. Must try Tamer-hind (tamarind based middle-eastern drink). Belly-dancing on Saturday evenings is an added bonus! Plenty of street parking around the block.
(5)Elle P.
Easily the very best falafel I've ever had. Simply perfect. However, the soup was over-salted to the point it was inedible. My husband ordered the chicken ouzie and I had the lamb ouzie. The lamb was delightful, if not lacking in actual lamb. The chicken, however, was so salty my husband couldn't eat it. Tables are packed in there like sardines and the atmosphere is just okay. Definitely not a place for a special date, but this is reflected in the price. Wine list is abysmal even for a relatively inexpensive place like this. Owners were wonderful though! I would return, but my husband would not.
(3)Mark L.
If I were to describe the chicken shawarma in a word, it would be "sour". "Lukewarm" would be a close runner up. I've had different kinds of shawarma and having meat-textured lemon juice instead of shawarma isn't something that I expected or want to repeat again. Shawarma is usually associated with rich flavours including tahini, cumin, etc - Petra's for some reason decided that lemon juice was the optimal flavour for it. The soup that came as a starter was pretty reasonable and actually had a pretty rich flavour. Considering the price, pomp and the fact that we had to wait nearly 40 minutes to be seated (despite being told that it should be 10-15), the only reason this place doesn't get 1 star is that it was sanitary and the soup was decent.
(2)Abby Q.
This was one of the best Mediterranean meals I've ever had! I had the spanikopita as my meal, and we had several appetizers. I'm pretty sure they don't serve a bad item. I would LOVE to go back when I visit Seattle again.
(5)Cello D.
Am not a fan of Mediterranean food and my wife wanted to try it... So with that said! Me being a good hubby I smiled and said OK let's try it..lol am glad I did This place is really good! Lemon chicken so good... I'll come back again with out playing the hubby card to make the wife happy....lol
(5)Victor B.
This by far my favorite non-seafood restaurant in Seattle. The service and food re exceptional. Try the Garlic Lemon Chicken or the Petra Chicken Salad.
(5)sarah y.
you MUST get the hummus here, it's smoother and creamier than any hummus i've ever had. love that it came with some veggies, rather than just pita bread. we had the shwarma, kebabs, and a salmon dish -- all three were incredible and included a large side salad. we all went home with leftovers, lots of food for what you pay. the garlic sauce that topped the dishes was not overpowering, but added the right pop of flavor. (honestly though, is there such a thing as too much garlic? i think not. though i'm sure vampires would beg to differ.) try to catch the belly dancing performance, she was really talented and even tried to involve each table (not TOO embarrassing) that she passed by! the only negative was that i wanted to replace my side salad with a tabouli salad and they would not allow it, even though i offered to pay extra. strange.
(4)Monica B.
The pita and hummus, the red lentil soup, the ouzi!!!! OMG, all soooo good. I am a fan!! Beautiful restaurant and good service.
(5)Joan R.
i was in Seattle several years ago and happen upon Petra's near the Space Needle. My friend and I were very impressed with the food. The spices used were heavenly. In fact I bought a couple of their spices and have been using them ever since. I now need to replenish them and dealt with the owner about ordering the spices. He was very accommodating. This will definitely be on my list whenever I return to Seattle..If you are in the area I would highly recommend dining at Petra's.
(5)Gavin P.
oh hell yes 5 stars! This place had amazing food! I cant even describe it. I ordered the vegetarian platter which tasted great. A lot of times when you order vegetarian you taste raw vegetables or bland flavors, but this was a kick in the mouth. Not sure what they did but it was fantastic. My father had the lamb plate and it too was perfectly blended together with his dish. The flavors have seriously earned this place a 5 star rating! On top of all of that is the venue. Great location in upper Belltown near the City Center and good for all the apartments nearby if they want to eat out. Good decor inside and really friendly and polite staff. I loved it here!
(5)Salman M.
This is an authentic Jordanian bistro in Belltown. The food is freshly prepared - the lentil and veggie shawarma were a delight. And so was the chicken salad. The place was packed but still service was fast, probably a 10 min wait on a full house. Preferred over some of the more Americanized middle eastern restaurants.
(4)Eugene C.
The lemon garlic chicken (shish tawouk) was juicy, tender, and tangy the way it should be. The garlic sauce on top was a little more buttery tasting than I'm used to, but delicious. The accompanying red lentil soup was just slightly over-salted but also very flavorful. This will definitely be my goto spot in the neighborhood to get my Mediterranean fix.
(4)James S.
Reasonably priced, with polite staff. Inexpensive beer both local and imported. Nice ambiance.
(4)Tma Y.
This is my favorite lunch restaurant in town. All kinds of their meat are delicious, tender and juicy. The appetizer salad is well balanced with their own fresh and unique dressing. Weekend 8pm there are belly dancing shows.
(5)Pam L.
I was looking forward eating at Petra after my friend greatly raved about how spectacular the food is, and the great reviews on yelp. We had originally planned to go eat at Saffron Grill (Indian/Mediterranean restaurant) because I loved their spinach paneer naan, and their masala chai is great (free refills) but, we decided to go to this restaurant instead, due to driving distances. It was late Thursday night, and so parking was easy to get to in Belltown. Location of Petra was easy to find. Petra was fairly spacious, dim-lit, and well decorated middle-east decor. I especially liked the camels holding the lantern in their mouth. I decided to try the garlic lemon chicken, with the brown lentil soup. I liked the idea that your meal came with an option of a soup or salad. My friend had the lamb dish with the red lentil soup. I liked his more than mine, so we switched. The brown lentil soup was, in my opinion, overly spiced with cumin and coriander, and salty. It overpowered everything. If this is what the soup is supposed to taste like, then the cooks nailed it. I liked the red lentil soup. No prominent flavors to write home to, but decent. When our main courses arrived, I was pretty pumped. The presentation looked nice. When I tried it, I was underwhelmed by the flavor. The chicken was very salty and dry. No indication of lemon in the chicken, as described in the menu. It was spiced well, but nothing distinguishable. Might of burned off while cooking. I did, however, like the bed of rice served with the chicken dish. I tried a piece of my friend's lamb. It tasted dry, and overcooked. Yuck. I like my lamb on the medium rare side, or at least moist. This did not meet any of my expectations. The servers were great, and very attentive. My glass was always full with water Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the food. But the service is good. That is the saving grace of this restaurant.
(2)Michael B.
I just love this place! I want to order everything on the menu, just to find out if there is anything not good. Fairly casual, if your trying to be thrifty, try their lunch and or happy hour.
(5)David N.
I split the kofta kebab and the spicey chicken kebab with a friend. They were both pretty tasty, but I must admit that the spicey chicken tasted like an upscale version of what we call street meat in NYC. Don't get me wrong, street meat (halal carts) are delicious. It was obviously higher quality meat. The Kofta was also okay, but I've had better over the years. The service was attentive and friendly.
(4)Sabrina S.
I've never been so blown away! And not because I was hungry. Let me start from the beginning. I'm a class A food snob. I don't love food. Good food is divine to me. Not much impresses me after Italy so good Mediterranean is hard for me to hunt down. With that being said, literally EVERYTHING on this menu looked good from the start. Different types of hummus, good looking ingredients, and an amazing smell just walking down the hallway. I had a hunch it would be good. And boy, was I right. I originally wanted some fancy hummus, but thought it might not be enough. The salmon Mediterranean entree ended up being more than enough. Fresh cumin soup included lentils and peas. Delicious, mouth watering spices, and GARLIC! Not artificial garlic powder or anything like that but whole cloves. Not to mention the fresh hot pita that came with the side of flavorful hummus I ordered. My meal ended up being pretty epic. Along with the friendly service, I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Chao L.
I can only give 5 star. This is awesome place. We ordered soup, lamb and seafood. Waiter is nice, patient.
(5)Sean C.
Best mediterranean food I have had! I haven't had anything here that was bad. I usually get the meza try for an appetizer...to share of course. Taste of Africa is amazing! Just writing this review makes me want to eat here. The only down side is the hours. The do this open close and open again thing. So make sure you call or check the hours prior to visiting this extinguishment. But definitely one of Belltown's hidden gems.
(5)Jason P.
Food was outstanding. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Haylee U.
Listen up. I have something important to tell you guys. Two words. Lamb. Shawarma. Up until today, I was really pleased with the amount of good food I've eaten in my life. Petra's lamb shawarma has me wondering why I've never tasted anything as good as this in my entire life. This stuff is unbelievably delicious. I can barely handle it, you guys oh my gosh. I'm telling you. You need this in your life. ASAP. Do not go another day without trying this dish. There's so much flavor in this dish. I just feel like it's been cooked with a lot of love. It's amazing. I just.... wow. Please order it. Today. You will be doing your taste buds and tummy a favor and then we can bask in the deliciousness of this food together amen.
(5)Diane S.
I have been wanting to go to petra for a while. And I am so glad I did. I just order several appetizers, which was perfect. The babaganosh is so good! get it. Its think and flavorful. I also got the dolemhs and zaraha. Omg all so good. And the staff was very nice and was not shy about giving us extra pita bread. Also, baklava is yummy. Different from most i have. not ads covered in honey, more nuts than anyting. but still good I defiantly want to go back and try more
(5)Jim E.
Food was great. I really enjoyed the ouzi and would surely come back to this Jordainian Gem again if I am in the area. Service matches the food. Relatively small place so we showed up right at five on a Saturday and were seated immediately. Don't hesitate.
(5)Lan C.
Discovered this place on our last Seattle trip. And the food is delicious! After having dinner here the first night in Seattle, we ended up going back the very next night -- that is how much of a hit it was for my parents (who have a very particular palette)! And I liked our second experience even better than the first! The red lentil soup is delicious. And I cannot stop thinking about the veggie kabob - the flavoring is just right! My only complaint is that the greek salad is just average. I have had better, so I was a little disappointed by it. We will be returning the next time we are in Seattle (for the red lentil soup and the veggie kabob)!
(4)Sidhart B.
One of the best Middle Eastern cuisine , the meats are juicy, the rice is cooked to perfection, and the taste is amazing. Prices are affordable. Recommend
(5)Braden K.
SERVICE: 5 STARS. Our waiter was very hospitable, he knew his dishes and got to know our preferences a bit before just suggesting random plates. great guy who had a passion for good food, it was contagious and we all loved our dishes. FOOD: 5 STARS. DELICIOUS. honestly i'm not a huge fan of mediterranean food, but the way they spice, cook, prepare, and mix their dishes was incredible. -the garlic lemon chicken made me want to stand up and yell "2 CHAINZ!" like it was straight out of his cook book... no lie, no lie, no lieee-eee -the ouzi was great, a succulent mix of lamb strips, beef, spices, rice, peas and carrots. -lamb sharwama was spicy with a refreshing cream sauce. i'd choose the garlic lemon chicken again ANYDAY! all of the dishes were a tad salty, but the service, decor, noise level, and FOOD were 10/5 no doubt! the location was a bit odd, as we had planned on going out after lol :(
(5)Larry D.
Visiting from out of town, we came here for lunch based on the Yelp reviews. One of the best lunches I've had in a very long time. The decor is modest, but the food and service are outstanding. I had a lentil soup and the veggie kabobs. Just terrific flavor and the kabobs were perfectly roasted---even the zucchini wasn't mushy. I highly recommend Petra.
(5)Ruchi S.
The service is pathetic. They want to take your plates before you are done, and not once this happened on both my visits. But the food is great.
(3)C C.
Seriously good food. I have tried the: Falafel, dolmathes, labnie and hummus they are all good. The lentil soup was good but a little salty and the Spanakopita needed more feta for me. The pita is standard, I wish they hand made their own. The dish I was longing for was the scallops but it was disappointing, really didn't like the topping and the olive oil. I also, thought the scallops were not that fresh tasting. I think I'd try it again maybe it was an off night for scallops. The baba ghanouje, and rice are out of this world yummy!! Almost forgot, if you are brave and like mint tea, try the mint oregano tea, It's exactly that, strong in both flavors. I loved it, but I think a few might not.
(4)Beth O.
The lemon chicken is excellent! The lamb is also wonderful. The rice is creamy good. Very flavorful! Yes... lots of yummy garlic!
(5)David X.
Simply incredible. I had the gyro schwarma here. The price was fair and the meat was SOOOO tender and delicious. The mix of spices they use is right on the money. You also get a lot FOR your money. Overall, can't recommend this place highly enough. The food is a bit heavy, but you should be prepared for that going into a Mediterranean Bistro!
(5)M H.
This is my new favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Seattle, the food is phenomenal and the service wonderful. The baba g and fava bean spread appetizers were wonderfully tasty and everyone enjoyed their entrees. The lentil soup pleased, and I enjoyed the simple fresh salad prior to my shrimp entree that I just enjoyed for lunch today. Enjoy your trip to Petra!
(5)Malea X.
Eureka! My search for great Mediterranean food in Seattle has ended. Petra is amazing! The food is authentic, full of flavor and not dumbed-down for the American palette. I was even more excited that they participated in Dining Out For Life. The service was wonderful and our server was SO patient with the children in our group. I can't wait to return!
(5)Agnes K.
Amidst swirling snow, We had a Delicious meal. Petra Delivered! Oh, the Red Lentil Soup is sooooooooo good. I couldn't see red or taste a whole lot of lentil but it was a warm steaming bowl of savory goodness. Perfectly spiced with what felt like a dozen different complementary spices, the perfect amount of rice in the soup to give it some heartiness, and it came out two minutes after we ordered it. I'm spending a lot of words on one dish but this might just be one of my favorite soups ever. Top 5 for sure. I had the Ouzie for my main course - "Famous Jordanian dish offered to guests and family on special occasions. Rice, carrots and peas mixed with ground beef. Topped with sautéed pine and almond nuts, served with charbroiled chicken breast, and Tzatziki sauce." Need I say more? Mmmmmmm.... I will definitely be back for more. In fact, I could have that Red Lentil Soup every night for a loooong time....
(5)Taryn P.
My husband and I went here for a date night last evening and it was amazing. The food, the atmosphere, the service and the Belly Dancing was great. We were greeted kindly and sat at our table that had a nice "reserved" sign on it. Great to be seated, even though we were 15 mins early. Got to enjoy a bit of happy hour, feasted on appetizers and the main course. Our apps were the Baba Ganouje (sp?) and the Fried Cauliflower. And good heaven, they were both DREAMY!!! Then we each got the Greek Salad as part of our main course and devoured that. Then, I want to say the best part, but that's still to come. The main course. It was delicious. I had the Seafood Kabobs over rice and the salmon was flaky and prawns cooked just right! My husband had the Beef Shwarma and he was in hog heaven. Ok, the best part...the dessert. I wasn't going to order dessert, but when the Balklava is served to you "comped", you can't just turn it away. We both lapped it up and couldn't be more thrilled. Overall, the experience was wonderful. The restaurant was small, yet quaint. We timed our reservations well, as it definitely got busy, as I think most were there to catch the 7:30pm Belly Dancing entertainment.
(5)Manuel M.
If I know this place... I've tried at least 3/4 of the menu (there's a couple of things I haven't eaten yet) and normally go there 3 times a week. Really good service and most of the food is really good. Waiters and waitresses are really nice (hi Jon, Lucielle, Georgie and Tina!). I would specially recommend the baba ganush and the ouzi, although I'm aware many people love the chicken with garlic and lemon (which is great as well). The soup is great. The veggie combo is also pretty good. The lamb shawarma is also one of my favorites. This pretty much means you can find many good things, enough to keep you going there for a while. One of my favourite things is that I get to drink turkish coffee fairly often, and, if you're in the mood, you can eat a nice dessert with it. I wish there was some variety con desserts and I would love to see a bit more of Lebanese food, but the mixture they have at the moment is very enjoyable. Price is fair, maybe a bit pricey for most people to go every day, but surely great for that time you want to go out with a friend or a date.
(5)Henry D.
Wow! Amazingly good Middle Eastern food. The veggie combo blew my mind, everything on it except the falafel represented the best of its kind that I had ever tasted. Pretty cool decor as well. Cannot recommend more highly.
(5)Vicki J.
Stopped here for a quick lunch before a meeting. It was conveniently located across the street from where my meeting was in 40 minutes and Med food sounded good. This place was amazing. Very nice decor, I was a bit worried about price. No need to worry. All lunches were under 10 bucks. I asked my waiter which of two options he recommends. He picked well! I got the spicy chicken and brown lentil soup. The soup was nice with great flavors of sweet spice. The chicken was spiced nicely on top of a bed of the best rice I ever had. I had only planned on eating a couple of bites of rice as I try to watch my carbs. This was too irresistable. I stopped about 1/2 way. A good thing as I'm stuffed now. I can't wait to visit this neighborhood again so I can try more food at Petra's. I mentioned the rice to a friend who is also a fan. His response is "that's not rice, that's love." Yummy!
(5)Sabeen c.
Halal Mediterranean food in Belltown! Not too many of these spots that I've come across, so it's a definite plus for Petra's. Both times I've been here, I was served by the same waiter. Sweet guy, nice service. On to the food - I've had the beef schwarma, the lamb kabob and the beef kabob. I think I enjoyed the lamb more than the beef items, but overall it was all good. A few tips: 1) Lentil soup is good, but it tastes like DAAL (paki/Indian dish) 2) Hummus is DELICIOUS 3) Hot sauce definitely has a KICK to it. love the spice Good experience, i'd give it a 3.5 overall!
(3)Don L.
I'm not a rabid fan of Mediterranean food, but I do enjoy a good shwarma. And MAN O MAN! This place is AWESOME!!! Out of all the places I ate, this was my favorite!!! The lentil soup was awesome! I don't even like lentil soup. Trust me- this is no lentil soup like you've ever had before. Their kabobs are incredible. I had the lamb shwarma plate and upon first bite, a tear rolled down my cheek because my tastebuds were overcome with joy and love and all things good in the world! I also tried their Petra Spice Chicken...MOUTH WATERING! Honestly, every day I woke up in Seattle, I had to contemplate, "Do I eat at Petra again or try something new?" The only downside I would say is the price. It's a little bit pricey for what you get, BUT your stomach and tastebuds will thank you for it!
(5)Nicole Y.
I've ordered pick-up here a few times and I'm really happy with the food (never dined-in before so my rating doesn't reflect service, other than the friendly staff handing me my food and taking my money). :) The hummus and baba ghanoush are awesome, and I love the lentil soup.
(5)Zaphod B.
Delicious. Nice atmosphere and decent prices as well.
(4)Prianka N.
How many 5 star reviews does this place have? NOT ENOUGH. Came here with 2 other people for lunch when we visited Seattle and it was fantastic. We had a mezze platter, spanikopita, 2 types of chicken, and some lamb. Everything was well-priced, delicious, flavorful, and perfect. I am a Middle Eastern foodie and this place was a pleasant surprise, even despite being excited by the reviews. If it isn't impossible to get a table here, then Petra is underrated.
(5)Coleena S.
It helps that I was on a musabaha mission when I walked in to Petra on that cold December night. I heard about Petra from my best friend Nissy. She hipped me to the fact that this was the only spot in Seattle selling musabaha. I had to try it...and it didn't disappoint. We devoured the Fattoush salad, french fries with garlic sauce, musabaha and some turkish coffee. Delicious. If I'm in the area I'll definitely stop by again. The ambiance is a romantic low-light setting, ceiling high draperies mixed with a few middle eastern paintings peppered in every few tables. Try it, you'll like it.
(4)Sheila P.
After driving by this charming place for yeas I finally invited a friend to join me there for lunch. Lunch entrées come with choice if soup or salad. We both found the (vegetarian) lentil soup offering delicious. It was full of carrots, onions and enough garlic and salt to give us comfort on a rainy day. I ordered the lemon chicken dish served over rice. The chicken had a lovely lemon and garlic marinade with a bit of pepper to add to the already rich flavor. My friend enjoyed the Taste of Africa chicken served over rice. She shared a bite, which included sautéed peppers and garlic cloves. Both chicken dishes were generous and tasty, though I liked the Lemon chicken better. Total bill for both meals with no beverages was $25. Totally worth it.
(5)