I was very pleased with the delightful ambiance of this quaint little place. Between the music, the rich decor and warm colors of tapestries and pillows, it definitely felt warm on this Fall evening! I enjoyed the chicken stew that tasted like a typical home cooked meal. I was pleasantly surprised with by the spices that gave it a 'zing' and a hot, but tolerable twist. The chicken stew came with saffron rice, which was and tested what to be expected of a rice accompanying a stew: a bit more on the overcooked and gooey side. The portion was large and I wasn't able to finish my plate. I then felt like something sweet to wrap up my meal and had some halva for the first time. I was surprised by the very dense consistency of this dessert, albeit not sweet at all. It was a rather interesting discovery and I am not sure I will order this again not only because it tasted pretty bland despite the ingredients, but also due to its of the consistency/texture. Three slices came onto the plate, sprinkled with orange and almond slices and orange syrup. Once slice would have sufficed considering the density and how full it makes you feel. I had a wonderful, flavorful and delicious tea to accompany the halva. I gave it a 4 stars because of the higher price tags of the above food items on the menu. read more

I REALLY wanted to like this place, soooo bad. The service is great and the decor is so cute and presentation is gorgeous. The issue though is that their food just isn't seasoned. And it wasn't one dish, my friend and I ordered appetizers and both ordered main dishes and none of it was seasoned. I was very disappointed because I really wanted to like this place! read more

This place is amazing! I have been looking for a quality Mediterranean restaurant and THIS IS the place! Will be back again soon!

One of the best Mediterranean Greek Middle Eastern places i have been. Highly recommended

Ordered the chicken special. Service- great! Ambience- unique but smoky when we were in there- smoke from the kitchen. Food- generally good, but chef still needs to learn how to plate a dish for the 'star' of the dish. Two chicken legs held onto the rim of the dish while a lake of tzaziki sauce filled the middle. Potatoes on side were spiced rather oddly too my pallet - I would not order the potatoes again. If chef continues to improve some day this restaurant will be great! As it is, locals enjoy eating here on Friday nights. read more

I've been living in Burien for two and a half years and only recently visited this gem in Downtown Burien. My husband and I chose this place for Valentine's Day, well actually it is certainly more I than he wanted to visit this place :) And I can say for sure that we were not disappointed, and both fell in love with this cute restaurant! We had booked a table the day before, knowing that there would be quite a lot of people on February 14, and we were right. When we got there, it was full and they only had one available table, which we were happy to take, but soon after I saw two other couples who also made a reservation, but had to wait for the next available table. Yes, this place is not very big, but it is part of a special experience, as well as the excellent service and attention they give to every visitor! Our server was the owner and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. He asked us a couple of questions to help us order something that would match our preferences, and bingo he hit the bull's eye! We had two specials of the day: chicken kebab on a bone and lamb shack, as well as a mezzo platter for an appetizer. The meat was perfectly marinated, and it was so tender that it just fell off the bones.. As for the drinks, we ordered two glasses of the most fabulous Spanish full-bodied red wine, which was also recommended by the owner. In addition, we ordered an interesting tea called Moroccan tea, it was made from fresh mint leaves, orange and lemon and ginger slices, it did not need sugar. It was so soothing and refreshing, and I will definitely make it at home soon, thanks for the recipe :) Overall, we had a great experience in this place, we tried some new flavors, we saw some other dishes on the menu, which look like very appealing to us, so we will definitely be back! read more

Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen - Mezze Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Burien, Washington

What a find. I wandered in looking for a quick Gyro on the go. I asked for a menu and didn't see any sandwiches on it, plus the place is empty, so I think the owner sensed my lack of commitment. In the most friendly way, he jumped in and said "I think it's best if you let me take you for a tour." He started to serve me sample plates of each of four different dishes he had bubbling on the stove behind the serving counter. Each was delicious, reminding me of my travels in Morocco, and we settled on a combination of 2 plus saffron rice which he then brought out and set for me at a table. My favorite, an orange chicken stew sweetened by apricots and raisins, was succulent and amazing. By now, we already chatted and gotten into backgrounds of places we had visited. He left me to eat in peace, but when I asked a few more questions he pulled up a seat at the table next to me and proceeded to get me laughing hard about his foray into the world of online dating. We were interrupted only twice by the phone ringing, both times I gathered by regular customers trying to set up large parties for their friends. This guy seems to have won the small town of Burien over, deservedly so. The owner, Moussa, is just totally a great, easy-going, down-to-earth guy, and the food was light, healthy, and delicious. This random happening totally brightened my day. I'll be back. read more

Owner is very very nice. Chicken was moist and tender. Steak was seasoned well but med rare requested came oyt well read more

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A solid not bad; I am not anxious to go back, but I wouldn't be disappointed if everyone else in my group really wanted to go here. The drinks- Besides being out of beer, and 3 different wine choices (because the didn't have about half of the wine on their menu) when I finally did order my wine, the server poured my little taste (the one you get to ensure the bottle isn't all corky or something), filled everyone's else's glasses, and didn't get to me. When someone at the table pointed out that I was skipped, her response, was, "Oh, well you guys can order another bottle or buy a glass." I'm sorry would have been a nice start... Thanks...not. I'll pour myself next time. The wine wasn't bad, but it wasn't the wine I wanted. I felt the wine was priced at a decent price point, though. We weren't gouged more than any other restaurant, and it was nice that they had many options that didn't take you over $40. The food- We decided to dine family style, which wasn't the best idea because these plates aren't really set up for that. I tried many things, and they were pretty good. The stand out was the lamb skewers, but I think I could have gotten equal quality at other places for a smaller price tag. I think this place would do better if they focused on a few things instead of offering so many options. The chef really does have some strengths, but they are lost on some of their dishes. The hummus was also very good, and the pita had an excellent taste and texture. The service- Good, not great. While I wasn't super impressed by this place, it's worth a try. Many of the people in my group loved it, so perhaps this place will become your new fav- it just wasn't mine. read more

What a great meal and even better hospitality! The owner and chef came right out with samples of the specials for us. They were so good we ordered all three of them. The portions were very generous and we had plenty of leftovers for later. Did I mention the baklava? Super delicious! Finally, the owner shared his salad dressing recipe with us and we took home his secret ingredient: pomegranate extract! Go there today and enjoy! read more

I love this place! The food is so good and so is the service. You'll will absolutely find a dish you love here! The owner is so friendly as hospital as well. Food is made by him in the kitchen, which is in plain sight. It's like having a home cooked meal surrounded by warmth and colors! read more

Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen - Beef kofte and rice! Yum - Mediterranean Near Me - Burien, Washington

Super good and fresh food. My wife and I both had vegetarian specials, but the meat dishes looked great as well. Reasonably priced and very friendly staff. The baba ganoush is really good, which we had as a starter. Wonderful place to have dinner. read more

Me and a few friends came here for lunch while wondering around Burien. Oh boy, was this place great! We didn't know at all what to expect so we just walked in to try it out. The first thing we noticed was the awesome interior decoration. The place doesn't only serve Mediterranean but also pulls you in to the whole experience (I would know, I am from the middle east). Their menu offers a great variety of dishes from different regions\countries, and the prices are very reasonable. It's been a while since we went, so I don't remember the details of the food other than the fact that it was DELICIOUS! The owner is also super friendly. He took a lot of time to answer our questions about the different dishes, providing a detailed explanation on how it is prepared, where the dish comes from, and what goes well together. Later as we had finished our meal, he came back to our table and spend some time to just get to know us and share some stories, which was just a great experience. Overall, he was super friendly and just the conversation itself was worth the trip to the restaurant! Overall, it was a wonderful experience, big thumbs up! read more

Marlaina is what dining out should be all the time. My friend and I came by for dinner on Saturday night and we had just missed the rush. We were immediately seated and the owner recognized my friend, who had dined here twice before. The service was excellent where we felt welcomed from the minute we stepped in. The food was phenomenal! The Mezze platter is huge so come with a big appetite or order the half portion. I ordered the kebab delight and all the meat was cooked perfectly. We also got the Turkish coffee and a baklava to share. The coffee was so creamy that it's worth not sleeping tonight. A must visit if you're anywhere remotely close to Burien. read more

This place is marvelous. The atmosphere is warm and the food is prepared with care by what appears to be there owner. Best Mediterranean food I have had in a long time. Get the beet salad if available. read more

Fabulous food and wonderful staff! The waitress warned me that the vegetarian stew I ordered was a little spicy but I ordered it anyway. When I tasted it it was in fact too spicy for me (I'm 6mths pregnant and I know I love the stew but I got instant heartburn this time I tried to eat it). She was so sweet and even brought me some cooked eggplant to see if I'd like that better. Love this place! read more

Very tasty food. Never been disappointed. Baba Ghanoush is soo good. Everything taste fresh. They have awesome customer service and very welcome. read more

If I could give less then one star I would definitely give way less Disgusting food Beef was so hard and chewy Such a bad experience with this place read more

Yummmmm! Ordered lamb kabobs that were super flavorful with garlic and other spices and yummy hummus too. We also ordered a salad which was good but we ordered takeout and it got a little soggy. My husband ordered the lamb stew and loved it. The owner and staff were very friendly. We will be adding it to our normal restaurant rotation! A diamond in the ruff. read more

Everything is homemade with love and absolutely delicious! It is best customer service experience I have ever had. They treated us like old friends they hadn't seen in years. We felt very welcome and our business was appreciated. read more

Tried them for the first time this weekend. Salad, Gyros, and Salmon all were five stars. I ordered take-out but the place has such a great vibe inside. It made me wish that my family had voted to eat in. I'd have to say this is probably the best Greek food that I've had in Seattle. read more

My wife and I dined at Marlaina's tonight and had a truly wonderful experience! The owner, Musa, was incredibly friendly and helpful and made us feel right at home. I'm of Armenian descent and Musa and I chatted about our ethnic backgrounds before we ordered food. We had he mezza plate and shared the kebab combo and it was exceptional. I grew up eating this kind of food and it tasted like the food my grandparents would make. Make sure you get their Turkish coffee and baklava to round out the meal. We couldn't have been happier with the food or the service and we will for sure be coming back! read more

Definitely a hidden gem in Seattle area, this was an incredible dining experience! The food was outstanding, the ambiance and patio was perfect, and the owner and staff were extremely friendly and welcoming! We ended up sharing a bottle of wine and stories with the owner after it closed down, he is quite entertaining!!! We can't wait to return!!! Highest recommendations!!! read more

I LOVE this place!! The first time my husband and I stumbled upon it, we were greeted by the owner and took his recommendations! The Mesopotamian Beef & Lamb Stew, and the Salmon Kebab! STILL our faves! Come for lunch or dinner! Your tummy will be very HAPPY! read more

Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen - Watch your food being made with love and take in the warm decor! - Mediterranean Near Me - Burien, Washington

I'm not sure why it's taken us so long to stop in, but I'm so glad we finally did! Marlaina's is a warm, intimate restaurant. The owner and staff are welcoming, nice, and funny! We ordered the beet salad, salmon, Mesopotamian vegetarian stew (chickpeas), and another spicier vegetarian stew (potato). It came with pita, as well as a french bread served with spices, olive oil, and pomegranate sauce. Can't forget the rice and salads either! We also ended up ordering baklava and cardamom tea at the end. Quite a feast! Our favorite was the chickpea stew - perfect flavoring; great texture, not mushy at all. They were so gracious to our young child, bringing samples of what we were considering ordering to see if it would meet our needs. Between the good food and the cozy atmosphere, we will definitely be back! read more

This is the second time we have eaten here. It gets better every time. Food is excellent. Service is superior. The owner Musa treated us like family. read more

Cozy adorable place centrally located in the midst of downtown Burien. Food very good and service excellent. We both had the lamb and beef stew and it was great. Big portions. The Persian Tea was wonderful. I would definitely go back. read more

This is a great little restaurant tucked away in downtown Burien. The owner is so welcoming and friendly. He is very passionate about his food and ingredients! I did not expect to find Free Range chicken and Grass Fed beef, but it was a welcome surprise (on the front of the menu). The attention to the ingredients shows though with bright fresh spices and succulent flavor combinations. Do not make the assumption that all the stews are the same just with different meats. Each has a unique composition of favors that play well together. read more

Owner are super friendly and down to earth! Food is amazing, fresh, healthy, and delicious! Good portions! 10/10 recommend.

This place is amazing! I used to come in once a week to deliver wine and then end up getting a plate! Always random but everything has been awesome! read more

Excellent food, especially the stews. The nutmeg chicken kebab was very flavorful. Another chicken kebab was less so. Good salads. Generous pour on wine. Friendly, service. Nice ambience with Turkish rugs on the wall. read more

The owner Treated me very rudely Certainly didn't appreciate waiting 30min for an order of bread read more

I drove by the quaint restaurant with beautiful flowers on the outside. I parked by SUV and walked in - I was so impressed with decoration and the welcoming feeling - I met the owner and I didn't have time to sit and eat - I just wanted to grab a menu to go - He was so welcoming - He insist me to taste a small sample of his fantastic food - OMG - It was beyond delicious - And the place was so very, very cleaned. I totally fell in the love the atmosphere. I will definitely be going back for the glass of wine and more fabulous food:-) Cheers~ read more

We submitted an online order on Valentine's Day. This was our first experience with this restaurant. When I arrived to pick the order up, the owner told me that there had been issues with the online ordering system. No worries though; he happily took my order and gave it priority. He also offered me a seat at a table (even though I was dressed more for take-out than dine-in) and poured me a complimentary glass of wine while I waited. The food was excellent and we are definitely going to continue to order from here. read more

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! Had such a wonderful experience here and already can not wait to come back and bring my whole family! Moses the owner was so wonderful and kind and genuine. Truly such a breath of fresh air to find a nice warm and inviting local spot where the owner is engaging and authentically involved in your experience there. Fantastic service and delicious food!!! The lamb stew was incredible and he gave me a wonderful wine recommendation that accompanied it perfectly. He sold me on Halva over the usual baklava I would order, and it was AMAZING!!! I can not recommend this place enough... It's soulful and lovely. THANK YOU MOSES :) read more

This place is amazing. Great food, great wine and great service! My husband and I stopped by on a whim and we were treated like VIP's. Authentic Mediterranean food and wine. Felt like I was back in Greece. read more

Came here for my mom's 60th birthday. The owner was delightful and wonderfully patient with the kiddos. The food was phenomenal and the wine delicious! Atmosphere is very cultural and homey. We had a great experience and will come again and recommend to friends ! read more

Delicious food; excellent service, and cozy atmosphere. Will be a repeat customer. I was at Marlaina's for the first time a couple of nights ago to celebrate my partner's birthday. As someone who needs to avoid gluten, I often find it stressful to try out a new restaurant. But my partner's mom called ahead and learned that they prepare the pita bread in a different area from the main kitchen area, so there is as little possibility of flour getting into the other food as possible. And while we were there, they were very conscientious and kind about making sure that the food I was served was safe. Given some of my past experiences at other restaurants, this stands out. Feeling safe and comfortable made my dining experience a pleasure. My family and my partner's family have already decided to meet up again at Marlaina's soon, as we all enjoyed the food and cozy, quiet atmosphere so much. read more

Such good and healthy food. Outdoor dining is on a busy street but with plantings and music you feel like your elsewhere. Give it a try

A very warm and comforting atmosphere with friendly owners. There is a good array of food choices, Both vegetarian and otherwise. Pleasant service, food is well prepared and reasonably fast to the table. It does get busy for good reason. I am not sure but they might take reservations. Another food gem in Burien!! read more