Yum, yum ...and yum!!! Definitely stop by and try the lemon soup and the gyros are spot on!!! Take a break from the evening commute and stop off for a quick bite. Not much seating inside but outdoor tables are available. read more

Update! I have been going to Petra for years and today I just had the worst experience at this restaurant due to the unbelievably rude female cashier! I walked in and said to the cashier that I had called and placed an order, number 4. She obviously didn't hear me and responded with a very snarky "well we didn't ask for your name so you'll need to know your order number" in which I responded "I didn't give you my name, like I said it was order number 4" she quickly grabbed my card and processed my payment. When I confronted her telling her I didn't appreciate her rude tone, she began to get hostile with me starting to insult me. I asked her which bag was my order? She grabs my food bag intentionally ripping the bag off of the counter so I wasn't able to reach it, the bag is completely ripped opened while she was throwing a complete tantrum! Yes, the food I already paid for. Her coworker, quickly re-bags the food and ignores the tantrum she just threw. I asked for her name to make a formal complaint and she refused asking me "I'm not giving you my name. Are you going to call the police on me?". I never mentioned calling the police, I'm just not ok with being treated so disrespectfully. She proceeded to take her phone out and try to take pictures of me. YES, the worker who is also handling the food, IS NOW TOUCHING HER DIRTY PHONE trying to take pictures of me. Keep in mind this is during the coronavirus pandemic, so gross and unsafe! I asked to speak with the owner, Alex, who was overseeing the entire situation and he did not intervene at all in any attempt to make it right. Another worker named Juan agreed to speak with me outside, to which Juan didn't even acknowledge or apologize for how inappropriately I had just been treated. He refused to refund my food and told me to come back the next day because he would make all the food for free. Why in the world would I ever come back to this place? I'm shocked with how poorly they treat customers. I would highly advise taking your business elsewhere and avoid this entire place! They are absolutely terrible and the cherry on top is that they recently increased their prices a ridiculous amount. $13 for a salad when it used to be around $8. Unprofessional. Rude and not worth spending money at this awful establishment! read more

I really love Petra! There Gyros are so good! They use a good amount of dark lettuce along with tomatoes & onions and their tzatziki is very tasty. The pitas they use are thin and the lamb/beef is never greasy. read more

This is a small place. We had to work to make a table for 4 outside. Yes, there are small styrofoam cups for water. But you have to know to ask for them. My Nicoise (tuna) gyro was tasty. We also had a classic gyro. My son's comment was "yum, the sauce does not taste like ranch". The meat was tender and good. My wife had a shwarma sandwich. The chicken had a good flavor but also tasted too much like the charcoal grill. The pita bread is soft and pillowy. read more

I can't believe we haven't tried this place before. It's now a go-to take-out place in Orinda, and has great options for our vegetarian family members and those who enjoy meats. It's a small order-at-counter place with a few cafe tables, and my sister and I enjoyed a nice outdoor lunch there once too. Healthy food, generous portions, great flavor, friendly service. Glad to have this place nearby! read more

Amazing gyros with great customer service. The restaurant is small but there are tables outside. Highly recommend. Fast, fresh and affordable. read more

Really good food. They misunderstood my order but offered to make it good with free items the next time. VERY WELL DONE!

Regular customer.I work in Martinez, and live in Oakland, so it is on my way home. Last night, when I got home, I discovered that they had given me the wrong soup. No big deal. So today I called on my way home from work, to explain the error and request that they give me a replacement for the soup I had paid for yesterday. The woman was extremely hostile and told me I should've brought back the soup immediately and refused to replace the soup I had paid for. She told me I didn't return it the correct way, because I called the next day. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and I explain to her that I live in Oakland and she said oh well, "too bad.", and hung up on me. So I stopped at the restaurant on the way home, and again asked for a replacement of my soup. Quite rudely, she told me she did not have the authority, because the owner was not there. then, she refused to give me the name and contact info for the owner, and refused to give me her name, as well.Such disrespectful service. As if I would lie about a six dollar soup packaged in Styrofoam read more

The food is SO good but the lady who works there has the WORST customer service I have ever had. She is so rude I will never eat here again. I can't believe someone would let this rude, indignant, belittling person be the face of there restaurant. Really sad but I'll never give my hard earned money to a restraint that supports being rude to customers. read more

What the pregnant woman wants, the pregnant woman gets. That's why we drove out here specifically for the Greek Salad. (Arguing with hormones can be VERY hazardous to your health.) Fortunately, Petra is a cute, walk-up lunch/dinner counter with very tasty food. There's only seating for about 6 people inside, and I'm sure it gets crowded, but as to-go food goes (no pun intended), it's very good. We had a ridiculous-looking pile of food for just 3 of us, but we ate our way through almost all of it and took the rest home. Collectively we ordered the lamb & beef gyros, the rotisserie chicken, the "spartan piato" (chicken souvlaki and Greek sausage), spanakopita, and of course, baklava. The tzatziki (included with dinner platters), the sausage, and the rotisserie chicken were especially good, and you can order whole rotisserie chickens to-go. Catering and special events are available too. Prices are very reasonable, with entrees all around $8, salads and pita sandwiches about $6, soup for $3.50, 4" spanakopita triangles for $2.75, and baklava for $2. Our total bill for the night was under $40. Overall, an unusual option for dinner, but I'm glad her craving hit when it did. It sure beat watermelon ice cream and cheesy poofs. ;) read more

This is a little hole in the wall place that I've driven by a dozen times, but never stopped in to see what's up. My fiancé got in sorta late, so I decided to pick her up at Orinda station. I decided to find a take out place and so it was now the time to check it out. It was pretty good for takeout, esp in Orinda! The place is smaller than all hell. Smaller than the Starbucks next door. So don't plan on having a team lunch unless your team is 4 people. I had the shwarma which is cut off the doner spit. It was pretty tasty. The highlight though was the side salad. Man, that just made it all the better. This will be our takeout spot for Orinda. Very close to the BART station. read more

Delicious, every time. I typically get the regular size Gyro which seems to be plenty filling for one adult. Just take all the toppings and sauce - it's the whole reason you are there, enjoy. read more

This is a little postage stamp of a cafe, but boy do they churn out a huge variety of delicious food! I have been coming to this place since its last incarnation (at that time it was called Alekos), but I haven't noticed a huge change in the menu. They have fantastic gyros (both lamb and chicken), souvlaki, and grilled vegetables. There are two sizes of gyro sandwiches. The smaller size is good for lunch or a light dinner, but if you're really hungry, go for the large. Food comes out very quickly from the friendly folks behind the counter. There is very little seating (I think it's one table for four and two two-tops) indoors. There are also a few tables outside, but this is mostly a takeout joint. Trust me, you're not going to be able to get this food very far without wanting to dig in. read more

petra cafe is an hole in the wall eatery, just a few tables in and out for sitdown. eats: lamb souvlaki (6.95) -"marinated and grilled lamb"i -had tomato, lettuce, red onions, tzatziki sauce -meat kind of chewy -a bee really like the sauce/flavor, keep buzzing near me later crawled into the wrappers i put on the table. crumbs: -board pricing inside higher than menu pricing on window. lunch menu? -service ok -pricing reasonable. read more

Lambs are nice to pet, but better to eat. Yum. I love gyros. This is a tiny hole-in-the-wall, with a couple tiny tables cluttering the sidewalk, so don't bank on eating there. Good gyros, good roasted vegetables, good cucumber/yogurt sauce. The kids weren't big fans, b/c their meal didn't come with a crappy little toy that I have to toss when they're not looking. Beer in the cooler, quick service, not the cheapest lunch you'll have, but a nice tasty alternative. read more

I used to eat here every once in a while but I just found a long piece of plastic in a wrap. I think it was part of a bag that held vegetables or pita. So gross and dangerous, I had to warn. Too bad because I thought their staff made interesting (In a great way) food. read more

Best deal in Lamorinda! Lamb or chicken souvlaki includes marinated and char grilled meat, grilled eggplant and tomato and and zucchini, and basmati rice!! read more

Petra definitely has the "just how my mamma made it" feeling, even if the saying doesn't apply to your family. (Don't ask me how I think I know this) but traditional Mediterranean music emits from the room as I wait for my gyro. It should come to a surprise that their rotating fresh lamb and beef rolling around on the counter drown out the suffocating scent of popcorn just outside. (It's so toxic I even contemplated eating at the movie theatre. Glad I didn't!) My gyro came out superb with a ton of lamb. Although many may not agree, I wish there was more veggies! I'll ask for a bunny version next time. But as for the ambiance, it's about the size of my Orinda's babysitting family's kiddie play pirate ship- so maybe not that small, and it's unfortunately just as dirty. (Yes, it's an outside ship!) Maybe they don't sweep until it closes? I will give it to them, it was late in the afternoon. And as for the, eh hem, competition up younder, yes, I have tried both and although the competition's customer service is impeccable, my food order couldn't compete with Petra's. I'll be looking to try both shops again before I ultimately choose a go-to. read more

Tiny joint right next to theatre. Easy Hwy 24 on and off. Canned beverages only, no fountain. Beer and wine available. 9" traditional gyros wrap was delish, served up quick despite lunch rush on a rainy day. Price is right, I'll be back--with friends! read more

Stop changing your name it's getting confusing!!! Petra then Alekos and now I think it's called Alex's? Is it Petra again? Anyways, it's not about the name it's about the product and service that comes along with it. Both get 5 stars from me. Gyro wrap all day long. Yes I tried turquoise up the street, yes I regretted every bite. Greek fries and some lamb and I am a very happy camper. Also the pretty lady behind the counter is always smiling and moves with a sense of urgency. Never takes more than 3-4 minutes to get my found. read more

I've been to Petra Cafe once so far, and it was my first time experiencing Mediterranean food. The Falafel Sandwhich was Ah-Mazing! I also ordered Spanakopita, which was delicious. Since then, I have had Mediterranean food cravings, which is why I'm writing this review. Petra Cafe, you are in my daydreams. I will return for you, falafel. The man taking orders was a bit impatient with me and the 2 girls I was with... not sure why because I wasn't in the way of other customers? But for the future, it may be a good idea to decide what you are going to order before going in the cafe. read more

Small but delicious! My go-to for Mediterranean lunch. (Try the salads!) Friendly woman behind the counter balances the 'gruff but lovable' older gent doing the cooking. read more

Ate here some time ago and frankly don't remember much beyond that it was cramped and that the food was kind of so so. Greek food is one of our favorites, but this wasn't exciting and it was a let down. Made us wish we had gone to Turquoise instead, which we had passed up due to lack of seating. Ironically, Petra is even smaller. They just happened to have a table free. read more

Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines, so I'm stoked to have Petra Cafe close to work. Too bad I came here on my half-hour break and thought if I ordered a soup to go, it would be a faster option. I had no idea that ordering soup in a to-go container would turn out to be a 15-minute process. Regardless, the Avgolemono (lemon soup) was absolutely divine; I creepily eyed other patrons' food while waiting for mine, and saw some other amazing-looking plates as well. I'm not sure if my judgement was colored because I resented the solid relationship the employees seemed to have with each other, but they sure talked among themselves a lot behind the counter. I suppose that even if they didn't necessarily like their job, they certainly still liked being there. The interior was a tad run-down looking, but I won't be too quick to judge. I'd much rather frequent a cozy, laid-back, local business than another Daphne's (blecch!). There's also outdoor patio seating so you can enjoy the atmosphere while donning a pair of Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and channeling your inner (or outer) Lamorindan. Stop by Sweet Dreams afterwards for a sweet treat! read more

Formerly Aleko's. This place has good food. Very small and only a couple tables. Parking is awful cause it's next to the theater. I always get a pita, usually a standard gyros. Sometimes the chicken. The Athenian is a very good steak pita, and costs more too. If you like gyros and don't mind picking it up, give this place a try. oh ya, the beverages are overpriced. I never buy anything to drink there. I think it's an Orinda thing. read more

Woah. Another tasty trip to Petra with an important update... Do Not Miss their Baklava!! read more

Love this place Generous portions, great flavor, always fresh ingredients, and friendly service The owner is always there and concerned with quality and service which makes a huge difference Could eat there every week read more

Falafel. This was pretty bomb. One of the best falafels I've ever had. They grind their chickpeas to the right consistency, not too coarse and not too fine. I hate the places that grind it too coarsely. Plus, their tzatziki and pitas were BOMB! The pita was just the right thickness and chewy yet pillowy. NOMS! Gyro. This was pretty good, albeit not perfect, because I feel that the meat could be more flavorful. But it was flavored enough that you knew it was gyro meat. I liked how you could see it spinning on the vertical grill. Like I said before, I love their tzatziki and pita so that made it even better. NOMS! Baklava. Their baklava is one of my faves ever! The walnuts were ground to the right consistency and I loved the ground pistachios on top. Yummy in my tummy! read more

Delicious grilled salmon and veggies plate and their lemon soup is one of the best I've ever had. Simple, pure, Greek with no added bullshit. Their gyros are great too, but the salmon is my favorite. And whatever they use for seasoning or marinating the grilled eggplant, zucchini, etc. is to-die-for! The prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get. The downside is that you pretty much have to get take-out because they only have a few tiny tables and let's just say there is no real ambiance. It's just a hole in the wall with delicious Greek fare. The staff is friendly and pretty fast at preparing your meal. I like to order dinner while I'm on bart and walk over and pick it up before continuing on my walk home. I'm so happy I discovered this place. read more

Hole in the wall by the Theatre, 2 crappy tables inside, 2 crappy tables outside where you can breathe exhaust and pray that whomever is parking in a car in the spot you're in front of keeps a firm foot on their brake. Been coming here for a few years and didn't even notice the name change. Guess the lady behind the counter bought out Alex-the-Realtor who used to own it (or is she related to him, and the name change is just some BS marketing/legal maneuver?). It's not a full blown Greek restaurant, it's a fast in-and-out Greek place. Anyway, the rotis chicken is excellent, as are the gyros. They have 2 "types" of gyro on the menu, one's called a gyro and one's called a "wrap". Order the cheaper one - they're the same damn thing as far as I can tell, except one is a buck more, and I've asked once or twice and never get a satisfactory explanation re: the diff. Sorry, Aleko/Petra, you can't have my extra dollar until you tell me why I should part with it! read more

Pretty good gyro sandwich for Orinda. The meat was juicy, and they put just the right amount of sauce. The bread was fluffy and warm. I've been here twice, and the first time the fries were good, but the second time I was really disappointed. The fries tasted really average. They were still thick, but they weren't salty. The people who made them just dumped a lot of black pepper (why??) on the fries. There's not many tables or places to sit, so it's best if you take your order to-go. read more

This isn't much of a review since I only ate here once, for lunch. The Greek salad with gyro meat is screamingly good. The meat is perfect, not to tough not too rare. Veggies are fresh. Might be best Greek salad I've had in Bay Area. read more

I always get the Gyros Wrap, which is the larger of the Gyros sandwiches. When they're good, they're damn good. There have been some occasions when they were off. I think some of those experiences for me may have been back after the ownership transition from Aleko's to Petra's. I've had 'em when the onions were overpowering, sliced too thick. I've had 'em when they forgot to put tatziki sauce on it. I've have 'em when the meat wasn't really in the sliced form you'd expect. Most of those inconsistencies where a while back. I've had 'em when the tomatoes were mealy. That's been the most recent reason for inconsistency. I also get the Dolmas on occasion, and there have been some inconsistencies there too: too loosely wrapped was the prime issue. As other's have said, it's small inside, so best for take-out orders. But there is seating on the wide sidewalk, so when the weather is nice, that's a good option, too. In the end, I keep coming back, for maybe ten years now. And it's not just because it's the closest Greek option. It really is because, despite those occasional issues, it really is good when it's good. read more

Great Gyros and chicken salvake (just the chicken) The food is great here, It;s a little hole in the wall in down town Orinda. I have never had anything by the Gyros, Slavake, and spanakopita, but the rotisary chicken they have displayed look awesome. The owner is kind of an asshole and doesn't seem to care about your buisness but the food is amazingly better when he is there. This aspect woulden't bother me so much if it wasn't such a small location but what are you going to do. Good food is good food. read more

Tiny place - not much seating, but just enough to get a place to sit and then leave once done - food is so good that it wont last long. Really great falafel wrap - Pita was fluffy, lettuce crisp, falafels were just tasty and Tzatziki was so fresh. The hint of dill made the whole thing - it was the cherry on the cake. Their spanikopita is divine - light, crisp, and filled with a ton of spinach and feta. I had to go back for a second one - was too good! read more

I really like this small little Greek place. Orinda food options being limited I'd been looking for a salad joint like this one for a while. It's perfect for a quick lunch on the go or even a sit down meal if you manage to get there when the few seats are not taken. My favorite options are: The chicken salad The salmon salad The falafel plate It's not the best I've had but it's affordable and tasty. read more

Second time back - equally as good as the first. Had the grilled salmon salad, hummus plate, and grilled gyros plate to share. Outside seating. Relatively fast service. read more

Petra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Orinda, California

So delicious! I got the Falafel Wrap and it was one of the best falafels I have had in a long time! Great place!

Had the lamb stew today. Not good. Tasted like it had been sitting around. Lamb was in huge and oddly shaped cuts. And too chewy. Vegetables were mushy...way over cooked. It's too bad. This is a great location and looks like a cute little local food stand. I wanted to love it, but, unfortunately, it was poorly made. read more

Just walked in at 9:08, craving a gyro- and the kid at the register says, "sorry we're closed". Yelp says it closes at 9:30. The door even states it closes at 9:30. I was so disappointed. I pointed out the door sign and Yelp, but he just said- yeah sorry we're closed. I think he was just lazy and didn't want to stay till 9:30 on a Saturday night. Not cool. read more