We ordered the Petra Mixed Grill, which came with rice and a side of baba ganoush. The chicken, beef, and kebab were all flavorful. They were big, hearty chunks of meat that stayed juicy and tender, never dry. My top favorite was the babaganoush. This eggplant dip wasn't too sour, wasn't too salty, and that smoky undertone made it absolutely irresistible. We also ordered the Maklubk, a traditional dish featuring a fried half chicken served over a generous mound of rice. The chicken had beautifully crispy skin and well-seasoned. The rice was impressive-soft and aromatic, layered with eggplant, cauliflower, onion and potato. Truly unique. Portions were generous. We walked out with two boxes of leftovers. The service was good and the dining area was clean and comfortable. The dishes took about 25 minutes to arrive. But once the food hit the table, it was clear the kitchen wasn't cutting corners. The chef took his/her time, and it showed in every bite. We had a genuinely enjoyable experience here. read more

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Came here last night for dinner and I'm currently having my leftovers as I am writing this review. The food was so good. It wasn't busy on a Wednesday night and we were seated right away. We ordered the lentil soup (big enough to share) and the Sampler Appetizer to start. As my entree I ordered the grilled chicken kabab with my two sides as salad and hummus. The server advised it would take about 30 minutes for our food to come out but idk why he said that because it really didn't. Shortly after our appetizers arrived and once we finished the apps, the entrees arrived. It felt no longer than any other dining experience that is on time. There was complimentary pita and a dip brought to our table and WOW. So good. The pita was so hot and fresh and fluffy while the olive oil in the dip..... you can just taste how it's not the olive oil you get at the grocery store. The red paste in the dip was a little spicy but very enjoyable. The lentil soup tasted homemade and the sampler appetizer plate had the best grape leaves I've ever had. The hummus was delicious but really, the baba ghanoush was my favorite I think. The eggplant tasted like smokey/ charred before being mixed up and wow. It was next level!! By the time my entree came I was practically full. But I had a little of my kababs and they were cooked and seasoned so, so well. I am enjoying my plate today and it still tastes just as great as last night. I will definitely be back here soon!!! read more

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The place was very spacious and can accommodate 11 girls! Quick and fast service. Really creamy humus, the beef was a little bit salty and dry but overall not too bad! read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Beef Shawarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Went there for late lunch after the Grand Prix race. The service was great & they were very helpful. The music wasn't too loud so it was perfect. We ordered the Lamb Mansaf coz I've been craving this & grape leaves (dolma). It was so good. The meat easily came off of the bone & the yogurt sauce was perfect mixed. read more

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We were visiting from Texas and decided to stop by Petra Mediterranean Grill -- so glad we did! I ordered the chicken kabob and my husband had the Petra Mixed Grill (shish kebab, kufta kebab, and chicken kebab). Garlic sauce was a great complement for everything. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The rice and salad were delicious, and I'm still thinking about the dressing on the salad -- I wish I knew what was in it! I forgot to take a picture before I started eating. Great food, great service, and an overall wonderful experience. Highly recommend! read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken kabob, rice & salad. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The fried cheese appetizer was okay- liked it better with the sun dried tomatoes. We split a Greek salad with shawarma. Good. Next we had the mixed grill- the grilled flavor was delicious (not butane). The lamb kabob was prepared deliciously - no gaminess! The chicken was flavorful and moist, and the beef was delicious and tender - fantastic choice!! The hummus that we chose as a side was also fabulous- as well as the rice! Service was good on a slow Sunday night. Mom and pop clean interior. read more

Taste is 10/10 very authentic Arabic food. Mansaf was definitely my favorite. The presentation is excellent and customer service is great. Everything was on point and authentic. read more

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If you are looking for an authentic Mansaf or Mandi dish this is the place to come! They do these dishes so well with a huge portion of rice- which is a plus! The hummus is also a must every time we come here! They are always super welcoming and prompt with service! The restaurant is simple,spacious and clean. Check this place out for some amazing dishes! read more

Absolutely no hesitation to say one of the best foods that Tampa has to offer; a complete hidden gem. We had the chicken skewers and a beef shawarma. The absolute star had to be the garlic butter sauce that came with our meal which paired will of the food tha came out. No fluff, No B.S. just great middle eastern cuisine. 5/5 read more

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Very delicious, lots of food, and a good price for everything. Extremely filling. Complimentary bread and oil was amazing also!

A fantastic Mediterranean place! I went with a group of friends and we enjoyed an array of dishes including shawarma, lamb shanks, falafel, hummus, and more. Our service was great, but the kitchen was a little slow, but worth the wait! Definitely will be coming back again. read more

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My family and I come here often to eat, every dish we order is always good. Sometimes the restaurant is a bit cold so bundle up when you visit! We had the chicken platter and the chicken shawarma. You can choose a variety of options for your sides. read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - a plate of chicken and rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

It was a great experience the food was Made with love, excellent customer service, we wish to have a restaurant like that in Orlando.

Came here for an event and loved it! the food and atmosphere was amazing! very kind and sweet server!! the chicken shawarma was incredible, and don't get me started on that garlic sauce, the combo is unbeatable. i've been enjoying arab food a lot lately and this will definitely be a spot that i come back to. the kebab was also delicious a lot with the rice, so much flavor and melts in your mouth. very homey and cozy spot. read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Petra serves quite possibly some of the best food I've ever had in my entire life. The portions are MASSIVE and the food is so flavorful. I'm going to be dreaming of their hummus forever. Our server was really kind and attentive as well! The vibes all around were just super fantastic. I'm glad we chose to spend my husband's birthday here! We'll be back! read more

Great food and service.best Arabic halal restaurant in Tampa.there food is always fresh tasty I will come back again and again. read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Delicious shakshouka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The best Mediterranean food I've eaten in my LIFE!!! The Mandi Rice was well seasoned and so nostalgic. The Shawarma platters were very phenomenal and the hummus was to die for! read more

Ordered pickup. Order was ready on time, nice and hot. Delicious food and great servings.

Hummus is hands down best I've ever had! Always fresh and very flavorful. Ordered for delivery and they give large amounts. S full 16 ounce container. I highly recommend. read more

Great service. Wonderful food! Always nice, accommodating and food is amazing. Hummus and chicken pita are the best. Ordered a house salad with chicken kabob meat and it was huge. Salad for 4, easily! read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We came last night after Gasparilla and they were pretty busy with people trying to sober up. They were quick to take our order and very friendly. Unfortunately someone at the table next to us threw up all over himself and their table. The restaurant staff handled it with incredible grace and class, moving us to a new table, apologizing profusely numerous times, lighting incense nearby, and offering us a few complimentary items to make up for it. Five stars for the way they handled it alone, but the food was also an excellent.This was our first time here and we are looking forward to coming back. read more

Amazing food, the new chef brings authentic flavor to the kitchen. Tastes just like mama makes it.

We wanted to have dinner on Saturday night and were craving for Mediterranean food so we searched near us and saw Petra Restaurant. Petra was around 12-15 minutes from our place and looked like a nice restaurant with ample parking space. Upon arrival at the restaurant, we checked in with the server and were promptly shown to our table. Our server, Ali, greeted us with menus and water; the restaurant's ambiance was delightful. Shortly thereafter, Ali brought over oil and Pita Bread, which made for a delicious starter to our dinner. Upon perusing the menu, we ultimately settled on ordering two dishes: Chicken Kebab with Basmati Rice and Babaganoush, and Chicken Mansaf with French Fries. The service we received was satisfactory, and our food arrived promptly. For our starter, we indulged in the scrumptious Chicken Kebab. The meat was expertly marinated with a blend of flavorful spices, resulting in a mouthwatering dish. Served with fragrant basmati rice and creamy baba ganoush, the meal was a perfect combination of taste and satisfaction. I recently tried Chicken Mansaf for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by its delicious flavor. The dish was new to me, but it quickly became a favorite. The sauce complemented the Mansaf perfectly, making it a truly enjoyable meal. This restaurant is incredible for enjoying delicious food. read more

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Best mansaf in town. Food always fresh and delicious one of the best restaurants in Tampa.

Came here for dinner on a busy Saturday night. Heard so many good things about this restaurant and decided to check them out. If you're looking for middle eastern home-cooked food, don't look elsewhere; you've arrived! This is the spot to eat your mansaf, musakkan, stuffed zucchini's/eggplants other than various grill options they offer. I heard their mansaf (Jordanian traditional dish) was good and I was craving it so why not. When the dish came to my table, my eyes opened up like I've found the hidden treasure. Authentic and delicious. Service was amazing by Breanna and everyone in the restaurant. The price point is on the low end considering the various dishes. Highly recommended for a solo dinner, a family dinner or even date night. The food exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to come back to visit for other dishes! Service 5/5 Food 10/5 Price 5/5 read more

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Visiting the area and we found this place! Food did not disappoint and service was good. It was five of us guys so we did the family boat Falafel as the appetizer. Only thing we didn't like was it was to quiet, wish there was some kind of music. read more

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Probably the best shawarma in Tampa. Hands down.. mic drop. If you like Persian food this is a must. The hummus and pita alone is legendary. Know what you want, because you're not getting any help from behind the counter. I'm slowly working my way through the menu and haven't had a bad dish. read more

I've never wanted to give a restaurant 6 stars so badly!! Fantastic experience all around. Let me just start by saying this was one of the best meals I've had in a long time (and I don't just mean since COVID). We stopped into Petra on a recommendation from a friend and Petra exceeded our already high expectations. We started with the Hummus which looked absolutely beautiful and tasted even better. Possibly the best hummus I've ever had. We then shared the Shakshuka which is one of my favorite dishes and, again, probably the best I've ever had. For the main course I had the Mansaf which is their special with Lamb, Ice, and warm yogurt dip. This dish alone deserves 5 stars, and is better than the lamb at Bosphorous. The food was stellar, but the best part of the whole experience was the service. Our server Sundra (sp?) was one of the nicest people I've ever encountered. She seemed genuinely excited that we loved the food so much and had an incredibly friendly attitude. Just a charm to be around. After this amazing experience I would have given them my wallet, but the bill only came to a whopping $31. I would have gladly paid double for this experience. Petra is 1.5hrs from me, but I will be back as soon as possible! read more

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Petra is one of my go tos for fresh and delicious Middle Eastern food. I've been here many times and have never been disappointed with my meal. For an app we usually get the labneh, but decided to try the mesabaha and wow! It was amazinggg. All of the entrees were delectable as always - cannot recommend enough! I will say sometimes the service can be a little slow - never bad just slow to get food out. I'm assuming they have a small kitchen and a larger space so that may be why, but this time was the best and fastest service we've gotten, maybe they've hired more staff. Either way, is absolutely worth it every time! read more

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Great food and service. Lamb mansaf was amazing, soft creamy. Appetizer sampler and mixed grill alsa great. Portions are big. Worth trying. read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Lamb Mansaf - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Went here for a dinner after a conference in Tampa near Busch Gardens. Was a little concerned when we rolled up and there was no one in the place besides us!! But wow, what a hidden gem!! Amazing food. Great portions! Absolutely delicious. Great service. Will go again!! read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Mixed Grill Kabobs, basmati rice and house salad. Yummmm!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Petra is an amazing middle eastern restaurant with all the best food. Their hummus is divine and garlicky! Falafel? No problem! Labaneh? Wonderful homemade yogurt! Kibbe? Delicious with pine nuts! We've never been disappointed and appreciate their service also. read more

We decided to give Petra a try after having a poor experience at 2 other Tampa Mediterranean restaurants. Ambiance: The place is casual, clean and comfortable. There weren't many people inside so it was nice and quiet. Nothing fancy, but that was expected. Service: Our server was friendly, and attentive. No complaints at all, very pleased. Food: Kind of a mixed bag, but this might be more personal preference over good vs. bad. Some things like the babaganoush were delicious and other items were just okay. Nothing was bad though, just nothing to write home about. For the most part we enjoyed our dinners but not sure I'd run back. read more

The food was so delicious, good favor. The restaurant is very clean and the restrooms were clean too. Clean bathroom! Clean kitchen! read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This place was amazing fir authentic middle eastern food. HUGE PORTIONS Go to the dessert/ spice shop down the road afterwards too.

I ordered from here alllll the time during the pandemic. My most recommended item is the Turkish kebab because it is simply swagtastic. Owners and workers are all middle eastern, made me feel right at home. The seats are clean, the art work is authentic to the Middle East, and the music that plays transports you to the M.E. Conveniently, there is a hookah lounge right next door if you're looking to get a little buzz before or after you eat their food here. Also, they serve ayran here... dont forget to order this with your kebab. Simple, well cooked, clean mediterranean food. I used to buy from this place every day. Worth every single penny. read more

After not having been here for the past year I was pleasantly surprised to hear that this business is still open. I had asked an employee at Sultan Market (another review to come) about Arabic restaurants still open in the area and Petra came to his mind immediately. I remember them as being very hospitable, reasonable in cost and with a very flavorful choice of food. I wasn't disappointed in any of these cases this time. The Sultan employee had recommended I order mandi, a meat entree (chicken or lamb) on a bed of plump, juicy yellow rice and golden currants with a side house salad. I wasn't disappointed as that was one of the two specials for the day. Along with it I ordered a dessert (warbat) to eat there and another (baklava cheese cake, I think) to take home. And, of course, I couldn't forget a cup of Turkish coffee. The food came quickly and I was surprised at how much there was of it. I got a half chicken baked in various spices (I could detect cloves and a fine dusting of pepper but everything else was very subtle) and a king size bed of the rice. The chicken and the rice were juicy, not dry or tasteless. The currants mixed in the rice gave it a mildly sweet flavor. I'm not sure what type of oil(s) were used in the preparation but their flavors in no way diminished or clashed with the overall taste. Employees wore masks and the tables were spaced far enough apart so that anyone stopping in would feel comfortable dining there. read more

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Great food. I went three times. The half chicken is cooked to the bone..no pink, wet, kinda sorta bloody meat close to the bones. The yellow rice is to die for .. and the dipping oil and spices they give you before your food comes is awesome. read more

Food is perfect. My husband's family are Egyptian and they all hold this place as the gold standard in the Tampa Bay Area. Everyone is so happy with their food. It's very authentic and high quality from their POV, but just straight-up delicious from my own POV. read more

The food was delicious and the service was equally as great. Management is fantastic. A great experience. My friend and I came in as we're both visiting from out of town and it's been a great experience. I got the beef and chicken shawarma plate and he got the mixed grill plate. Both were delicious. I recommend anyone to stop by. read more

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken and beef shawarma plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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