These reviews of the food at Phoenicia are spot on. It is absolutely delicious, all the way down to the slight lemon taste of the rice and the dill of the dill pickles. The salad is Mediterranean, not your regular tossed salad with Greek dressing. The baklava - either almond or pistachio! The garlic sauce and tzatziki are both unique to the establishment and definitely empty when we were done with our meal. Sharama, hummus, and tabbouleh each had remarks made in their honor. Buy your favorite and savor your decision with something else of your choice. The service is what the owner can do, while taking orders, cashiering, and directing the kitchen......oh and working as a professor. His personality is worth the visit to the restaurant but do not leave without eating! Relax. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is relaxing and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Since we're from out of town, visiting as a result of a friend's death, it will be a while before we return, if ever. Thus, toast us with a bite in our honor. We will be chewing elsewhere, until we will meet in the earth that awaits us all. read more

I cannot say enough about how delicious this food is. It brings back so many memories of my childhood. The owner, Sam, delivers excellent customer service! read more

This is primarily take out. Shawarma, gyros, and baklava are fantastic. Owner works the counter and he is friendly, and downright entertaining. Service isn't fast, but everything is prepared to order and is worth the wait. read more

Tucked away in the Ballwin area off of Manchester Road is this delightful little cafe with the friendliest face in town! Me and my partner stopped in for a gyro meat platter and chicken kebab platter on our way home. The food tasted very fresh, the portions were generous, and the owner was so kind that we must make this place our new local spot to grab a nice bite to eat. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Lamb Gyro Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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I'm a big fan of good hummus, and this place did not disappoint! I placed an online order, which was quick and easy. First off, the hummus was absolutely delicious, and the large size was very generous! The Shawarma meat--oh my goodness--was incredible! Hands down, my favorite. The gyro meat was also quite good. I also loved that they serve whole, fluffy pitas instead of cutting them up. Such a great touch! I'll definitely be ordering again. read more

It's been a hot minute since we have been back to the Phoenicia for some Shawarma, but I can confirm it's still solid! Ordered takeout through the Yelp app and it was ready in about 30 minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]No one was inside at 5:30 on a Friday, so it was quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Easily picked up our food from a nice, young lady who was friendly and helpful. Ordered our go to: - chicken shawarma sandwich (4.25/5): very solid! I have had this exact sandwich at least 10 times and it's always consistent and excellent. - large salad with chicken shawarma (4/5): very generous salad with an excellent dressing. - hummus (4.5/5): it may be the the best hummus in the area! Very good and extra creamy. read more

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Phoenicia is a gem! Not fancy or large but the food is consistently delicious. The salads are always fresh and flavorful. My favorite is the Fatoosh the toasted pita and binigar and oil dressing is simple but well done. The Falafel, shawarma, both beef and chicken are well seasoned, juicy and delicious. Make sure you try the pastries. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Beef Kabob Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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My friend and I were at another restaurant in this neighborhood but ended up at Phoenicia for dinner. Neither of us had ever been. We placed a to-go order and took it home to eat. I ordered the Falafel Plate with rice and hummus. I asked for some skug (or any hot sauce) on the side but never received it. My vegan friend ordered tabbouli and a vegetable sandwich. We both enjoyed our dinner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]You could certainly eat here but it's a good place to get it to-go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner was super friendly and talkative and enthusiastic about his food. I'm sure we'll be back. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Falafel with hummus & rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

Stopped by out of curiosity and leaving here a customer for life! The food is authentically scratch-made Mediterranean-Lebanese and incredibly delicious. The chicken Shawarma was tender and flavorful. The hummus paired with garlic sauce, pickles, and fresh garden veggies inside a warm, freshly made pita was perfection. The owner recommended the Manakish Meat pie, and I'm so glad he did. It has bold, spicy meat flavor, cooked inside a warm, freshly made pita. The best part of the experience was the service! The owner treats you like family, and it's clear he pours his heart and soul into every detail of his restaurant. A true gem! read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Chicken Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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Friendly service from the owners. They are so nice and helpful. The Sujuk Sandwich is outstanding if you like things a little spicy. It isn't to spicy, but just right. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It isn't a place to expect an atmospheric experience, just enjoy the great food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

There is a lot of good food in this tiny restaurant. The restaurant is located in a small strip mall and if you blink you would miss it but that would be a mistake. Decor: It is very low key, very casual. We grabbed our drink from a refrigerator cabinet and they had no regular cola at this time. I am not sure they have servers, as we had a late dinner and ordered at the counter. Carryout would probably be best but for the 2 of us this was fine. I had the Chicken Kabob dinner and my husband had the Beef Shawarma dinner. He liked the rice pilaf more than I as it seemed to not have a lot of flavor but it was not clumped together and seemed fairly fresh. The chicken was fantastic, like it was roasted over an open fire. The garlic white paste is really my absolute favorite for dipping my chicken in with some pita. The hummus was good! For SO many places in St. Louis you can not say the same. My husband loved the Beef Shawarma. The portions were generous. The owner(?) that was cooking came out to talk after the food was done. He was friendly and gracious. He has a gracious way of speaking, with years of obvious experience in talking with the public. He did not talk our ear off as we ate and was pleasant with some small chat afterwards. It made our first visit a nice one. We will be back. TLDR: Carryout is best. Good food. Great hummus. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Chicken Tawook/kabob dinner. This comes with 2 sides. I picked hummus and rice pilaf. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

Vegan olive oil baklava is on point Great service and best baba ganoush in west county read more

I can't wait to go back! From the moment I walked in and received the warmest welcome, I knew I was in for a treat. The owner engaged and shared that this was their family restaurant with unique recipes. When I go to a place like that, where they take pride in the food they prepare, it is always fantastic, and this is no exception. This was my first visit, and as it turns out, the two other tables that were already there were also visiting for the first time. The owner asked if I had any questions about the menu, which looked incredible. I went with a large Mediterranean salad with chicken Shawarma and the pistachio baklava. The salad was huge, and before I even put the dressing on, it was delicious, sprinkled with Greek seasoning over the fresh vegetables. The dressing was extra-virgin olive oil with lemon and vinegar, which was so good! It was very filling, but the table beside me had just finished raving about their baklava, so I couldn't resist. The pistachio baklava is sweetened only with dates, pure rosewater, and pure orange Blossom. It was perfection! It was the perfect amount of sweetness. Next time I return, I will get the gyro, as the table beside me was ordered, and loved it. I highly recommend Phoenicia Deli. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Mediterranean salad with chicken Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

Best service ever,the resturant is very authentic!! It's Mediterranean Lebanese cuisine. I missed on not knowing this place for the last 2 years living while living St.Louis.They make delicious pastries ,I would come here for breakfast,must try for sure!! Parking lot available and free! I recommend the cheese and meat Manakish/Pies. The dozen is only for $20. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a family run business and so the ambiance & hospitality was the best I've ever seen![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Manakish and pies - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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------- ------- Current Review: January, 2024 ------- It is an honor for us to have been served by Sam and Reyna for such a wonderful dinner at Phoenicia tonight, and to have this be our first review of 2024!!! We would give Phoenicia 6 stars if we could. Reyna and Sam are wonderful people with a fantastic restaurant; they graciously welcome and serve you and make you feel completely at home! For food, tonight we expanded and ordered new items from their sizable menu, and we were even more impressed than usual... - Beef Shawarma - Samakeh Harra - talipia with the most wonderful sauce on top... - Shish Kafta - wonderfully flavored beef presented atop their house salad, with a side of some amazing french fries - each came with two sides... we picked the house salad, and rice pilaf Tonight we each ordered, and we shared... sort of... the beef shawarma... it disappeared in the blink of an eye... so I didn't get any of that, and that was ok. The fish... Samakeh Harra WOW!!! the fish - Samakeh Harra - is so good... coriander, cumin and other flavors are a taste sensation... so good! Beyond these fantastic items, we will definitely order any/all of the items we've ever had at Phoenicia... all of their food is wonderful Sam also made us some hot tea... the most wonderful tea I've ever had... black team infused with orange tea (!!!)... so flavorful... hand brewed by Sam while Reyna made the meal... WOW!!! Thank you, Sam & Reyna! ------- ------- Previous Review: April, 2021 ------- Another great dinner from Phoenicia!! (abbreviated) Familiar Favorites: - Our daughter loves their avocado smoothies. - My wonderful wife loves Reyna's great Greek salads. - Meat Grape Leaves and beef and also chicken shawarma for me. New Items we like: - Baba Ghanouj - eggplant with other flavors, to eat as a dip with pieces of pita bread... Reyna's bread is the finest you'll taste anywhere. - Sujuk - spicy... flavorful spicy sausage in pita / shawarma (abbreviated) :) Sam and Reyna, we'll see you soon! ------- ------- Previous Review: July, 2020 ------- More great dinners from Phoenicia!! Sam and Reyna make wonderful food. (abbreviated) Appetizers - Foul Moudamas - chick peas and their amazing flatbread - Falafel Main Courses / Entrees - Greek Salad... with chicken on top - Grilled eggplant - Chicken Shawarma - Beef Shawarma - complete with wonderful pickles inside - awesome! - Gyro Drink(s) - Avocado smoothie - our daughter loves these Beyond this, Sam and Reyna are both very nice people and we're happy that we are getting to know them more with each visit! ------- ------- Previous Review, June, 2017 ------- They brought the Mediterranean to us, on Manchester, next to the bike shop! Great on the outside Great on the inside Absolutely amazing together My wife took her bike to Ballwin Cycles for a check up and then went to Phoenicia and brought home a menu, clearly interested in returning for lunch. So, after running some errands, we visited. It was filled with couples, soccer families, and us. The owner/chef was helpful working my wife to the gluten-free items and pointing my daughter and me to chicken and beef items. We ordered the following amazing items: - Greek salad - lettuce, tomatoes, feta, red peppers, and Greek dressing, tossed just right - Meat Grape leaves - Chicken Schawarma - Gyro - And then a baklawa for desert (baklawa is proper spelling, though baklava is how it is sometimes spelled) He also brought an extra pita when bringing us the main course. This was all amazingly awesome. Good, tasty... right proportions. Great pita... really great pita. Great meat / flavors... even better than the awesome pita. Relaxing afternoon. Wife and daughter (son was refereeing soccer), good food in a nice restaurant... one of life's simple pleasures. Heading home, I thought... the Gyro and Chicken Shawarma are both sandwiches, and they were made with pitas, and that is flour and that is why my wife only tried the tasty meat, to avoid the gluten.... ... and the pita bread was good enough to eat on its own - "tasty on the outside" ... and the chicken and the lamb were both awesome - "tasty on the inside" ... and when you put them together, "even tastier together!" We somehow had half of the chicken shawarma left over. I ate it the next day... just turned the small cast iron skillet to Medium and few minutes on one side and a few minutes on the other side. And while leftovers can never be as good as "just cooked," it was still amazing. When the leftovers are that good, you know you'll be back. The owner shared that they are from Lebanon. WELCOME to town! And thank you for welcoming us to your homeland via your great cooking! We'll see you again soon. ------- ------- ------- read more

I love that this place is in the neighborhood and delicious. Order is always correct and on time. The owner always friendly and welcoming. I typically order falafel, tzatziki, rice, hummus and the portions are large enough to last another day or two. Great spot for fresh food quick! read more

Best Lebanese I've ever had! Better than my Lebanese grandmothers cooking!!!! Amazing salad, shawarma, and baklava. Such a gem to have this in west county! read more

Friendly family owned whole in the wall of a strip mall business. Greetings from the time entering then discussing my friends trip to Middle East, ordering, quickly made & served food were all enjoyed. No problem complying with my friend's keto or my renal diet with what was on the menu. I am glad with the healthy options. The place is small and had few patrons. I hope they survive this COVID-19 economic downturn. They offer delivery through Grubhub and other delivery services accordingly to the signs on the front windows. What I ordered- Baba Ghanouj sandwich was great, but I had to ordered grape leaves with rice appetizer (also great) to fill me up. (Plus ate the naan (?) flatbread served with the salad my keto friend wasn't eating.). The yogurt based dip was nice on both the grape leaves appetizer and the flatbread. My friend really liked the lamb salad and didn't offer me a taste. I did snag a picture to show you. A couple bottles of spring water completed or meal. read more

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Still checking out the Mediterranean scene in STL and next stop is Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli (PMD). This review is going to be short and sweet, PMD is a simple Mediterranean deli, great menu simple delicious traditional food and reasonable prices. We went with our go to meals, Mediterranean salad and chicken and beef shawarma sandwiches. First the Mediterranean salad is the best in the city. Sandwiches came with an incredible amount of meat perfectly complimented with traditional garnishments and sauces. Very simple restaurant, and was taken by complete surprise. Wife told me we're coming back 2 minutes after trying our meal. Like I said shorty and sweet, give Phoenicia a try, you're gonna like it! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I had the best experience ever my moment of entering into this space and the kind welcome[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] ,my Falafel sandwich was the best I have ever ever had in this life time ,everything was fresh and cooked to order. Thanks read more

My first time to Phoenicia today and it was fantastic. I was welcomed by Sam upon arrival and asked if I had been here before. Shared that I have not but was thrilled for a spot by my house that served Zaatar! I was excited to scoop this along with a Gyro Sandwich for lunch The Manakish Zaatar was absolutely delicious. Perfectly toasted with the right amount of Olive Oil & Zaatar seasoning. Kept the crunch with a bit of fluffy texture. My Gyro was perfection. The meat was beautifully done, the wrap was toasted famously and all the added flavors with the gyro meat blended to be the perfect balance! The sandwich was filling while also being amazingly light. I could tell all the ingredients were fresh and both items were carefully crafted. Sam was incredibly nice and provided a bunch of information on their business when asked. I look forward to coming back again and again! They have an indoor area to enjoy lunch there or you can order online/call for pickup! read more

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You need to try this mom & pop restaurant! This is the real deal. We ordered 3 items to feed 2 adults and 2 kids and everyone loved it. You can tell everything is freshly made and done with care. Customer service is excellent! Portion sizes are big! You're making a mistake if you pass up this place. read more

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What a great find!! We went out thinking Indian food last Friday night, but encountered multiple too-long waits. I checked my trusty Yelp! and suggested we switch to Middle Eastern food. Hubby was tentative, since the old Saleem's in U. City set our bar pretty high long ago. Honestly the purse strings are a bit tight these days and I was looking for lots of flavor at low prices. So I spot Phoenicia Mediterranean DELI - a word that shouts bargain! So we went up the street to check it out. There are just a few (5-6) tables, a deli counter and a drink cooler with some simple prints on the wall (they are more reminiscent of Italy than Lebanon, but that okay)! I ordered the falafel sandwich and some tabouleh, to which the owner, who took our order, said, "Ah, you know what's good!" My husband requested the Beef Sharma plate with hummus and Mediterranean salad. The good came fast and was fantastic!! I haven't had a falafel pita that good in years. We selected some baklava to go for dessert and had a pleasant chat with the owner about the fresh, homemade and unprocessed style of their food and mentioned our very picky son and some of his preferred foods. He had some suggestions, based on those details, for what we might have him try if we take him next time (no macaroni and cheese or formed and fried chicken hunks here!) and the suggestions might be just the right thing! We WILL be back and I'm bringing friends! Give them a try and thank me later! read more

Been going for years and never had a meal I did not love. Some of the best tasting food off of Manchester is found right here!!

I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. This is the best Greek food we've had in STL. The portions are huge and the flavor is amazing. Truly an amazing place. read more

To be perfectly fair, I was the first person to arrive upon opening. I was in the mood for a gyro and my go-to place was closed. I was greeted at the door upon arrival and was really upbeat by the enthusiasm shown. Understandably the grill needed to get warmed up and there would be a wait...no problem. Food arrived and I felt that I just got rewarmed product on an older bread with not that much meat, veggies or sauce. All pretty dull. I'll give them a second chance but only after they are in their stride of the day. I wish them success. read more

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Been here twice, food is always amazing. The chicken shawarma is my favorite. The owner is very nice and always strikes up conversation with his customers. Definitely will be back! read more

Phoenica Mediterranean Restaurant is a small family-run restaurant in Ballwin that delivers quality, authentic Mediterranean dishes. The owner is extremely friendly and accommodating. Even though he is so busy, he tries his very best to cater to all his customers' needs. At our first visit, we tried the veggie combo ($11.5) that has hummus, eggplant, grape leave wrap and toubuli. We also tried the chicken kabob lunch combo ($7.99). Both are generously portioned and delicious -- though we lean towards the veggie combo. What a lovely place! We will be certainly to be back. read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Veggie combo ($11.5) - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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This is one of the best Mediterranean cafes we've found in St. Louis and other places we've visited in the U.S. The garlic "secret" sauce and labneh are beyond description good (and homemade daily). Must tries, especially if you're vegetarian: baba ghanoush, falafel wrap, labneh wrap, Greek salad, and domalthes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The cafe is tiny, and many of the employees are family.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is great. We recommend it highly! read more

We routinely get food. Never misses the mark. Love the service! Love the appetizers, gyro and shawarma! read more

Only a 8-10 tables to sit and eat but this authentic deli is all about homemade Mediterranean food. From shawarmas, baklava to Baba Ghanouj, all are flavorful and served with a smile by the owner! Order takeout if you don't have time to wait and be served to eat there. Tried the Sujuk (spicy Armenian sausage) starter; wow it has a nice kick, so hope you like it spicy HOT! The slices were grilled and served atop some fresh hummus, both very tasty. Also tried the Baba Ghanouj, fresh roasted eggplant, stirred with tahini sauce, garlic and salt, excellent flavor and fresh. I really liked that they provided a basket of large pieces of freshly-made thin pitas, perfect for dipping or wrapping the appetizers. Then ordered the beef Shawarma sandwich/wrap, enough to share if you have a lighter appetite. Tasty thinly sliced beef wrapped with lettuce pickles and a homemade sauce (also a little spicy sirachha like flavor). Wrap was served temperature hot from the griddle, and so reasonably priced. Between the 3 dishes above, two of us had plenty to eat for dinner so took some baklava home for dessert - tried the walnut and pistachio baklavas. Liked the walnut a little better as seemed moister plus the walnut didn't overpower the delicate flaky filo pastry, and just the right sweetness too. But the pistachio one was full of nuts and flavors. Lots to try if you have a taste for simple and homemade Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy! read more

Phoenicia Mediterranean Deli - Tasty beef Shawarma pita wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Ballwin, Missouri

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This place is great! A little slice of Lebanon in Ballwin. Family owned, all home made fresh. Call ahead or if you order in person, remember all is home made to order so give yourself some time to wait (it's worth it). Large menu with lots of options to choose from, including meat lovers, vegetarians and even vegans! My kids LOVED the spinach cheese manakish. The chicken shawarma sandwich was great, and the falafel and hummus was very tasty and filling. We also tried the desserts, which were a great change from the normal American desserts. Try this place out to venture into the Middle East and let your taste buds enjoy! No indoor eating at this time due to covid restrictions read more

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This has been the best Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food I have found in the St.Louis area. The meat lovers combo is perfect to get a taste of the best items they have at an affordable price. The family that owns and runs this place is also very friendly. read more

This restaurant was such a beautiful and lovely surprise! The food was EVERYTHING I was hoping for but not expecting. The vegetarian grape leaf sandwich had a fantastically balanced and flavorful profile. The texture was perfect, with a crisp outside and a fluffy inside. The chicken shawarma sandwich won the hearts of both my husband and daughter. Then there was the cheese bread with black seeds (#2 in the bread section of the menu). OMG, the cheese. So good. Finally, the service and atmosphere. Sam, was such a lovely and sociable host. We instantly felt welcomed the moment we walked in the door. While we were there we witnessed such a beautiful interaction between customers that hadn't met before. They instantly bonded and within minutes everyone in the restaurant was laughing together and having fun. The love abounds in this restaurant. Noticable in both the food and the bonds. Thank you for such a lovely time! read more

If you're planning to stay here to eat, don't expect it to be fancy, but do expect it to be fresh and good. I stopped tonight and had baba ganoush topped with sujuk and a chicken tawook sandwich. Everything was cooked to order and very fresh. Clearly nothing comes from a freezer around here. The sujuk had some spice but definitely was far from overwhelming. The baba ganoush was nice and smoky. The sandwich was large and very fresh. The amount of sauce was good. The man working - who I believe is the owner - was very nice and friendly. I'd been here before, but it had been quite a while as it's not super close to me. I will have to try to get back more often. read more

Today we came here for the first time to pick up lunch. The owner met us with a huge smile. He was very nice, very friendly. Most of our food was already ready. The owner entertained us for a few minutes with a lively chat. He told us about Lebanese food and some culture which was very interesting. We picked up our food. He comped is some items which was so so nice! Our first order was the falafel was to die for for. Another order the chicken tawook sandwich was amazing! The third order the manakish was delicious! We will be back! read more

Wow! Some of the best mediterranean food of any kind that I've had in STL. Everything is great. So good that I decided to pick up a feast from there to show off to my family tonight. And I was just there 4 days ago! Good portions with everything seasoned deliciously. I've been dreaming about it for days. Wanted to go for a while now, but dinner only hours made that hard. Now, I'll stop in anytime I can! 10/10 have and will continue to recommend! read more

Ordered takeout in these Covid times. Amazing falafel and babagaouj. DH enjoyed his Kafta platter with rice and salad. read more

food is delicious and the staff is simply delightful. I highly recommended this establishment.

This place is a small hole in a wall place that is nestled off a pretty busy street. One of those blink and you'll miss it places. The server was pleasant and the owner was nice but OMG! It took about an hour to get our dinner!!!!! No joke! The food was good but not that good to have to wait that long for. And it wasn't consistent. Meaning two out of five got their food first and they were pretty much done by he time the rest of us got our food. There were people who apparently called in their order and they had to wait a long time also. As good as the food was, I won't be coming back. I think the cook needs to hire an assistant. read more