I used to live in Mason, about 2 miles north of Phoenician Taverna. First time there was for a late lunch. After a Great Clips haircut, on the recommendation of the stylist, I tried it out, was very impressed. Been there many times since, never been disappointed. I've since moved to Liberty Twp. but the Phoenician still beckons. Had dinner last night there with my wife. It was a wonderful experience. I felt it was high time I wrote them up. We started with an excellent double-hop IPA and a great Lebanese red wine, I think it was called Kefraya. Gonna seek it out locally, maybe at Jungle Jim's. As always, the pita bread is fresh, oven-hot and delectable. The shankleen appetizer is outstanding, a lovely fusion of greens, lentils, feta cheese, olive oil and spices. Wife ordered schwirma - slow-grilled combo of sliced chicken alongside sliced beef and lamb. The waiter obligingly substituted a side of couscous for rice, no extra charge. I had a braised shank of lamb in a rich tomato sauce. Both entrees were delicious. As always, the portions were very generous, so we took food home along with complimentary fresh pita bread. Besides the great food, the service is superb. The owner makes a point of stopping at each table to ensure that the diners are happy. We look forward to our next visit. read more

My best friend wanted to take me to Phoenician Taverna for the longest time. She raves about this place and been coming here for years. Finally she made reservations for Saturday evening (it is recommended because they get super busy). We got there and was greeted by the owner. BTW, was very down to earth. So their menu looked good (Lebanese food). There is so much to choose from and hard to decide. I especially loved their drink menu, especially wines. We ended up ordering: Appetizers: Baba ghannouge M'hammara Taverna falafel Dinner: Shawarma chicken Kebab mixed grill Drinks: Chateau kefraya, Les Bretches Almaza Pilsner My favorite from the appetizers is the eggplant and falafel! Super fresh and the bread that came with it was so good. Even the dipping sauce was amazing. My Shawarma chicken was super delish. You have to put the garlic butter on the rice! It gives it great flavor. My Mr enjoyed his meal as well. We definitely had to get a to go box because there was so much food. But we will look forward the next day to eat it. Overall, the service was great and I loved the experience. We can see ourselves coming back for more! I can see why my best friend loves it here! Highly recommend you try it. read more

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A couple very close friends of ours recommended we try this spot with them and we're definitely glad we did. The food was fantastic, the service was awesome, and the atmosphere was very laid back. We even met the owner who was immensely friendly and welcoming. We went for dinner on a Saturday evening. For weekends, reservations are strongly recommended because they get busy FAST. They're only open for dinner hours too. Their menu is pretty big with a plethora of options to choose from including lots of appetizers, flatbreads, shawarmas, kebabs, falafel, and lots of tasty desserts. Their libations menu was very nice too, with numerous options for beer, wine, and spirits. (Try the Almaza for a crisp and tasty Pilsner) all at great prices. Here's what we had: Appetizers: Baba ghannouge M'hammara Taverna falafel Dinner: Shawarma chicken Kebab mixed grill Drinks: Chateau kefraya, Les Bretches red wine blend Almaza Pilsner Hoegaarden Belgian wit bier They also give you unlimited fresh pita bread with a delicious dipping sauce. Everything was incredible and cooked to perfection. We'll definitely be coming back here again. Unfortunately, this time, we had no room for dessert, but maybe next time. read more

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Absolutely delicious! I've been here twice now and both times, I've been blown away by how good the food is. Starting off, you are given some fresh pita bread. I could not stop eating the bread with hummus! The appetizers were all great. The falafels are a MUST. I also love the lentil soup. The calamari was good too, but a lot spicer than I was expecting. The servers were extremely friendly, but it did take a long time for the entrees to be ready. The place was packed so I wasn't surprised. Worth the wait though. I definitely recommend it! read more

Another PERFECT meal at Phoenician Taverna. Food and service were Exceptional, as always. Never ceases to amaze me how hard the owner works to make certain that everything is perfect! We ate there on a Thursday night, so it was a little slower than our usual weekend visits. The owners greeted us at the door. He also stopped by our table FOUR times during our meal. Then when we asked a question about a dessert, he came by personally to answer. JUST AMAZING!!!! read more

The food was good but the bread with all the dips was phenomenal. I know people don't expect that out of a review but I have to mention it. If you are a bread person you will want to leave with a basket! Service was fantastic. We got the taverna falafel. Very good. Then got the cabbage special which was ok, but my daughter got the shawarma Lahme and loved it. I will be back. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Taverna Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Service provides excellent suggestions for a real taste adventure. Appetizers make a good dinner choice with a good drink.

Incredible meal. All ingredients were high quality and fresh! Looking forward to returning soon! The fresh pita an apps were so tasty! read more

Phoenician Taverna - Fattoush, feta, kibeh - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Simply the best Lebanese restaurant in the entire area. Pita served right from the oven amazing entrees and the best Kibeh in town.

Lentil sup is one of the best! Shawarma is very good too. And for those who like spicy food, as I do, be sure to ask for harissa! You can spread it on bread instead of jam! I really liked it. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Food was very good and service was even better the Chef actually comes out and greats guest.

Visiting from out of town- excellent food and service. Fresh bread, diverse flavors. Quality of ingredients and expert preparation (you can watch) = great experience for all ages. read more

Our latest stop at Phoenician Taverna was nothing short of amazing with our waiter Gary. He recommended food for us to try throughout the menu and a bottle to pair. Gary was very kind, funny and taught us some about Lebanese culture. It was busy on Saturday night, but Gary made us feel like we were the only ones there! My boyfriend and his family have been coming to the Phoenician for over 10 years - the quality and consistency is superb. They have been so quick with the food recently! If you want to be in and out, you can. But if you want to take your time and enjoy the ambiance, it's possible too. When you make your reservation, ask for Gary and tell him you saw the review on yelp! My star rating: 5 - must go!!! 4 - liked it, give it a try! 3 - it was alright 2 - I probably won't go back 1 - turnaround and run read more

Phoenician Taverna - Our waiter, Gary, was excellent! He recommended a perfect wine for our food pairing. - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Was in the area for a work trip and visited this restaurant. The food and service was PHENOMENAL! Highly recommend

The service and food hits the spot every time! They're super quick. You need the pita and hummus sampler plate, trust me.

Best mideastern food in the city! Such a great hidden gem. Must get is their mezze sampler. The staff is always attentive. One of my favorite Mason spot! read more

Service was great, waitress did her job and some high school girls were filling waters, clearing plates etc. in a team effort. Food was very high quality, I could tell the pitas were also baked fresh on site. The dips were tasty, the smokey one being my favorite. My entree was good but I think the pricing was a little aggressive for the plate sizes. $22 for a vegetable entree is a bit much. The 5 star review comes from the staff's honesty. I dropped my wallet with $120 in it and it was promptly returned with no cash missing. Really appreciate it! read more

Phoenician Taverna - Eggplant entree. I'm not too familiar with this type of food. It was high quality but a bit small for $22. - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

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I ate here as part of a group of 10, and had a fantastic experience. The ambiance was very sophisticated and luxurious, and the Lebanese offerings were authentic, and flavorful -- a real sensory festival for the taste buds! I loved the Manakish B'Jibne (cheese flatbread), which seemed to be like a spicy Lebanese version of pizza. The Fatteh Bel Ghanam (traditional yogurt lamb dish) was absolutely perfect -- the lamb was so tender, and the spiced yogurt sauce gave the dish a cooling kick! All the breads were home-made in-house, our server was wonderful, and the owner came to the table to visit, and to explain the repasts in front of us -- specifically what you dip into what. Everyone was thrilled with their meals -- they experienced, tasted, and left feeling pampered and satiated. Strongly, strongly recommend this establishment, as it's the whole package!! read more

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Been going to Phoenician Tavern for years. A strip mall restaurant not to be missed. Plenty of parking unlike eating downtown. The owner is such a great host and the staff always take great care. Always plenty of naan. Lots of space for a large table but call ahead. Never had a bad meal. My favorite thing to order is the platter so I can have a taste of everything. Ashta for dessert! The Lebanese red wine is great with the meal or to take home. read more

This was the best Mediterranean food I've had in Ohio! I loved the food so much and hope to return once I'm back in Cincinnati. We started out with the hummus and fries. The complimentary pita bread was the fluffiest, warmest, freshest pita I've ever had. The hummus and fries were 10/10. For an entree we did the chicken kabob. It was bursting with flavor, perfectly cooked chicken and vegetables. Service was great and I loved the restaurant ambiance as well. I wish this was in Columbus!! read more

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They food is awesome and the service is amazing. You do need a reservation and can call for one even if they are not yet open. Highly recommend read more

Simply amazing! Yes, you should eat here. I ordered the Fatteh Bel Ghanam (lamb), falafel, and baklawa for takeout. Portions are generous. The lamb was tender and flavorful. Falafel was good, and the baklawa sooo good, definitely worth getting it. read more

First time eating here, very impressed with friendly service, and food choices. I wasn't familiar with some of the dishes but described in English very clearly and I loved my choice of Chicken Shawarma DJAJ. The rice was cooked perfectly, the chicken dish very flavorful. The pita bread and hummus so good. read more

This is one of my favorites in the city. Their quality is so consistent. Love the hummus and baba ganoush. They make excellent kebabs. Its a little pricey but its definitely a worthwhile experience. It's got a nice atmosphere and is good for date nights also. read more

My wife, son and I recently visited Phoenician Taverna for dinner. Overall, the food is fairly decent but not sure it is worth the premium on price they charge versus the other myriad of Mediterranean style options in the Greater Cincinnati region. What brings this review to a one star for me (which I rarely give) is the customer service and hospitality we experienced which rates below what you would even find at most fast food chains. To begin, the hostess was not very welcoming and almost looked down on us because we didn't have a reservation. Despite multiple booths being open, she made the comment that we would have to sit in the middle because all the other spots are for people with reservations. Not a very warm welcome to start our dinner experience. Here is where things took a turn for the worse. Our server came over to our table and proceeded to spill two full cups of ice water all over my wife. She was soaked with her jeans looking like she had wet herself from hip to toe as well as her phone. They brought over small cleaning/dusting cloths that smelled like chemicals to dry her off, but the way they acted was to sweep it under the rug as fast as they could. The owner didn't apologize and the server did not seem sincere in her apology despite the fact that my wife sat there soaked for our entire dinner. We ate our dinner which was decent but not great, and I assumed that due to the incident that the management or server would want to address the situation either via a free appetizer or free dessert like almost any other decent restaurant I've been to over the years. Nothing of such ever happened and as we left, we collectively decided that this will be the last time we step foot into this establishment and support this local business. Their response (or lack thereof) spoke volumes to me in that they cared more about the profit then ensuring the customer's needs are met. We are adventurous eaters and order lots of items so you would think we would be the type of customer you want to retain. Not recommended! read more

The food and service was excellent. The manager of the restaurant was pleasant and attentive to our needs.

I really like Phoenician Tavern - can't recommend enough for Mediterranean food. Went in here with 2 friends. For weekends, especially dinner, I'd recommend making a reservation prior. The seating isn't a lot, so you may not get a table on busy nights. The look and feel of the place is cute. We were promptly taken to our seats, and immediately set up with the menus. Quickly we were tended to by a server. She got us water and was patient while we were making our minds on what to order. Between the three of us, we got the vegetarian platter, M'saaka and Arnabeet. And oh my God! The Arnabeet was goooood. Cauliflower and tahini - c'mon, this is genius. The platter had a lot of interesting things as well, and we nibbed on them all till we were too full. The place is pricey, but if you share an entree and small plates, it is reasonable. But yep, this place isn't cheap. Overall, I did like the experience and will suggest. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Food was amazing as always - AS ALWAYS. Service was great - AS ALWAYS. I actually want to send a little message to the owner. If you are going to check with a table 2x before the food comes, then once the mains don't come at the same time - for whatever reason - you then have to check on the table again. Otherwise, the guests think - as we do now - that you avoided us since your staff messed up. Thanks, see you next time. read more

Food was amazing & the servers were very kind & knowledgeable. Will be back! We were there pretty late (8pm) but there were still quite a few customers there. It's dimly lit and we loved watching the chefs cooking behind the counters read more

Best baba ghanoush I've ever had. Perfect date night or family dinner. Make a reservation because they fill up fast!

Another great night at Phoenician. The star of the show tonight was the Mujaddara (puréed lentils). The flavor was outstanding and I'm already wishing I had more. Everything that I have tried here is amazing, but the Mujaddara is a must try. read more

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Wonderful food. If you want to try something new, this is a great place. Service is great and the owner very friendly

What is often regarded as one of the best restaurants in the Cincinnati area, and even one of the best Mediterranean places in the Midwest, I'd had their food in various events around the city. I met a friend here for my birthday to hopefully have an amazing meal... It was okay. the service was lackluster (forgetting us at the start). My lamb pieces were great, the veggies had food flavor, the rice bland, the pita doughy and under cooked. My friend's fries were amazing, her hummus flavorful and sufficient to be a meal. Good food, not amazing. Good enough but not better than many of the other places that are much closer to the city. read more

Great food, great service, lovely ambiance. Would definitely recommend mezzanine platter, shawarma, kebabs !

Phoenician Taverna is a great Mediterranean spot. They really excel in their dips: the hummus, baba ganoush, and garlic sauce. I would also highly recommend their tavern fries and falafel. The service has always been excellent. Every time I have been there, the owner has stopped by our table to ask how our experience was. It's clear they care a lot about the restaurant and their customers. The only thing I've tried that I didn't care much for was the chicken shwarma because the chicken was pretty dry. It may have just been an off night though! Still had a great experience and would recommend you give it a try. read more

I was in town on business and this place came very highly recommended. It did not disappoint. The food was amazing and the service is very very good either the manager or the owner not sure which came over and took my order at the bar when he saw that the staff was super busy. Their whipped garlic is absolutely and believable. The only disappointment was the wine list it was a little generic. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Baba ghanouj - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Fantastic food! Kebabs, Fatoosh salad, and the garlic whip!! Small hidden gem. Highly recommend!

Service was great, waiter was very knowledgeable with recommendations, food was okay, lacked some flavor and salt, small venue, may have a wait on a weekend, nicely decorated read more

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The food it's not worth the price , rice was just tasteless , really small portions. I won't be back.

During my business trip to Mason, I went twice for dinner to Phoenician Tavern. The food was fresh and tasty. The Lebanese wine was a great pairing with the bread and oil. But overall, the customer service was exceptional. I recommend this place to have a nice dinner. read more