Food is delicious and service is wonderful. You would never expect the ambiance this restaurant has based on its location but definitely a can't miss! read more

This is our favorite place to eat. Full stop No qualifiers, that is the end of that sentence. Dont let the strip mall location fool you, this is the best "Mediterranean" food in the state. You cannot make a bad choice on the menu, but the mixed grill and the lamb shank are personal favorites. Best tabbouleh I have ever personally had. And if you want to treat yourself try the bread pudding (umali), I love it so much I don't even care that it has raisins in it. Total hidden gem that can be busy so call for reservations. Ask to sit in Karen's section if possible she is the best. .... they are closing for vacation from june 27 till August 2 2021 so when they come back this is a must try. OMG I forgot about the garlic whip and French fries...total game changer. read more

Great service! We started off with walnut dip which was awesome. Pita bread and the traditional seasme sauce was very delicious. Taverna fries were very crisp but the garlic whip steals the show. It's so rich in texture and has just the right amount of garlic in it. Mains we ordered the half rotisserie chicken with rice and the yogurt dish with eggplant. Rotisserie chicken I should have ordered to be beat. There was less flavor than what I like in my chicken. The eggplant yogurt dish with fries pita bread was quite good. All in all - a good experience with good food. read more

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Absolutely love this place. It is a little pricey but the food is incredible and definitely worth the price. I often get it as takeout and it still is good and fresh when I get home. Each time I've gotten it the quality is always great. read more

Met some friends here for a girls night. Was a little leery that it was in a strip mall, but was greeted with a wonderful aroma of food upon our arrival. Server was very helpful and recommended that we get a bunch of different appetizers to try the food. The portions seemed smaller than we expected, but we honestly got enough. I had the baklava for dessert, but was eyeballing my friend's bread putting! Service was quick and the manager, or could've been the owner, stopped by to see how everything was. I enjoy a little ambience at my table, so the only thing missing was a small candle! I will definitely return! read more

Everything here is amazing. The owner shows he is truly passionate and has a great love for the food and culture. I can't recommend it enough. The atmosphere is relaxed and has a wonderful ambiance. read more

This restaurant is a gem. Every time we are in the area, we make sure to have dinner here. The food is creative, delicious and reasonably priced. read more

We are traveling and staying a nearby hotel. Wondered through Yelp for dinner ideas and stumbled on this gem. Called for a reservation and was greeted with the most personable person on the phone. This was just the start of experiencing this stellar staff. It has been a while since I've felt this welcome at a restaurant. As a bonus the food was just as amazing! Will definitely search this one out again. Well done! read more

We found Phoenician Taverna by accident while spending a couple of days in Cincinnati. Simply put, this is the best Mediterranean restaurant. Period. The ambiance, staff and service are all top-shelf. Then there's the food...It's absolutely incredible. The menu starting with the apps through to dessert is original and well thought-out. The food itself is completely fresh and without compromise in terms of quality, preparation and flavor. We actually enjoyed it so much that we ate dinner here both nights we were in town. Wow! You must try Phoenician Taverna. read more

Absolutely THE best and authentic middle eastern cuisine in Greater Cincinnati with a hard-working owner involved in every facet of the business. read more

This may be the best restaurant in all of Cincinnati. The food is creative, bursting with flavor. Service is outstanding. Lots of vegetarian options as well as excellent meat dishes. Truly fantastic. I insist on going every time I'm in Cincinnati. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Falafel with tahini and eggplant. - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

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Went for lunch on Friday. I was actually the first person there. I was greated by a friendly lady. Once my 2 guests arrived we ordered 3 apps and they were great. The hummus was light and fluffy, falafel were great and tabouli was fresh. Everything was great so far so I was excited to try the rotisserie chicken. My hope was it would be similar to the lemony Delicious chicken from Floyd's. Lunch was ordered at 11:50 am and the restaurant was starting to fill up. 10 minutes later my server comes back to the table and informs me they are out of the chicken. It wasn't even noon yet. He told me to call ahead and ask them to hold me one next time. I'm still not sure how it was possible that they could possibly be out of chicken as were one the 1st tables to order. I would think paying customers who are actually in your business should take priority over whatever else you have going on. I reluctantly switched my order to the chicken swarma. I've had better, the chicken was very dry and unappealing. I probably ate less than 1/3rd of it due to the dryness. Maybe this was a fluke but I'm reluctant to return. It definitely did NOT live up to all the hype that I have read about it. Service is as important to me as other aspects of my meal, so I'll be taking my business to a place that wants it. read more

One of our favorite places! So much so that we go once a week. Don't judge a book by it's cover, this little strip mall place can hold it's own compared to any of the top eateries in Cincy. The food is amazing, staff is friendly and knows their way around the menu, owner is always checking in and values his regulars. A hidden gem and a must try. read more

The best food and service ever! It never disappoint. The servers are amazing at giving recommendations if you aren't familiar with Middle Eastern food. You can't go wrong here. Love it!! read more

A whole new middle eastern world of greatness greeted me from the moment I entered the lobby of Phoenician Taverna. This place was spotless. I called ahead for a reservation but arrived early enough to enjoy a delicious glass of Lebanese Red wine. The staff and owner were welcoming, kind, friendly and accommodating. The dishes are authentic Lebanese: Kebbeh, labneh, tabouleh, grape leaves, falafel, babbaganous and hummus. And the pita bread came out piping hot! I can't wait to visit again! read more

Got takeout tonight. Food was ready in 15 minutes and was crazy delicious from the walnut hummus to the cauliflower in tahini (and I normally hate cauliflower) to the fries and garlic dip. We did three mezza and fries and it all came to only $25. read more

Wonderful service, wonderful food, great atmosphere! I can't wait to return. I dont know how to say the appropriate names for what we ordered but that's ok because they list what it is for you right on the menu. Once inside you forget that you are in a strip mall. Such romantic ambiance. Low lighting and tastefully decorated, you forget that there is anyone else there but you. We started with Hummus, pickled vegetables and cheese pies. The hummus was so fresh and light and clean tasting. Cheese pies were amazing. For dinner I had lamb kebabs and my date had lamb with rice. It was the most tender and amazing meal. I can't wait to return and try more amazing food. read more

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This place is an amazing hidden gem. The food is outstanding, the employees are wonderful. Don't be fooled by the location! This is my new favorite place for middle eastern cuisine! Take out is also fantastic! I'm actually sad I never tried it sooner! read more

Probably our favorite restaurant. Absolutely wonderful food every time. Owners always seem to be on site, making sure all goes well and making guests feel welcome. Terrific service. Fair prices for the quality of the food. I can't think of another restaurant in the area that is this impressive in every way. Oh, and if you go make sure to order the walnut dip as an appetizer. read more

We had a church activity in the vicinity Sunday afternoon and wanted dinner afterwards. Most of the good non-chain restaurants are closed Sunday, happily in this case, as it resulted in our long overdue return to Phoenician Taverna. The experience was great from start to finish. We were the first customers in at 5:00 and were warmly greeted by the owner, who seated us and brought menus and wine/beer list. You can get a Lebanese beer or wine if you really want to enhance the experience, but standard American fine dining choices are available too. Server came promptly and attended us throughout in a refreshingly professional manner. At least four additional parties arrived not long after but that did not slow down either the waiter or the owner, who stopped by several times to make recommendations, answer questions, and even give us a tip on how to get the most absorbency out of the heavenly pita bread when dipping it into the accompanying exotically seasoned EVOO, a Middle East version of pinziminio. I believe it was called Zata. Don't miss out on this bread and oil, which is replenished generously as needed. It is a fantastic start to a phenomenal meal. I really wanted to try a "mezza" meal this time (sharing of multiple appetizers) but my husband had his eye on the rotisserie half chicken (literally... You can see the juicy marinated birds turning on the spit in the open kitchen) and I wanted lamb shish kabob, so we each got an entree plus we split a bowl of the lentil Swiss chard soup. This is the only soup available and its quite good; it was the waiter's suggestion to split one order into two bowls for us, and I'm glad we did so as to have just enough to whet the appetite. Remember, those hot fresh from the oven pita loaves were fast disappearing too. The chicken was absolutely some of the best we've ever eaten, moist and flavorful throughout. And at $10 including French Fries it is an amazing deal. Could easily be a shared entree. The French fries which are lightly seasoned are accompanied with the GARLIC WHIP. Now for a bit more on the GARLIC WHIP. Our waiter knew we'd be sharing our entrees across the table so he kindly brought a double helping of garlic whip. We enjoyed it on the fries, the chicken, AND the lamb. I think I dipped some pita into it too. I would return here solely for this condiment from the angels, though of course we are returning for a little of everything. The lamb shish kabob was cooked to order and was delicious. Everything from start to finish was excellent, speaking of finishes I tried to resist, but we learned of a new item on the dessert menu...Egyptian bread pudding. We went for it and scraped the bowl. A generous shareable dessert. Read my tip for more. I can't find any negatives. This is a five star fine dining experience. Bookmark this one and get yourself here! And don't forget to try the garlic whip!! read more

Excellent food and service. Haven't had a bad meal yet. The owner is very nice. Frequent this place often. Joe the bartender is also very nice. read more

It could have been my partner. She in a little black dress (mind the curves) and sweet pair of heels. It could have been the mood from our time together. This little place (in a strip mall in Middle America) was just the right amount of exotic. Neither of us knew a great deal about the cuisine. We are both well travelled and a little adventurous- this is a good spot for that mentality. The menu lays out for you a simple translation and the description of the dishes guide you as well. Everything was delicious, the right amount of zing, spice and "unusual" enough to know that you were having familiar things from a different place on the globe. She had a salmon dish, I had a grilled assortment- I don't remember the names (in a daze you see from the company). But it was an excellent meal. A few reviewers have mentioned the service. Yeah that wasn't great by "American" standards-but "when in Rome"- right. The rest of the world doesn't have dinner like it's a competitive sport and rush off to the TV. It is okay to linger a while, talk to the person across from you, to enjoy your meal and conversation without constant interruptions that you really know are (can you hurry up so I can turn over this table). If you are in the area, go to this place. read more

I give Phoenician Taverna very high marks, especially if you don't mind coming out feeling like a clove of garlic. The 'garlic whip' is totally worth it, by the way. I like having a bunch of varied smaller bites at mealtimes, so the lunch mezze (lunch only) and hot mezze and cold mezze are usually the way I go. Some of my favorites are the fattoush, spiced aged feta, kibbeh and spicy hot kafta. The pita bread is no joke. Immediately served fresh out of the oven... the more puffed up it is, the fresher (and hotter... careful!) it is. Don't miss out on the desserts. I'm not a baklava fan so I didn't try it, but everything else housemade is killer. Try the sweet cheese crepe or warm cheese tart. Definitely worth a trip to Mason for lunch or dinner. read more

My wife and I took our kids (ages six and 11) to Phoenician Taverna for dinner tonight and it was spectacular. We live a block away and noticed it just opened, and since they haven't "officially" had their grand opening, it was not crowded (I suspect this will change once people learn about it) The atmosphere is gorgeous, our waiter was perfect and the food was delicious. The food presentation was beautiful, and the Mediterranean flair and flavors are something you can't find anywhere in the area. For the food quality, service and atmosphere the prices are a good value (from $10-22). The proud owner (Mr. Matar) was very friendly down-to-earth. I highly recommend this restaurant, and hope that others will frequent the place to make sure that it succeeds. Just go - you'll love it! read more

Phoenician Taverna - Phoenician Taverna is great, tell your friends! - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Soood Middle Eastern eatery just not spectacular. The usual fare that's decently flavored and fresh but the price point is definitely too high. Not many options for Middle Eastern food in the area so not much else to compare to. I would only go if I'm craving that specific cuisine read more

I love this place, they have one of the closest experiences of Lebanese/eastern foods in the Cinci. The place is very clean, family friendly, a great collection of wine, and their kabobs are unique. I'm not a fan of kafta but theirs is so good I get it every time I go there. You might occasionally be greeted by the owner who is very warm and welcoming. The appetizers are all unique and very tasty. I had the Fillet Kabob, Kafta, mixed kabob, and their chicken kabobs so far as they have all been wonderful so far. I recommend them as medium well. Everything you eat there is %100 prepared in their own kitchen and that is the secret to their tasty food. I also love their freshly made bread which is mostly right out of oven when they put it on your table. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Kafta kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

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Really good experience. Very authentic. I grew up in a Lebanese household and ate Lebanese food my entire life. My Situ grew up in Lebanon and cooked for us every week for 30 years and this is similar to what she would make for us. I've tried several restaurants in Cincinnati claiming to be Lebanese and this is first one that is correct. I grew up in Toledo where there's a very large Lebanese population and this is the first Cincinnati restaurant that would survive up there. I tried the tabouli, kibbeh Nayeh, Hummus, and mixed grill plate. Tabouli was very good. Ordered extra lettuce to scoop it up. First Lebanese restaurant I've been to in the city that knows it's supposed to be eaten with lettuce. The kibbeh Nayeh was very good and authentic. Exactly how I'd have it growing up. Portion is a bit small, but most restaurants don't give a large portion of this. I'd easily have eaten twice what was given. Mixed grill plate was grilled chicken, grilled lamb, and grilled kafta. Chicken was very tasty. Kafta was very good and cooked very well. The lamb was tasty. I asked for the lamb to be medium rare and it was closer to medium well. Still was very good. Ate this with the hummus putting some hummus and a bite of the meat on the housemade bread. The veggies were fine and the rice was fine too. Didn't eat much of either because at this point was getting full and had to make an executive decision on what foods I could finish. Housemade bread was very good and generally what you'd expect at Lebanese restaurants. Not the thin pita you get with Middle Eastern food, but more what you'd expect at a Lebanese restaurant. Overall very good and excited to finally find good Lebanese food in Cincinnati. Portions were a bit small for the price, but I don't care too much. Cheaper than driving 200 miles north for the next closest good Lebanese restaurant. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

I kept hearing about this place and now I know why! I had the most delicious dinner! My mom and I got the vegetarian sampler to start, our favorites were the hummus and the cheese pies. Then for an entree we split the sea bass special which was amazing as well. Very well seasoned. Baklava for dessert was not too sweet, very well done. I will certainly be back! read more

Phoenician Taverna - Vegetarian sampler, not on the menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

Paul and I just enjoyed dinner here for the first time. We were famished after a long hike in Chillicothe and looking for something different. Highlights included service, atmosphere and the appetizers. Our server could not have been friendlier. He more than earned his tip. The Lebanese music was something special. It set the tone for a relaxing experience for our tired bodies. In terms of food, the Fatayer B' Jibne rocked my world. They are small hand pies filled with feta and deep-fried, but they are not the least bit greasy. Paul had the Lahm Bel Ajin, which was flatbread topped with lamb and beef. He really liked it. The only downside was our entrees, which were both over salted to to the point where visions of the Dead Sea came to mind. I had the Chicken Shawarma and Paul had the shrimp kebab special. My chicken was so tender, and Paul's shrimp were grilled to perfection, but the salt ruined the taste. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 thanks to amazing service, atmosphere, and appetizers. read more

Great to see a place with Lebanese food in Mason. My wife and I were looking for a quick dinner before doing some Holiday shopping and we decided on Phoenician Taverna. While it is in a small stip mall, they did a great job on the interior. I had low expectatons going in and was surprised how nice the decor is. We split two appetizers and an entree. I was full. The hummus special with meat and hummus was great with the phenomenal bread they serve. The falfelel were good but a bit crispy for what I expected. I am not a Lebanese food expert, so maybe this is how they are supposed to be. We had the mixed grill entree. The chicken, lamb and beef were delicious. It came with mixed vegetables that were very good. Our service was friendly and attentive. We really enjoyed our dinner and will be back in the future. read more

Lived in the area over five years and did not know about this place, unassuming and easily overlooked in a strip beside a UDF. Boy, were we surprised and delighted! Candidly, not the biggest fan of ME diet so was unsure what to expect. Start with the M'Hamara! This walnut, roasted red pepper hummus and cucumber appetizer is incredible. They served it with piping hot flat bread. Go just for that!! We also sampled many other dishes including the grape leaves, kabobs, schwarma, delicious fries with a garlic dip, roasted veggies and more. We took home a lot and enjoyed it again the following day. When we met the owner we learned this place has been recognized in the top 10 Cincy restaurants for 7 years (I think). Right under our noses! Have been back 3 times since (all in two months). We usually spend about $50 a piece including 2 six oz house wine pours. read more

Party of 3, took about 3-4 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us and we had a reservation. Restaurant was at about 60% full. We get a table and the lady ushering us to the table is nice. Took about 4-5 minutes for the server to come to our table. Server was nice but looked a bit unhappy to be at work. Ordered the food and I'd say food was served in a timely manner although the main dish could've been a bit warmer. Now the food. In my opinion, coming from a background where there are a lot of flavorful food, I found the food average at very best. Not bad but definitely not the 4 or more stars worth. It's okay to try but I won't be going back for sure as the food was a bit overpriced also. Also I observed, the owner (my guess) stopped at every table and spoke with the guests but ignored our table and we were there for about 45 minutes. Not sure why we were ignored but it seemed a bit intentionally and I can only assume to what might've been the reason but that didn't go well with us. anyway, all in all 3 star is the most I could afford for this place. read more

Great food, large portions, good quality, pleasant and attentive service, good menu selection. Off Mason-Montgomery, which is lined with chain restaurants, I was happy to come upon this gem. Don't let the strip mall location fool you--this was a great experience. Everyone we encountered in the restaurant was friendly and helpful. One of my colleagues wanted to make a substitution on her order (due to dietary restrictions), and they were more than happy to oblige. We had a varied group and the menu had something for each of us. I'd definitely come back. read more

Came here recently on a Saturday night with a reservation for a party of 8 and we were seated promptly and after discussion about the wine list the owner came over and made a great suggestion for all of us. We ordered One Hummus, One Baba Ganoush and one feature app with walnuts that reminded myself and one other of a pesto and of course the fresh baked pita bread came piping hot and was delicious. Our server was very good and knowledgeable about the menu and made very good suggestions for those that had questions. I ordered the feature which was Lamb Chops with grilled vegetables and potatoes. It was very good and the owner even came over to our table and let those of us that ordered the feature know how to get the most meat off the bone. For dessert we ordered them all and split them- some thought the clotted cream needed more honey and pistachios and the crepe was good, but the baklava was the best dessert. We all announced we would be coming back here. On our way out the owner shook our hands and thanked us for coming, which is a great sign and I appreciate it. read more

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I went to Phoenician Taverna yesterday for lunch and it was excellent. Their toum (garlic whip) was delicious, as was their hummus. The pita bread was fresh and warm and the server kept bringing it out. Our server Rachel was pleasant and attentive and the owner stopped by to welcome us and talk about their covid precautions. My friend and I both had chicken Shawarma platters and they were so good! I love Mediterranean food and this place has some of the best! read more

This place is such a gem. Incredibly friendly service, amazing food and a comfortable atmosphere. I always make it a point to visit when I am in Mason. read more

One of the best Lebanese restaurants across the East and West coasts of America and in between! This place is a gem hidden in an unassuming strip mall at an always busy intersection. The owner Waseem has a charm that makes you feel at home, even if you are not Lebanese, like me! The dishes are excellent for not just the eyes but also your taste buds. The bar is equally impressive. Clean and modern decor along with great service complement awesome food. Overall great experience, every single time over last 7 years! I know, took me a while to write a review!! Faves: Ouzi, Hummus, Turly wines, Pizza (when available) and others I can't pronounce or remember as they are specials once in a while. read more

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Delicious menu items! Great atmosphere! Many gluten free / gluten friendly choices.

We go here for lunch once every two months when we find ourselves in Mason to attend meetings. We split the two days we spend in Mason between this place and the Sura Korean restaurant next door. We usually go in a large group for lunch and always find seats for our group without having to call ahead. The staff is friendly and helpful. On our most recent visit, I ordered the Ouzi - tender lamb served over flavored rice. The meat was really tender and juicy and the rice was really flavorful. The side of yoghurt sauce was really good. My friends ordered the Meze platter (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) and the chicken shawarma sandwich. Everyone enjoyed their food. We also ordered their fries with special garlic sauce and it was amazing. read more

Phoenician Taverna - Meze platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Mason, Ohio

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So, we have been here multiple times and it never disappoints. My wife had the lamb loin....perfect...and I had the mixed grill...perfect as well. We way over ate since we had two appetizers, but we have never had anything less than a fantastic meal. We always pair our dinner with Chateau Kafraya wine from Lebanon. This is our 'go to' when we think about Mediterranean Food. Once again, always outstanding!!! read more