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    The Mediterranean Chickpea

    4.9 (265 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    The Mediterranean Chickpea Photos

    Business Info

    THE MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mediterranean Chickpea

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    Karen F.

    This place has been on my radar to try for a long time, and I was finally able to swing by on a Sunday at lunch time. There was one other couple ahead of me, and only one person working, so I did wait a bit, which was fine since I needed to peruse the menu. There are a few tables inside to eat at, but I chose one of the three outside tables. After conferring with the couple in front of me, I decided to go with the Mezze platter - your choice of 5 items. I thought it was expensive at $24, but it seemed to be the best way to try a wide variety of things. The five items I got, ranked from best to least best: 2 falafels-really good, hummus-very good, cucumber salad-good, cous cous-fine, beet salad-meh. Make sure you ask for the hot sauce - it jazzed everything up. The platter was served with a couple of pieces of pita, but there really needed to be more to dip into all the salads. The only available drinks were to purchase bottled water or bottled soda. I only ate about a third, but I will say it did not travel well. Because three of the salads were placed in the same section, by the next day all three salads were a combined soggy mess, and the only part that was still edible was the hummus. I did enjoy the food, and the worker was incredibly friendly and hospitable, but it was a bit too pricey for one lunch for me.

    Jessica A.

    Delicious, fresh and excellent service. My boyfriend and I have been to The Mediterranean Chickpea twice and each time we love not only the food but the hospitality. You must try the beet hummus! Hands down the best and also the baba ghanoush is heavenly. I'd only it were closer, I'd go more often!

    Variety Platter with that beet hummus that I would eat every day
    Jennifer H.

    This spot was SO CUTE. The lady who was running it was the kindest person, the food instagram worthy beautiful but also exceptionally good. We had a sampler type of meal to try multiple items and we were so glad we did. Please go here now and support this business.

    Aaron A.

    Since I found this spot five years ago, every trip to Tampa begins with a stop here! It's delicious and fresh. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. I had the falafel bowl with some extras. I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, so don't let the menu scare you off. Give them a shot. It's a great spot for lunch or takeout. Affordable for the quality. Cilantro-jalapeno hummus is still my favorite. When I next stop in, I'm going to try some of the bread.

    Daily special - butter beans + barley and tomatoes
    Robert V.

    Such a lovely place, so glad I found this while looking for a quick lunch the other day. You can tell everything is made in-house and the owner is so sweet!! She let me and my girlfriend try every single dip (hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, beet hummus, cilantro jalapeño sauce, babaganoush) just because it was our first time there. I noticed they had their Top 100 vegan restaurants in the USA Yelp award on display, and I definitely think it was well deserved. The portions are sizable, and everything tasted great.

    Homemade pita bread & hummus: original, black olive & cilantro/jalapeno-WOW! Best hummus ever! Can't wait to go back and try more!
    Melissa B.

    The homemade bread and hummus were the best we had ever had. We cannot wait to go back and try many more of their other items.

    Abbie S.

    food was delicious!! the sweet woman gave me testers of the dips without me asking. Everything was so fresh and the falafel was made to order, and so delicious! I will definitely be making the trip just to go here again!

    Mezze Variety Platter - 2x falafel, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Fava Bean Salad, Quinoa Salad.
    Skylar W.

    On a mission to find the best falafel in Tampa and we're one step closer! Mediterranean Chickpea literally feels like you're in a family home and someone's cooking you a homemade meal. I'll be honest, I was a little concerned when I saw them put the falafel in the air fryer before serving it to us--I assumed it would be dry and not taste fresh. However, from a scale of "I bought this at the grocery store" to "I'm not in Florida anymore" ... we gave the falafel a solid 3.5!!! It was crispy but not crunchy and pretty moist on the inside. and BRIGHT GREEN! We loved the quinoa salad -- there's dried cranberries or prunes or something like that in it which adds some amazing sweetness. The roasted red pepper hummus was delicious and i'm looking forward to trying the other flavors. The beans were good, but I'd probably swap that to try something else next time since I loved everything else.

    Anat S.

    Authentic and delicious Syrian food. One of the only authentic places in Tampa Bay to order hummus and falafel. Food is vegetarian/ vegan. Everything is fresh and delicious. You can sit down or order to go. They have a choice of daily soup or two. Original hummus, jalapeño hummus, red pepper or beet hummus. Majadera, Bert salad, fatoush, chickpeas salad and more. Do yourself a favor and try their food. Nothing but the best!

    The most delicious Lentil soup( one of two varieties) prepared and served with so much love by the awesome Mouna.

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    25 days ago

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    5 days ago

    Absolutely amazing food and wonderful welcoming owners. The food is so flavorful!! And most of the food is vegan

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    9 days ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Love this place and their delicious and fresh offerings! Easy to park and love that you are offered a sample before ordering a large amount!

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    2 years ago

    Amazing Food Service! Best Falafel and hummus ever! We can't wait to visit again and try the Baklava.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Very friendly staff! Amazing food, you can't get these hummus flavors anywhere else. Authentic and made with love

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Fresh local family owned restaurant. We had a wonderful experience. The food is authentic made by the mother and father.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - The Mediterranean Chickpea

    Do they have gluten-free options?

    Yes. Many of their menu items are gluten free.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Shiso Crispy - Tampa

    Shiso Crispy - Tampa

    4.2
    (135 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    The bang bang chicken at Shiso Crispy didn't just steal my attention. It robbed me, took my wallet,…read moreand I'd gladly help it escape. First off, the crunch is so loud it could qualify as a sound effect in an action movie. I took one bite and half expected someone to yell "CUT!" The chicken itself is juicy, but let's be honest it's really just a vehicle for that bang bang sauce, which tastes like sweet, spicy, and "text your ex you've changed" all rolled into one. I told myself I'd share. That was a lie. A bold faced, shameless lie. The plate hit the table and suddenly I turned into a territorial raccoon guarding its last meal. By the end, my fingers were sticky, my dignity was gone, and I was seriously considering ordering a second round like I hadn't just embarrassed myself in public.

    Sorry, I normally don't leave bad reviews, and I really wanted to like this place. I've been…read moredriving past for years and finally had the chance to stop. I ordered the bang bang chicken bao buns, which seemed ordinary and not inspired. Like sweet and sour chicken on a boa bun. Fine. On this day, they were out of the tuna so I got the BBQ pork dirty rice, no sauce. The rice was fine and pretty good. But like the chicken, the BBQ pork was almost sickeningly sweet. Frankly, I couldn't even finish the meal, and I was starving. Not to mention the prices. They mistakenly gave me two orders of the bao buns, and then I gave an 18% tip for $9. Total bill $58.65 Nice. I am not a huge food truck guy, but when I do go, perhaps I expect too much. This one I will not be giving a second chance. Again, I support small business, and it seems these guys are quite successful. So they must have a following, it's just not me.

    Photos
    Ordering station
    Ordering station
    Pork Gyoza
    Pork Gyoza
    Shiso Crispy - Tampa

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    Oak and Ola

    Oak and Ola

    4.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$$

    Food was amazing and the atmosphere even better. Such a fun and classy place. A must stop if you're…read morein the Tampa area! Very robust whiskey selection and wine for everyone. Our server, Destiny, was so much fun and gave us great recommendations!

    Oak & Ola has become our go-to restaurant for large birthday celebrations, and they exceed our…read moreexpectations every single time. We've celebrated multiple birthdays there with groups of 20-25 women, and they always make the experience feel effortless. While many Tampa restaurants require deposits, minimum spends, or limited menus for large parties, Oak & Ola simply welcomes us with open arms and genuinely seems happy to have us there. The service is consistently impeccable, the food is both beautiful and absolutely delicious, and the restaurant itself offers a gorgeous atmosphere with stunning waterfront views. It's clear that every detail matters to them. They reserve a special table for gifts, have even printed custom "Happy Birthday" menus for us, and on our most recent visit, Chef Margaret came out personally to wish the birthday girl a happy birthday. Our servers were phenomenal. They anticipated every need, kept everything running smoothly for such a large group, and never missed a beat. Coordinating a party our size is no small task, yet they made it look easy while making every single person feel cared for. If you're looking for a restaurant with exceptional food, outstanding service, and a team that truly knows how to make guests feel special, Oak & Ola is one of the very best in Tampa. We can't wait for our next celebration there!

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    Le Dominique
    Le Dominique
    Oak and Ola
    Oak and Ola

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    Flor Fina

    Flor Fina

    3.8
    (233 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$$

    Went to Flor Fina for brunch with my buddy Tony and we had a wonderful time. Wanted to make sure…read morewe called out the folks who made it such a delight. The host who greeted us Michael, our server Danielle, the manager Christian & bartender Ashley. Looking forward to returning again soon.

    I feel like this restaurant deserves a 2.5 The ambiance is…read morecute and the bar tenders were very nice and fun. Drinks were great. The food was good but inconsistent. My husband and I ordered the same thing but they tasted very different. We both got medium steaks, the one he got was a proper medium while mine medium rare to rare. The host made us feel incredibly unwelcome. We asked for a table and she informed us there weren't any (which is fine, a little attitude but I get it we didn't have a reservation) so we went to the lounge area. While there, we saw online that they did have availability so we booked. We spent over 30 mins in the lounge and no one took our order. When it was time for our table the host was aggressive as soon as she recognized us, said that the system online was wrong and that there are no tables. So we went back to the lounge.. honestly to figure out where to go next. Shortly after we got a message saying our table was ready, when my husband asked about it, she told him to sit back down that she will tell us when it's truly ready. Anyways, she came back reluctantly, saying that I guess people canceled so we can go in. The server was nice but was rarely there and would take a long time doing things like bringing menu.

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    Brunch-A-Rita
    Brunch-A-Rita
    Flor Fina
    Decoration

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    Decoration
    True Food Kitchen

    True Food Kitchen

    3.9
    (405 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Happy hour specials

    True Food Kitchen had the good sense to plunk itself down in the middle of Midtown. It's in the…read morebeating heart of that mixed-use development and it's good for your beating heart, too. This place is fresh and healthy and makes you feel good about eating good. The first time I was here, it was a gorgeous "Florida winter" day so we sat outside-lunch on the large patio. This time, with a different group of friends, we were inside-on a Saturday evening. Glad we had a reservation. Because it was bustling and humming. But the vibes were still happy and healing. (As were the cocktails! The spicy pineapple margaritas are fantastic!) My fiends each ordered something different: a burger for one, a salad for another and a pizza for yet another. They were each delighted with their choices. I went for two appetizers: the charred cauliflower... which was excellent (those dates!) and a seasonal butternut squash soup that was unforgettably good-it satisfied both stomach and soul. One friend savored a Manhattan and two were all into the lavender matcha. Four completely different palettes but the same happy feeling. This was a good choice (thanks, Michelle) True Food Kitchen prides itself on fresh, quality ingredients and you can taste it. The menu isn't huge, but the variety is good and the flavors are tremendous. The interior is bright, with lots of windows and interesting seating. It was a little loud in there, but that's to be expected on a Saturday. I don't remember if there were desserts-we were so full, I don't think we even looked. I owe it to myself to go back and check. Midtown is so easy to park at (free garages!). And you can walk off your calories at the nearby shops (sadly, William Dean chocolates is closing this location, soon) I'll be back soon!

    My husband and I visited true Food Kitchen to try their Valentine's Day set menu…read more We were also there during happy hour. The service was so bad. It took so long to get our drinks. We only ordered beer and wine so it should have been simple. The red wine on happy hour is awful!! The food on the special Valentine's Day tasting menu was decent but they messed up our order then simply removed from the exact same plate the meat that we did not want leaving small pieces of the meat and sauce on the salad. We love the location as it's convenient to our house, but the food has been miss more times than hit at this place.

    Photos
    True Food Kitchen
    True Food Kitchen
    True Food Kitchen

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    Sunda New Asian

    Sunda New Asian

    4.6
    (480 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    **Sunda -- Asian Fusion (2nd visit)**…read more Went back to Sunda specifically for their limited-time Caviar Sunday, and it did not disappoint -- but let's start with the food that came before it. We opened with the **tiger shrimp tempura** -- candied walnuts and a creamy honey aioli. Smaller than I expected, roughly half-dollar sized, but tender, sweet, and generous in portion. The candied walnuts and honey aioli combo leaned sweeter than a classic honey walnut shrimp, with a little bang bang shrimp energy minus the spice. Trying to pace ourselves for dessert, we kept the rest light: the signature crispy rice (Wagyu and spicy tuna versions, split two apiece), The Great White (escolar), and the lemongrass beef lollipops. The Great White was well-balanced and delicious. The lemongrass beef -- sliced NY strip wrapped around a lemongrass stalk with ginger soy -- was solid but not a standout; the lemongrass flavor was subtle and the chili barely registered. Fair warning: it comes out well past medium-rare since it's wrapped and cooked that way, and the server didn't ask for a temperature preference. Good, but not something I'd reorder. The crispy rice was tasty but not a personal favorite -- the Wagyu and spicy tuna toppings themselves were great, just not sold on the crispy rice base. The standout of the savory round was the lobster Wagyu roll -- lobster and Wagyu tataki with a duck pâté aioli, sort of a surf-and-turf sushi roll. Pricier than the other rolls, but the combination justified it. Definitely ordering that again. **Now, the main event: Caviar Sunday.** Our server mentioned this particular caviar brand is a favorite of a certain pop star's, which was a fun detail. The tower itself was a showpiece -- diced and quartered dragon fruit, lychee, blueberries, crispy rice balls (first time trying those, loved them), plus passionfruit and ube sauces on the side. It came with turon (Filipino plantain egg rolls) and vanilla ice cream, essentially a build-your-own sundae kit with caviar mixed in. Caviar with ice cream sounded strange going in, but the salt-sweet balance worked. Genuinely unique, and I'd order it again without hesitation. It's not cheap, but it's roughly half the price of their standalone caviar entrée for the same amount of caviar -- so relatively speaking, it's the smarter way to get it. Service was excellent throughout -- good pacing suggestions so we didn't over-order before dessert, and when we couldn't finish the tower, our server packed the leftovers carefully on ice so we could enjoy round two at home. My one regret: ordering a double espresso with dessert. Good on its own, but it clashed with the tropical, ice cream-heavy flavors -- that one's on me, not the kitchen. Sunda remains a place I'll keep coming back to.

    Overall, the experience was excellent. The restaurant boasts a stylish and sophisticated ambiance,…read moreperfect for dates, gatherings with friends, or business meetings. The modern decor and excellent lighting create a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, blending Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese flavors. The sushi, fresh sashimi, Wagyu beef fried rice, Korean beef, and miso cod are all beautifully presented, featuring fresh ingredients and complex flavors. The cocktails and specialty drinks are also very creative and pair well with the meals.

    Photos
    Sumo Mary
    Sumo Mary
    Japanese fried chicken
    Japanese fried chicken
    The espresso martini and emerald nonalcoholic beverage

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    The espresso martini and emerald nonalcoholic beverage

    The Mediterranean Chickpea - vegan - Updated August 2026

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