Petra Restaurant
4812 E Busch Blvd,Ste E, Tampa, FL, 33617
Petra Restaurant Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
4812 E Busch Blvd,Ste E
Tampa, FL, 33617 - Phone (813) 984-9800
- Website https://petra-cuisine.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Coty S.
From the photos on Yelp, Petra's food looks fabulous, and it is. They have some of the best hummus I have had in the area. While I do not know much about this style of food, other than it tastes good, I can still tell when good quality ingredients are used. This is a part of town that I never go to, over by Busch Gardens, in an ethnic enclave full of appetizing-looking eateries. Petra is in a tiny strip mall with darkened windows, so you cannot see inside. The interior is clean and full of booths running along the perimeter. When I visited for a UYE, the service was excellent and the staff did all they could to help. Tiffany H. was out lovely host, and she turned me onto the Chicken Shawarma mixed with tabouleh salad. The chicken was sliced super thin, when mixed with the tabloueh it then had lemony substance that I just wanted to eat more and more of. They serve breakfast! So maybe Petra can be your next brunching spot. There are many interesting types of drinks, so I made sure to order a peach soda. It was not too sweet. The pita bread is warm, soft, and unlimited--- so eat until your heart is content. Pickled carrots, cauliflower, and cabbage are another complimentary side dish that arrives before the meal. Simply pickled with salt, water, and white vinegar--- it was very salty. As soon as I looked at the menu, I knew everything I wanted to order... because there were so many names of dishes that I have never heard of before. My number one choice was the Hummus and Foule, mostly because it came recommended on Yelp and I have never heard of it. The flavor of the Foule was much more mild than I was expecting, not heavily spiced. I will probably just go with regular hummus in the future. We also tried the Sampler Platter Appetizer, which only contained one meat item; kibbeh (seasoned ground meat inside of a breaded crust, then deep fried). This platter was my favorite dish by far. Other than the salty fried cheese, which squeaks on your teeth when you chew it. Everything on the Sampler is noteworthy, but I'll let you try it yourself and find out. I will pass on the Grilled Sampler Platter next time. The meats were a little bland for me and somewhat dry. The daily specials are available in whole and half portions, which is nice. So we tried the half portion for the day, which was; smoked balsmati rice with a stewed lamb knee, and a side of string bean soup. It was also a little bland for me and the lamb was fatty. The garlic sauce packs a punch. You can tell that fresh garlic is totally emulsified in the sour cream to create this masterpiece. Cover everything with it. In the future, I will definitely try some of their other locations. While Petra is not my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in Tampa Bay, it runs a close second.
(4)Robbie C.
Met up with several yelpers for a UYE this past weekend. Thanks to Tiffany H for introducing me to this Mid Eastern restaurant, located within view of Busch Gardens. The ambiance isn't the best but the Mediterranean food speaks volumes and is deserving of all five stars! The food is served with pickled veggies (not my thing). And the freshest tasting pita bread I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. Not the cardboard type prepackaged stuff you get at supermarket. I ordered the veggie platter which came with a fantastic hummus, crunchy on the outside falafals (yum!) stuffed grape leaves, baba ganoush and a tomato and onion salad. All this for only $13?! Nice! I also tried the fried cheese as I thought this was gonna be another fantastic explosion in my mouth but found it too salty for my taste. Was way too stuffed to even think about dessert. So many wonderful and pocket friendly choices here! Do yourself a favor and try it, you'll like it!
(5)Patron X.
The best hummus you'll ever have. I ate at this place nearly every week during my years in Tampa and still crave it and make sure to stop in for hummus when I'm in town.
(5)Pav S.
This place is scrumptdiliumptous!!! Seriously! The food is fresh and authentic. The servings are very adequate for two to share! I'm in love with the pickled vegetables given as a complimentary app. I have tried the beef kefta, but my favorite is chicken shawarma (sure I spelled that wrong). The pita is fresh and you can always ask for more if you run out. Try the babagonoush (misspelled?) and house salad. For dessert, I tried the baklava cheesecake. That's right, cheesecake. It was phenomenal with a side of Turkish coffee. If you have never tried Turkish coffee, be aware that the ground sediment is at the bottom of the cup. It's a different taste, so one either likes it or hates it. I didn't give 5 stars because I feel the ambiance could be a bit cozier and the staff is hurried (although it's not busy). Try this place! Will not disappoint!
(4)Margarita C.
The staff was friendly, attentive and helpful. We started out with the mixed appetizer platter, which together with soft, hot, fluffy pita bread and pickled vegetables they serve at every table really was enough for the two of us. We ordered entrees without knowing how much food we would get. The seasoning of the chicken shwarma is excellent, as other reviewers have noted. Great flavor! The hummus is the best I've had anywhere, and the falafel is second only to those I ate in Egypt. delicious!!!
(5)Idalis M.
I was a bit dissapointed with this Restaurant. I order the chicken swarma. Even though It looks really delicious the chicken was too salty. The fresh pita bread and the hummus was so tasty. If I come back will have the hummus and some falafel. The service was excellent.
(3)Vita G.
I loved the food. It was my first time eating Middle Eastern food & it was delicious. I do not even know the name of what I ordered, but I will definitely go back for more. Yum
(5)Elina L.
Petra is your local middle eastern hang out with no frills. Menu choices offer regular fare of wraps, kebabs, and salads. The meal came with a starter of marinated veggies and pitta, both of which were good. And then the wait began... Wait staff appeared very relax and hardly moving, it took almost 25 minutes to get the food, although the restaurant didn't look busy at all. I was pleasantly surprised by the shawarma, it actually resembled what I had tasted while traveling in the Middle East, even tahini was used instead of yogurt sauce. My friend had a kebab, which I tasted, it was just ok, nothing to be extra happy about. At the end of the meal I found myself trying to find the waitress again, which was not an easy task to do. The restaurant can benefit from better customer service.
(3)Jason C.
I came here the other day with a group of folks, so we got to try lots of stuff. We had the lamb special, tabouli salad, fried cheese, the mixed grill, Turkish coffee, and vegetarian platter. The lamb special was super tender, and the smoked rice added a nice flavor to round out the dish. The tabouli was very fresh and really helped to balance out some of the heavier dishes. It was especially good as a counterpoint to the fried cheese. I have a meze addiction, so the vegetarian platter was superb. It really comes with everything you might want to smear onto pita. The Turkish coffee was super tasty as well. The taste of cardamom was robust yet not overpowering. I didn't dip into the mixed grill till near the end. I recommend eating it hot, as I think all the time I spent waiting for the other layers of food to digest made the lamb tough.
(4)Eileen R.
This is my second time at this restaurant. The food is amazing! I had the vegetarian plate, which is not only delicious, but very nicely presented. It's not the fanciest of restaurants and the neighborhood is sketchy, but it's well worth going there. The mediterranean salad was fresh and crunchy. The hummus was so good, especially on the warm pita bread. I'm not into baba ghanouj, but my hubby loved it. The falafel? Oh yeah! Crunchy and well seasoned. I was not a fan of the tahini sauce though. It seemed off somehow. That was the only issue I had. The waitress was very friendly and checked on us often. I definitely recommend this place!
(4)Alexander M.
Excellent lentil soup, oh!! I fogot to mention the veggie pickles,fresh and crispy.the chicken with garlic sauce...OMG from heaven,what a gem in temple terrace. The ambiance needs some improvement,but the food i love it. I do not like to watch tv here with jerry springer show,they have to work on ambiance.
(5)Jennifer A.
Seriously so good! If you want legit middle eastern food you have to come here! GET THE GARLIC SAUCE, IT'S LIFE CHANGING.
(5)Ming Z.
3 star rating interpreted by Yelp is A-OK. The definition is rather ambiguous. A glass half full? Or, a glass half empty? In the case of Petra Restaurant, I go for the glass half full. Call me an optimist. Our lovely host Tiffany H. suggested an UYE events at Petra, a Middle Eastern restaurant. With her help, we six curious-yelper-fellow managed to maximize our orders of appetizers and main courses. As an optimist, I pick dishes I liked in this review and leave the rest for others. Babagahanoush, this starter cooked with my favorite vegetable, the eggplant. The mysterious seasoning blended with rich flavor of eggplant, it reaches the initial goal of liking this restaurant. Served with warm pita bread and salty pickles, this dish is definitely in the alley of healthy eater's choice. Vege plate is the another starter I highly recommend. It is a large portion enough for a table of 4 to share or as a main course. The combination of hummus, grape leaf wrap, falafel, babagahanoush and salad gives a great introduction to guest like me who is not familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine. Kalayah is the main dish I picked. The sauteed lamb flavor soaked into a rich tomato sauce gives a unique taste that I am very fond of. The hidden spiciness from jalapeno is another shot to the flavor. This dish with a bowl of rice or pita bread brings equilibrium. If you are not into eating lamb, chicken is an alternative. Rest of dishes on our table fell into the pessimistic gap; most of them are grilled meat. Compared with the big juicy American steaks and burgers, these dishes are way across the line of 'medium well.' Other than my disappointment of the meat dishes, I like this restaurant a lot. Due the natural of its original region the Petra represents, the presence of the culture is obvious. I was in my typical Floridian outfit that is as much as some of the dishes, way across the line, in this case, their culture. As a native Chinese, I have been taught to respect others culture no matter how different they are. I was not living to that standard at that moment. Nonetheless, our waitress disregarded this factor and kept me well served. I appreciate that. After all, I like the restaurant. I am an optimist. I will return to find more goodies.
(3)Andrea R.
The only thing wrong with Petra is it's so far away! Living in St Pete makes it's Busch Blvd location a bit of a drive but it's so good it's worth it. I adore the spicy pickled veggies and warm pillowy pita that is brought out prior to a meal. Tried and ordered are the chicken kebob and chicken shawarma, I ordered both served with amazing rice and babaganoush. They have an amazing garlic sauce that might be my favorite condiment in the world. Put it on everything! I've never had dessert at Petra because their portions are beyond adequate, but I'm sure it's tasty too!!
(5)Eyad A.
Real authentic middle eastern food .. Loved it! Try the chicken or beef shawarma, shish kabab or any of the appetizers.
(5)Joanne J.
Good food and generous portions. Service a bit slower than desired. I've dined here a couple times before and always loved the food.
(3)Sherif S.
This is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants ever!!!! Go there, take ur family and friends, they will like it!! We got the chicken shawarma, and the lamb kabob plates. Delicious!!!!
(5)Karen F.
A great middle eastern restaurant conveniently located near USF and Busch Gardens. At 5:30 pm on a Saturday night there were already a few groups of people inside, and by the time we finished eating, the restaurant was probably 75% full. After taking our order, the friendly waitress brought I over fluffy fresh pita, and some delicious homemade pickled vegetables. Yum! For my entree, I had the veggie appetizer platter since the waitress kindly let me substitute the baba ghanouj for extra falafel, and it was perfect. The platter consisted of hummus (heavy on the tahini), Israeli salad, some of the best grape leaves I have ever had, and perfectly cooked, crunchy, flavorful falafel balls. My companion raved about his huge shish kabob platter, and the chicken I tried from that was moist with great seasoning. No room for dessert, but maybe next time, because there will definitely be more meals here in my future!
(4)Sunny G.
This is a decent Mediterranean place. The food was nothing special; honestly your run of the mill Mediterranean food. The area is kind of spotty and we almost drove past the place the first time, but the inside is nice enough.
(3)Ben W.
My friend Andre and I like to try experience a different type of ethic food each week for lunch. We chose Petra today as it was near USF. The girl working the counter was very polite (even though we saw another customer treating her very rudely). I ordered the mixed grill and enjoyed the chicken, beef and lamb. All were good. It is priced reasonably and I would be happy to visit again if the craving hits.
(4)Virginia N.
I been here so many times and I love middle east food, excellent service and wonderful prices , I love every thing about that restaurant
(5)Aniko O.
My first time eating here. Ordered take out Chicken Shawarma w/ hummus & rice (thanks to yelp recommendations). Was AMAZING! Chicken wasn't dry, everything flavored & seasoned perfectly. I have only eaten Middle Eastern food a few times, all of which were unmemorable. With some cultural food, like asian & Indian cuisine, there can be a very distinct flavor that you either love or hate. But this meal would appeal to all palates. Unique & flavorful but not aggressive. Portion size was huge, enough for lunch & dinner. Service was fast & friendly. I called order in when I was 10 mins away & it was ready when I arrived.
(5)Mika R.
Hands down my favorite middle eastern cuisine! I take everyone I love here and let them try this authentic and delicious dime! Actually I even bring it to others. Placed a catering order of what I claim to be, " the temple terrace heaven trio of hummus, baba ganoush and tabouli" ... My family and friends devoured and loved it !! I recommend this place to anyone looking for a authentic middle eastern meal, prepared by a chef who takes pride in every dish produced and those who crave flavorful dishes to cater your taste buds! Petra is awesome!
(4)Tiffany H.
I first found out about Petra after seeing multiple photos pop up on my feed. The food looked phenomenal, but it's seriously almost an hour drive for me (even more if it's a weekday during traffic). I made my way up there a few weeks ago for the first time and the only thing I can say is... Wow. I had to go a second time to make sure it wasn't a fluke. I mean, I was also dreaming of the white sauce, but more on that later. They're located on Busch in a plaza next to a hookah lounge. The exterior is nothing to write home about, nor is the interior. It's clean, minimally decorated, and has some TVs set up on a column in the middle of the dining area. The service has been pretty good both times I went. I never felt like I was checked on too much (you know that feeling when a server wants you to leave...) but I never found myself wanting anything for too long. Meals do take a bit to come out, but almost immediately after ordering we got pickled veggies and warm pita to hold us over. Pickles were never really my thing, but both my lunch-mates had good things to say about them. Now, on to the food. I had the Nabulsi fried cheese as a starter, and good grief was it amazing. It was chewy, crispy, and salty... I had no idea what I was getting into when we ordered it but I'm so glad we made the decision to give it a shot. I hate to admit it, but I could probably eat that nonstop for a month. For meals, I've had both the spicy Turkish kebab and the kofta kebab in the restaurant. Both of them were wonderful with somewhat different flavors. I also picked sides of hummus and their salad each time. The hummus is awesome. It's not as thin as what you get at Cedar Market, but it's not really thick like some of the others I've had. Nice amount of garlic, and it's always plated nicely. The standard salad is a chopped cucumber and tomato mixture. This is close to what was referred to as a shepherd's salad when I was in Turkey. I'm pretty sure all their meals come with the mystery white sauce too. That little plastic container on the side is full of magic and needs to be liberally applied to everything. I also ordered some felafel to go on one of these trips, but I was in too much of a food coma afterwards to try one fresh and hot. I tried one cold and was sad (sidenote: I'm not even a fan of felafel but I figured I should try theirs), but when I reheated them in a toaster oven and threw it in some warmed up pita with the accompanying salad it was actually really good. And again, I don't even order it on a norm because it's not really my thing. So, in conclusion, I have found yet another place I wish was on my side of the bridge. It brought up feelings of nostalgia being overseas with my sweetie (namely all the kofta and salad... and felafel for breakfast).
(5)Mike S.
Had a nice family dinner, and noticed many other families eating there as testimony to authenticity of Middle-East cuisine and halal status. Garb ranged from burquas to shorts and dishes reached from the Med to Afghanistan, including felafel, kebabs, shwarma dishes, hummus, foule, and even Israeli/Palestinian shakshousha egss in tomato sauce. We enjoyed the Veggie platter which was enought for a meal with a chicken shwarma sandwich and sharing the app. Baklava cheese cake was a novel dessert but would not have noticed baklava without a label. Service was fine even on a busy Sunday night. Pita did not seem as fresh-baked as other reviewers noted.We need to try Sami's bakery up the street. This stretch of Busch has a strong Middle-East flavor like the Indian accents on Fowler and the Viet concentration on Waters and pan-latin array of Armenia and Columbus.
(3)Amber E.
The day before Ramadan, hubs was anxious to get his middle eastern food fix - knowing it would be another month before we could eat out. We usually go places based on if they have shawarmas or not. This place does, and they are delicious! We both got chicken sans tomatoes and pickles, and at less than $6 a piece, it's definitely a deal. I also had the lentil soup which comes with fried pita, yummmm my favorite. Hubs had a kabob wrap as well. All of it was very very tasty and we'll definitely be coming back after the holiday is over! The only thing - we wish they would have knafeh:( Ramadan Mubarak!
(4)Ric R.
Really good middle eastern food here. I got the petra grill with beef chicken and ground lamb with a side of hummus and babaganoush. The meat was seasoned perfectly and had a great grill taste. The hummus was creamy with a prefect nutty and smoked taste, same for the babaganoush. The service was good and the restaurant had average to good cleanliness. We will definitely come back.
(4)Susan G.
Ate here with 6 friends on a Saturday nite. Waited almost an hour for drinks and even longer for food. Never got drink refills and had to get my own menu and flatware. If it is busy run away. If not slammed hang in cause the food is sometimes well worth it. They were so overwhelmed and then on a single person ticket added and automatic tip. Which really made me angry for such poor service that was not the waitresses fault but the dishwasher and kitchen staffs mess up. Grrrr. I hate to have to post such a poor review.
(1)Shanaz Z.
I always get disappointed when I go out to eat because I always think "I could've made this better at home for a fraction of the price". Not here! I love the chicken shawerma. I mean really, really love it. I crave their garlic sauce at least once a week. Definitely go there and order this dish. Their chicken shawarma wraps are yummy too for a great price. In the beginning the waitresses were not that great, but they're getting better.
(5)Ronnie K.
Yummy. Brings back memories of Mamoun's on Bleeker St. NYC. Appetizer sampler enough for 4+. Chicken shawarma and shish kebab sandwiches were outstanding and the falafel was tender and moist. Very subtle, authentic flavor all around. The server Rakhee was a stunning young women with a charming and sweet personality. Petra is a keeper for both eat in and take out.
(4)Hoda B.
If you looking for a casual middle eastern restaurant, Petra is the one for you. Great variety of middle eastern meals, from tabooli salad to baba ghanouj, they have it all, plus they have the plat de jour, and it varies from lamb with rice to vegetable and lamb stew. I usually order their daily plate, it require no wait and it is always good.
(5)Michele S.
Good food, I got the mix platter which comes with the lamb cubes, minced lamb and chicken. Falafel was good too, the pita bread with the garlic sauce was great! And so were the french fries
(3)James I.
After not having middle eastern food in a year, I decided to try this place on Busch. The decor is nothing to write home about, but they have nice music. I ordered the Petra Mixed grill and lentil soup. Lentil soup was decent. Ive had better in the UAE and Michigan. The Mixed grill was great, lots of food. Pita and hummus, Tomato/Onion Salad, 2-or 3 kabobs That was the highlight of the meal. They have the great Toum, white garlic sauce which was very yummy! My 2 main problems that kept it from getting a 4 stars are: 1) The server while nice seemed to only check on me sporadically. Im pretty low maintenance on service,(just bring the correct food, hot and dont mess up the bill)Even after I finished , it took something like 25 min to get the bill. I waved my hands frantically in the air, but it seemed for naught. 2) The white sauce is good,,but its kind of a low blow to charge 75 cents for a tiny smidge of it DURING the meal. In my favorite Michigan restaurant, La Marsa, pita and garlic sauce are complimentary during your meal. Only if you order it to go is there a charge. If the sauce was made of Uranium-238 or Monica Bellucci's toenails , I could understand. Its just garlic, olive oil, and spices lol. Maybe one should consider carryout for this place.
(3)Fiya S.
While visiting Tampa for the day, we were on the search for middle eastern food. We had stopped at a few places included one Indian restaurant (which will remain un identified) which looked like world war 3 in the kitchen. So we gave up our search and started heading back to our hotel when we saw Petra from a distance next to a barber shop. We decided to take a chance and check out the menu and alas we decided to give it a try. We ended up ordering chicken schwarma sandwich and a chicken schwarma dinner with hummus. I must say it was so delicious, I wish I lived in Tampa as my mouth is still watering from the taste. They have this garlic sauce that makes me all warm inside! I knocked one star off because when we sat at a booth, they had little ants crawling around on the wall.
(4)Christopher W.
A really nice change from the usual, and is it tasty! I've been there a few times, and I'm always quite happy with what I've gotten. The creamiest, most tasty hummus I've ever had. One time the falafel was a bit overdone (but not horribly so), and there is one lamb dish that doesn't specify that the lamb is pre-ground before cooking which was a different texture than I was looking for that night. And while I'm a huge fan of baklava, every time I ask for some they're already out. Which I suppose means on the plus side it's fresh, but I couldn't tell you first hand. Plus, the servers are very pleasant and warm.
(4)Desiree B.
My first time trying Mediterranean dish and it was superb. I will be going here again.
(4)michelle l.
The decor isn't anything special, but the service is friendly and efficient. More importantly, the food is wonderful. I just tried the appetizer platter (hummus, babaganoush, falafel, dolma, labeneh, and kibbe), but everything was so good that I'm excited to return and try something else. The spicy pickled veggies were so darned good, I want to learn how make them at home so I can eat them every day.
(5)Ellie M.
The food here is amazing. Only losing a star because of the lack of atmosphere (large, bright, tacky decor) and fact that it is in a grubby strip mall. But back to the food... because that's the most important part! I went with several other people and we ordered a lot of food. The hummus foul was delicious... order this as your appetizer! The lentil soup was also great, yellow and creamy served with buttery toasted chips. My main was chicken kebab with basmati rice and babaganoush... fantastic and authentic. Large portions, reasonable prices, and service was very good. A standout if not the best that this area has to offer in middle eastern fare.
(4)Charles W.
The place isn't in the best area in town, but it is nice and clean inside. Food was really good so definayely worth grabbing and going. The ambience and service inside was lacking quite a bit to bring down the whole experience. TVs had sound on and they were battling each other and the waiter dropped off our food we didn't see him again until the check came.
(3)Elizabeth D.
It's always a good sign when you walk into a restaurant and it smells unbelievable. I asked the waitress what it was that I was smelling and she told me that it was their special of the day- mansaf. Obviously, I had to have it. It's the appeal of the "limited edition." Plus, there was that beautiful aroma. So I ordered the Mansaf as my entree but I started with the Fattoush. It's a salad of lettuce, cucumber, and tomato with pomegranate dressing but the best part is... fried pita chips! Before the apps arrived, the waitress brought out warm, chewy pita bread and a bowl of pickled veggies. I wasn't a fan of the veggies but the bread was divine. The salad was amaze-balls and it was a very hearty portion- could definitely be a meal in itself. There's lots to love in that salad, but the fried pita chips are still my favorite. Then the mansaf arrived- basmati rice topped with tender lamb and a bowl of yogurt sauce. The lamb melted off the bone and tasted great with the rice and sauce. I'm definitely going to return and try more off the menu!
(4)Sarah I.
My husband and I had dinner there tonight. The food was amazing and very authentic. The amount of food you get for the money is insane. We had to take home 3 boxes because we could not finish all of it. I can't wait to try the other location on Kennedy Blvd.
(5)Kelli S.
I went with my brother and his girlfriend and I have to say the food is great. I had the hummus and pita bread which was to die for. I also ordered chicken sherwma and it was great. I can't wait to try other items on their menu.
(5)Michael D.
Went to the new location on Kennedy,was amazing. The flavors in the rice and chicken were outstanding. The waitress was the chefs wife and she gave us a complimentary serving of his mothers rice recipe. During Ramadan they are serving a buffet at 8 15 each night highly reccommend it
(4)Wen Z.
It's my first time to try mid east food, but it is amazing. Hummus and Labaneh are very nice. Pita is also very delicious. I like lamb, because lamb is rare to see in grocery. I recommend this restaurant.
(5)Haya A.
delicious food
(5)Willie O.
Outstanding and authentic. The chicken "shuwarma" was phenomenal. Sorry for the spelling. lol
(5)israa k.
The best baba ganoush that I have had in a really long time. The lentil soup is also wonderful- although sometimes they run out of it because it's so popular! I am so glad this place bounced back after the tragic fire last year. I continue to frequent Petra for lunch and dinner and service is always great.
(4)Y M.
I'm writing my feedback as I'm waiting for my food I've been here before they have good food but customer service suck I hate the blond one that works here she never smiles. This place is not cheap I want better service when I pay over $100 when I come here.
(2)Sarah M.
Nice food but very bad service with a very bad attitude , they couldn't even smile to respect their customers , the was a nice lady that worked there her name was Eman , she was very nice , but the rest are so rude
(1)Steve P.
We visited on Saturday, January 19, 2013, for the first time - and certainly not our last. This is a really good Middle Eastern restaurant with a near perfect trifecta of food, portion, and cost. Mostly unassuming on the inside, you aren't coming here for the decor. We were met warmly at the door, and we soon found a seat in the restaurant full of familes and couples enjoying massively sized plates of food. Service was fine, with our server providing refills of Coke Zero and Diet Coke (both available as fountain drinks) and fresh hot pita throughout the meal. If anything, the service was a little rushed, since we were reviewing the menu, and we kept being asked if we were ready to order. My dining companions and I enjoyed the following items: Appetizers: Foul and Hummus: I love the hot foul plated over the cool/chilled hummus. The combination of the warm/hot chunky fava beans over the creamy hummus is a wonderful combination, and was enjoyed with the fresh hot pita bread served with it. Falafel Plate: 8 crisp, fresh, flavorful, and non-greasy falafel surround a great "Oriental Salad" (tomato and cucumber) topped with a light tahini dressing. Why these were called an appetizer size is beyond me, because these were truly entree sized for one person. Great portion sizes. Amazing portion sizes. Entrees: Chicken Shwarma Sandwich - fresh wrap filled with grilled chicken, red and green peppers, as well as their AMAZING garlic sauce. The chicken was hot and well seasoned, the sauce was rich and creamy, and the whole thing was just a delight. Fried Fish Sandwich - fresh fried tilapia sandwich filled with tomato, lettuce, tartar sauce, and pickles. The fish was not greasy, and was perfectly cooked. This was good, but the other two entrees were just so amazing. Turkish Lamb Kebab (Hot) - the Kebabs were freshly grilled, and served with a side of the garlic sauce that was on the chicken shwarma sandwich. The only complaint is that the kebabs could have been a little spicier, but that is also coming from a chili-head that loves all things spicy. The french fries that came with the platter were perfectly cooked - crisp on the outside, and nearly creamy/smooth on the inside. More of the "Oriental Salad" came with the platter as the House Salad, his only regret was that he did not pick another side since there was still some left from the Falafel appetizer. We're big and hungry boys, so we ate everything with the exception of more of the Oriental Salad. The price was absolutely reasonable, and certainly worth a second trip.
(4)EJ P.
Still a 5 star food experience. You are MISSING OUT if you have not been here. I seriously think this is some of the best food in Tampa. In my top 3 of Tampa restaurants. Get the chicken kebab with rice and salad, extra garlic sauce. Have someone else order the hummus so you can try that. And ask for boxes, because the portions are ENORMOUS. Don't complain to me or to Yelp about the decor, the location, the prices, or the service here, the food is SO GOOD it doesn't matter. Sometimes the service is perfection, other times it's barely decent. I could eat here once a week and be in heaven. I CRAVE that chicken and that garlic sauce. (See photo Number 4 above.) JUST GO.
(5)M Y.
Good food. Worst service. Two people came after me got out before me. The food came out later and had to ask the women to please give me my food. It's already waiting for her just to bag it. Although the food was good I'll never go there again because of the bad service.
(1)Nancy A.
I visited Tampa this weekend to see friends and grabbed dinner here while waiting for them. Service was great. The waitress was nice. I was disappointed that they didn't have what I wanted, a beef kabob. I got the chicken instead and it was pretty good. The location leaves something to be desired, however. It's part of a sketchy strip mall and I didn't feel comfortable there alone with my infant son.
(3)Zuhair O.
The food is wonderful, setting is nice, prices are reasonable. Try it, you will enjoy it. And it is very healthy too...
(5)Donald W.
I love it, and you will to Middle Eastern food is the great!
(5)Rita A.
I'm not sure when or how often Mark S. has been to Petra, but I go there at least 3 times a month. Forget canned, Petra is as authentic as it gets! I am of middle eastern descent and I come from a family of wonderful cooks. The food at Petra is incredibly fresh. The beef shawurma and the chicken shawurma practically melt in your mouth since they are halal meat. The babaganoush is flavorful. The meals are tasty, fresh, and come in large portions. An entree can definitely feed at least two grown individuals. It is definitely the kind of food that you do not feel bad about eating afterward. Best of all, the prices are incredibly reasonable and you can even purchase items at the store next door and add it on to your bill for convenience. My whole family loves Petra and even the pickiest of my friends are in love with it as well. The interior was recently redone and is very comfortable. I highly recommend this anyone. By far, the best middle eastern food in all of Tampa!
(5)Mark S.
If you are looking for a decent Middle Eastern lunch or a quick dinner, this is a decent place to go. The interior (and exterior) is on the drab and worn side. The food is the usual fare found in such places (hummous, babaganoush, falafel, shwarma etc...). The quality is also as usual, meaning that hummous or babaganoush are straight from the can "refined" with some spices and a lot of olive oil. The main dishes such as fallafel are good and come in decent quantities. The restaurant has a small store portion, selling the standard ME goods such as canned fool (beans), hummous, jams, pickles (very good: try ziad brand "small" cucumbers).
(3)Jeff N.
Absolutely positively the best Mediterranean restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. This is a Jordanian restaurant with a wide mix of foods available. I enjoy coming here because the service is good and the staff are always attentive. It is also clean and comfortable. I always order a hot tea with mint when I come here. They use tea bags but they are using tea that is popular in the middle east. They will refill your tea cup with hot water if you ask. I wish they would brew their own tea though and this would be a great thing. My favorite appetizer is the Foule. It is puree of fava beans, some garbanzos spiced with garlic, jalapeno, lemon, olive oil and parsley. It is served warm and with pita bread. I love that this place gives enough bread and you do not have to ask for more. If you are running low they ask you if you would like more. Great customer service. Another appetizer I like is Mesabaha a puree of chickpeas and humus with humus, jalapeno, olive oil, parsley and garlic. The Babaganoush is also good and it has a nice smokey flavor. Their lentil soup is well seasoned and you can taste the flavor of cumin I usually get a sandwich because it is a smaller portion than a whole plate of food since I get an appetizer as well when I come and otherwise I would not be able to eat all the food. I would recommend the Kufta Kabob sandwich (seasoned ground lamb patties), Chicken Shawarma with their amazing garlic sauce. My all time favorite is the Falafel sandwich with tahini sauce. I love that the falafel is not cool when I get it and the inside is a nice yellow color. The taste is the best falafel in the greater bay area.
(5)Alanna T.
As a former restaurant worker and current nurse (service industry), I regret to say that despite the reviews on yelp, this place was probably the worst experience I've had in a few years. The service was slow, and i mean- you are wondering where and who your waiter is, drinks left empty for maybe 15 min., and no one dare ask how your food is- bc even they know it's probably cold. Now for the food, it was cold, tasteless, and sparse. What a waste of time and money. No offense, but anyone rating this place higher than a few stars is probably coming from true middle east (2nd world) service and food. It def belongs in the pawn shop ghetto complex is currently resides in. This was the final insult to the Tampa area we visited. PS: the water park in tampa is for the neck tattooed only. You want good middle eastern food, I don't know what to tell you- but it isn't here. And yea, I've been to the middle east, and Michigan. Yum.
(1)Maham K.
When I visited Tampa last week, I had food from here three times. The first time I went I seated myself and ordered the chicken shawarma entree with a side of house salad and yellow rice. The staff seemed a little confused and not as welcoming as you'd expect in a restaurant with such great reviews. After about 15 minutes of waiting we were brought starters. This included delicious fluffy pita bread with an olive oil dipped with various seasoning as well as a red chili sauce that was also in the olive oil. Along with that we were given a bowl of pickled veggies of different sort. I was pleasantly surprised with the portions and my entree arrived. I wish they offered more rice though. The second time I went I ordered the mixed grill with a side of hummus and garden salad and a side order of rice. This as well was flavorful and had three options of protein. Beef, lamb and chicken. The beef was by far the best I've had at a Mediterranean place. Lastly, my last experience with this restaurant was through a take out order. You do not receive extra pita with your order like you would if you dined with them. And I felt the portions were much smaller and they were less generous with their meat portions. The fries with my order were stale and not fresh. Overall a good experience. Also their hummus is the best I've ever tasted. Note: not everything on their menu is zabiha halal.
(4)Caity A.
I know you may be sketched out once you pull into the lot, but trust me, just go right in! It is impressively clean and nice in here, and besides the food is awesome! We tried a few different things to sample the menu: the veggie platter, chicken shawarma wrap, and the Petra platter. The veggie platter was killer; I've never been a huge fan of babaganoush, but theirs is seriously addictive. Same goes with their hummus- and it goes perfect with their deliciously soft pita bread. The meat on their Petra platter was ridiculous. I don't know which beef it was, but holy cow it was crazy flavorful and tender. Each platter is more than enough for two meals, so you will have some yummy leftovers later. Our server was very nice and helpful in making recommendations. I will be back here for sure.
(4)Steve E.
I thought that I was well-versed in Middle Eastern cuisine since I know my way around the menus at Greek and Mediterranean restaurants, but clearly I was wr.....wr....ummm, "mistaken". Petra is an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant located in a small strip mall, just east of Busch Gardens along Busch Boulevard. If you're not paying attention you'll easy sail right past this spot -- and that would be a mistake. The restaurant is very popular with people who are familiar with this cuisine, as well as students from the nearby University of South Florida. The food is very fresh, and cooked to order, with fresh vegetables and ingredients bought in daily from the local markets. Petra also imports some of their specialized ingredients from the Mediterranean to supplement what they can't find locally. The pita bread is baked fresh on a daily basis. It takes a bit of time to sort through all of the great options on the menu. Your server won't rush you, but they'll gladly answer questions and make suggestions. Appetizers include some outstanding hummus and Foule, babaghanoush, falafels, stuffed grape leaves, Nabulsi fried cheese, and all kinds of other fun things to try and pronounce. You can order a traditional Greek or cucumber salad, but they also have Fattoush, Tabouli, and Tahini salads. You'll honestly have to read through the descriptions on the menu (or beg Tiffany H to go with you) to make up your mind. I saw the puree of lentil soup on the menu and decided to give that a try. It was seasoned with cumin and other herbs along with sautéed onions and a splash of olive oil. My soup arrived at the table along with a basket of freshly-baked pita bread, and a bowl of spicy pickled vegetables. YUM!!!!! They have a number of different sandwiches on the menu which are stuffed with shawarma or kabob meats, or you can skip right to vegetarian heaven and order falafel, hummus, or babaghanoush sammies. If you prefer a heartier entrée you'll find platters of beef or chicken shawarma, along with sautéed diced lamb, served with a ring of homemade hummus, almonds, onions, and parsley. Petra also features daily traditional specials, and all of these entrées are priced under $15. For bigger family gatherings you can order their grilled skewers of lamb, chicken, or beef, with a variety of sides. I had the grilled beef shawarma plate which was served with a ring of hummus around the edge of the plate, and then then diced beef piled up in the middle. That was served with sliced pickles, onions, and tomatoes. Very delicious, and plenty of food for leftovers.
(4)Dawn B.
This place does look kinda sketchy from the outside but it is clean & bright on the inside. The food was FABULOUS!!!!!!!!! We had hummus app & Petra mixed grill. Could have had a little more beef but AWESOME!!!!!! They serve pickled veggies with the hummus, I'm not a big fan of pickled veggies but you must try them with the hummus - it completely negates the vinegar- AMAZING
(5)