Kerbside pickup
Yes
Phoenician Taverna in Mason
Categories
Location on the map
Mason, Warren County, Ohio, US
Service options
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Halal food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Phone: +1 513-770-0027
Site: http://www.phoeniciantaverna.com/
Site: http://www.phoeniciantaverna.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:Closed
- Thursday:Closed
- Friday:Closed
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
Comments (199)
If yall ever get the random urge to consume AMAZING Lebanese food.... I would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND Phoenician Taverna in Fields Ertel. This place was so good! (I got the Farrouj Meshwi and it was delectable.) 10 out of 10. And unlimited fresh pita and zataar. YES PLEEEASE.
Amazing food and service! Lots of great vegetarian options. The appetizer sampler and desserts were out of this world. Their featured wine selection paired well with the food. Will definitely return as often as possible.
Extremely impressed with this authentic Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant! The appetizers were the best, highly recommend the Dip trio, meat pies and the cheese pies.For main courses, the Ouzi (Braised Lamb with Almond Rice) was our favorite. The lamb loin was pretty good too. Not super impressed with the mixed grill and the shawarma was decent.The desserts were very good as well, the sweet cheese and Um Ali hit the spot! Will definitely be back.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants! awesome friendly staff, amazing food, and a nice overall atmosphere. i highly recommend checking this place out if you ever get a chance!
The big plus is the owner greets you at the door, rare now a days. The food was properly made. Reasonable portions and price, wine menu offered interesting selections. This location strives for a fine dining experience. Reservations are recommended but not neccessary.
I’m not sure how I’ve never written a review for this place because I’ve eaten here, easily, once or twice a week for the past couple years. It’s my all time favorite restaurant. If I could live off of their falafels, pita and garlic whip, I would. I’ve never had a bad dish here. Their fries with garlic whip is really the only way to eat fries now. My favorite menu items would be the falafel, fattoush, taverna fries, arnabeet, and burghul banadoura. But really, again, you can’t go wrong with any thing on the menu.
Some of the best Mediteranean food I’ve ever had. Excellent mixed grill, lentil soup, and shawarma entrees. The eggplant appetizer was nice also but could use a little more eggplant and less hummus. Excellent and very pleasant customer service with a very inviting dining area. Reasonable prices.
The wait on a Saturday night is unbelievable. We waited for 1 hour and then it took 45 mins to get the food to us. All that wait for dry kebabs. So dry they were difficult to cut even with a knife. Food was definitely not worth the wait. The cold apps are really tasty, but not worth a 2 hour wait. It was our first time here and we were a party of 5. All of us agreed to never return to this place.
Outstanding! I am not sure it gets better than this. Incredibly helpful and attentive staff (Gary) explained everything to me and made perfect suggestions. The hummus, garlic butter, tahini, and hot paste are outstanding. The flat bread came out so warm it was almost too much to hold...almost! Best I have ever had. I also ordered the lamb loin. The lamb was cooked a little more than I like but the flavor was outstanding! Fried potatoes with garlic butter was perfectly cooked and extravagantly arranged. WELL DONE Phoenician Taverna!!!Ordered kabis pickled dish that was also good. Arabic Coffee to end the meal was a perfect end!
Oh my goodness, this visit was my first time to actually order food at Phoenician Taverna. Previously, I had only stopped by to see the menu. Wow, I wasted two years before discovering what a hidden gem this restaurant is.I ordered the Lamb Shank and my wife got the Lamb Kabob. See the photos we took. Mine was so much more tasty than you can tell from the picture. The meat was very moist, but just fell away from the bone so easily, I didnt need the knife they provided. Seeing the desert menu, I refrained from eating more than half of the ample serving I was given.My wife shared a piece of her kabob, but not till after she poured on the tasty green sauce. I am a picky eater and will tell you that I do not like the green sauce. I do not care for cilantro and closely related items. However, after removing as much as I could, I could make out the original meat flavors. Ooo-boy it was good. My wife, who love the green sauce, was very happy with her choice.She ate the whole plate! (I hope she doesnt read this)She commented early on about the Orange Blossom Ice Cream. And I had my eye on the Bread Pudding item for dessert. And since I only ate half of my order, I wanted to share two desserts.The desserts were fabulous. Id run out of space if I were to try to describe them. Please do yourself a huge favor and go the Phoenician Taverna. I dont think you will be disappointed.
The food is amazing and the vibe is so on point!We have been coming here many times and every time we feel extremely satisfied!!
I tried Phoenician Tavern with a group of co-workers for lunch and had a very good lunch experience. I tried the half rotisserie chicken with basmati rice and a salad and it was a wonderful lunch experience. The chicken skin was crisp and flavorful, the chicken moist and succulent. Paired with the rice and garlic whip it created a fantastic flavor combination. The pita bread that was served was fresh but a little bland as we didnt have any condiments with it. The salad offered a very crisp and refreshing bite to compliment the main entree. For after lunch we got a Lebanese coffee with cardamom and it was an interesting take on coffee.
I’m middle eastern and the food here is by far the best I’ve had in The state. Super authentic super fresh. The owner Wassim is wonderful man.
It cannot get any more authentic and fresh than this restaurant. I have eaten at middle eastern restaurants across the Midwest including: Illinois, Michigan. This is by far the best one I have tried. The service is outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking an authentic, delicious Lebanese culinary experience.
Hands down, delicious, healthy, and very flavorful food. This place is consistently excellent! Thank you for making my dining experience next level
I have never had a bad meal here and I have probably had everything on the menu! Hubby and I love this hidden gem for date nights or work lunches or out of town guests....
Excellent food. Chicken dishes are phenomenal! Good ambiance and friendly servers. Definitely going back for their walnut dip and falafel!!
This place is amazing. The food is amazing and authentic. Remarkable quality of food and service. I would recommend this place always!
Tonight we dined at Phoenician to celebrate my sister in laws birthday with a group of 11. Everyone enjoyed the service, food, and the atmosphere. Our apps and dips were great, the Lebanese wine was tasty, and my lamb and beef shawarma was absolutely incredible. Our server William was great too. We will definitely be back.
The food here was on point. Really great hummus and they kept the fresh pita bread flowing.
Excellent food and wonderful, friendly service. Great atmosphere to try out some small plates with a good group of friends. This is one of those places you can really tell a lot of care is put into every aspect of the experience, from menu to table. Highly recommend.
The food is wonderful. Great environment. Family owned with owners on site making sure everyone is happy. Absolutely will return.
What a great experience. Their appetizers are great. The environment is great. The service is prompt and on point. Their garlic whip is amazing. Lebanese wine is worth trying! We will be back!
The food is always amazing! The atmosphere is quaint and the staff is very attentive. Excellent!
Great food, mediocre service. cant handle a large party (less than 10 ppl) well.
Staff was attentive and friendly and the food was fresh and delicious.
We have visited this place three times now. The food is always flavorful and with good presentation. We have tried a variety of appetizers, including hummus, baba ghanouj, mhammara, labneh, fatayer bjibne, falafel, kibbeh, and kibbeh laketeen - they are all perfectly portioned and perfectly tasty to start the meal! The pita bread is always warm and fluffy. For mains, I highly recommend the ouzi, shawarma, and - the one I just had and was a total winner - fatteh bel with lamb (pictured). You absolutely MUST try their lemonade: its freshly squeezed and has orange blossom. You will not be disappointed! Finally, their baklava is excellent: flavorful and not overly sweet. The ambiance is inviting and the service is great.
What a lovely restaurant! My first time, a busy Friday night, and no reservations. No matter! The staff was incredibly welcoming, the atmosphere cozy, and the food...AMAZING. We were well taken care of by the owner and his staff with both personal suggestions, as well as impeccable service. What a treasure here in Cincinnati.
Absolutely fantastic food and service. Starting to make this place one of our gotos!!
Wonderful meal. Had been wanting to try for quite some time and Phoenician Taverna exceeded my expectations. The food was excellent, I had the Lamb loin and my wife had the mixed kabobs. Both excellent with solid portions. The whipped butter for the potatoes was light and flavorful. Owner was engaging and the staff perfect. I see why they get rated in the top 10 frequently.
Fantastic experience. We were in the area so we tried this place. It is a clean and classy restaurant and the service was pleasant and efficient.
The food was average, no better or worse than Ive had at most other Lebanese restaurants, but the hospitality was severely lacking. From the moment we entered the hostess (owner, I presume) frowned that we had no reservations in an empty restaurant, chided us for bringing outside food for our toddlers and glared and made us feel unwelcome for the rest of our meal. We ordered multiple dishes and drinks and the kids stayed behaved, but attitude did not improve as we left. Theyre a small place tucked in an older strip mall and theyd pulled up their carpet to leave behind a tacky glue reminiscent of a beer soaked dive bar, but they think theyre gracing you with their mere existence. Ill find my middle eastern cuisine elsewhere.
Shhh... Phoenician Taverna is one of the best-kept secrets in Cincinnati. Fantastic Lebanese cuisine, comfortable atmosphere, great service... This family-run gem is absolutely worth going out of your way, and is one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati IMHO.
5 star Mediterranean in a strip mall!We have dined at and taken to-go from Phoenician many times but never stopped to do them the courtesy of a review. If you are within 45 minutes of Mason, OH, and consider yourself a foodie or are just looking for a unique food experience, put this place on your list.First, the authenticity is beautiful. We live in a community with many Mediterranean residents and they always vouch for it. I do, too, from eating around the world for decades. It is Mediterranean with a Lebanese focus.Second, the quality is consistent and excellent. I could pick any dish, but I prefer to name the Halloumi. Three pieces of gorgeous halloumi cheese, fried perfectly, served with the traditional accoutrements. We have had this 10 times and it just seems to be better every time. Because, where else can you get it, and the memory of it begins to become a greater desire each time (honestly, kind of like the Cincinnati reaction to a Skyline 3-way).Third, their prices are ridiculously good. Not only for the food, but when you see the wines by the bottle you will not believe the value. For example, a bottle Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay for $36. Often they have outstanding Lebanese wines and European selections that are interesting and attractively priced.Fourth, the pita. 🏆 It deserves a point all to itself. I have never had better pita. It comes out so hot you cannot touch it; it smells so good you will touch it anyhow and be willing to be burned. They just give it to you. And you can (should) get it with Baba Ghanoush, Mama (yes, it is a thing) Ghanoush, Hummus, a house sesame seeded oil (they just give it to you) or any of their sauces. Try the Harissa paste!!Fifth, the deserts. I dont feel I can describe the uniqueness and flavor of these simple creations. But I would never leave without desert and their Lebanese coffee. I would say it is like Turkish coffee infused with cardamomFinally, the people working there really enjoy working there and they show it with kindness and great service.I hope you try it and love it.PS - I have no financial interest in this business other than that I hope it is successful so that it never goes away so that I can always go there. :-)
Gosh, I hate to give a less than stellar review to one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, because the food and service were excellent as always, but the A/C wasnt working well at our meal yesterday, and the guest of honor could not enjoy his birthday meal because he felt light headed and was sweating the whole evening. The staff acknowledged that the A/C wasnt working well and countered that they would keep our water glasses full. It was just hard to have a long leisurely meal as we had planned while roasting. We will be back in cooler weather, or when the A/C is fixed, but not before.
GREAT PLACE to experience Lebanese Food. Food is made fresh and in house!!! A real treat in the greater Cincinnati area for Mediterranean inspired dishes. The owner and staff are very kind and involved with their customers. Not sure what to order. Tell the owner what types of food you like (or dont like), and hell take care of you. Oh, and the desserts are homemade too!
Unbelievable food and service! Cant believe it took us so long to try this place.
Tried to walk and get a seat. The hostess took 10 minutes to seat us. Then said she sat us by mistake and made us get up and wait. Then she decided to help to go orders and let us sit around. Food looked good but terrible service. We went down the way to eat Korean food.
Out of all the places Ive tried in Mason this restaurant has the best food. Authentic lebanese cuisine served with pride and excellent service. A bit pricey, yes, but well worth it for a nice night out.
Authentic Lebanese Cusine. Love this place😊 shanklish, hummus, Kibeh, kafta and thier arak earned them my 5 stars!
Absolutely amazing food and service and cannot wait to go back again!
Please! If you are reading this to decide on going or not, GO NOW! This place was exceptional in every way: taste, portions, wait staff, ambience, cleanliness, I could go on and on. Raw kibbeh, lamb shank, chicken kabob, mixed plate, super fresh tabouleh, labneh, desert, excellent.
Our first time here and the food was delicious and our service was outstanding. We will definitely come back to try more dishes!
Go eat here!! Very delicious hidden gem! I have seen this restaurant on Google many times and thought Id like to try. I am so happy I finally did!Make a reservation! Or call ahead! I was very surprised, happily, how busy they were. We ordered an appetizer at the bar while we waited for a table!The food was delicious! Karen our server was amazing. The owner came to our table to check on us!Highly recommend and will return!
A real eastern Mediterranean food, enjoy!
After spending several months in lockdown due to COVID-19, my wife and I made reservations to have dinner with four other friends at Phoenician Taverna, a local Lebanese restaurant in Mason, Ohio.The evening was going wonderfully, and our dinner was excellent, the company outstand and divers.Two of my guests were from Lebanon; one was from Jordon, one was from Estoneina, my wife is from Russia, and of course, I was the only American in the group. Our group has been close friends for many years, and we often dine out together.Most of the restaurant staff speaks Arabic, and my Arabic speaking friends were speaking in their native language with them, I can only assume they were using some humor because there was a lot of laughter. I thought it was going to be just another perfect evening out with friends, but no, this evening was different.As our evening was coming to an end, I paid my huge bill with pleasure and included a 40% gratuity as I usually do, only to have the owner of the establishment come over and scold me in front of my guests.I was stunned momentarily but then asked him what are you talking about here?He looked at me and said, who do you work the FBI? Who? Again, I said, what are you talking about?Other than saying, Thank you to restaurant staff or placing my order for food, I didnt even speak to his employees. The man just stood there and scolded me for no reason at all. I was infuriated, so only I just stood up and left. No customer should ever receive such poor customer service.In closing, I have never had a business owner treat me in such an aggressive and humiliating manner. I dine out more than I dine at home, and I will share this experience with as many people as I possibly can He will never see another penny of my money. I would advise anyone thinking of dining at Phoenician Taverna to steer clear of the owner, as I believe he is a very aggressive person.
I celebrated my PhD today in this great place. Well we enjoyed a awesome evening and the restaurant was evidently the reason for that strong celebration. The crew helped in a splendid manner, the food was extremely good and my guests were very thrilled. We shall definitely return for more events. Thank you very much.
Food was okayish. Taverna fries tasted great!Tried their lamb and rotisserie chicken.
Tons of vegetarians options that were all amazing! They are also taking many COVID precautions such as checking temperature at the door and appropriate seating between customers. Service was great as well. Definitely recommend!
Ate dinner 5/23/21 & everything was fantastic! Jacob K. was our server, he was busy but very attentive. Party of 2 with no reservations, & were warmly greeted & seated with no problem. The lamb was deliciously buttery & cooked beautifully. Very much enjoyed my birthday dinner! Hope to return.
The food was delicious and the service was great!
The quality of the food is excellent and the customer service is outstanding. I placed an order for carry-out, and they forgot to include the Tabouli. They called me back 15 minutes later and offered to deliver it to my home! They go above and beyond to make sure you are happy. Highly recommend!
I miss the vast array of flavors from the Restaurants in Europe, and more specifically from my moms home town. This was a step back into some of the Arabic, Turkish, Greek, and Romanian restaurants all rolled into one. The Lamb was just AMAZING! The side salads...mmmm... I know I made a LOT of noise enjoying the meal with my hubby, and remarking about the spices and flavors!AWESOME!!
This place is fantastic! The owner met us at the door and showed us our table. First class Gentleman. Ava our server was so attentive. Well return.
We took friends who had never been to this restaurant on Sunday before Labor Day. We ordered the appy sampler so they could experience a nice variety of flavors.They thoroughly enjoyed the food. My husband and I ordered the lamb, it is a nice change. (It doesnt taste like your moms lamb! No mint jelly!)
We visit this restaurant often. We generally follow the recommendations of the waiter, most often revealing excellent food. Our most recent visit was no exception. The lamb and chicken were amazing. Love the warm, soft, and homemade pita with dipping oil. The only complaint is the cost. Prices seem a bit high, but we dont complain much....because the food..while not gourment, it is excellent.
Went with my my family. We found the food to be hit and miss. The chicken we got was so dry that is was inedible. That said, all the other food that we got was delicious.The staff is very friendly and attentive. The biggest issue I have with the restaurant is that the prices feel pretty high to me.
Friendly staff, amazing food! Will be back again!
Pretty much THE BEST Mediterranean restaurant around. The owner is super nice and made sure to check in with us, and even offered cooking advice for out leftover food and sauces. Waiting staff is great, and attentive but not intrusive. Oh, and of course the food! Everything is so fresh and its all homemade! The home-made sauces and dips are excellent. The atmosphere is very nice, not at all like a typical strip mall restaurant. Wines are available and the owner provides good pairing advice. Definitely earns its Best of The City award.
Consistently good food here. Dont let the strip mall location stop you from trying this little gem. Delicious house-made pita bread. Fresh vegetables and hummus. Everything weve tried here has been excellent. The service is great and the manager always greets and checks with each table.
This is definitely one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I have eaten at. Wish there were more vegetarian options for entrees but all of the apps were amazing. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend.
Wow, for Cincinnati this is sadly one of the few middle eastern options. And this is true middle eastern, with middle-east and some Greek options. I prefer only the middle eastern dishes here. I usually get the well apportioned and well plated platters, both vegetarian and meat options. A bit pricey for lunch (about $11 at the time of this post). Owners are wonderful and very gracious. I would recommend this restaurant as a regular stop.
Great food and wine. Service very good as well. Cant beat it for great Mediterranean food.
Would have loved to have tried this place. However they said that there was no way we could get a table without a reservation even though we showed up at 5:45. Nowhere on their website does it say anything about making reservations.
Excellent food, great atmosphere. Plenty of delicious vegetarian and vegan options, too. Staff was very helpful in identifying vegan entres. Will definitely go again. 👍
Great food!!! The service is outstanding. My wife and I enjoyed a delicious meal last Friday, and I just came back today to pick up an order. Same level of quality for takeout or dine-in.
I believe we have a new favorite restaurant. The food was nothing short of amazing! The atmosphere was great. We were treated like family (the family that you like, that is). The owner stores and talked to us about his passion, his food. We have not been to many Mediterranean restaurants and none that were Lebanese so they educated us. Mix this with that... It made what was already great even better. We will definitely be back!
What a great find! If you like Mediterranean food and flavor, this is your kind of place. The staff was fantastic, and the owner provided a great story of the restaurant and his journey. It was a great date night, and we will return!
Favorite restaurant to visit when Im in town for work. Some of the best Mediterranean food Ive ever had.
Phoenician Taverna is an awesome restaurant. They serve delicious menu items and specials. The list of appetizers is huge. Maybe go and share a sampler appetizer with someone special. You can select either with meat, or you can choose without meat. Although Ive not tried the with meat version, Im sure its delicious. The chicken and fish served has always been top quality. Enjoy! 😋
Delightful food and fun atmosphere! Everything is fresh and made with excellence! This was my first visit and I just loved every item I had. The pita is wonderful, hummus perfect, and the little touches show they do not take short cuts. Also let me just say the garlic whip is to die for! I would visit again if I was in the area. I am sad to be 5 hours away. :-(
Coming from Germany with lots of Mediterranean food around we couldnt wait for this place to open. Its the best Mediterranean restaurant around! Excellent service and food is always prepared to perfection. We also enjoy the owner sharing his passion with the guests. Its a great dining experience every single time. I would give it a 10 if I could. :)
The place is clean and cozy inside. Not a lot of tables were occupied, we liked that. However, it took a long time to order, drinks, and food, 1 hr and 50 min (food did arrive after that time). The food was ok, some dishes were really good, buy some were just plain disgusting, way too much garlic, flat bread appetizers - stay away. We had 8 people at our table and there should have been extra help as one waiter was not capable of remembering and bringing things in a timely manner. I personally ordered a drink from the bar and had to remind twice about it (30 min to get a drink?). We asked to substitute a side dish for my son, well it didnt come with the substituted side dish. And we never got what he asked, eventually cancelling it. The fastest thing that did happened was we got our checks pretty quick. Not worth another trip .
Average at best. Whether you order chicken lamb or beef...it pretty much tastes the same. The atmosphere is ok, but above what you might expect. Service is average.All and all it is a good fix for the middle eastern food near the Mason area, but at the same time it is forgettable.
My wife has allergies to dairy and shes gluten sensitive. Most restaurants know about gluten (hopefully by now) but most dont have a clue about dairy allergies and how to handle them. The owner came over and talked to us and gave us a wide variety of choices. We were happy that you could get organic corn chips instead of pitas for the hummus and dips. There were also several appetizers, some soups and around 6 or 7 entrée choices (at least). Normally with her allergies, its like one choice (if that).Food was delicious and service was very good. Liked the ambiance too. Will be back!
Amazing food! Great staff! If you need some authentic Lebanese food or just want to try something different, check this place out!
I love this place the food was really delicious if you love they delicious dishes for you. If youre vegetarian they have wonderful dishes for you. The owner is really nice he came to the our table to make sure everything is good. Im definitely will be back
Staff is always friendly. The food is among the best Mediterranean food Ive ever had. The atmosphere, although small, is a nice hybrid between casual and formal...so you dont feel out of place if youre in your nice work clothes or if youre in your street clothes straight from the theme park.
Beyond good food and service! This is the best middle Eastern/Lebanese food I have had the pleasure to consume. Very pleasant environment and the owner, his wife and the staff make you feel at home. Reasonably priced and well worth the drive to Mason. A good friend, who happens to be Lebanese, set up our reservation for six of us UC alumni to have dinner here after the Bearcats homecoming football game. He promised the drive to the suburban location would be worth it. He was right.
Having been here a handful of times, the experience is always enjoyable, and the food is delicious. Best middle eastern restaurant in the region. The atmosphere is sublime, as well, especially as its tucked away in a small but elegant space.
I got the Beef and Lamb Shawarma and Fries. The flavor was DYN-O-MITE! So good! The lunch menu is minimal, which is a good thing because it helped me make my decision faster. The service was great and the atmosphere is nice as well. Great spot for a quick, delicious, and affordable lunch (~$9) if you work in the area and like Mediterranean food!
This is the most unique place we have visited. Ive looked for similar places in our travels, but cant find one. We are a fan of tapas, and theirs is some of the best.Plus top notch service, great owners who talk to each patron to find their views, and it is a great place, one of the best around Cincinnati. I would recommend an individual item, but they all stand out. Maybe the lamb shank as a stand out.Pro tip: Get the hot sausages, potato bravas, and use the pitas they give you to make a Lebanese hot pocket. Yup.
One of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Cincinnati. The lamb dishes are fantastic. Get a reservation, gets busy quickly.
We love Phoenician Taverna. They have the best Mediterranean food, friendly and knowledgeable staff and its always our favorite date night spot.
Not only is this the best Middle Eastern restaurant Ive ever been to, but its also the best restaurant Ive ever been to period. Everything is high quality and tasty. The servers are always so nice and remember my boyfriend and me when we come in. They even have memorized our order (shout out to Zach)! Wassim, the owner, always comes to our table to chat. We feel very welcomed. Its the most authentic Middle Eastern food Ive had (rivaling my own grandparents cooking). I highly recommend ordering the Mezza Platter. Its a great way to sample a little of everything (they have a vegetarian version too). My guilty pleasure is their french fries. Their Taverna Lemonade is the best lemonade youll find anywhere. Ive been a loyal customer since I moved to Cinci 5 years ago. If youve never been here before, youre missing out!
Best Mideastern food I have had since Israel last year. Try the sampler appetizer platter for sure. The clotted cream desert with crushed pistachios and orange blossom syrup containing candied orange blossom petals was to die for! Owner is hands on with all homemade and fresh ingredients !Cannot go wrong here. Chef Lorenzo
The food is top notch, you can’t find this anywhere else! all staff at Phoenician Taverna are fantastic and friendly! Would 100% recommend to friends and family.
This is the most authentic lebanese food you can get outside of Lebanon. Absolutely delicious. The owner, Wassim, is very friendly and passionate about food. I have been here several times and the food is always great! My only criticism is that the waiters could be kind of slow. However, this is easily overlooked considering the cozy feeling of the restaurant and delicious foods!
A very nice restaurant with good food. The lamb shawarma was very moist and well seasoned. The kafta is delicious and the walnut sauce with pita bread is amazing. A full bar compliments the overall experience. The owners are very welcoming and accommodating.
Horrible service, and the food was not good at all, or whatsoever. I was very disgusted from the way everybody. Including the owner was acting there (Meaning the woman at the door, which I’m assuming is an owner). I was with my three year old son, and mother for a nice evening meal. “Oh I’m sorry I wasn’t in my work slacks, but wanted to wear jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt”. “Um because it’s confortable and relaxed”, but that gives you NO right to treat me, or my family. Particularly my son like a second class citizen. I will never eat, or step foot in your restaurant again, or pay any of my money. Not even a dime to fund the gross facility you call your “restaurant”. I might be just one customer, and not one of your regulars, but I will tell every ten people I know. To never eat their, and they will tell their ten friends, so word of mouth is the best kind of advertising there is. Thanks :)
I love this restaurant. The atmosphere and staff are welcoming. The place and bathrooms are clean and well decorated. The owner is an experienced restaurant manager. The chef is top notch and experienced. The food is top quality. You will forget you are in a strip mall restaurant the moment you set foot in this place. Very decent wine selection.
Absolutely the best Mediterranean cuisine around! Excellent service and food was prepared perfectly. The owner was talking to every table as if we were all friends of his. A fantastic dining experience...we will be back again and again.
Im confused by some of the bad reviews on service and treatment. Im a regular and watch a lot of the interactions. The owner is always, always present and making sure everything is running smooth. If you have an issue, just bring it to his attention. But the food...without a doubt it earns the best of awards it has received. I always go with the specials and never disappointed. And dont forget to finish off with a Lebanese coffee.
Some of the most flavorful food I’ve eaten in all of my travels. The owner was nice enough to come by while we were eating and give us some backstory on our food and passed along some extra spice to try on our dishes if we wanted. If you’re ever in Mason (or Cincinnati) this should be at the top of your “restaurants to try” list. 100% recommend.
Excellent restaurant where the food is delicious and savory. Servers all work together and the owner is hands on. The kebabs are fabulous here and if you go, you must try the mhammra(walnut dip) for an appetizer. 5 stars!
Very tasty food with excellent service and reasonable prices. Very nice touch that the owners interacted with all the patrons and certainly helped to even more so create a very welcoming environment. And oh the continuous supply of fresh from the oven pita!! WoW!
One of the best Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean restaurants in Cincinnati. Had a truly wonderful time not only by enjoying the food but with the manger and waiting staff as well. They gave me great recommendations and helped me navigate through their menu to fit my taste. Will definitely be going back shortly to try even more mezza(appetizer) dishes!
My boyfriend and I have been going here for a few years now. The service is always great and the owners are very warm and welcoming! The food is fantastic, I always get Shwarma and he always gets a yogurt dish! The best appetizer is the walnut dip snd the Ashta dessert is the bomb! 5 stars for sure!
This has got to be the best Lebanese food outside of Lebanon. Consistently good. Weve tried several menu items and have never been disappointed in the least. Wonderful service and a very gracious host.
Disappointingly mediocre. Same, slightly bland seasoning on every dish. Very acidic tomato-based sauce on most dishes. Lamb shank undercooked and consequently very chewy/rubbery. Lamb and chicken very dry. Hummus passable. Decent, reasonably priced wine selection. Wanted to like this place, but walked away nonplussed.
Went with my wife to try this place out. We loved the spinach pie & walnut dip two items we highly recommend. We also had cheese pies which were good, lentil soup & chicken shawarma as appetizer this should been on bed of rice, humus or greens instead of tomato stew!Kenafa was good.Overall great experience
Best Lebanese Food in Southwest Ohio.
I had the lamb loin and it was excellent!! The garlic paste, is the best I think I ever had. The entire meal was excellent, better then places in the middle east and in the Mediterranean. Restaurant was clean and cozy, staff was excellent!!
A nice Mediterranean restaurant in Mason. I love their mezza platter. It is available in both meat and vegetarian versions. The service is decent. Their walnut chutney is a must try.
Awesome food. Friendly waitstaff. Every dish was amazing. Cant wait to try something else here
The food was awesome! Aunt and Uncle took us there and we loved it! The warm homemade pita bread was to die for. Wish I could have some now.
Always consistent excellent quality food. This is one of our favorite restaurants in the Cincinnati area. Well worth a visit even if you have never eaten Lebanese cuisine.
One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the Midwest. Attentive staff. Nice authentic menu with some less commonly offered fares such as walnut dip. The falafel was particularly good
Phoenicians food is 100x better than any middle eastern joint in NYC. Im really happy to visit my in-laws in wittle ole Mason, Ohio just because I know Ill get a chance to visit the Phoenician.Love the mezze, the chicken is juicy, and the bread fresh. Service is impeccable too.
Not sure why this place has so many 5 stars. We called an order in and they said 15 minutes. We got there and waited another 25 just to get our food. We get it home and it’s hardly Luke warm. The food is probably good hot, but to us it was mediocre at best.
Always one of our favorite places to go!
Refused us service. I can not wear a mask due to my PTSD, The manager didn’t care. Turned us (my wife and I) away like a feral cat on your front porch. Completely Disgusting. He even attempted to ask me for proof of my condition. Completely illegal, HIPAA? So if you have a condition that keeps you from wearing a mask don’t waste your time.
I was very happy that a Mediterranean restaurant opened up in Mason and this place didnt dissapoint me! They have a full Halal menu (except the rotisserie chicken). I love their Taverna fries. The harisa is off the hook. For vegetarians, try their veggie platter.
Quite an authentic Lebanese restaurant. We enjoyed the hummus, the shish tawook and this drink called Aryan. The rice that came with sheesh tawook was so good. The owner (Waseem) welcomed us and we really enjoyed our conversation with him. Thank you! We re definitely going back.
The food is fresh, delicious, and beautiful. Its always quite interesting to see Mediterranean food in a fine dining setting and they’ve pulled it off quite well. Strongly recommend the kibbeh nyah
Pretty good Mediterranean food. The vegetarian kibbeh was amazing. The labneh had no garlic or flavor added to it. Not a fan of their eggplant dip.
Probably the best Lebanese/Mediterranean food in Cincinnati. Great food, great service, vibrant atmosphere. Save room for entrees...or dont...the mezze appetizers are wonderful :-)
Great Mediterranean cuisine. Good for lunch that’s not the same boring thing. Take your time at dinner and enjoy a variety of the small plates.
The service was outstanding! It was our first time at the Phoenician Taverna and we asked our server for dinner recommendations. He described the entrées and their ingredients in great detail and we ended up with some awesome food!
Very friendly place and great food.
Visiting In-laws for thanks giving! Went out to eat. Beat our expectations tenfold! Authentic Lebanese food! Highly recommend
The food was delicious, best meal Ive had in a long time. Nice atmosphere and great service. Prices were fair to good for what ordered. Im looking forward to going back.
Love the food and the environment! I go there whenever there’s a chance. High quality food with an amazing team.
Phonecian Taverna is my all-time favorite restaurant. Middle Eastern is my personal favorite cuisine and this restaurants food is the best around. My family always goes here for my birthday and the staff have always been so friendly and helpful. The interior is beautiful, the service is lovely, and the food is spectacular. If youre looking for a recommendation, an entree I love is the Fatteh Bel Djaj. The Mhummara and Kibbeh are also delicious appetizers!
The stuffed grape leaves are what dreams are made of, and the pumpkin kibbeh are what heaven must taste like. Ive had kibbeh elsewhere, and they are all an utter disappointment compared to the ones served at Phoenician Taverna. It is one of our favorite restaurants, always a pleasure.
It is truly great food if you have a palate for Israeli, Arab or Lebanese cuisine. I often go to only eat the appetizers or small plates. In a group, ordering 5-10 appetizers, to my mind, is the way to go. The hummus is the best in Cincinnati, and the hummus with beef is superb. The felafel is for real; you cant get better in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The Taverna Felafel sits on a bed of wonderful eggplant.The zatar and oil to dip the pita bread is a taste of the middle east that you will not forget (or taste elsewhere in the area. Other winners are the fries, the feta and zatar dish, the kafta harra, the sujok and the kibbeh. And if you like spicy, the harrisa is very hot, but not distracting - it actually complements the flavor of most foods. The entrees are also sublime. Special mention to the lamb loin (sharhat ghanam), the lamb ouzi, and the warm stuffed vine leaves. Ask about specials - the beet dip special with labane is sublime and the stuffed cabbage (not made with tomato sauce) is so very good and special.The pita bread is uniquely Lebanese. It is served often and hot. I learned from Cincinnati Magazines review that it is made in house and is considered some of the best in the area.For dessert, this place has a pistachio baklawah that is the best I have ever eaten. It is very light, with just the right amount of honey. With a cup of Turkish coffee, it is a great way to prepare to head home after a great meal. Also noteworthy is the knafe bel jibne, warm cheese in a semolina crust and the sweet cheese crepe. Man, so good.The only menu item that did not wow me was the shwarma. But that is more in the nature of middle eastern street food and I that is not really the profile of this restaurant.A top 10 Cincinnati Magazine restaurant for 2017, and that is long past due. This spot has been serving some of the most authentically seasoned middle eastern foods, not only in Cincinnati, but in the entire region for several years already.
I grew up eating excellent Lebanese food. The food here is the best Lebanese food I have ever eaten in a restaurant. Wassims versions are gourmet versions of the food I grew up with.The hummus is fabulously smooth and creamy. Raw kibbee is silky and wonderfully spiced. Pita baked on site is warm and soft.Waswim has introduced me to dishes I have never had, but are new favorites. Kibbee lakteen a vegetarian twist made with pumpkin is great, with wonderfully complex flavors.I have always disliked falafel, because they are dry and tasteless. The ones here are moist and delicious, truly the best I have ever eaten. If you are looking truly authentic Mediterranean food this is your place.
The most exquisite authentic in Cincinnati area...wow I feel at Home here.
I cannot say enough positive things about this place. Its unassuming from the outside, located in a strip mall next to a UDF, you would never know how incredible this place is.You walk in, and its dimly lit and very romantic. There is a bar near the waiting area and booths and tables available for seating. Ive been here a couple of evenings and found the owner here going table to table helping first timers to find what they would love.The number one thing I would recommend is the walnut hummus, called Mhammara. Its so amazing. Take this from someone who usually hates walnuts. Its served with warm bread perfect for dipping and an oil dip as well. My other go-to favorite is Fattoush, an amazing cold salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, mint, reddish, parsley and a pomegranate garlic dressing. So. So. Good.My advice, ask queations and order many things. Its all amazing!
This place serves some of the best Mediterranean cuisine in the area. The food is always delicious and the staff is very pleasant. Special shout out to the top servers in the house: Rj, Demetri, and Mike.
Loved the food! We tried the vegetarian mezza platter and it was delicious. Every item in the platter tasted so good. Will visit again.
Excellent food and service. The steak ka-bobs are one of the best food items you can get in the Tri-state. The staff is very welcoming and I even had a conversation with the owner.
I love the food at this place. Wonderfull atmosphere and the crew always very attentive. Specially the hostess Maran. She is a great person. Love her personality and great customer service. Definitely recommend this place for any occasion.
Wide variety of Mediterranean dishes. We generally share multiple appetizers. Best kibbe in Cincinnati. Very hospitable owners and staff.
Great Mediterranean food. I cant name what we had, but it was all good. Its a bit pricey, but worth it... for special occasions.
Decent place. Decent neighbors. Only complaint is hear peoples water all the time. Outside needs painted badly. Maintainace is good n responsive. Pool is nice. Gym only half the machines work
While it did take took long to get my wine, oh my goodness was the food amazing. So so so good. One of my favorite restaurants in town.
Dee-lish! Busy place but we tend to luck out with bar seating. Everyone is super friendly and wine is priced fairly. Winner!
Excellent. The quality of the food was matched by the service of our waiter, Zach. Attentive, but not hovering, patient not absent. Ask for recommendations, and trust them.
Great tasting middle eastern food, with fast friendly service. The restaurant is modern with a chic interior design, however its very relaxed laid back environment.
Great Mediterranean food: hummus, lamb shank osso buco, house-made pita, etc. Very nice and classy atmosphere. A bit pricy, not terrible, but worth it.
Consistently the best Mediterranean in Cincinnati. Have been going multiple times a month for years and it never disappoints. A hidden gem as many others have commented.
Nice cozy atmosphere! Generally good food, but the roast chicken my dining companion had was quite disappointing.
Always excellent food and service. The best Mediterranean restaurant in the entire region.
The place looks very nice, and the food and service were very good. The wine list was extensive and reasonably priced. I will be returning.
Great place to eat. The food is amazing, I felt like I was back home, brought so many good memories. The staff were great.
Great food and awesome atmosphere. Low light, great place for a date. They are great with covid precautions. Will be back.
This place is not just amazing looking, the food is delicious and the service is beatiful, the owners assure everytime that you feel like you are at home. I have visited them since day one that they opened and it just gets better every year!
Delicious Mediterranean food. Good service. The fresh pitas are so good. Best hummus Ive ever had.
I rarely give 5 stars but the menu and recipe were excellent. the staff executes brilliantly. definitely will return.
If youre going to boast authentic Mediterranean food, then make it halal. Itll be better for the business considering there are a lot of Muslims in the area and the numbers are growing.
Easy to see why this is a top 10 restaurant in Cincinnati....the attention to detail from the food to the presentation to the service is clearly top notch. Would highly recommend this restaurant....an amazing experience.
The food and service here is always amazing. Authentic Lebanese/Mediterranean meals...definitely a family favorite!
Love this place!! The food is absolutely fantastic and the staff is always amazing. Have never left disappointed or hungry!
Great food. The owners are so lovely. Our waiter, who was new, did a wonderful job!
Ive eaten here several times, but last Sunday my girlfriend and I got food posioioning here and wont be back.
This is the BEST restaurant in Cincinnati. Can easily put Jeff Ruby to shame in a heart beat! Thank you for what you create for food lovers.
A little on the pricey side of things, but the lamb and beef shawarma was insanely delicious. Will definitely be back when I get a chance. 10 out of 10.
This place is definitely a hidden gem in this strip mall. The food is amazing and they give you large portions with absolutely fantastic service. I will be back!
Wonderful food. Amazing service. Fast service at lunch and so much more healthy than fast food restaurants. I highly recommend giving them a try.
Pretty good mediterranean food - veggie options.We go there often or pick up.
Every single aspect of our dining experience and meal was superb!
One of my favorite restaurants in the Cincinnati area. The food is unique and wonderful. The staff is always great.
This place was fabulous. We had no leftovers. Great food and great service. The owner stopped at our table.
Great Mediterranean restaurant! We love trying different items whenever we go.
Delicious food! Great service! We will be going back often!
Our first visit and was very impressed with the service and the food. Would definitely return and will bring all of our foodie friends.
The food is awesome! So glad they are open again. Authentic Lebanese food.
Really good food, and good service even though they were really busy! Loved the lamb shawarma!
The food was all amazing, but the standout was the baba ganoush. The addition of pomegranate was unexpected and delicious.
Food is always amazing. You have to get the whipped garlic butter
Excellent food and service...... will definitely be back.
This place is awesome, get the fries with garlic whip. to start, you cant go far wrong with the rest of the menu
Absolutely amazing. Would 100% go back. Our starter sampler was hands down the best part. I would recommend that
Love it! Great freshly cooked dishes. We always look forward to Cincinnati Open and dinner with family after.
Coming from a middle eastern background I found the food to be authentic and of high quality . Overall great food , great experience.
Amazing food, great service. Will definitely be back again!
Food is great, service is fantastic, love to go there every weekend.
This place is the best place ever!!!! I love you Wassim. He’s the best.
The food is really good and its always packed because of how good the food is. I would recomend getting call ahead seating.
Wow. Great.
Absolutely fantastic in every way.
Unbelievable think and babba. Get the mazda platter.
Very delicious food, amazing plates and great service
Spectacular food! Incredible spices. The raw Kibbe is fantastic. Thank you Wassim!
Tasty food. Excellent service. Very nice decor & ambiance . Just a fantastic place to eat.
This place is fantastic....Authentic Lebanese food. Check their lunch as, it is as good...even with a smaller menu...
I love this place, their food is amazing. I recommend their appetizer platters and kabobs.
Fantastic and delicious Mediterranean cuisine. The service was 5 star!
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Phoenician Taverna 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-30What is often regarded as one of the best restaurants in the Cincinnati area, and even one of the best Mediterranean places in the Midwest, Id 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 friends 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.
Review №2
2022-07-10A very fine Mediterranean dining experience. The ambience is sober and classy, the service is great and the food is just something else. Try the appetiser platters to taste a variety of food in small portions. Too that with the endless fluffy & hot pita bread served at the table. One platter and 2 entrees for ~$65
Review №3
2022-02-21The host told us all his booths were reserved even though 75% of them remained empty for the entirety of our visit. I dont mind sitting at a table, it was just odd.They were out of the first couple items I ordered, but the waiter didnt know this at the time of my order, so he had to bring the menu back twice for me to rechoose.I do not recall what the dish I ended up with was called, but it consisted of lamb, grilled vegetables, and rice. It was very good. This is one of the few Mediterranean places Ive been that actually prepared the lamb medium rare (as it should be).All in all, this place is a bit pricey for what it delivers, but it was good enough that I will try it again.
Review №4
2022-02-07I was impressed by the food and service here. Also, the Baklava here is gooood. And you get free fresh baked pita bread which is amazing.
Review №5
2022-03-16Highly recommendedThanks to Carm from la campagna in clevShe suggested this placeThe grilled lamb loin was outstandingMy bad i ordered it mediumMust be medium rareI certainly had Lebanese wine.But they care more 4 the full tables than alone peopleabout the wineWinery Château KefrayaGrapes70% Cinsault, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Shiraz/Syrah, 5% Grenache, 5% Tempranillo, 3% Carignan, 2% MourvedreRegionLebanon / Bekaa Valley
Review №6
2021-09-25Yuuuummmmm 🥲🤤 I swear we tried half the menu! This place is delicious and it is extremely easy to be a vegetarian here. So, so many options. We pretty much made a meal out of solely appetizers!The bread is fresh and plentiful. We tried the grape leaves, walnut dip, dip trio, mujadarra with rice, kibbeh, cheese bread, falafel, fatoush salad, and spicy potatoes. All were incredible, especially the walnut dip! So creamy and flavorful. We topped the amazing meal off with the umali which was my absolute favorite 😍 the presentations were all on point and the atmosphere was intimate and peaceful. I can only recommend asking for a bigger table if you order as much as we did 😅
Review №7
2022-04-29Good service even though restaurant was busy but all the food was of very poor quality. We were a large group and we ordered lamb, chicken and beef kabob as well as shawarmas, everything was very dry, overcooked and below average taste. We paid little over 50 bucks per person. We ended with baklawa and it was probably the worst baklawa ever. The only decent food was couple of vegetarian platters we ordered.
Review №8
2022-06-26Best Lebanese food hands down. Better than the places I’ve eaten at in Boston. Reminds me of being in Lebanon. My dad enjoyed it as well. The bread is a little different than what I consider Lebanese bread, still excellent. Service can miss a drink order or take a bit to come back but all in all my favorite restaurant in Cincinnati.
Review №9
2022-06-03My sister and I took my mom here for dinner and it was a great experience. I had the Djaj Mandi and it was delicious. The rice was cooked just right and the sauce was seasoned just right. The pita bread was served right out of the oven so it was nice and warm and fresh. Our waiter, Jacob, was also great. I highly recommend this place and will come again.
Review №10
2022-06-18Best food I’ve ever had! I’ve tried several Mediterranean or Turkish/Lebanese places and the quality of the food here surpasses all! Everything is so fresh and tasty, service is always really good, and the owner takes a lot of pride in people enjoying their food. Every time I have guests from my hometown in the Chicagoland area, I bring them here and they absolutely RAVE about how delicious their food is. Also try their Lebanese red wine it’s so amazing!