If you’ve been searching for authentic mediterranean food in Tampa, you already know how rare the real thing can be. Between the chain restaurants and watered-down menus, finding a place that takes you straight to the sun-drenched coasts of the Eastern Mediterranean, with every bite, feels almost impossible. That is, unless you know about Petra.
For over 20 years, Petra Mediterranean Restaurant has been serving Tampa the kind of food that doesn’t just fill you up, it tells a story. Born from generations of Jordanian culinary tradition, Petra’s kitchen has brought the bold flavors of the Levant to Tampa’s table since the early 2000s, long before “Mediterranean” became a trend word on every corner café sign.
What Makes Petra the Best Mediterranean Food in Tampa?
It starts with the recipes. Unlike most mediterranean restaurants in Tampa that borrow loosely from the cuisine, Petra’s menu is rooted in authentic Jordanian cooking, one of the most distinctive and underrepresented corners of Mediterranean food in the United States. You’ll find dishes like:
- Mansaf — Jordan’s national dish, slow-cooked lamb in a rich fermented yogurt sauce (jameed) served over fragrant rice. You simply won’t find this on any other menu in Tampa.
- Falafel & Hummus — made fresh in-house daily, with chickpeas blended to a silky smoothness and falafel fried to a perfect golden crisp.
- Mixed Grills — seasoned with hand-ground spice blends passed down through generations, grilled over an open flame for that unmistakable char-kissed flavor.
- Kibbeh — beef and lamb mixed with bulgur wheat and Middle Eastern spices, a staple of Levantine cooking that Petra does exceptionally well.
- Grape Leaves (Warak Dawali) — hand-rolled and simmered in lemon and olive oil, arriving at your table warm and tender.
Every dish is prepared with imported spices, fresh local produce, and the kind of care that only comes from cooking the food you grew up on. This is not fusion. This is not “Mediterranean-inspired.” This is the real thing.
Twenty Years of Feeding Tampa
Petra opened its doors when Tampa’s culinary scene looked very different. The restaurant has weathered economic shifts, a pandemic, and two decades of change, not by chasing trends, but by staying true to the food that built its loyal following. Families who had their first Petra meal in the early 2000s now bring their own kids to the table. That’s not loyalty you can manufacture. That’s the result of genuine, consistent quality.
With two convenient Tampa locations, Petra makes it easy for the whole city to enjoy the best mediterranean food Tampa has to offer:
- Petra Kennedy Blvd — 1118 W. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa FL 33606 | (813) 513-3000. Ideally located in the heart of South Tampa, a short drive from Hyde Park, Bayshore, and Downtown Tampa.
- Petra Busch Blvd — 4812 E. Busch Blvd, Tampa FL 33612 | (813) 984-9800. Conveniently situated near USF and North Tampa, serving the university community and surrounding neighborhoods for years.
Tampa’s Only Authentic Jordanian Restaurant
Most people searching for a mediterranean restaurant in Tampa expect Greek or Italian, and those are wonderful cuisines. But Jordanian food occupies a special, largely undiscovered space in the Mediterranean world. It’s a cuisine of generosity, where meals are communal and the table is always full. Petra brings that spirit to Tampa, creating an experience that feels less like a dinner out and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.
The restaurant is family-owned and operated, and that shows in every interaction, from the warm greetings at the door to the way the staff knows regulars by name. In an era of impersonal dining, Petra is refreshingly human.
Perfect for Every Occasion
Whether you’re planning a casual weeknight dinner, a family gathering, a date night, or a group lunch, Petra accommodates. The menu is generous with vegetarian options, the mezze platters, falafel, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves make it a fantastic destination for plant-based and vegetarian diners, without the usual compromise in flavor. Meat lovers, meanwhile, will have a hard time choosing between the shawarma, grilled kebabs, and lamb dishes.
Catering is also available for events large and small, contact either location directly to discuss your next gathering.
Come Taste the Difference
If you haven’t visited Petra yet, you’re overdue. Tampa has a lot of great restaurants, but there is only one Petra. Come taste 20 years of authentic mediterranean food in Tampa, made with traditions that go back generations and a passion that hasn’t faded one bit.
Find your nearest location and come hungry.