Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen — Restaurant in Burien

Happy customer since 2019! I haven’t reviewed them before and am only doing so because I noticed something when I was looking up their phone number on Google. A customer took a pic of the ceiling which seemed weird so I read it. I feel bad for the restaurant (which has an amazing staff!) because the reviewer gave them one star, but it’s clear he is misinformed.

First, I want to share that I was previously married to a ServiceMaster franchise owner, who covers a really large region the south of Seattle. I worked commercial and specialty cleaning jobs where quality control was critical. Not only that, but I am a detailed cleaner at my own home. Even the inside of my toilet tanks are clean. That isn’t a hard chore. It’s just that I am a detail person, and I do keep up on every little thing. My kids are grown so it’s a little easier. My point is that I’m very experienced. What I know is that restaurants, in general, are the dirtiest place as you can ever go. Very few restaurants clean well, and his franchise won’t even take a cleaning job at a restaurant because there is always so much grime to attend to. However, we did clean commercial kitchens. I can spot filth or a fairly clean restaurant much better than the other reviewer can.

The ceilings are not the old plastic panels that would actually be impossible to clean and would drop dust. It’s a special UV system for killing germs that the owner had installed at the beginning of Covid to keep everyone safe. They are maintained. I always come alone, so I sit at the captains table which is right before the restrooms. I sit by a tapestry every time I go, and I don’t have somebody that I’m visiting with to distract my attention. The rugs are lovely and help with sound. Further, most restaurants are not cleaning their walls and dusting them just like most people aren’t in their own homes and people who are this concerned just shouldn’t be eating out then. I work in the emergency room and I am a clean person and this is one of the few restaurants that I will patronize. So, I feel like I need to leave a review because the other person is mysteriously giving this restaurant a one star, yet they are giving Pizza Hut five stars. I feel like this guy was just a hammer looking for a nail on whatever day he visited this absolutely wonderful restaurant.

Beyond my rebottle to the other reviewer, I would also say that I love eating here, because salmon is one of my favorite foods, and they never overcook it. They have never compromise on quality, even though food prices are so expensive now. I was even amazed at my side salad last night because the spinach Look like it had been hand packed. I appreciate so much that they have not sacrificed quality during a time when a lot of restaurant owners are having to cut back. I’ve seen a lot of dedication and a lot of happy times at this restaurant so adding my five stars.

Oh! Also, James’ critique of the pita is laughable. This restaurant makes their pita fresh daily. To order, I believe. What other restaurant does that? It’s impossible to get stale pita here. Even typing this makes my mouth...

Wow, what an amazing meal!

We started by being welcomed and sat at a nice table shortly after opening. Drink offerings were good but we decided on just water as we wanted to be able to taste the flavors of the food more.

For an appetizer, we started with the "MEZZE PLATTER" which was small portions of several appetizers in a sampler form: Piyaz, Hummus, Tzatziki, Baba Ganoush, Dolma and Tabouli. The Hummas, Dolma and Baba Ganoush were amazing and went very well with the homemade bread.

Next was our main course. The Lamb & Beef "Stew" for the lady and for myself, the Lamb Kebabs. The stew wasn't what you'd think of as a traditional stew but rather slow-cooked meats along with greens and rice, a little light sauce. Extremely tender and delicious.

My kebabs was a typical skewer of lamb (two actually) along with rice and salad, though I opted for double rice and no salad. I've had kebabs many times from different locations around the US as well as in other countries (south of France, Malta etc...) and I think these might have been the BEST kebabs I've never had! They were seasoned perfectly, were just right as far as how cooked they were, and that char on them was incredible!

To end the meal, we had baklava which, like the kebab, was probably the best baklava I've ever tasted. This might be because I often don't order baklava as I have been disappointed many times, but this was no disappointment, that's for sure! Incredible flavor. Good portion size too I think. A Turkish coffee ended our meal.

The service we got was fantastic and we are now relaxing and digesting a big meal. Living right near this restaurant could be dangerous for us in the future! We...

As far as the restaurant is serving food and smiles, it's a trendy place to eat and spend your money.

The restaurant cleanliness is an overwhelming aspect of neglect. The rugs upon the wall are host to much debri and bacteria. The seats are carriers to dirt and grime. The overhead, as seen in my only photograph of this establishment, is riddled with open ceiling tiles, allowing dust to fall onto patrons and food below. If you look closely at the photo, you'll notice dust rings above the undusted fan blades, directly above patron tables. It's apparent that cleanliness in the dining area is unattended to a professional degree, and as such, what can one expect from behind the counter where patrons can not view so easily?

I'm not only negativity, though! The food was decently priced! The Veriety is very much lacking, however. The menu is fair when it comes to appetizers, though it's scarce in the main entrée department. I did enjoy my hummus, probably the best I've had. I just would like to see more color to the menu.

The service was exceptional! I was not disappointed here, and I gave my warm regards to the friendly attudes and faces of the restaurant!

As for my last point, I can only point out the atmosphere as brushed off and forgotten as a subject for a restaurant. The rugs have got to go, and the ceiling needs an overhaul. The malp shades on the walls have caked debri, and the overall venue seems dismissive of more organized and clean decoration.

I did enjoy my time here. However, cleanliness requires attention.

Update to add a star because there are worse places to eat and the prices...