Petra House Traditional Mediterranean Food — Restaurant in Vancouver

I have gone 4 times now. I'm celiac (very sensitive). I'd rate service higher if it wasn't just 1 person that looks like they want to be here working. 3x Fridays around 5pm and medium busy and busy days. - Stefan was amazing and service was fantastic. He was super attentive and smiling and warm. Saturday 430/5pm dinner (slow) - We had poor service. 2 young guys didn't seem to want to be there, were not helpful and messed up our order and didn't know anything about the food or allergies. 2 ladies on shift didn't even acknowledge us really.

Gluten free options are available and good but no one except 1 guy (Stefan) seems to know, care or understand the options. Frier is shared, so nothing first but if Stefan is there he w8ll have the kitchen make the Falaffel in a fry pan instead of the frier. Also, only 2 sauces he says are gf and milk free (can't remember which 2) and the yogurt sauce is GF he said but not milk free.

THE Taziki SAUCE IS NOT GF!

Atmosphere Reminded me of my time the middle east with at table hand-washing and optional floor seating. They are Arabic understanding and will give proper Islamic greeting if promoted. Has nice light music and get décor with awesome paintings.

Our order: We've had multiple different things now. Falafel, shawarma, Kafka, and a few others. Stefan was very helpful in explaining the menu items and what was gluten free and even ideas for the 4yo. When we went on a day he wasn't working we were having to try and google about what food might be gluten free because the young server didn't know anything and barely spoke with us. So we went with what Stefan had previously helped us pick out but they didn't listen to the gluten free issues and part of the food I was not able to eat.

Food review: Many great dishes, I'm extremely impressed with with Falafel and it reminded me of the stuff my friend's mom made and what the food cart in Jerusalem served. Truly great. The Kafka and shawarma were great as well.

Gluten Free Review: The gluten free options are plentiful but you have to get Stefan since he knows what gluten is and has such good knowledge of the menu and he eats here as well.

Kid Review The kids menu was very lacking in options (I'm at a middle eastern restaurant for middle eastern food, not Mac & Cheese. For kid entertainment, they recently add coloring pages and crayons (previously they had nothing). If you have small kids they can color. 4yo said she liked the falafel and kafka.

Salad review: The tambouli and salads were good. Talk with Server Stefan is the GOAT of this place. Wish he worked weekends (or Fridays)

Checkout Easy check out, no one hovering and no electronics in your face, they take it to the counter and you sign at your table; they do have POS with tap-to-pay but have not asked...

Unquestionably one of the finest dining establishments in Clark County!

Your first time at Petra House is likely to burn itself into your memory: sitting cross-legged on low benches in one of the curtained booths; the absolutely fantastic hot mint tea served mere moments later; incredible hummus & mazza, either as an appetizer or an entree; hearty kabobs, kafta and Mediterranean specials; and otherworldly Turkish Coffee and Baklava - the perfect flourish to an already perfect meal.

Look, I'll just say it: there is nothing bad on the menu. At all. Put on a blindfold, throw a dart at it, and you're still going to be in Heaven when it arrives. I've been here several times, and unlike most places, where I often settle on a single favorite entree and order the same thing every time, that's not the case here! There's just too many things I want to try, and not enough time to try them all!

Stand-outs from previous visits have been: the Gyro Plate (yeah, I know, it's basic, but it was my first meal here, and it kept me coming back, so do with that info what you will), Kafta Kabob plate (probably my reigning favorite), and the Mansaf. I know there have been other visits, with other entrees, but they're so far in the past, I can't recall what they were - only that I have never once been disappointed by Petra House, in any capacity.

If you're a fan of Mediterranean cuisine, there are few restaurants that can hold a candle to this one. You owe it to yourself to come here. And if you're unsure? You owe it to yourself to find out, as well. A meal at Petra House is practically a religious experience, so prepare yourself to be converted, and ascend to a higher plane of culinary understanding! Yes,...

We frequented this restaurant over the years and were always happy. But in April 2023, we went to the restaurant with my wife, daughter, son-in-law and two little granddaughters. It was the first time since covid. We were surprised that the portions were much smaller than before, and the prices were higher. But that was not the main disappointment. When we got the bill, there was an 18% service charge party 6+. This is considering that we didn't order anything for the kids, not even from the kids menu, the little ones are 4 and 2 years old. I thought it was some kind of mistake, but I wasn't happy about it. A couple of weeks later we invited our other kids to Petra house. And my son visited this restaurant with his family twice a week for sure. This time there were 4 adults and 2 kids ages 4 and 2. When we got the bill there was also an 18% service charge party included. Again considering that the kids didn't order anything but drinks. I have never encountered this in any American restaurant, it seems to me that this is some kind of disgrace. Now neither we nor our children will visit this restaurant demonstratively, despite the fact that they make good food and serve delicious tea. We always left a good tip, they even brought us food without making an order, because they knew what we usually order ... that is, we were frequent visitors here. But that was in the past. Again, they can cook well here, but this petty attitude towards the customers...