Mediterranean Food: Dishes to Know and Where to Eat Them

AM par Alexandre Mazzia 3 ★ ★ 4.9

AM par Alexandre Mazzia in Marseille's 8e holds three Michelin stars on a 24-seat counter set, the kitchen built around fish, smoke and African-Mediterranean.

OrderThe set tasting only, around 40 to 50 small plates served in successive waves over a long evening.

Book8 to 12 weeks ahead

TipBook the moment the calendar opens online, around three months ahead.

Le Petit Nice Passedat 3 ★ ★ 4.9

Le Petit Nice Passedat in Marseille's 7e holds three Michelin stars on the Anse de Maldorme cove, the Passedat family on this rock since 1917 and Gerald.

OrderThe Ma Bouille Abaisse, Gerald Passedat's three-service reading of the city's canonical dish.

Book4 to 6 weeks ahead

TipLunch is the easier seating than dinner; the cove view alone justifies the lead time.

DINS Santi Taura 1 ★ ★ 4.9

DINS Santi Taura is Palma's one-star Mallorcan kitchen inside Hotel El Llorenç, running a single tasting menu drawn from island recipe archives.

OrderThe set Mallorcan tasting menu, which changes with the island growing season.

Book4 weeks ahead

TipSeatings are fixed at 19:30 and 20:30, and the chef's counter runs later. Book well ahead.

Tuba Club ★ 4.8

Tuba Club in the Goudes village south of Marseille is a cabanon kitchen with rocks-on-the-water seating, grilled fish from the morning boats.

Why locals goCabanon kitchen in Les Goudes village 30 minutes south of the city, rocks-on-the-water seating most visitors miss.

TipBus 19 from Rond-Point du Prado or taxi; book six weeks ahead.

Marc Fosh 1 ★ ★ 4.8

Marc Fosh holds one Michelin star in a 17th-century convent off Carrer de la Missió, cooking contemporary Mediterranean menus from Mallorcan produce.

OrderThe €69 ADN lunch menu, the cheapest way into a starred Palma dining room.

Book2 weeks ahead

TipLunch is the value play. The ADN menu runs €69 against €159 for the evening Aromas del Mediterráneo.

FACIL ★ 4.8

Michael Kempf's FACIL on the fifth-floor glass courtyard of Berlin's Mandala Hotel cooks a two-star French-Mediterranean tasting; the summer terrace.

OrderThe four-course business lunch at €90; the langoustine and the lamb stay on the carte year-round.

TipLunch is the easier entry; the €90 four-course business set runs Tuesday to Friday from 12:00.

The Antler Room ★ 4.8

Nick and Leslie Goellner's Longfellow room in Kansas City is the chef's-counter pick of the city: Persian, Mediterranean and East Asian small plates.

Book3 to 4 weeks ahead

TipNick Goellner is a three-time James Beard Best Chef Midwest semifinalist. Book the chef's counter for a tasting; the dining room runs a la carte.

David's Kitchen ★ 4.8

David's Kitchen is a brunch and artisanal bakery at Klauzál tér 13 in the Jewish Quarter, making sourdough breads and a menu inspired by the Mediterranean.

OrderMediterranean mezze, sandwiches and granola from the deli

TipBrunch dishes are served all day and change with the seasons, and the display case holds sweets with French, American and Middle Eastern flavors.

Abigail Street ★ 4.8

Abigail Street on Vine in OTR is Daniel Wright's Cincinnati Mediterranean small-plates room, with lamb meatballs, spanakopita and Greek wines.

SignatureLamb meatballs, Spanakopita

March ★ 4.8

March in Houston is the Goodnight Hospitality tasting-menu room on Westheimer Road from chef Felipe Riccio, with six- or nine-course menus rooted in one.

OrderThe full nine-course menu. Anything less misses the regional arc.

TipThe wine pairings (June Rodil curates) are unusually well-judged. Take them.

Crest Cafe ★ 4.8

Crest Cafe is a women-owned Mediterranean restaurant on K Street next to the Crest Theater, serving halal food made with fresh farm-to-fork ingredients.

TipOrder online to cut the wait, and sign up for the Loyalty Program at checkout to receive the Crest perks.

Zoi ★ 4.7

Zoi is an intimate restaurant on Split's Riva promenade, along the ancient palace walls, serving contemporary Mediterranean tasting menus with harbor views.

OrderThe ECHO seven-course tasting menu with its curated wine pairing.

TipBook ahead for the best choice of tables, especially at sunset; terrace and interior seating are limited.

Villa Spiza ★ 4.7

Villa Spiza is a Mediterranean restaurant at Ulica Petra Kruzica 3 in Split.

Le Chantecler 1 ★ ★ 4.7

Le Chantecler is the MICHELIN-starred table of Le Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais, with high Mediterranean cuisine under chef Virginie Basselot.

TipDinner is served Wednesday to Sunday from 19:00 to 21:30, and the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Jardin des Sens ★ 4.7

The Pourcel twins cook their Michelin-starred Mediterranean register at Jardin des Sens, inside the Hôtel Richer de Belleval on Place de la Canourgue.

TipDinner is the full theatre under the frescoes; Friday and Saturday lunch is the shorter, gentler way into the room.

Zaranda 1 ★ ★ 4.7

Zaranda is Fernando P. Arellano's Michelin-starred dining room at Hotel Es Princep in Palma, holding one star and a Repsol Sol for its Balearic tasting menus.

OrderThe Balearic tasting menu, built around island produce and Mediterranean fish.

Book3 weeks ahead

TipOpening months shift with the season, so confirm the calendar before booking a winter trip.

Katz Orange ★ 4.7

Katz Orange in Berlin Mitte's former 19th-century brewery cooks the slow-roast Candy on Bone pork shoulder that put the room on the map; the garden.

OrderThe Candy on Bone pork shoulder, slow-roasted 12 hours, for two diners.

TipThe garden in summer is the room's best seating. Book three weeks ahead via the website.

Flores Raras (formerly El Poblet) 2 ★ ★ 4.7

Flores Raras in central Valencia is Quique Dacosta's two-Michelin-star room (formerly El Poblet), now led by chef Carolina Alvarez with a Mediterranean.

Book4 weeks ahead

Vas Manci ★ 4.7

Vas Manci is a restaurant and bar at Vas u. 3 in Budapest, offering light Mediterranean dishes, tapas, gourmet recipes and desserts in a cozy atmosphere.

OrderWest-African chickpea stew with peanut cream, coriander, dried apricot + flatbread

TipFor events, meetings, parties and weddings, Vas Manci can arrange Mediterranean flavor experiences, from tapases and desserts to full menus.

Estiatorio Milos ★ 4.7

Estiatorio Milos at the Venetian in Las Vegas is Costas Spiliadis's Mediterranean seafood emporium since 2021, a Forbes-recommended dining room with fish.

Book1 week ahead

TipLunch prix-fixe runs the same kitchen at half the dinner spend; book the 13:00 seating for the produce-market plates.

Cafe Santorini ★ 4.7

Cafe Santorini has welcomed guests to Old Town Pasadena since 1993 with Mediterranean dishes like Grilled Branzino, Santorini Mezze and Moroccan Lamb Shank.

Why locals goA Mediterranean restaurant in a historic brick building in Old Town Pasadena, with intimate dining rooms and a romantic rooftop patio, open since 1993.

TipElevator access is through a door in Bonham Alley that stays locked during business hours, so call the restaurant when you arrive.

Archway ★ 4.7

Archway is a 100% vegan wine bar and restaurant at 3683 Wellington Street in Verdun, with a seasonal, worldwide-inspired menu and natural wines.

OrderA seasonal vegan dish with a glass from the natural wine list.

TipThe menu changes with the seasons, and the drinks list adds cocktails, ciders, craft local beers and unique non-alcoholic options.

Café Noctis ★ 4.7

Noctis Café at 4844 Wellington St in Verdun joins third-wave coffee with Mediterranean hospitality, and is known for ceremonial matcha and a latte art class.

OrderCeremonial matcha, hot or iced, with oat milk available.

TipBook the 60-minute private latte art class through Instagram; the cafe confirms within 24h and a free cup of coffee is included.

Salt and Pepper ★ 4.7

Chef Nikolay Boroukov's modern Mediterranean room is one of the few Plovdiv tables that does fine dining seriously, with original menus beyond classics.

SignatureDuck confit, Seasonal vegetarian plate

K.užina ★ 4.6

K.užina is a restaurant at Kraj Svete Marije 1 in Split with a courtyard terrace, serving Med-inspired dishes with the occasional modern touch.

OrderThe shrimp risotto or the amberjack with beurre blanc.

TipChoose between the small stylish room, where the chefs are all on view, and the more tranquil courtyard terrace at the back.

Smokvica Kralja Petra ★ 4.6

Smokvica Kralja Petra in Dorcol is the original room of the Smokvica chain. The summer terrace under a fig tree was the brand starting point in Belgrade.

SignatureMezze platter, Tacos and quesadillas

Sardin ★ 4.6

Sardin is an Italian restaurant with a Mediterranean feel on Bulevardul Mircea Vodă, recommended by the Gault & Millau Romania guide 2019, with a terrace.

OrderShrimp in white wine, garlic and chili with focaccia, or apple tart with vanilla ice cream.

TipBook a table inside or on the terrace, or ask for a wine tasting through the site.

Restaurant Pescăruș ★ 4.6

Restaurant Pescăruș is the first restaurant in Parcul Regele Mihai I in Bucharest, designed in 1938 by architects Horia Creangă and Haralamb Georgescu.

Why locals goA sunset over Lake Herăstrău with a glass of wine, which the site names as all you need after a hard day.

TipThe site says a reservation is necessary; book online or on 0731 330 034.

Banzo ★ 4.6

Banzo on Sherman Avenue near east side, the Israeli falafel spot from Netalee Sheinman and Aaron Collins, serves chickpea falafel and hummus plates.

OrderA falafel sandwich with hummus on the side.

TipClosed Sundays; the food-cart history shows in the quick counter turnover at lunch.

Rioja ★ 4.6

Rioja in Denver is Jennifer Jasinski's James Beard-winning Mediterranean dining room on Larimer Square since 2004, a flagship of the Crafted Concepts group.

OrderThe artichoke tortelloni and the goat cheese ravioli, both on the menu since opening.

TipSunday brunch with bottomless mimosas is a Larimer Square institution. The chef's tasting menu changes weekly and is the best way to see Jasinski's range.

Lupi and Iris ★ 4.6

Lupi and Iris on North Van Buren Street is Adam Siegel's Mediterranean room with views of the lakefront, wood-fired pizzas and Provencal seafood plates.

OrderCharcoal-grilled whole fish for two and the wood-fired focaccia to start.

TipPatio seats face the Calatrava; book sunset on OpenTable two weeks out summer.

1000 Figs ★ 4.6

1000 Figs serves Mediterranean food just off Esplanade Avenue at 3141 Ponce de Leon in New Orleans, open for take-out and dine in from 11am to 9pm.

Restaurant Derya ★ 4.6

Restaurant Derya has served homemade Mediterranean food cooked over a wood fire in the 10th arrondissement of Paris since 1998, from fresh products.

OrderThe kebab or the mezze, with homemade baklava for dessert.

TipThe site pitches a full menu at gentle prices and says service is quick and friendly.

Herb and Wood ★ 4.6

Herb and Wood in San Diego is Brian Malarkey's Kettner Boulevard room in Little Italy, a rustic wood-fired Mediterranean kitchen with a courtyard patio.

OrderThe wood-fired roast chicken for two; the charred octopus to start.

TipThe covered patio is the move on warmer evenings; the bar runs full menu for walk-ins.

Le Cercle De Salonique ★ 4.6

The neoclassical mansion bar on Vasileos Irakleiou is one of the late-night heavyweights of the city, running its Mediterranean cocktail programme until 4am.

De Zakkendrager ★ 4.6

French Mediterranean wine bar in the Zakkendragerssteeg. Garden terrace, natural wines, Dutch cheese and charcuterie boards; booking recommended.

Why locals goTiny canal-cellar wine and borrelhapjes bar at wharfside level with no exterior signage

TipThe garden entrance is on the Zakkendragerssteeg between Oudegracht and Vredenburg; easy to walk past.

Ébullition ★ 4.5

Ébullition is Boris Caillol's Michelin-starred room on Rue du Pila Saint-Gély in Montpellier, tasting menus perfumed with herbs from the organic markets.

TipIt runs Tuesday to Friday only, so plan midweek; menus start at 69 euros and the seven-course Emotion tops out at 114.

Lilac ★ 4.5

Lilac at the Tampa EDITION hotel runs Chef John Fraser's Mediterranean prix-fixe menu with Greek heritage, locally sourced ingredients and an open-kitchen.

OrderThe chef's tasting menu with the whole grilled fish course and the mezze opening.

TipLilac held a Michelin star 2024 and 2025; dropped to Michelin Recommended in 2026 but still serves the same kitchen team.

Cielo ★ 4.5

Cielo on Berlin's Lenbachstrasse in Friedrichshain pairs Mediterranean sharing plates with a natural-wine list chosen by Yannick Kern; ex-Kink chef Ivano.

Why locals goCielo opened in early 2025 on a residential Friedrichshain block away from any tourist map.

TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ups for the counter seats from 18:00 Tuesdays; tables need a booking a week ahead.

Dametra Cafe ★ 4.5

Dametra Cafe fills its Ocean Avenue corner in Carmel every night, serving Mediterranean plates and cioppino while musicians work the dining room.

OrderThe cioppino; the house treats it as its proudest plate.

TipOwners Faisal Nimri and Bashar Sneeh built the room around music; expect singing between courses and queues on weekend evenings.

COR ★ 4.5

COR on North Street is Bedminster's Bib Gourmand small-plates room, pairing Mediterranean cooking with one of Bristol's best-value wine lists.

OrderThe signature cannellini bean plate, a fixture since opening in 2022.

TipNote the toilets are up a flight of stairs and there is no accessible loo; Friday and Saturday run all day from noon.

Moltivolti ★ 4.5

Moltivolti is a social enterprise that uses cuisine as a universal language, cooking with purpose and passion at Via Giuseppe Mario Puglia 21.

TipMoltivolti describes itself as a place that welcomes, nourishes, and tells stories through flavor and shared experience in Ballarò.

The Palomar ★ 4.5

The Palomar is a One Hat restaurant at 7 Oxford Street, Paddington, with wood-fired cooking and seasonal menus inspired by Southern Europe and the Levant.

Dos Pebrots ★ 4.5

Dos Pebrots in Barcelona's Raval is Albert Raurich's Mediterranean-historical bistro: dishes researched from Roman and Phoenician cooking, plated for now.

OrderThe bone marrow starter and the wholegrain wood-fired bread.

TipClosed Mon-Tue. Lunch is the easier seating; the wine list is short and Catalan.

Astoria Cafe and Market ★ 4.5

Astoria Cafe and Market on Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square Arts District, a Mediterranean restaurant and import shop since December 2016, runs mezze.

OrderA cured meat and cheese board plus three to four mezze plates for the table.

TipWalk-ins seated at the bar; the dining room takes reservations for Friday and Saturday.

Herb's Garden ★ 4.5

Herb's Garden is the roof restaurant of the Lato Boutique Hotel in Heraklion, serving contemporary Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with a sea view to Koules.

TipIt is on the Lato Boutique Hotel roof, open April to the end of October, with Brillant on the ground floor operating from November until March.

avec ★ 4.5

avec on Randolph Street is a wine-focused restaurant serving midwestern takes on Mediterranean classics as small and large plates at communal tables.

OrderMichelin cites roasted asparagus with za'atar buttermilk and chickpea hummus with oyster mushrooms.

TipBottles of wine are half price all day on Tuesdays at the West Loop location.

Avista ★ 4.5

Avista hangs over Pirate's Bay on the Funchal cliff line, running a Josper grill menu and Asian plates across a carte built for sharing at table.

OrderAnything off the Josper grill, taken at a window table over the bay.

TipThe operator publishes no schedule online, so confirm the lunch service when you book. Ask for the terrace edge, not the inner row.

Gostilna As ★ 4.5

Gostilna As at Copova ulica 5a in Ljubljana serves light Mediterranean cuisine, with Mediterranean miso soup with shellfish and fish on the menu.

SignatureHomemade pasta with Karst sausage and saffron, Panna cotta with plums in teran sauce, Mediterranean miso soup

Eden Garden Bar & Grill ★ 4.5

Eden Garden Bar & Grill in Pasadena serves Middle East and Mediterranean cuisine with belly dancing and live music, open until 1:00 am Friday and Saturday.

TryFire-grilled kebabs with hand-rolled grape leaves, house-made dips and fragrant rice dishes.

TipLive entertainment includes a saxophonist, a violinist and belly dancing shows, and hookah is served on the patio.

Cantaloupe ★ 4.5

Joshua Reed-Cooper and Mike Thomas (both ex-Where The Light Gets In) run a daily-changing Mediterranean small-plates menu on Great Underbank. 2026 Michelin.

Book2 weeks ahead

Queen's Room ★ 4.5

Queen's Room in Astoria is a cafe with locally roasted coffee and free wifi by day and a full service bar restaurant with craft beer and cocktails at night.

TipDinner and brunch tables are booked on OpenTable, and groups over 8 people use the events form on the site.

Virtù Honest Craft ★ 4.5

Virtù Honest Craft in Scottsdale is Gio Osso's Mediterranean room behind the Bespoke Inn, a courtyard kitchen with an early James Beard new-restaurant nod.

OrderThe crispy-skin branzino with caper-infused brown butter, a fixture on Osso's changing menu.

TipThe fig-tree courtyard is the seat to request; the tasting menu is the deepest way into Osso's cooking.

Riviera ★ 4.5

Riviera on Dzirnavu in Centrs cooks refined Mediterranean fine dining and earned the Michelin Sommelier Award through sommelier Ivars Kalniņš.

OrderThe chef's tasting paired with the sommelier's flight; the wine list is the room's loudest argument.

TipOrder off-menu and ask Ivars to pour; the cellar reaches deep into Italy, Spain and France.

Aiona ★ 4.5

Aiona is a live-fire Mediterranean restaurant on K Street downtown from the team behind Allora, with a Mibrasa grill and a 3,000-bottle wine cellar.

OrderGrilled flat iron, a wood-grilled steak with chimichurri, garlic potatoes and grilled delicata rings.

TipSunday runs 5 to 8pm with happy hour all day, a $65 rotating prix fixe and live music.

Gloriosa ★ 4.5

Gloriosa is a Mediterranean restaurant at 1321 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8TL.

SignatureWood-fired flatbreads, Whole roast fish

Karaköy Lokantası ★ 4.5

The teal-tiled Karaköy Lokantası, Bib Gourmand listed in the Michelin Guide, runs an Ottoman-leaning lunch lokanta downstairs and a meyhane upstairs at night.

SignatureLakerda, Hünkar beğendi, Lamb shank

Mat Bar ★ 4.5

Mat Bar is a Mediterranean restaurant at Hverfisgata 26, 101 Reykjavik.

Ladino ★ 4.5

Ladino is a Sephardic-leaning Mediterranean room at the Pearl built for family sharing, where wood-grilled meats anchor a table of mezze, hummus and lamb.

OrderWood-grilled meats and mezze from the Sephardic-leaning menu.

TipGo family-style across the mezze and let the grill section anchor the table. The hummus and the lamb are reliable openers.

Le Plongeoir ★ 4.4

Le Plongeoir is a restaurant at 60 Boulevard Franck Pilatte in Nice, on a rock above the sea, with modern Mediterranean cuisine from seasonal market produce.

TipThe restaurant offers group menus for upwards of 20 people; email [email protected] with your request and they will send you a quote.

Olive et Artichaut ★ 4.4

Olive et Artichaut is a small restaurant in an alley of Vieux Nice with a Bib Gourmand and a menu built on local producers and regional products.

OrderPissaladière-style tart with roast black pudding, or braised chuck veal with creamy chickpeas.

TipThe restaurant is always full of guests, so it suggests reserving a table so that it can welcome you warmly.

Claro ★ 4.4

Claro fills a restored 1886 Templar winery in Tel Aviv's Sarona quarter, an open kitchen led by chef Tal Feigenbaum with produce collected from farms daily.

OrderWhatever the market van brought in that morning; ask the server for the day's standout vegetable dish.

TipSaturday lunch runs without full service; the brunch and dinner sittings are the reliable slots.

Mashya ★ 4.4

Mashya inside the Mendeli Street Hotel is chef Bar Tsanger's dining room, a French-trained cook who names the Carmel Market and old Jaffa as his references.

TipMembers of the hotel group's VIPrima club get 10 percent off; breakfast and lunch run on separate hours from dinner.

D-Vora ★ 4.4

D-Vora is the RH Canfali hotel's terrace restaurant by the church of Sant Jaume in Benidorm's old town, cooking Mediterranean food with Nikkei touches.

OrderArroz a la llanda with monkfish, squid and red prawns, after a bay-fish tiradito.

TipSet menus are served to the whole table and close at 15:00 at lunch and 22:00 at night; breakfast starts at 08:00 on the sea-view terrace.

Petra Mediterranean Restaurant ★ 4.4

Petra on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa has served halal-certified Jordanian and Palestinian dishes since 2004, with mansaf and shawarma as the table builders.

OrderMansaf lamb shank with yogurt sauce, the chicken shawarma wrap and the knafeh for dessert.

TipHalal-certified; gluten-free menu available except the pita; lunch special runs until 3pm.

Rome and Fig ★ 4.4

Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs Mediterranean small plates, a chosen wine list and a creative cocktail bar in a sleek Howard Avenue room.

OrderBone-in lamb chops, the burrata fig salad and the Negroni Sbagliato.

TipBar seats first-come; the wine room books for special occasions.

Azur Restaurant ★ 4.4

Azur Restaurant cooks Mediterranean dinners and one of Key West's favourite brunches from a shaded corner of Grinnell Street, a few blocks off Duval.

OrderBrunch on the terrace, then whatever pasta is on that night

TipAzur takes a long September holiday most years, reopening in mid-October; brunch tables go quickest on weekends.

Le Great Outdoor ★ 4.4

Le Great Outdoor grills everything outside in the Bergamot Station yard in Santa Monica, lamb chops and tartines off open fire at long picnic tables.

OrderBlistered lamb chops and the goat cheese tartine

TipThe kitchen is entirely open-air in the arts-centre parking lot; book Resy for dinner, walk in at lunch.

Villa Mosca ★ 4.4

Villa Mosca opens its garden restaurant in Alghero from June to September, cooking Sardinian and Italian plates with vegan and gluten-free versions.

OrderThe set menu in the garden, with vegan and gluten-free versions on request.

Smokvica Molerova ★ 4.4

Smokvica plants a Mediterranean fig tree in a Molerova courtyard in Vracar. Hummus, salads, brunch through dinner, vegetarian and vegan options.

SignatureMezze plate, Mediterranean salads

El Mesón de Cervantes ★ 4.4

El Mesón de Cervantes is an Argentine-run Málaga kitchen off Plaza Merced, an open dining room plating oxtail, fresh fish and grilled meats.

YALDY ★ 4.4

YALDY earned its Bib Gourmand cooking seasonal shared plates on Moselstraße in Frankfurt, the Bahnhofsviertel's easiest room to stay in till 02:00.

OrderThe nightly vegetable plates with a bottle from the natural list

TipCome after 22:00 when the first seating clears; the cocktail list deserves as much attention as the wine.

Petit Comite ★ 4.4

Petit Comite is a restaurant on Calle Dos de Mayo next to the river and the Maestranza Theatre, with personalised service and Mediterranean cooking.

TipLunch runs 13:00 to 16:30 and dinner 19:30 to 23:30 with the kitchen open; closed all Monday and Tuesday lunchtime.

Hart's ★ 4.4

Hart's is a small neighborhood restaurant under the Franklin Avenue subway stairs in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, with a dinner menu that changes daily.

OrderPork milanese with cucumber and shaved fennel, or whatever the daily menu lists with poached hake or mussels.

TipThe menu changes daily. From April through October the patio seats are walk-in only, while indoor seats can be reserved every night.

Petra Grill ★ 4.4

Petra Grill carves certified halal shawarma and grills kabobs on West Elizabeth Street in Fort Collins, a family room that feeds the CSU crowd.

OrderChicken shawarma wrap with a side of hummus

TipEverything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the falafel-hummus sandwich is the vegetarian sleeper.

Dameh ★ 4.4

Dameh in Marrakech's Gueliz plates a Mediterranean menu spanning Morocco to Lebanon, Spain and Greece, in a sleek modern dining room near El Harti park.

OrderOrder across the mezze list, then pick a single shared main from the Levantine grills.

TipDate-night room sized for 20 covers; book at least a week ahead in winter peak. Closed Mondays.

La Masseria ★ 4.4

La Masseria in Modena's Marzaglia frazione runs an Apulian kitchen from an 18th century mill, a Michelin Guide address for stuffed peppers and grills.

OrderThe stuffed peppers and the wood grilled meat selection.

TipThe frazione of Marzaglia sits about halfway between Modena and Reggio Emilia; closed Mondays and from 4 to 31 August.

Byblos Downtown ★ 4.4

Byblos Downtown on Duncan Street is Charles Khabouth's Eastern Mediterranean room since 2014, family-style plates across the historic Storys Building.

OrderThe mezze board to start and a wood-grilled main from the menu.

TipThe first-floor bar runs spritzes from 16:00 and accepts walk-ins. Second floor needs a reservation.

El Five ★ 4.4

El Five in Denver is Justin Cucci's fifth-floor Highland tapas room with floor-to-ceiling views of downtown and the Front Range, a Mediterranean small-plates.

OrderThe wood-grilled octopus and the lamb shawarma.

TipSunset reservations book out a month in advance. The hidden side patio runs walk-ins; the elevator entrance is on Umatilla.

Sehara ★ 4.4

Sehara is the rooftop restaurant and bar at Raffles Jaipur in Kukas, serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes, fresh pasta and seafood with Aravalli views.

OrderThe warm focaccia with cultured butter, then the spinach pappardelle with lamb ragu.

TipIn winter the hotel butler can set a heater beside your table, which makes the open-air rooftop usable for late dinners.

Tre Rivali ★ 4.4

Tre Rivali inside the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel on North Broadway in the Third Ward runs a coastal Mediterranean menu with wood-fired pizzas and seafood.

Book2 weeks ahead

Cardamom ★ 4.4

Cardamom at the Walker Art Center pours Aegean-Mediterranean plates in Minneapolis since 2023. North African and Middle Eastern accents; vegan menu alongside.

OrderTurkish eggs with chili oil and the lamb kebabs with herbed yoghurt.

TipBook the patio overlooking the sculpture garden in summer. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Sunday brunch popular.

Lighthouse ★ 4.4

Lighthouse is a farm to table Mediterranean restaurant and bar at 145 Borinquen Place in Williamsburg, with hand crafted cocktails and natural wines.

Why locals goLighthouse has been a neighborhood spot in Williamsburg for nearly 13 years, with local, organic sourcing and a seasonal farm-to-table menu.

TipDaily happy hour runs from 4:00 to 6:00PM, with $1 oysters, a $10 burger and a $10 daily cocktail.

Barbuzzo ★ 4.4

Barbuzzo in Philadelphia is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's 13th Street Mediterranean kitchen, open since 2010, anchored by wood-fired pizzas.

OrderThe wood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino for dessert, the dish that built its reputation.

TipThe bar counter overlooking the open kitchen takes walk-ups. It is the room's quietest table on a Friday.

Cucina ★ 4.4

Cucina in Poznań is a Michelin Guide listed Mediterranean kitchen in the restored Stare Koszary barracks at City Park, with a serious wine wall and five-.

OrderThe nine-course VIP tasting with chef and sommelier service.

Book1 week ahead

TipBook a table close to the wine wall for the best room view; the wine pairing on the VIP tasting is the deepest tour of the list.

Le Dome ★ 4.4

Le Dome sits inside the 400-year-old Dome Hotel & Spa on Miesnieku in Old Town, a Michelin Selected room cooking French-Mediterranean seafood with Baltic.

OrderThe Baltic fish of the day, plaice or sturgeon, with seasonal vegetables.

TipBook the rooftop terrace in summer for Daugava views, or the narrow main dining room year-round.

Augustin ★ 4.4

Augustin on Aušros Vartų holds a Bib Gourmand for Darek Medvedevas's plant-led Mediterranean small plates served under faux-candle chandeliers.

OrderA spread of the small plates; the chef changes them with the seasons.

TipMedvedevas took home a Michelin Young Chef Award; the room fills quickly on weekends.

Barbouzard ★ 4.4

Barbouzard in Washington DC is chef Cedric Maupillier's French-Mediterranean dining room on K Street since July 2025, the Convivial chef's next chapter.

OrderThe Bouillabaisse Marseillaise; the kitchen's anchor seafood preparation and the menu's editorial focal point.

TipSunday brunch starts at 11:00; the alcove booths take the smaller parties and the bouillabaisse comes with a 24-hour heads-up.

Symposium Restaurant & Wine Club ★ 4.4

Symposium in Chișinău is the Mediterranean room and wine club on Strada 31 August 1989, with a 200-label Moldovan and European wine list selected as a club.

OrderThe Moldovan red flight with a lamb shoulder slow-cooked over mămăligă.

TipAsk the sommelier to run a flight of three Fetească Neagră from different Moldovan regions; the kitchen's seafood is sourced weekly from Odessa.

Olive Bar & Kitchen ★ 4.4

Olive Bar & Kitchen serves Mediterranean plates and pizza in a tree-lined courtyard near the Qutub in Mehrauli, Delhi, with a Sunday brunch.

OrderThe cheese souffle, then a pizza or gnocchi from the Mediterranean menu.

TipThe Sunday brunch is the draw; book the courtyard for it, and come at dusk on weekdays for dinner under the trees.

The Lazy Goat ★ 4.4

The Lazy Goat sits on Riverplace looking at the Reedy River, Carl Sobocinski's Mediterranean room with hot mezze plates, flatbreads and lamb souvlaki dishes.

SignatureHot mezze plates, Duck Duck Goat flatbread, Lamb souvlaki

Morfal ★ 4.4

Morfal packs Greek and Levantine flavours into pitas near Place Royale in Nantes, filling them with kefta or house falafel, burnt aubergine and tahini.

TryPita stuffed with kefta or falafel

TipPitas run around €9 and the sides change with the season; the summer terrace fills fast at noon.

Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli 1 ★ ★ 4.4

Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli, on the 9th floor of ROMEO Napoli, has Alessandro Lucassino as Executive Chef and earned its first MICHELIN star in 2026.

TipGuests are kindly reminded to adhere to the Smart Elegant dress code; the restaurant is on the 9th floor.

Mediterranean Exploration Company ★ 4.4

John Gorham's Mediterranean room in the Pearl District of Portland, from Morocco to Turkey to Greece in one big family-style menu since 2014.

OrderThe lamb shoulder mechoui for the table

TipFamily-style is the move. Two people order three dishes; six people order eight.

Acquario ★ 4.4

Acquario on the sixth floor of Hotel Monopol in Wrocław runs Italian-Mediterranean cooking on terrace tables looking over the skyline. Book 1-2 weeks ahead.

OrderThe crudo plate to start and whichever whole fish the kitchen has off the morning truck.

Book1-2 weeks ahead

TipLunch on the terrace is the cheaper way to see the room. Same kitchen, half the bill.

Soulenq ★ 4.3

Soulenq turns a former plant nursery in Montpellier's Euromédecine quarter into a wood-fired bistro and 400-reference wine cave with a big terrace.

TipBuy any bottle from the cave and drink it at the table for 10 euros corkage; the name is Occitan for the harvest-end meal.

Yaffo-Tel Aviv ★ 4.3

Yaffo-Tel Aviv on Yigal Alon is chef Haim Cohen's dining room, pairing couture pastry with the classic Mediterranean plates that built his career.

TipWednesday splits into a lunch and evening service; the rest of the week runs one long sitting.

Shija Sabores de los Balcanes ★ 4.3

Shija cooks the food of the Balkans by Poniente beach in Benidorm, serving mezze and clay-pot dishes from a kitchen that keeps neither freezer nor fryer.

OrderA spread of Balkan mezze to share, then one of the clay-pot dishes.

TipThe street is in Benidorm's low-emission zone with restricted access, so arrive on foot from the Poniente promenade.

Calabra ★ 4.3

Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.

OrderChallah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night

TipProper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.

Mika ★ 4.3

Mika is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, led by chef-patron Mario Loi, with in-house breads and a terrace.

OrderThe house-cured salmon and Nonna's tiramisu, two things the Michelin Guide highlights from the kitchen.

TipThe weekday business lunch runs 12:00 to 15:00: two courses AED 95 or three AED 125; Sunday lunch is a four-course set at AED 190.

Brassica ★ 4.3

Brassica on North High Street in Columbus's Short North is the Mediterranean fast-casual counter with hearth-baked pita and house-made falafel.

OrderBuild a bowl with falafel, roasted carrots, hummus and the marinated eggplant.

TipNo reservations, line moves fast; the to-go counter side door beats the dining room queue at lunch.

Brassica Falafel Pita ★ 4.3

Brassica's falafel pita with two sides on North High Street runs under $14 in Columbus, the Short North's cheapest sit-down Mediterranean lunch.

TryFalafel pita with sides

Bèou Bistrot ★ 4.3

Bèou Bistrot, run by Marie Petit-Doux in her grandfather’s old house on Rue Violette in Avignon, cooks between Provence and the eastern Mediterranean.

OrderOctopus with rose yoghurt and pickled cucumber, or the confit veal shank with chickpea purée.

TipBottles are sold at shop prices, with a €13 corkage fee for drinking them at the table.

Yafa ★ 4.3

Yafa runs a family-owned Mediterranean dinner house at Junipero and 5th in Carmel, open nightly from 17:00 with hosts who still work every table.

OrderAsk the host for the night's mezze and grill pairing.

TipThe room fills with return visitors and celebrations; reserve ahead, and note dinner is the only service of the day.

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge ★ 4.3

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge holds down Doris Day's Cypress Inn in Carmel, mixing cocktails in a lounge that welcomes dogs indoors all afternoon.

OrderAn afternoon cocktail in the lounge, dog at your feet.

DrinkAn afternoon cocktail in the dog-friendly lounge

FoodLunch, small plates and dinner

TipThe lounge runs live music and welcomes dogs indoors, a Cypress Inn tradition dating to Doris Day's ownership of the hotel.

Aire Gastrobar ★ 4.3

Aire Gastrobar fills a restored mansion on Málaga's Malagueta, a creative Mediterranean kitchen of seasonal small plates with a careful, wine-led list.

Balausta ★ 4.3

Balausta is the courtyard restaurant of Hotel Palacio Solecio in old-town Málaga, serving contemporary malagueño cooking under an 18th-century arcade.

Lido Restaurant ★ 4.3

Lido Restaurant overlooks a restored 1849 open-air pool in Clifton, Bristol, serving wood-fired Mediterranean cooking to swimmers and diners alike.

OrderWood-roast scallops, then a sourdough flatbread while watching the swimmers.

TipAsk for a poolside window table; the swim, spa and lunch packages are the classic Bristol treat day.

Extra Virgin ★ 4.3

James Beard winner Michael Smith's Extra Virgin in the Crossroads opened in 2007 as Kansas City's Mediterranean tapas room, with a wood grill and a deep wine.

OrderA spread of small plates, the wood-grilled meats and a bottle of natural red from the European list.

TipBig Night Italian Thursdays run family-style. Mon to Thu until 22:00, Fri until 23:00, Sat 17:00-23:00.

Kursaal Kalhesa ★ 4.3

Kursaal Kalhesa, at Foro Italico Umberto I 21/A, presents itself as a restaurant, sushi and cocktail venue with a cellar of over 30 sparkling wines.

TipThe venue also organizes artistic and cultural events with local artists and DJ sets, and sells tickets for its disco entrance.

La Bartola ★ 4.3

Bar La Bartola at Calle San Jose 24 in Seville serves Mediterranean or Spanish food, with vegan and vegetarian options and its famous tapas.

FoodMediterranean and Spanish cuisine

TipOpen every day from 12.00 to 00.00; it takes cash, contactless, debit and the main credit cards, and offers free WIFI.

Nomad ★ 4.3

NOMAD is a Surry Hills restaurant at 16 Foster Street whose food is inspired by Spain, Morocco and the Middle East, cooked with fire and smoke.

Theodora ★ 4.3

Theodora is a Fort Greene, Brooklyn restaurant on Greene Avenue from chef Tomer Blechman, built around dry-aged fish and open-fire Mediterranean cooking.

TipGroups of eight to fourteen eat a prix-fixe menu during regular hours, and the team texts back after dinner service at about 22:00.

Casbah ★ 4.3

Casbah in Shadyside serves Mediterranean wood-grilled cooking in Pittsburgh. A long-running big Burrito Group room with a serious wine list.

OrderMezze to start and whatever is on the wood grill, paired off the by-the-glass list.

TipThe patio is the seat in warm weather. Reserve ahead; Shadyside fills on weekend evenings.

Constantine ★ 4.3

Constantine in the Anndore House pours Mediterranean wines under chef Adam Lafleur, Greek Assyrtiko and Italian growers with wood-fired plates.

OrderAn Assyrtiko with the saganaki and lamb meatballs.

PourAssyrtiko from Santorini

WineMediterranean, Greek, Italian

FoodMediterranean small plates

TipHotel lobby off Yonge. The bar at 17:00 takes walk-ins; the dining room books on Resy after 18:30.

Habitual by Ricard Camarena ★ 4.3

Habitual on the lower level of Mercado de Colon in Valencia is Ricard Camarena's market food-hall project, a sit-down bistro inside the 1916 modernista.

OrderThe arroz of the day plus a glass of natural wine; the bocadillo de calamares for a lighter lunch.

TipWalk down the stairs at Mercado Colon to find it. Open daily, longer hours than the upstairs market itself.

La Greta ★ 4.3

La Greta on Carrer de Pere III el Gran in Valencia's Russafa is a neighbourhood modern-Mediterranean bistro with a long arroces carte and a strong wine list.

OrderThe croquetas of jamon and the arroz of the day.

TipRussafa locals favourite; reserve weekend lunch a few days ahead.

Vintner Grill ★ 4.3

Vintner Grill in Summerlin Las Vegas is the patio bistro at the back of a West Charleston office park, with a Mediterranean menu and a covered garden.

Why locals goTucked at the back of a Summerlin office park, the garden patio is one of the valley's best-kept Sunday brunch rooms.

TipSit on the garden patio if the weather holds; menu draws from Spain, France and Italy, the Mediterranean fish of the day is reliable.

Cantaloupe Stockport ★ 4.3

Daily-changing Mediterranean small-plates menu in Stockport's old quarter, near Manchester. Joined Michelin's 2026 Bib Gourmand list a year after opening.

Why locals goManchester foodies haven't yet caught up with Stockport's 2026 Bib Gourmand on Great Underbank. Mediterranean small plates, the suburb's biggest food story.

TipTwenty minutes by train from Manchester Piccadilly; daily-changing menu, book ahead.

Pa'La Downtown ★ 4.3

Pa'La Downtown is a wood-fired Mediterranean room on Washington Street, the larger sibling of the original 24th Street bungalow, built around grill and oven.

OrderWhatever fish is on the grill and the seasonal paella when it runs.

TipThe original tiny Pa'La sits at 2107 N 24th Street; the downtown room has the full-service kitchen.

Wine Restaurant R14 ★ 4.3

Wine Restaurant R14 in Rotermann is a Michelin-listed wine-led dining room run by chef Helen Andema, with a Mediterranean menu paired across courses.

OrderThe tasting menu with R14's wine pairing; the cellar leans toward southern Europe.

Book1 week ahead

TipLunch runs a faster bistro menu; dinner is the full tasting. The Rotermann courtyard hosts a summer terrace.

Mantel ja Korsten Set Lunch ★ 4.3

Mantel ja Korsten in Kadriorg runs a Mediterranean weekday set lunch at 14 to 18 euros, a Bib Gourmand kitchen at counter-pricing earlier in the day.

TryMediterranean weekday lunch

Markthalle Im Viadukt Stalls ★ 4.3

Under the rail viaduct in Zurich-West: takeaway stalls of charcuterie, cheese, hot Mediterranean plates. A budget lunch with respectable provenance.

TryMediterranean lunches and takeaway

Eleven ★ 4.3

Eleven sits in the Amália Rodrigues gardens with views of Eduardo VII park, where German chef Joachim Koerper cooks seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Soma ★ 4.3

Soma is a small Mediterranean bistro at 9 Place Saint-Paul in Lyon, near Gare Saint-Paul, with an open kitchen, a short menu and chef Sarah Hamza at the helm.

Why locals goSoma is a little bistro with a tiny open kitchen near Gare Saint-Paul, with chef and owner Sarah Hamza at the helm.

TipFor reservations of more than 8 people, contact the restaurant by email; lunch is Friday and Saturday, and dinner Tuesday to Saturday.

Kalamatas ★ 4.3

Kalamatas serves fresh, fast Mediterranean food at 3764 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville, locally owned and operated since 2003, with dine in and take out.

Why locals goLocally owned and operated since 2003, Kalamatas serves fresh, fast Mediterranean on Hillsboro Pike, with dine in, take out and delivery.

TipOrder online through the site, which also sells gift cards, or choose dine in, take out or delivery.

Demi's Mediterranean Kitchen ★ 4.3

Demi's on MacArthur Avenue in north Richmond runs Greek and Lebanese plates. Falafel and hummus are the entry points; the lamb gyro is the stay-late order.

SignatureFalafel platter, Hummus, Lamb gyro

Foreign Cinema ★ 4.3

Foreign Cinema in San Francisco is the Mission's open-air courtyard room from Gayle Pirie and John Clark, with a film projected on the back wall after dark.

OrderBrunch fried chicken with cornmeal waffle, between a 10:30 oyster start.

TipBrunch on a sunny Saturday is the move; book the courtyard, not the indoor room.

Bufacaldos ★ 4.2

Bufacaldos is a rice house facing the sea on Passeig de Miramar in Salou, with seafood stews, shellfish and a fair weekday lunch menu behind a Repsol Solete.

OrderOne of the rice dishes for the table, the reason the Repsol guide sends people here.

TipDinner runs only on Friday and Saturday; other days the kitchen closes at 17:00, so treat it as a long seaside lunch.

La Terrassa del Nàutic ★ 4.2

La Terrassa del Nàutic is the ground-floor terrace restaurant of the Club Nàutic on Salou's port, given a Repsol Solete in March 2026 for its rice and fish.

OrderOne of the rice dishes, the Repsol guide's pick, with a starter to share first.

TipThe club's bar and café side opens from 09:00, Tuesday to Sunday; lunch is the main service, with dinner on Saturday only.

Malaspina ★ 4.2

Malaspina, the Mercure hotel's restaurant near Poniente beach in Benidorm, cooks Alicante rice, salt-cured fish and grilled aged meat; a Repsol Solete holder.

OrderA rice dish of the day, then aged beef from the grill if you have room.

TipIt took second prize at the 2026 Benidorm tapas contest; the Corner Bar on the same floor serves cocktails and casual plates.

Isabel Mayfair ★ 4.2

Isabel Mayfair is the Abu Dhabi room of a London restaurant, serving Mediterranean cooking at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island under chef Vincent Visinet.

OrderThe lobster rigatoni and the warm XXL pistachio madeleine, both singled out in FACT magazine's 2026 review.

TipThe dress code is smart and elegant: shorts, ripped jeans, caps, gym clothes and casual trainers are not allowed.

Forno Kitchen + Bar ★ 4.2

Forno Kitchen and Bar on North High Street is Columbus's Short North wood-oven Mediterranean room with a long bar and a weekend brunch service.

OrderThe wood-oven pizza of the moment, plus a brunch mimosa flight on Sunday.

TipBrunch fills first; reserve on OpenTable for any seating after 10:30.

Aubergine ★ 4.2

Aubergine is a Mediterranean restaurant at Strada Smârdan 33 serving Mediterranean and Egyptian dishes, from falafel to authentic specialities.

OrderThe falafel, which the restaurant names first among its Mediterranean dishes.

TipThe restaurant pitches itself for business lunches and intimate dinners.

Casa Mazal ★ 4.2

Casa Mazal cooks the Sefarad and Al-Andalus traditions inside a fourteenth-century Judería house in Córdoba, with no pork anywhere on the carta.

OrderWhatever the kitchen is running from the Sephardic side of the carta.

TipIt closes on Wednesdays, and bookings run through a dedicated reservations line rather than the main house phone.

Clarence & V ★ 4.2

Clarence & V is a Mediterranean restaurant at 2/191 Clarence Street in Sydney.

Kechmara ★ 4.2

Kechmara on Marrakech's Rue de la Liberte runs an all-day bistro-bar with rooftop terrace; 70s interior, alcohol licence, and busy jazz nights in Gueliz.

OrderThe all-day burger and a glass of Moroccan red on the rooftop; live jazz some nights.

TipOpen till 02:00 with food till 23:30; the rooftop fills first, the gallery-floor bar is the late seat.

Labad's Mediterranean Cafe and Grocery ★ 4.2

Labad's Mediterranean Cafe and Grocery is a tiny Mediterranean cafe and grocery on the quieter end of the strip, easy to miss between the bigger market names.

Why locals goA tiny Mediterranean cafe and grocery on the quieter end of the Strip, easy to miss between the bigger market names.

TipEat a gyro at the counter, then buy olives and spices to take home. Locals rate the baba ghanoush.

Neomonde ★ 4.2

Why locals goFounded almost 50 years ago by four brothers from northern Lebanon, Neomonde has served the Triangle fresh-baked breads and pastries since 1977.

TipOrder the fresh-baked breads and pastries, or choose from the vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on the menu.

Aladdin's Natural Eatery ★ 4.2

Aladdin's Natural Eatery on Monroe Ave in Rochester has served Mediterranean food since 1979, with falafel wraps and hummus plates for $9-$13 per item.

TipThe falafel wrap is $9-$10, one of the best budget options on the Avenue. Lunch specials run until 15:00 on weekdays.

Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill ★ 4.2

Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill bakes its own pita and carves gyro and shawarma on Higuera Street, a Diners Drive-Ins and Dives alum in San Luis Obispo.

OrderThe gyro wrapped in pita baked in-house that morning.

TipHappy hour runs 15:00-18:00 and all day Sunday; the second branch sits inside SLO Public Market.

Granada Bistro ★ 4.2

Granada Bistro serves French and Mediterranean farm cooking off the 1922 Granada Hotel lobby, the most handsome dining room in downtown San Luis Obispo.

OrderSeasonal farm plates with a glass from the short, sharp wine list.

BookA few days for weekend dinner ahead

TipThe Nightcap cocktail lounge hides behind the hotel; move there after dessert.

Andie's Restaurant ★ 4.2

Andie's Restaurant serves Mediterranean comfort food on North Clark Street; its pasta dishes, sauces and dips are all homemade and change with the seasons.

OrderHand wrapped dolmates, or the dip sampler of hummus, harressa, baba ganoush and patata.

TipAndie's is closed on Tuesdays and opens at 11AM on Saturday and Sunday; the menu marks gluten free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Ruta del Azafran ★ 4.2

Ruta del Azafran in Granada works a Mediterranean and Arab-Andalusian menu on the Paseo de los Tristes, with a terrace directly under the Alhambra.

SignatureArab chicken pie with carrot salad, Sea bass with courgette and coconut sauce, Saffron paella

TipHalal and vegan options on the same carte; the riverside terrace fills fast on warm evenings.

El Coso ★ 4.2

El Coso in the Plaza de Toros bullring of Granada took over the Ermita space and pairs avant-garde Mediterranean technique with the historic bullring setting.

SignatureGrilled meats over charcoal, Iberian secreto, Cheese and jamon boards

TipClosed Mondays; the bullring portico tables are quieter than the indoor room and book up fastest in spring.

Flow ★ 4.2

Flow is a Mediterranean restaurant, bar and terrace at Rua da Conceicao 63 in Porto's downtown, in a historic building, with a fresh sushi offer.

SignatureSushi

TipThe restaurant, bar and terrace each have their own atmosphere and flavours, so try more than one area.

Restaurant Markthalle Im Viadukt ★ 4.2

Inside the Im Viadukt rail-arch market hall in Kreis 5, an open-kitchen Mediterranean room with a garden terrace and the city's best produce sourcing.

SignatureMediterranean plates, Garden terrace lunches

Winter Garden ★ 4.2

Winter Garden is a Mediterranean restaurant at Piazza degli Ognissanti 1, 50123 Firenze.

Au Parc ★ 4.2

Au Parc is a Mediterranean restaurant at 23 Han Thuyen Street in a colonial building midway between the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame cathedral.

OrderShakshuka from the brunch menu, with home-made bread baked fresh daily.

TipThe New York or Turkish style brunch is served from 11 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday.

La Lonjeria ★ 4.2

La Lonjeria is a family fish and shellfish restaurant at Avda. Albufera 323 in Madrid, from a family with more than three decades as fish distributors.

OrderGrilled prawns with coarse salt, red tuna tataki or cod with goose egg.

TipThe tapas room serves croquettes, fried fish and a selection of Iberian cured meats, at the bar or at a table.

Mäska ★ 4.2

Mäska in Ipanema is chef Danilo Parah's bistro-style restaurant with an open kitchen and Mediterranean touches, in the Michelin Guide, in Rio de Janeiro.

OrderThe creamy rice with octopus, or the steak with truffled aligot mash

TipThe kitchen opens onto the dining room and the cocktail list is part of the draw; the room is open until midnight from Wednesday to Saturday.

Enxalao ★ 4.2

Enxalao serves breakfast, brunch, specialty coffee and healthy food near Zurriola beach, with a salad and poke bar of over 50 ingredients chosen daily.

TipEnxalao is pet friendly, and you can take your food to the beach, eat it at home or take it to work.

Restaurant Libertas ★ 4.2

Restaurant Libertas at Logavina 9 has welcomed guests since 1986, with fresh seafood, continental dishes and desserts, in the city center near the Cathedral.

TipMake a reservation on the restaurant's site; it is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and has a spacious parking area beside it.

Tanit ★ 4.2

Tanit brings Catalan cooking to Oscar Freire, chef Oscar Bosch's tapas and rice dishes for a Mediterranean menu in Cerqueira Cesar, Sao Paulo.

OrderArroz de pato (duck rice) or the prawn fideua

TipBosch worked at El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca before moving to Brazil in 2009 and opening Tanit.

Arena Restaurant ★ 4.1

Arena Restaurant is the Hotel Blaumar's restaurant open to the public on Passeig Jaume I in Salou, serving rice dishes and sharing plates by the promenade.

OrderA rice dish and a few raciones to share, the house recommendation in the Repsol guide.

TipArena opens from March to November only; the fish comes from the nearby fish auctions, so ask what landed that day.

Aladdin Mediterranean Grill ★ 4.1

Aladdin Mediterranean Grill on Lakeland Drive is open from 07:30, serving shakshuka, falafel, and lamb kebabs - Jackson's most diverse Mediterranean menu.

OrderVegetarian plate with falafel, dolmas, tabouli, hummus, and pita

TipOne of the city's rare spots open for a full Mediterranean breakfast from 07:30.

Kennedy Cafe ★ 4.1

Kennedy Cafe cooks to midnight in New Town and delivers until 23:30, the late Mediterranean kitchen that feeds Key West's hospitality shift workers.

OrderFalafel on the house-baked Uzbek pita

TipIt is a locals' strip-mall room away from Old Town with free parking, and one of the few island kitchens open past 23:00.

Pita House ★ 4.1

Pita House grills certified halal Mediterranean plates on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, shawarma, falafel and kebabs late into the evening.

OrderMixed shawarma plate with garlic sauce

TipEverything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the mixed shawarma plate feeds two.

Amaltea ★ 4.1

Amaltea has cooked on Córdoba's Ronda de Isasa since 2000, a Mediterranean kitchen built on garden vegetables and Andalusian extra virgin olive oil.

OrderAsk what the vegetable dish of the day is; that is where the kitchen puts its effort.

TipIt runs separate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cartas alongside the main one, so say what you need when you sit.

El Astronauta ★ 4.1

El Astronauta cooks mezze and a full plant-based section in central Córdoba, a vegan moussaka and vegan burger alongside the standard carta.

OrderThe vegan moussaka, or the mezze spread if there are several of you.

TipThe operator publishes no hours, though the Córdoba directories agree it shuts on Sunday, so phone ahead before building a plan.

OOSTEN Realwirtschaft am Main ★ 4.1

OOSTEN serves Mediterranean plates around a preserved harbour crane on Frankfurt's Ostend riverbank, its terrace facing the ECB tower and the Main.

OrderGrilled fish on the terrace with the skyline over the Main

TipSunday opens at 10:00 for the long riverside breakfast; in summer the crane terrace books out before the dining room.

Glasserie ★ 4.1

Glasserie is a Mediterranean restaurant in a former factory space on Commercial Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, open since 2013, known for a mezze brunch.

OrderThe mezze feast offered at brunch.

TipFrom Friday to Sunday the kitchen opens at 11:00 and runs to 23:00. Monday to Thursday, dinner starts at 17:30 and ends at 22:00.

Lamezze ★ 4.1

Lamezze on North Stanton Street in downtown El Paso serves Mediterranean mezze, charcoal-grilled kebabs, and falafel in a bright space blending Levantine.

OrderHummus with warm pita, charcoal-grilled kebabs, or the falafel plate

TipGood vegetarian options; opens early so it also works for breakfast mezze before museum visits.

Dish Bar ★ 4.1

Dish Bar sits on a square a few meters from the historic Saint-Titos Church in Heraklion, serving coffee, brunch, Mediterranean plates and cocktails.

OrderThe beef carpaccio with truffle mayonnaise, or the handmade pasta

FoodMediterranean menu

TipBy day it serves coffee and brunch; late at night the music gets louder and guests dance until the morning.

Mediterranean Cafe ★ 4.1

Mediterranean Cafe on State Street, the family-owned Mediterranean and Middle Eastern counter near campus, serves couscous, falafel and kebabs to students.

OrderA couscous stew or falafel plate with Arabic tea.

TipCounter ordering keeps the line moving fast; lunch hours are calmer than the late-afternoon student rush.

Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob ★ 4.1

Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob in Dundee is Nebraska's best cheap meal, with falafel and kabob wraps at a self-serve topping bar for around $11.

OrderFalafel wrap with toppings from the self-serve bar: the mix-and-match format keeps the queue moving fast.

Gyros By Ali ★ 4.1

Brothers Tariq and Adnan ran a food truck before opening this South Lewis storefront serving halal gyros, falafel, and Mediterranean plates in a comfortable.

OrderHalal gyro platter with housemade tzatziki and pita

Pasir ★ 4.1

Pasir is a Mediterranean restaurant on Jl. Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali, cooking fish and vegetables from local fishermen and farms in a sand-toned room.

SignatureOctopus carpaccio, Snapper crudo, Lamb kofta

Shelter Pererenan ★ 4.1

Shelter Pererenan serves wood-fired Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes in a lush outdoor space in Pererenan, Canggu, Bali, from moon scallops to ricotta.

SignatureWood-roasted moon scallops, Housemade ricotta

Sunshine ★ 4.1

Sunshine is a Mediterranean eatery on James Street where restaurant-quality hot and cold dishes are priced per 100g, to eat in the courtyard or take away.

SignatureHot and cold Mediterranean dishes priced by weight

Kloof Street House ★ 4.1

Kloof Street House fills a candlelit Victorian home in Gardens, Cape Town, with Mediterranean plates carrying a Cape twist and live jazz over Sunday lunch.

OrderMoroccan-spiced lamb rump with tahini dressing

TipIn winter ask for the chesterfields of the library lounge or a table by the dining room fireplace, and book ahead for Sunday lunch with live jazz.

Eatery A ★ 4.1

A rustic neighbourhood room in the Avenues with a large patio and a wood-fired oven, channelling herbs and spices from Spain, Italy, Morocco and Egypt.

SignatureWood-fired pizza, Mediterranean small plates

Imperfecto 1 ★ ★ 4.1

Imperfecto in Washington DC is Enrique Limardo's Michelin-star West End dining room on 23rd Street, a Latin-Mediterranean kitchen anchored by Venezuelan.

Book3 to 4 weeks ahead

Costiera ★ 4.1

Costiera in Little Italy marks chef Brian Lavin's return, a coastal Mediterranean bistro plating swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.

OrderThe swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.

TipIt sits where Little Italy meets Harbor East; the patio is the seat to ask for in warm weather.

Riz Raz ★ 4.1

RizRaz has welcomed guests near Strøget since 1989 and serves Mediterranean brunch every day, where you build your own menu of 3, 5 or 7 dishes.

TipChoose freely among fresh dishes, hot and cold, vegetarian, vegan and with meat or fish.

Parizade ★ 4.1

Parizade has anchored the Brightleaf area since 1996, serving Mediterranean lamb, grilled fish and mezze. The outdoor terrace fills on warm evenings.

SignatureLamb chops, Shrimp and grits, Mezze platter

Elm ★ 4.1

Elm on Puistokatu in Ullanlinna cooks Mediterranean sharing plates around a wood fire, set in a restored 1880 villa near the Kaivopuisto seafront.

OrderThe wood-fired vegetables and a spread of sharing plates for the table.

TipSet inside a restored villa near Kaivopuisto park. The menu is built for sharing, so come with a group.

Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine ★ 4.0

Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine hand-folds Turkic manti and khachapuri in a garden room on White Street, Key West's Central Asian outlier worth the detour.

OrderManti dumplings, then the chicken shawarma bowl

TipThe lush back garden is the seat to take; the somsa pastries and baklava travel well for a beach picnic.

Taparelle ★ 4.0

Taparelle is a Michelin Selected restaurant in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, marrying French and Italian cooking in a room with locally sourced pottery.

OrderThe scallop Grenobloise, the oxtail ragu or the crispy charred sea bass named by the Michelin Guide.

TipFully licensed, it opens at 07:30 and closes at 23:00, or midnight on Friday and Saturday; Michelin says its Saturday brunches are a must.

Borgo Antico ★ 4.0

Borgo Antico sits on the small square off Via della Misericordia in Alghero and cooks monkfish alla catalana and Sardinian gnocchetti with seafood.

OrderMonkfish alla catalana, tomato and sweet onion over white fish.

Café Roma ★ 4.0

Café Roma, Italia Palladino's second address, sits at the foot of a Palais des Papes tower in Avignon, with a terrace and Mediterranean cooking.

OrderGrilled prawns glazed with ginger and soy, or swordfish with black rice and caponata.

TipThe terrace looks onto the palace walls; the Vaucluse tourism guide lists a €38 menu of starter, main and cheese or dessert.

Restoran Maslina ★ 4.0

Restoran Maslina in Novi Beograd serves Mediterranean and Italian plates from breakfast through dinner on Bulevar Mihajla Pupina. Garden terrace and parking.

SignatureHomemade pasta, Mediterranean breakfast plate

Mariatrifulca ★ 4.0

Mariatrifulca is a restaurant at the Puente de Triana with two terraces, open Sunday to Thursday 12:00 to 01:00 and Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 02:00.

TipBook the interior dining room to be sure of a table: mirador bookings are cancelled in bad weather and cannot be moved indoors.

Vera Pizza & Grill ★ 4.0

Vera Pizza & Grill at 6091 Capital Blvd serves pizza plus burgers, pastas, calzones, salads and desserts, with combo deals such as two pizzas and 8 wings.

TryA large cheese pizza with six crispy chicken wings and a basket of warm garlic knots.

TipLook for combo deals, such as two medium one-topping pizzas and 8 wings, without specialty toppings.

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen ★ 4.0

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen on Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale cooks Mediterranean food in an art-filled room, with harissa lamb meatballs and Iberico pork.

OrderThe harissa lamb meatballs and Moroccan zaalouk, then the pan-fried Lebanese chicken.

TipSunset Sips happy hour runs 16:00 to 18:00 daily; the patio has a fire pit for after dinner.

The Bungalow ★ 4.0

The Bungalow at The Glen Country Club looks straight over Clifton 4th beach in Cape Town, a sunset room built around sushi, carpaccio and cocktails.

OrderSushi platter, shared while watching the sun go down over Clifton

TipBook a deck table for golden hour, when live DJs spin the sunset soundtrack; the kitchen runs until the 23:00 close.

Ze Bota ★ 4.0

Ze Bota is a Mediterranean restaurant at Travessa do Carmo 16-20, 4050-165 Porto.

Public Market House Vendors ★ 4.0

Public Market House on Monument Square runs seven food vendors under one roof, with Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Latin and soup counters around twelve dollars.

TrySoup, banh mi, pupusa, sandwich

TipDaily 11:00-20:00. Counter order at each vendor; shared central seating.

Aplos Mediterranean ★ 3.9

Aplos Mediterranean at Highland Village is fast-fine Greek and Italian: gyro plates, hummus, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, and baked feta at counter prices.

OrderGyro plate with brown rice, hummus, pita and mini Greek salad

TipOne of Jackson's few quality fast-fine options; ideal for a quick pre-show or post-museum meal.

Aplos Mediterranean Counter ★ 3.9

Aplos Mediterranean at Highland Village is Jackson's best counter-service street food: gyro wraps, hummus platters, and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza at prices.

OrderGyro wrap with hummus and fresh vegetables, or the Neapolitan pizza slice

TipOne of the few counter-service options in Jackson that consistently draws positive reviews for quality.

Honest Greens (budget) ★ 3.9

Honest Greens in Barcelona's Eixample runs a 10 euro grain-and-protein bowl from a counter: order, sit anywhere, the daily salad-protein rotation runs weekly.

TrySalad bowl

TipOpen daily until 23:30. The protein bowl with the rotating daily salad is the value pick under 14 euros.

Honest Greens (brunch) ★ 3.9

Honest Greens in Barcelona's Eixample serves brunch from 09:00 daily: grain bowls, fresh juice, the rotating daily salad with protein, all from a single open.

OrderGrain bowl, the daily rotating salad, a fresh juice.

TipOpen daily until 23:30. Order at the counter; the grain bowl with the daily rotating protein is the brunch value pick.

Tazza International Foods ★ 3.9

Tazza International Foods on North Mesa Street stocks halal meats, Middle Eastern pantry items, imported Arabic bread, and Lebanese and Turkish specialties.

TipThe halal butcher counter is in the back; call ahead for large orders of goat or lamb.

Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill ★ 3.9

Tarla builds Turkish and Greek dishes from organic local produce. Meze and the grill anchor the week; shakshuka and Turkish eggs join the weekend brunch menu.

SignatureMezze platter, Turkish flatbreads, Grilled lamb

TipThe daily happy hour 15:00-18:00 cuts prices on meze and wine significantly.

Taboo ★ 3.9

Taboo is a Mediterranean seafood and pasta restaurant at Boulevard Kukulcán km 13.5 in Cancún, with a lagoon terrace, a DJ, live sax and a fireworks show.

OrderWood-fired octopus or the salt-baked fish finished at the table, with burrata to start.

TipBook an early table for sunset over the lagoon; later seatings turn into a DJ party with sparklers and bottle parades.

Cala Scottsdale ★ 3.8

Cala Scottsdale is a high-energy Mediterranean restaurant at the base of the Senna House hotel in Old Town, serving handmade pastas, pizzas and seafood.

OrderA handmade pasta or a hand-tossed pizza, with seafood to share.

TipSaturday and Sunday the patio runs Cala Grand, a $75 luxury brunch buffet; the room suits big groups.

Big Guy's Chicken and Rice ★ 3.8

Deep Ellum halal late-night staple serving New York-style rice bowls and gyros with 36-hour marinated chicken. Kitchen leans halal, mediterranean, late-night.

OrderMixed rice bowl with white sauce; lamb gyro

TipThe 2am-4am window on Fridays and Saturdays draws the post-concert crowd. Cash and card both accepted.

Small World Restaurant ★ 3.7

Small World has served Middle Eastern food in Napa since around 2003: falafel, gyros, hummus and kabob at prices drawing vineyard workers and budget visitors.

SignatureFalafel, Gyros, Hummus, Shawarma

TipCloses at 17:30 and is not open Sundays. Get here for an early lunch.