Zaytouna Greek & Lebanese Restaurant

I write this review with hope for improvement. Zaytouna has been a cherished dining spot for us, reminiscent of our favorite Mediterranean restaurant back home in Louisiana, Albasha. However, our recent visit, the first since the change in ownership, left us disappointed.

While the management and menu appear unchanged, the essence of the food has taken a different direction. The absence of fried cheese, a former standout and personal favorite, was particularly disheartening. The chicken shwarma, once bursting with robust flavors and a hint of spice, lacked the memorable taste we had grown to love. Furthermore, the taziki sauce tasted solely of Greek yogurt, lacking the vibrant flavors we once enjoyed, and the hummus has undergone noticeable changes.

I share these observations out of a deep appreciation for what Zaytouna once represented to us. I hope that these insights prompt a reflection on the recent adjustments and inspire efforts to regain the quality that made the restaurant special to its patrons. With sincere wishes for your success in returning Levant to its former glory.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

Walked in and stood by the door for 5 minutes before seating myself. After another couple minutes with still no waiter I left.

Restaurant was empty except for 2 other people sitting at a table with just drinks.

Service: 1

Food was very good. Should always serve with tzatziki sauce not hummus!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Greek Salad, Shawarma Bites, Gyro Platter

This restaurant has been purchased by another company. They have done away with some of their signature dishes. This is causing them to lose some of their regular customers.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Great food and wonderful customer service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mousaka, Lamb Shank

This place was a huge disappointment. My wife ordered the chicken plate and it came out with some rice, a tiny salad and slices of very dry chicken. I ordered the gyro plate and same thing. the gyro meat was so dry. we will never be back.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 2

The prices on the menu do not match the prices that I was charged. On the menu the combo said $17, but I was charged $25.00. Plus $5.00 for sweet tea. The sad part is I only got 1 glass of sweet tea. I have never paid that much for regular sweet tea:)
The food was good but $30 plus tip, it was too expensive for one person.
I didn’t say anything, because I was with a few friends but I definitely won’t go back there because of the pricing issues.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

Good falafel

I hate to leave bad reviews and I don’t want it to seem that way. This is my personal and honest opinion, but I’ll be missing the original zaytouna. The chicken used to be so juicy and flavorful, now dry and bland. The rice use to be flavorful and had little bits of veggies, now the super cheap yellow rice that’s my least favorite. I appreciate the new owners vision, but I really don’t even want to give it a second try. I specifically came to zaytouna for the perfect Greek dressing on the salad, now it’s a light flavored and watered down vinaigrette of sorts. Wishing them the best, but if the owner reads this, please bring back the OG ingredients for the chicken shawarma plate. Oh, I also believe they raised priced and lowered food quality just like every other buyout.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 5

Awesome food but if you like beef well done make sure you ask for that. I don’t like red meat (and that’s what I got) but it was my fault for not asking.
If you like kabobs it’s a must when visiting Pensacola.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I have high standards when it comes to middle eastern foods and this place rocked! There kibbi was FIRE! Everything there was so delicious, truly I have no complaints only compliments!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

New management and thinking a second chance is due. The servings were nicely presented and portions ample, but both the gyro meat and chicken were very dry.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Levant is By far the best Mediterranean food in the area!

The food was great with gyro and feta bread with humus. Alot of food to offer. 1st time to be there with friends. The place is nice but not much of the ambiance..

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

To start with, the place is confusing. The sign on the building does not match the name here or even on the receipt. When we the six of us arrived at the restaurant, we had to wait for them to clear a table, which for a Sunday afternoon, we expected a wait. They have white fabric table cloths that are covered with thin clear plastic. Between the cloth and the plastic there was quite a bit of what appeared to be food residue. That was rather repulsive!

Our appetizers came out and they were good, especially the hummus. One of the folks with us wanted the Moussaka, but by 1:00 they were all out of it. (Poor planning on the part of the kitchen!) Then our entrees came out and they were just okay. The flavor was good, but the meat was dry, all except the lamb shank which was moist and tender, even though it came out about ten minutes after the other five meals.

The worst part about the place is that they automatically add an 18% service charge to the bill. Nowhere in the menu did it say anything about a service charge being added to the bill! If it had, I would have left before ordering. Nobody gets to decide how much I am going to tip the waitress but me! The service was not very good; certainly not 18% on a $150 bill worth of good!

I wanted to like this place and might have returned, had it not been for the 18% service charge. Next time I want Mediterranean food, I will head over to one of the other places in town, or make it myself.

I'm not sure this place will last much longer.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Fried Cheese, Lamb Shank