Mediterranean cuisine is known for its delectable barbecued meats, kebobs, dips and pita bread, but it is also beloved for the beautiful dining tradition known as mezze – a sampling of small dishes. These restaurants serve the best Greek, Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes in the city.
This is one of nicest Lebanese restaurants in Edmonton. It’s elegant, with a huge wine selection and a stellar menu. The mezze ranges from bronze to platinum, with the number of courses increasing as you move up the medal range. Even the most basic mezze includes Lebanese salad, baba ganouj, Mediterranean salad, falafel, hummus and batangen (deep fried eggplant). There’s also plenty of a la carte options for entrees, such as the ultimate Lebanese dish, shish tawouk (chicken marinated in oil and paprika, served with garlic sauce).
Located on Jasper Avenue, this Mediterranean restaurant is a popular destination for smoking shisha – it’s one of the only places in Edmonton that has hookahs for guests to smoke. The menu is Mediterranean, with a heavy Lebanese influence, and some Canadian dishes thrown in for good measure. The grilled meats, shawarma and kabobs are all beloved dishes, but there are also burgers, sandwiches, pastas and seafood available.
The owner of this restaurant grew up in Istanbul and has brought his knowledge of the city’s delectable cuisine to Edmonton. This warm and inviting restaurant is known for its kebobs – there are eight different varieties, all served with grilled vegetables, hummus and pita bread. If you want to sample a little bit of everything, try the Istanbul mix platter, with a variety of kebobs, dolma, salad, hummus, pita bread and dessert.
This small local pita bakery and deli produces the best hummus I have ever tasted. It’s extremely garlicky and smooth, and is amazing with pita, chips or veggies. Once you try it, you can’t take other brands of hummus seriously. The Happy Camel sells at various farmers’ market and stores, but they also sell hummus and their fresh-baked pita bread out of their retail facility and deli.
This loud, friendly Greek restaurant serves some of the best dips and pita bread around. They also have a diverse menu, with many Mediterranean favourites, including saganaki, moussaka and calamari. On Friday and Saturday nights, guests are entertained by lively belly dancers.