I love this restaurant so much whenever I go to Saint Pete. Truly one of the best Mediterranean spots because it is always consistently dependable and reliable. They never really have "off" days, which is great because it's somewhere I can always bring friends and family. The atmosphere is honestly so great especially on the outside. You would think it would be too hot sometimes and too cold but they have lanterns that make it perfect in the winter and fans to make it perfect in the summer. It's truly one of the best maintained outside eating areas Because it's completely covered as well so that really helps the shade aspect. There's also a little section outside of the dining patio that serves as a little cocktail lounge area, which is adorable. if you wanna find somewhere that you could eat outside with your elderly grandma, this is a great place because they really do everything they can to make it as comfortable as possible for those hot Florida summers. They also allow dogs to come in, which may be a plus or a minus for some people. if you go, the falafel is truly some of the best delicate crunchy falafel that I've ever had and all of the spreads and dips are incredibly delicious and consistent. Get their vegetable crudite because it's the freshest, crunchies selection of watermelon, radishes, perfect Romain, lettuce, boats, crisp carrots. The main thing that me and my friends always say about this restaurant is that it literally reminds us how refreshing and satisfying actually healthy food could be. I know that sounds funny, but we always sit down and say we should eat like this more at home! Haha. Great Greek wine list in addition to the Classics and nice cocktails. I genuinely don't have ANYTHING negative to say about this place, which is really really rare. lol. Also get baklava if you can. read more

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I think Baba is one of my top 3 places to get dinner in St. Pete! Been here a few times sitting outside as well as at the bar, and we've never had a bad time. This most recent time, I went with my parents for their birthdays. They loved it just as much as I do! Great food, drinks and out server Teil was fabuloussss. Food Favorites *Shish kabob $17- so good we had to get another one to split *Spreads $15- you get to pick three and it come with crudités or bread *fries $8- while they aren't on the menu, they were a great addition to our meal :) *hopefully they bring back their dirty martini with the pepperoncini and spicy oil, that was my favorite read more

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This classy Mediterranean restaurant makes you feel like you're abroad. They even had a little Polo and Pan playing. I came here for a friend's birthday dinner and everything was delicious. I got the roasted 1/2 chicken and had enough to take home for lunch the next day. The waiter was very attentive and friendly as he cracked a few jokes with the group. read more

Baba On Central - Roasted 1/2 Chicken Plate - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Everything about this place is perfectly curated and not overly complicated. The menu is cohesive and refined, everything is packed with authentic flavor. The decor is simple and distinctly Mediterranean without an ounce of tackiness that Mediterranean themed restaurants tend to take on. It feels very much like a restaurant you'd find overseas with its open air like concept. I enjoy sitting at the bar where the service is always prompt and friendly. They gave me a free shot of Mastika (delicious, do try when you are there) and a dessert for my birthday! The liquor selection is broad and international. Great wine list. Literally cannot pick a favorite dish because everything just tasted so good and most importantly FRESH. Never been disappointed here. One of the city's best! The only downside here is parking can be a struggle sometimes. 9/10 read more

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I dined here the other night and sat outside, which had a great setup. Once we received the menus, we thought it was extremely small with minimal options. We ordered three dips with pita. The dips were good; however, the pita was not the usual pita from Greek restaurants. We weren't sure what to order for entrees, as the menu was so limited, so we were both going to go with the shish kebabs. The waiter assured us they didn't have any, so we had the dips and went somewhere else. Our waiter was friendly, and the place itself looked nice. I just recommend looking at the menu before you go because it's extremely limited, and even on the limited list, they don't have things. read more

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I visited Baba recently and was really excited to try it since I love Mediterranean cuisine. I have a peanut allergy, and I always check menus carefully before going out. There was no mention of peanuts on the menu or online, so I felt comfortable dining here. Before ordering, the waitress told us that their tahini contains peanuts -- which was surprising, since tahini is typically made from sesame seeds. I appreciated her telling us, but when I explained that I'd need to eat elsewhere because of my allergy, she seemed confused and said it was "only in one or two items," which concerned me since it was listed on a lot of menu items, plus some dishes she mentioned earlier were it wasn't labeled. Whether or not peanuts are actually used in their tahini, I hope the restaurant will make allergen information clearer and ensure the staff can confidently answer or confirm with the kitchen. It's pretty dangerous to not have a major allergen labeled properly. read more

Walked in on a weekend evening with some friends! We split the steak, octopus, and prawns. The octopus was some of the best I've ever had, totally cooked to perfection and a great dish to split. The steak was also great and easy to split. The prawns I wouldn't order again personally, but they were still good. We also split all 6 of the dips between our table. The spicy feta was my absolute favorite and the warm pita was so good. Our server was super helpful for our table of 6! Loved sitting outside on the patio this time, it was beautiful. read more

This is always a hit when we are in the Tampa Bay Area. They consistently offer great dishes. Their pita bread and dips always taste great. We love the prawn and shish kebab appetizers. We love the lamb dish! Their outdoor patio area is very cute, and love the blue evil eye decor around the restaurant. Their team has always been friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our latest waitress Teal. You should make a reservation beforehand but sometimes they have availability for walk ins. read more

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Amazing service Super clean small restaurant that offers a full bar on fun outdoor seating Ambiance is low lights and comforting We had the hummus platter and it is the smoothest hummus I have ever had The octopus was super tender and flavored well Small parking lot available They do take credit card read more

Baba On Central - Charred octopus - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This is a beautiful restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. I came late at night near closing and the crowd was intimate. I sat at the bar and the bartender was really good. She recommended amazing drinks and even knew the history behind the wines. I ordered an eggplant dish that I was told was similar to baba ganouj (I was craving baba ganouj). Unfortunately it wasn't similar enough so I didn't enjoy it. The texture was not my favorite and the flavor was lacking depth. The octopus however was wonderful. It was prepared very well and wasn't rubbery nor chewy. It was a light bite and was able to hold me over. The alcohol and wine collection is really nice and I really enjoy the ambiance. read more

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The setting is spare, but quite nice at least in the outdoor area. And the Baba special cocktail was very good. The pitas were homemade, hot, and the best I've ever had. But Baba has a Very limited menu. There are only five entrée options. I can't eat scallops and I don't eat meat, so there was really nothing for me. I ordered the Falafel (overcooked, black) and the grilled prawns appetizer - served with head and tail and shells on which make them look much bigger than they are. They tasted good, but fighting off the head, and the shells was messy and embarrassing and unpleasant; and resulted in very little meat. I'm sorry to say we will probably not be back. read more

Delicious gem on central. My friend and I went and shared apps and a ribeye before a night on the town. It was the perfect dinner for 2! Highly recommend their hummus dips with extra pita. If they don't have tables open would highly recommend sitting at the bar. Still a great ambiance coupled with wonderful service. This one place is climbing up my St.Pete's favorites list. read more

Baba On Central - Hummas Dips - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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I have been hearing about this restaurant for a while now so I decided to give it a try on a Friday night! The dip platter was amazing but everything else was just ok. I don't know why I was expecting more from this establishment. Would go back for happy hour and light bites but nothing that really stands out too much. read more

Braised lamb is surprisingly succulent. There was no bone, so I can't say "fall off the bone" so I'll use "melt in your mouth." The waitress had to double as the bar tender last night[Thursday]. At close to the end of a 12-hour shift, She managed to smile, and remember every order without writing anything down. The ambiance indoors is spare. The tables are large, the space between tables is ample and the chairs were comfortable. We added this to our list of must do again read more

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Genuinely amazing, fresh, flavorful food. Super friendly staff and very cute ambiance. read more

Baba On Central - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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What a lovely setting! We showed up real late but the service was kind and let us get a fina glass for the night. Loved the fires outside. We didn't eat but I sure want to make a visit back to try some! read more

Baba On Central - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This is one of my favorite places in St Pete. The food is always great, quality service, and a nice atmosphere. Their menu has something for everyone. I love the spread sampler with some of the most beautiful crudite. The charred octopus and shish kebab were fantastic and the cocktails well balanced. Great tasty gluten free options at a great price. read more

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Door was great a little pricy yet definitely a must to try at least once. The spicy feta spread is a must. The roasted chicken and orzo was wow! Dessert everyone is my group said it was very delicious read more

What a beautiful little spot with amazing food options, which I am to understand they change the menu weekly. The service was beyond GREAT! Food came out quickly and served hot. I am a lover of Greek/ Mediterranean food.. to have so many options and to share with your dinner party is so much fun! This place has indoor and outdoor seating the is beautifully decorated and makes this spot so quaint. It's definitely a VIBE. We had all the MEZZE options and loved every bit of it. I cannot wait to return to Tampa to visit this little spot. Baba on Central is definitely a YELPING GOOD EATS!!! read more

Baba On Central - Olive Salad - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Really good food, atmosphere, and service. The homemade hummus is my favorite I enjoyed my cocktail - the baal made with rya and pistachio orgeat. So slightly sweet and creamy. It was refreshing. I plan to go back and try more of the cocktail menu and other food items My friends enjoyed the flafel. Every order comes with evil eye rock. How cute. read more

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Genuinely a great spot. The pita starter was honestly one of the best parts of the meal, definitely get it. Ordered the hanger steak, half chicken, and branzino. The steak was good but I'd probably skip it next time just because the other dishes stood out more. The branzino was super crispy and fresh, and the chicken was juicy with great flavor. Service was great and the overall vibe of the place was super relaxed. read more

Baba On Central - 1/2 Chicken Plate, Branzino, Hanger Steak - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

We visited Baba to celebrate our 50th Wedding anniversary. We ordered three dips with pita, each of which was tasty. Our main course, the grilled Branzino, was ample sized for the two of us, Our waitress (originally from Trinidad), was not only attentive, but was able to explain all the offerings so that we could enjoy fantastic different dishes we eventually ordered. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Went in for lunch with no reservation and it took a minute to get seated even though there were plenty of open tables inside and outside, but no biggie. The lunch menu was limited HOWEVER everything we ordered was delicious and we left fulfilled. Let's start with the TOMATO CARPACCIO -- so much flavor (surprisingly) and they used green tomatoes (my favorite). Highly recommend that mezze dish. Next, we ordered the CHARRED OCTOPUS.. so tender and not chewy whatsoever, it's a must try. Lastly we had the HOUSE CUT FRIES w/ ZA'ATAR & LEBNEH. The lebneh was good and tasted fresh, however I would've liked a little more za'atar sprinkled on it -- still tasty nonetheless. Definitely would return to try their dinner menu or lunch again on a florida "winter" day. read more

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Good food, staff, and setting. Good date night spot. Nice beer and drink menu........................

Tasty portions in the right amount. Prompt and polite service in an open setting that can handle some crowds in a classy indoor or outdoor setting. Definitely worth a visit read more

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Great and friendly service. The food was fantastic. Definitely be sure to save room for the baklava! We had the dips with pitas, the falafel, and the lamb. We sat inside which was cute, but they have a nice patio area I would try next time. Check out my photos! read more

Baba On Central - Lamb - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

This place is significantly overpriced for what they offer. We ordered the grouper for $38, which was delicious but only about 4 ounces. The octopus at $22 was fairly priced, but the eggplant dip appetizer was just 1.5 ounces for $16. When I asked for more, they charged me extra. To top it off, they're asking $69 for branzino, which you can find for $38 in NYC. While I appreciate quality, I expect fair treatment, not price gouging. The ambiance is lovely, but the service could improve, and management really needs to address the discrepancies between portion sizes and prices. I'm tired of hearing that everything has gone up--this is excessive. If you want to leave feeling unsatisfied, be my guest. read more

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Ambiance outside is next level! Private, moody, and beautiful after dark. The food was great. I really liked the fluffy and airy hummus. Our waiter was kind enough to surprise my friend with a sweet treat for her birthday. I'd definitely recommend! read more

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I've always passed by Baba and finally was able to check it out. Came here for dinner on a Saturday night with a group of friends. I would say, the service wasn't that great and it took the server at least 20mins to order our drinks. I do like the vibe but unfortunately, the service could be better. However, the food was amazing minus some of the spread dips and the fresh fish was okay. What I ordered: - Spread sampler: hummus, labneh, and taramasalata (don't get, basically just greek yogurt and very thick) - Souvlaki platter (choice of chicken, kafta, pork, or lamb) - Charred octopus - Prawns - Daily fish - Lamb chops (really good!) - Ribeye read more

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Not sure why this restaurant only gets 4 stars. My hubby and I have been there 4 times when in St Pete. Romantic seating inside + out. Great bar if you care to sit there or if tables are all taken. But really it's the food that shines the brightest! The daily hummus was a knockout. The daily grilled or filleted fish have on the 4 occasions I've been there all solid. But the homemade flat bread is Addicting!!!!! Never mind cannabis when you have this! Or maybe both together could be fun! read more

Baba On Central - The special daily hummus. Honestly forget what was I it but was sublime! - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This place was highly recommended to us so I was very excited to try it but unfortunately did not like the food. The atmosphere was the best part of this restaurant. It was romantic setting with lights and heat lamps and the tables were spaced far apart enough where you can't hear your neighbor's conversations. It's the perfect setting for date night. The service was just ok. Waiter was nice but service was so so slow. Took forever to get our food out. We started with the three platters: hummus, red pepper and spicy feta. I didn't like the feta much. Not spicy and had a very strong cheesy aftertaste. The red pepper hummus with nuts was all right. Nothing that stood out for me. The regular hummus as good at first but after a couple bites, it tasted like store bought hummus. The pita bread was good. Wish they gave you more than just 1 piece though. We also got some appetizer that included braised rabbit. I liked that but didn't like the sweet crush it came in. Again, a disappointment. For my main course, I got the octopus appetizer which was a 0/10 for me. The dish was so salty I didn't even eat much. I should've sent it back. The octopus was rubbery and not cooked well. It was chewy and hard. Hard pass. My fiancé got the lamb chops which I didn't try but he liked it. The polenta that came with the lamb, I did try. It was dry and tasteless. I was so disappointed that a $140 dinner was absolutely not satisfying. People must've came here for the atmosphere and ambiance because the food was not good. If you're looking for good hummus and Mediterranean food, I highly recommend checking out Mio's in downtown st pete. A bit cheaper too and way better food. I won't be back. read more

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Based upon recommendations, we stopped by for a late Sunday lunch around 1:30pm after strolling the Art area in the historical Kenwood neighborhood. Usual parking challenge for Central- my advice....seek out a place on one of the side streets .... which probably drives the home owners crazy with people parking outside their homes! Sat outside in the shaded covered patio area, service was friendly and surprisingly prompt for the number of diners there. Love that it is a dog friendly patio, will bring the pups next time. It closes at 3pm so it was emptying out by the time we were served. Tables were cleared which is important- kudos for training there! The tomato carpaccio salad was a winner with heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, onions- artfully presented with crumbled feta. Also tried the trio appetizer, selecting the labneh with olive oil which was amazing, crudite/pita bread, and the muhammara/red pepper spread with walnuts. The latter I was expecting a red pepper vegetable flavor and it a chili red pepper flavor which was not my favorite and it kept repeating on me- TMI- lol! The homemade pita with za'atar and plain were both yummy. We will return to try out the dinner menu next time! read more

Baba On Central - Labneh, red pepper dip, crudites, tomato feta salad - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Amazing food and drinks. Our server was so helpful suggesting menu options. Service and ambiance were also great!!

Came in with one of my girlfriends on a Sunday October 20th and I have to say the steak we ordered was one of the best I've had. It was cooked perfectly to temp and was so juicy. 10000/10 we will definitely be back read more

Baba On Central - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

It's our first time at Baba on Central and we truly enjoyed eating there! My daughter recommended this restaurant, and it was just across the street from where my grandson was having his concert. Not to mention that it had to be one of the hottest days of the year. Baba's is located on Central Ave, a trendy area in downtown St. Pete. It looks like it was converted from an old gas station and still had overhead doors, and a courtyard. Modern and clean with delicious fresh food. Dave and I both had the Lamb Pita with a side salad. We also had the spicy feta cheese appetizer and it was out of this world! I had fresh brewed black coffee and Dave had a wheat beer. My daughter joined us and had the Chicken Pita. It was a lovely afternoon and we enjoyed the great food and wonderful service. Thanks Baba's'! read more

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This place is pretty good! Tons of healthy options. Tons of gluten free options. We had the spreads appetizer with hummus, spicy feta and a walnut red pepper dip. All were good but if I had to skip one... hummus. They serve it with pita or crudités. We had the salad, it was great. Octopus didn't seem fresh and was slightly rubbery. My niece got the rabbit spanakopita type dish and she said it was good. Would I be back? Yes! read more

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What a unique cocktail menu, which includes Mediterranean liquors like Arak and Metaxa -- not easy to find or often on menus! Would highly recommend the Metaxa flight if you've never had it before. Similarly, the Arak is a perfect after dinner choice. The sampler is great-- this time I tried the pantzarosalata (the roasted beet dish) for the first time and wonder where this wonderful spread has been all my life! The fish special for the evening was barrel fish, which was also new to me, and it came expertly prepared over a delicate broth with roasted fennel. Fantastic service and ambiance seated outside. I hadn't noticed the small bar here...would be a great place to sit for dinner too. I need to come here more often and try Barbouni (the tiny tin fish and raw bar sister restaurant attached to Baba)! read more

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Really a beautiful, chic restaurant with open air seating, large outdoor patio. We came here on a weeknight and were lucky to snag a table since the place was pretty full and vibrant. The cocktails were are amazing!! Many intriguing drinks to choose from. I asked the waitress for something fruity but not too sweet and loved what she recommended. We had some spreads (hummus, labneh, fava bean, tyrokafteri) and liked them all. Spreads come with fresh pita. Main downside was that service was essentially not present (ie rarely came to the table, and if we asked for something would forget) read more

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Recently had birthday dinner here. Got a great deal on a bottle of wine but miss the falafel. read more

Baba On Central - Greek Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Nice place, I suggest getting an uber as the parking is a bit of a challenge. The hummus trio is excellent, they bring you more pita if you want. We ate outside, which was really nice as it was a pleasant evening and we felt secluded thanks to the hedges surrounding the patio. The staff was accommodating, as my dining companion took 25 minutes to find a spot so they did check on me while I waited and reassured me no worries, even though I worried i'd have to bail. I'm a picky eater, and there's usually some kind of a 'deal breaker' listed in a menu but not so in this case. The half roasted chicken was just wonderful, and my companion was able to order lemon roasted potatoes which were not on the menu, but which added to her kebab (mezze) order to make it a full meal. And we had leftovers! Excellent choice. read more