I'm a huge lover of Mediterranean food, so I was very surprised to have never stumbled across by Byblos before! A very cute space close to Bayshore and gives all the Mediterranean vibes. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. In the spirit of expanding our culinary pallet, we ordered two apps that were new to us. The Kebbeh was very good - i'd say similar to a meat hush puppy? Krispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. The Baba Ganju was different than what I was expecting and not something I personally liked (not any fault to the dish, I'm just a texture person). The chicken shawarma and gyro platter (it's a platter at dinner) were FANTASTIC! Seriously, so much flavor, fresh, the meat was not overly cooked. Everything tasted very fresh and we seriously had no complaints!! We also ordered a side of Batata, which are sort of crispy potato cubes with chili flakes + garlic - so good! I will say when we got there, there was a mishap and we waited over 20 minutes to be greeted and introduced to our server after we sat down. Once our server realized we were in her section, the rest of our service was amazing! I think that was just a one off fluke, and I would not let it negatively impact my experience. read more

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I went here for a family dinner over the holidays. While I think the restaurant is beautiful and cozy inside and the wait staff is amazing, I thought the food was unfortunately nothing special, which seemed the general consensus of my family. I got the chicken shawarma and it's served deconstructed (as in you get the meat, veggies, and hummus all separate with pita to make it yourself) and the chicken was really lacking flavor. My brother got the chicken kebab and also thought the chicken was bland. My girlfriend got the gyro (also served deconstructed) and we both thought it was the best dish but also nothing special. In terms of parking, there is no parking lot. There is some free street parking but it is limited. read more

Tried out Byblos since the change in ownership, and love the changes! The added vegetarian options were great! The place is much cleaner and more modern now. Also great prices as well for lunch. Loved the hot sauce they gave as well! Service was fast and friendly. Would definitely recommend. read more

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I tried again and say 3.75 stars. The protein is definitely good quality - chicken, beef and shish are all tender. But the veggies are lackluster some hard, cold and crunchy. The combo kebab rings in at $39 for meat, veggies and hummus. Plus extra side of basmati rice for $6 that's cold. After warmed up, the meat is still the star but wanted more seasonings. Too bad, the rest doesn't keep up. It's often noted as a spot to go, unfortunately the price point doesn't match. read more

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3.5, probably will return - this was my rating in 2021, and I forgot to post. It was a rainy day, and we came in from the back. Today, it's a sunny Friday evening. Everything looks bright and lovely. I was wondering why everything seems familiar, especially the bar and lockers by the front desk. We ordered four appetizers / small plates: Eggplant Falafel Calamari: is flat Burrata All are good, with pretty large portions. If I remember correctly, their eggplant is the most shapely, and the red sauce is kind of the first too. However, I don't care for the dark, sweet sauce. The raw walnuts taste raw. I like the falafel the most, especially the pinky pickled turnip (?) -- please correct me if I'm wrong. ... so the old me left my cc there. They'll send back to me on Monday - thanks K! read more

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I recently went to Byblos for dinner, here's what I thought. Atmosphere: Byblos has a nice indoor and outdoor space. I didn't explore much of the restaurant but it looks like they have plenty of indoor seating and bunch of great outdoor seating areas. They had a belly dancer come out at 8 pm. I'm not a big fan of belly dancers, but I'm sure some people enjoy that. Service: Service was good, but could've been more professional. The server seemed rush. Food: All the food was delicious. We got their mixed appetizer (which isn't on the menu, but they still offer it) which was perfect to share between 4 or more people. The mixed appetizer option had samples of all their appetizer options, which is a fun way to try everything. I had their 'Scallops' entree which was scallops with a pea puree, summer corn, succotash, and pancetta vegetables mix, and it was so good! It was reasonably priced for the amount of food you get, I got 6 large scallops which were perfectly cooked. I enjoyed my entree. Everyone else enjoyed their food too. We had their 'Baklava' for dessert which was delicious. Overall, Byblos is a good spot to enjoy some Mediterranean food! It wasn't very busy for a Friday night so I hope they're doing ok business wise. You could easily walk in without a reservation. read more

Byblos - Scallop Entree - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida

As many of you know, we are a seasoned epicurean, (pun intended) who will drive hours to experience great food, or to satisfy a cuisine craving. As a Septuagenarian I have had many experience dining on wonderful Lebanese dishes since my youth, it is truly one of my go to comfort foods. We recently returned to Byblos in South Tampa, and have had the pleasure of dining there since the mid 2000s. It is always a enjoyable to return, and the recent remodeling has made it even more inviting. Byblos upscale, yet chilled vibe is family friendly with food for even the little ones. If a lot of shaking doesn't makes your nervous, be sure to come on Friday evenings for the Belly Dancer, it is always classy and tasteful, traditional Lebanese entertainment transporting your mind to to the sights and sounds of a matāim Lubnāniyya in Lebanon. While I can go on and on about the ambience, the service, the food, and the best general manager, Kiki, and trust me, I am long winded and love sharing my experiences. I feel it is much better to simplify state, with utter confidence that this is truly a restaurant with the soul of Lebanon in the kitchen, and the service to back it up. Byblos is a restaurant to be experienced, not just spoke about like words in a travel brochure. Live, Eat and Experience this Tampa gem, and write your own experience, I am sure it will be wonderful one. Please say Hi to Kiki for me, too! Saha! read more

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This is easily one of the best Lebanese restaurants I've visited in Tampa. The service was outstanding, the food was flavorful, and the ambiance struck the perfect balance between elegance and comfort. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Parking was initially a challenge, but the manager went above and beyond by personally coming outside to guide me to a safe spot to avoid being towed. I came with my fiancée, and we ordered a variety of dishes from the small plates section. Every dish we tried was exceptional. I especially recommend the Soujouk and Tabbouleh--both were outstanding. The only downside was the Dolma, which I didn't realize were vegetarian until after ordering. That was on me for missing it in the menu description. read more

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Ate here last night with some friends. Service was good. I think I expected the place to be a little nicer inside... it was fine. The food was okay. Honestly compared to Lebanese I have had in Miami and other big cities, it lacked some flavor. Like I said, the food was just okay. We tried a bunch of kebabs, potatoes, many of the apps, etc. The coffee was good tho. read more

Service was incredible, quick and attentive. Restaurant is nice with plenty of seating and clean bathrooms. Menu items are pricy. Dolma was delicious. Plenty of pita served with dips. read more

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Amazing! This was our first time trying this spot for a birthday celebration and it was great! You could either do a bunch of shareables or your own meals, we started with hummus & pita then all got our own meals. Scallops, shwarma, & kabobs and it was DELICIOUS! And tasted very fresh. Then ended with a surprise baklava dessert. Would love to come back! It was quiet and quaint. Nice to sit inside and out. Our waitress and the wait staff were very welcoming and gave great recommendations read more

Absolutely terrible service. Then they had the nerve to add 20%. Apparently well aware that no reasonable diner would reward such a poor effort. I will not be back. read more

I went to Byblos for the second time yesterday. To be clear, the first time was probably over a decade ago. it wasn't intentional. We enjoyed our meal for the first time, but for whatever reason, just never made it back. What a mistake! Since my last visit they've completely remodeled the restaurant. It's gorgeous! It feels like we're vacationing in Morocco, not that I've ever been to Morocco, but I watch movies! The staff were warm and welcoming. Because of a previous appointment, we decided to get our lunch to go. While we waited the bartender chatted with us and gave us water. The meal traveled well and looked fresh and inviting. We got, and these aren't the official names, lentil soup, chicken soup, roasted cauliflower, Greek salad, zatar fries, and chicken shawarma. It was delicious. everything was warm and tasted fresh. I have to be honest, we didn't love the salad or its dressing. The only "Greek" element of the salad was the feta cheese. Plus we didn't love the dressing. If we got the salad again we would use our own dressing. We made a mistake not going back to Byblos sooner. We won't be making that mistake again! We already have plans to go back for dinner soon! read more

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Delicious, authentic Lebanese food. My fiancées family is Lebanese and said it tastes like home. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share and everything was delicious. My favorite was the soujouk (beef sausages) and the tabbouleh (salad). Our server was great and we even had a belly dancing show! read more

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Stopped in Monday to pick up some takeout and when I got home, I realized the tabouli was very soggy as if it was made three or four days before. Not fresh at all and the cook had the audacity to tell me he just made it. This is how businesses are slowly detroyed read more

I absolutely enjoyed my dinner at Byblos this past Saturday! This cute restaurant in South Tampa has been on my list for years! Started with the garlic cauliflower- To die! It was simple but soooo garlicky and fragrant, I could not stop eating it. The octopus ceviche was refreshing with the zesty lime juice. The ceviche was more like a salad but it was still delicious. For entrees, we ordered the beef kafta and shawarma (beef & chicken combo). The kafta was flavorful and had pine nuts I think in the seasoning. I would get this kafta again. The chicken shawarma was a little dry and the flavor was off. The entrees came with sauteed zucchini and carrots but no rice. Lavash bread is served with the entrees too. Service was great. We were told they have belly dancing every Friday night! The decor of the restaurant is romantic and has plenty of outdoors seating too. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Amazing service ambiance & food. The mint chocolate chip gelato is sooo delicious. This is a hidden gem in Tampa! A must try. Will definitely be back & recommend. read more

Overall *** 3.17 weighted stars. Byblos is a Lebanese/Italian restaurant that I would come back only to sit at the bar for the BOGO Happy Hour and the wings. For the rest of it, I found the food and service just not good enough to return for Setting *** There is a street front entrance but we entered through the back due to the lack of parking in front. The parking situation isn't much better behind either. There is a very small, tight lot but mostly it is just sketchy street parking next to the train tracks. There is a lot they use somewhere but I couldn't find it, might be best to call ahead and ask. Inside it is nice enough but with low ceilings the volume level rises dramatically as the restaurant fills up. Our group of five were shouting at each other by nights end. A DJ comes on around 8pm but oddly sets up in the dining room instead of the bar. Service ** Our server claims he worked there for three years but didn't know much and couldn't explain any of the dishes in much detail. Drink service was very slow but that is likely due to the 4-7pm buy one get one Happy Hour which means for our table of five they were making ten drinks at a time. At one point I just got up and went to the bar to get my own drink. Food *** The menu is large and varied enough to satisfy most palettes however, I found the food to be very bland and uninteresting outside of the wings which are on the specials menu and are not a regular item. Much of the appetizers we ordered came off the Happy Hour menu so I suspect that is why the portions were small. The assorted dips came with just about the worst, chewiest pita I have ever tried. The lone highlight was the super crispy wings however they need more sauce or ask for a side of Tzatziki. Chicken and Steak Kabobs had no flavor or taste like they were ever on a grill. They are served off the skewer without rice and a sad vegetable medley of carrots and zucchini that seemed boiled. The Branzino was way overcooked and devoid of any flavor. Value **** They succeed in delivering good value obviously aided by the BOGO HH. Chicken Kabobs $25, Steak Kabobs $29, Grouper $32, Bronzino $46. $330 before tip for five people. read more

My favorite cuisine is Mediterranean (+ similar) and I've had a list of local spot I've been hoping to try, and Byblos was next on my list! Byblos serves Lebanese food in a gorgeous indoor/outdoor restaurant space with a bar. I parked around the corner (it seems confusing but there's actually quite a few options to park on the street or on the side street parallel to the biz) and walked up a bit early before my friends arrived so I sat at the bar. There I meet Olivia, who was so personable and friendly! She educated me about Byblos, her order recommendations, and we honestly just had such a nice chat. When my friends got here we moved to a table. Inside was recommended as it can get noisy during rush hour right on MacDill. At this point it was about 5:30, and the place was empty except for us and one other table. 2 hours later when we left, most of the tables were full. My friends ordered a mojito and the brussel sprouts with caramelized onions as an appetizer. For an entree, I ordered a combo kabob (replaced the kofta with more shish/chicken kabob), which came with hummus and veggies, which were zucchini, carrots, and a few potato slices (I think it was potato). I had enough food to take home for lunch the next day, which is always a plus, especially when the meal is over $30 and I'm a small human! I thought my meal was a bit on the pricier side for being solely meat and veggies, but it was very good and like I said, I got leftovers. We had a really nice time, our server was attentive, and we collectively agreed we'd return! read more

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The place was super busy for a Sunday night, and now I know why. Everything we tried was delicious. The staff was attentive and knows the menu well. I can't wait to sit outside with a cocktail during winter to enjoy the fireplace. Definitely get the muscle appetizer and the scallop entree. So delicious! We cannot wait to go back to try more items. read more

Long-time customers. We have always enjoyed dining at Byblos over the last 10 years. I find the food was very authentic years ago. Now I still feel it's authentic, but it has kind of a fusion to it incorporating some of Tampa's food culture in some of the dishes. My favorite dish is the chicken Shawarma with humus. As far as the decor goes, I think the renovation that happened a few years ago was fabulous. The restaurant looks beautiful inside and out. Street parking is available. This place is definitely a hidden South Tampa gem. If you enjoy Lebanese food, you will love it. The Lentil Soup, Fattouch, Falafel, and Kabobs are also great. A lot of the menu is gluten-free if you skip the pita bread. read more

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Consistently great service and food. So grateful to have found this Lebanese restaurant. So many good things to say! Let's begin. The portions are generous. The price is reasonable. The taste of Lebanon for two $120 and totally worth it. Great smoky flavor and good quality grilled meats. The falafel are excellent, the kibbe delicious. The decor and windows are a great aesthetic calming vibe and the bar is beautiful. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun clean friendly and delicious place to meet friends and family for food drink smokes or dessert. read more

Came here for dinner on a Friday evening, vast majority of tables were open so I generally wouldn't worry about a wait time While not what I'd think of as a Mediterranean dish, the grouper immediately jumped out to me as the most interesting item and it did not disappoint! The rich and nutty flavor from the cashews and curry complemented the relatively light grouper very nicely I tried some of the falafel and dolmas the other members of my table had and thought they were fantastic! The dolmas were much more rice forward than others I've had, but I honestly struggled to come up with examples of either dish I liked better elsewhere The service was friendly and helpful in terms of recommendations, overall it was a very good experience! read more

I've been here before all the rennovations and after. I have enjoyed both the original and the newest versions. The newness is just to fit more in with what the neighborhood wants...which is too bad because the original decor and menu was always so different and spoke very distinctly of their culture...and it was GOOD! I'm not against them getting rid of the hookahs but I feel there could have been a specific outdoor-only section that could have kept that going... And they'd better not ever get rid of the belly dancing...such a traditional part of the culture...if you go on the weekend nights, expect it and enjoy it! I will continue to go and roll with the changes...they have the best Shawarma around! A few weeks ago, I visited for a little Sunday afternoon cocktails and snacks...a friend ordered the Mezah and it was an array of goodness....from hummus to baba ganuj to tabbouleh, dolma, falafel...a bunch of goodness.. OH and we got some baklava too...you cannot go wrong. Sad they don't have their little market in the back anymore, but I understand if there's something you're looking for that they used to carry, you can go back there and ask and they may be able to sell you something since they still get a lot of the items imported the same as they used to. I'll be back, of course! And likely on a weekend night and listen to the loud music and watch the belly dancers and eat the yummy foods. read more

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Wonderful service by Amber. The chicken shawarma was delicious and kid approved. Love their wine Wednesday deal. We will be back. Elegant decor read more

Came on a Friday, and was pleasantly surprised with a belly dancer performance during dinner. It was a very nice entertainment piece to dinner. The menu options were the usual Mediterranean, classic dishes. I wouldn't recommend the octopus ceviche, just tasted like octopus in lime juice, no personality to it. 2/10 just bc no thought or care was put into it. The shrimp rigatoni was a good seafood pasta dish. The sauce was like a seafood broth which was really good, thin and flavorful. I give that an 8/10. There are street parking around the building and an outdoor seating option. Overall good place to experience at least once if you live in Tampa. Overall 7/10 rating- gave a half a point due to the live performance. read more

Byblos - Shrimp rigatoni - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida

My boyfriend and I went for the first time last night and had a great time! I got the scallops and she had the chicken kebab. We were pretty down on the Tampa food scene overall but Byblos just gave us hope! Phoenix was an amazing server and brought such a great energy to the table. We definitely will be back and look forward to it! read more

Great service, excellent surroundings with great parking. The food was made fresh .... Especially important with hummus and yogurt in Middle Eastern cuisine. My friends had the kabobs which were cooked to order accurately - important with filet mignon. I had the fish over seasoned rice. Both were incredible. The wait staff was expert, knew the menu and wine selection, confident to make recommendations, attentive but not intrusive. It was a lovely evening after a long day on the River Walk. read more

This was some amazing Mediterranean food (specifically Lebanese). This place was surprisingly empty for a Sunday around lunch time. I say surprising because it turned out to be amazing food! The service was great (since there were only a couple other people in there) and I liked the overall ambiance and decorations. We got lots of appetizers and mimosas (not pictured) that everyone enjoyed and then my entree was the Kafta burger. The blend of spices and pine nuts inside the patty gave it a great taste, and the other toppings and bun were fresh and delicious. I would definitely recommend Byblos if you've never tried Lebanese food! They have a brunch menu and normal dinner menu. read more

Byblos - Kafta Burger - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida

AMAZING! The food is superb, we ordered appetizers as well (not pictured) and literally everything was perfect. If you're looking for Mediterranean in Tampa for lunch or dinner, this is your spot!! The service was excellent as well and the restaurant was spacious. Overall, this is going to be one of our go-to spots for this cuisine going forward! read more

Byblos - Toasted Bagel with Salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Initial impression is benign neglect. Food an average 3 and the environment a 2. Initial staff contact was good, however, ended up having to look for the server to pay and leave . Even the pretty inside bar was empty....maybe new management in place? We were headed to IKEA with the pups in tow so the patio here and reviews ( what happened there Yelpers??) made it sound promising. Dirty overall from the bathroom to the patio's dirty vacant tables, dirty floor...the place was not busy on an early Saturday night. Ordered the lentil soup which was fair portion and probably the highlight of the meal. Large tabbouleh was drowning in liquid, parsley was not a fresh bright green, could have blanched to keep it perky green or more lemon juice. Pita was the thinnest ever seen. Greek salad dressing lacked any flavor and a block of quality feta instead of crumbles would have inspired the large portion. Zatar fries were frozen fries with a gob of Zatar seasoning tossed on top as opposed to tossed. Brussel sprouts were overcooked and we sent them back. We gave up at that point and left hungry. Why spend money and time at such places? read more

Byblos - Pass the pita please! - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Caveat, I went on a Saturday at 4 on, so invertebrates the lunch and dinner time, so let's keep that in mind. I don't think it's fair to judge the ambience of this place because we were literally the only customers in there,one other couple came during that time but that was all. Service was on point and friendly. Food, got the Yellow fin Tuna and Lamb shank. The tuna really lacked flavor aside from the labneh nothing stood out. If the tuna didn't have the crushed anchovies you would not have tasted anything. The lamb shank was done a disservice in my opinion. The shank was basically covered in a stew style that tasted like minestrone soup. Definitely a pass read more

Beautiful restaurant with exceptional service. Started with the house sangria and apps, and ended with the homemade chocolate mousse cake- HIGHLY recommend. Service was great, wasn't too packed at all on a weeknight. Will definitely be back to try more from this menu. read more

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We very much enjoyed our meal at Byblos. The lentil soup was a tasty appetizer to start. It came out hot (as expected), though it was a bit on the salty side. I probably would have asked for less salt. The kale salad was larger than expected. Pretty standard ingredients, as shown on the menu...but definitely filling enough for me if looking for a lighter, healthier dish. The grouper gets points for creativity. You don't often get chreime sauce on a dish, but it was a very welcome condiment. We actually asked for more of it! And the dark chocolate mousse (made in house) is not only quite sizable...but the internal structure of the dessert was also quite unique. It's comprised of both a cake component and a mousse component, and the plane separating those two components is a 3-D diagonal through the dessert, implying that any given vertical slice through one portion of the dessert will generate a different taste/texture than one in a different area of the dessert. read more

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Giving this place 3 stars and I'm being generous. Service was good, the food was also just average, nothing special. The appetizers tasted store bought at best, definitely not authentic Lebanese food and to find that the owner is supposedly from a small town in Lebanon that is known for their food.. I highly doubt it!! If you're Lebanese or middle eastern you will be let down. If however your taste buds are used to average food you will love this place. read more

Excellent restaurant!! We have been dying to try this place out and finally did on Saturday and were thrilled. My only note was that it was quite loud between everyone talking and music. Our server greeted us quickly after being seated, took time to make suggestions and explain the menu to us which was so helpful being our first time. We had a picky-ish group so we don't get as many share plates as I wanted, but enough to know I can't wait to come back and try more dishes. Appetizers pretty much seem to include unlimited pita bread which is delicious and useful, but you have to be careful not to fill up bc everything else is so tasty. Hummus and baba ganoush were DELICIOUS! Octopus, scallops and mixed grilled kebabs were the mains we went with. Baklava came with 5 small pieces which was plenty to touch everyone's sweet tooth. I love baklava and next time will leave more room! read more

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While on a business trip in Tampa, we were invited to dinner at Byblos. The atmosphere was pleasant, restaurant was very clean and very appealing. The service was professional and the food was very tasty. As we were a large group we a number of dishes were ordered from humus, baba ganoush, falafel, grilled octopus and plates with mixed kebabs. Everything was fresh, well seasoned and something I would definitely go back for. If you're in the South Tampa area, check this place out. read more

This place is perfect for large parties as it is massive. The food is meh...decent. Presentation of food is great, but taste is only ok. Their yogurt, however, is excellent. Nothing to rave or write home about. What they lack in flavor they do make up for in service. The servers are awesome. Caution, bring a magnifying glass or take a picture of the menu and blow it up as the menu is small!!!! I mean tiny. May be 4 point font!!!! read more

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This restaurant is very good and the food is flavorful and yummy. Is it the best Mediterranean I've ever had, no. But is it very good, yes. The hummus has a nice smooth consistency, falafels we're excellent, tabouleh had good flavor although it may have been made a day or two before. The dessert was epic and worth the calories. Honestly this was a very good and flavorful meal. The portions are generous. Overall, I liked it. read more

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The food was just okay. Loved the ambiance of the place. I was craving a good hummus and pillowy pita. The food lacked a bit of flavor. The service was good. However, likely won't be back. read more

Byblos - Chicken Kabob with a side of rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Tampa, Florida