I was there today 7/12/26 around 1:30 in the afternoon and all 4 tables were seated with diners at various stages of their meal from ordering to finished. I invited my life long friend to lunch and thought it an interesting place for it. I'm of Russian descent and love Russian and Mediterranean food. We were seated as soon as the folks who were finished paid their tab and vacated. We ordered our meals, I ordered Borscht w/ Rye bread and sour cream as add ons, my friend ordered a Kebob platter of beef kebob, rice w/ kasha and salad. Food was most excellent! Environment comfortable, pleasant and interesting with its many assorted eclectic items on the walls, and ceiling. Air vents to the dining area were clean, free of dust or grime. A lot of pride is taken by the owners and small staff of this tiny place with most excellent food and service. I used to work in a 4 star private dining club. This place has my respect and has gained my business from hear on out. read more

The owner of the chef was absolutely fantastic and welcoming. Had a couple of really cool things for the kids and was engaging throughout the whole experience. The food was authentic and absolutely delicious. Love the small restaurant feel and decorations read more

Our family went here while on a road trip. I found it through yelp and noticed the high ratings/reviews and the yummy pictures of the food. AND, they had chicken tenders, which was important for one kiddo. The restaurant is very small but the kindness of the staff and the quality of the food are huge. Our family had chicken tenders, French fries, beef/lamb kabob, pork kabob, chicken shawarma, a mushroom pocket dish I can't remember the name of, and hazelnut chocolate crepes. Everything was hot and fresh and delicious. read more

Love love LOVE this place!! Every time I go visit is a sweet older lady who takes our order and always hooks us up with hummus. I haven't tried too many different items because I'm a one trick pony, but every time I go and get the chicken kebab it's like I'm trying it for the first time all over again. It's my favorite! I DREAM about the gluten-free honey cake. It's a good thing I don't live in Gainesville anymore or I'd probably buy some everyday. read more

Back at Pirate's Grill for another visit during the week. I haven't been here in a while as I can never catch them on a good day - last time I tried to go the business was closed. I called in my order and the guy over the phone informed me they would call me when it was ready which he did within the promised timeframe. I ordered one shish kebab with their hummus and veggies. This time the plate comes with rice, salad, and roasted tomatoes and pita. I didn't receive the pita unfortunately. The rice was good a little overcooked and the salad had a white, maybe yogurt based sauce that was really good. The kebab was flavorful and consisted of a mix of beef and lamb. The hummus is my favorite here and stand outs. It has chickpeas mixed in and topped with smoked paprika and olive oil. It's a must when eating here. read more

The service was phenomenal, the lady working was so sweet and kind!! The food was mouthwatering and delicious: I ordered the beef shawarma and the walnut honey cake. New favorite spot in town, we will definitely be back! read more

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Food was super delicious would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. The family who owns it is super awesome and nice.

I visited Pirates Grill earlier this week for lunch and tried the Beef Shawarma. The dish was massive! A pressed crispy wrap was filled with tender juicy beef, crisp bell peppers and onions, juicy tomato, a tangy pickle spear and creamy Tzatziki sauce. Overall this was a quality, flavorful, filling lunch. read more

Pirates Grill - Beef Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I love this place. Food is outstanding and consistently Good. A Mom and pop restaurant, everything taste fresh.

What a hidden gem! We were shopping for floors and showers tiles next door. Needed to eat lunch on a beautiful Sunday and google told us about a cute restaurant next door. Came to Yelp and the food looked great! Now we are inside and the small intimate seating is met by the authentic owner. What a doll! All the food is made to order. The wine and beer selections are exotic to us but authentic to our new favorite pirates. Get the Old Style Hummus! Just do it. It's made fresh. And the recipe is not what you get in any store. I was pleasantly surprised with a Red Wine from Moldova. Yes, they have local/Ca blends brands but who would pass up the opportunity for an old world wine. We are waiting on main courses but I'll add the pictures as they arrive. Because the food is prepared fresh and individually we had a few moments to start our review after the appetizer. read more

Pirates Grill - Old Style Hummus and Ekstra Lager Beer. - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Decided to finally check this small restaurant across from TJMaxx after passing by several times. There are only 4 tables with small bar seats and 2 servers but service was bit slow. However, the servers were nice at least. We tried the chicken kabob and beef shawarma and hummus as appetizer, which all came with generous portion. Chicken was also very tender and savory. Recommend making reservation given limited seat availability for people who plan to check this place out. Will certainly come back when craving Mediterranean food read more

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I have known about this restaurant for a while now, but only recently had a chance to go there and try some of the food. I have been back since, the second time bringing my mother along so that she could try it out as well. The first time I went, the air conditioning was out and they had fans setup to keep things from getting impossibly hot. Florida in the summer is brutal. The second time the AC had been fixed and it was pleasant inside. Both times I have been, I was seated immediately and a drink order was taken. The crew there is small, just the owners and one help staff, but they are pleasant and good people. The first time I went for the Kefta kebab. I wanted the shawarma, but they were out of pita bread (it was a Sunday... I get it) so I had to take a different tack. It was excellent, and realistically I think I would go for it again over the shawarma next time. The second time with my mother, I was finally able to get the shawarma, while she went for a gyro. The shawarma was good, don't get me wrong, but it is not really my thing, and in the future I will be more inclined to go for the kebab. I did try my mom's gyro as well, and while it was decent, I know that there is better in Gainesville. For dessert with mom, I insisted on us getting a slice of the honey cake, which I know is made locally and the maker has been developing the recipe for it over the past fifteen years or so. It is quite excellent, and I highly recommend it! One thing to note is that this is NOT a place that is aimed at kids. Yes, it has "pirate" in the name, but it is not really a kid themed restaurant. There were two families with kids when I was there with my mom, and while they were both very well behaved (one had a big book with her to keep herself entertained, while the other family of six (four kids, ages 6 months to about 12 years) were probably the most behaved "large family" I have seen in a long time... no electronic devices out (mom pulled her phone out once, to take a picture), just a family enjoying an evening out like it was 1983). But I feel that these families were exceptions compared to what I normally see with kids at restaurants these days. The wait time is long for the food. The kitchen is small, and everything is made to order, so expect to be sitting for a while for the food to be prepared. So long as you go in knowing this to be the case, the wait is no big deal. The key is to be prepared! While I would normally rate this restaurant a four, I have to give them five stars because of that honey cake! read more

Pirates Grill - I once had a cat named Segovia, so this just had to be included! - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I finally got the chance to checkout Pirate's Grill and it was wonderful experience. The place is very small, so I wouldn't recommend coming with a party of more than 5. It seems like a great place for takeout and we saw many ppl coming in to pick up orders as we dined. My friend and I both ordered gyros with a side of fries, and my sister ordered the chicken shish kebab plate. We started with the hummus as an appetizer and it was very, very good! I don't think I've tried a hummus so special before, but it's absolutely delicious! The gyro tasted so fresh and it was pretty big. I really liked the fries as well. I am more than full and couldn't finish my gyro. I saved just enough room for the honey cake that we all shared. The slice is large, and it was just the right amount of sweet to end our day. I think the honey cake reminded me of honey flavored teddy grahams (or honey graham crackers) with fresh cream. Overall, I will absolutely dine here again! The waiter was very sweet and the woman who brought out our food was so kind! read more

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I did a takeout order from this place. We ordered perogies, beef shawarma, hummus, 2 kebabs and a honey cake. The hummus did not come with any pita or veggies or anything which was a bummer. Overall the place was busy when I placed the order but the gentleman who took my order was kind and was working quickly. He gave me a call about 40 min later that the food was ready to be picked up. Everything was tasty. read more

Really neat small eclectic place! The wall decorations are awesome. Pirate, middle eastern, scrimshaw, Indian, and dragons. The menu is equally eclectic. It all works well together! Love this place. The service was great - and a real grandma brought our food one dish at a time out from the kitchen. Like she just made each bowl of soup to order! The soups were great and definitely made to order. The bratwurst sandwich was great, albeit messsy, lol. I would suggest ordering one meal stage at a time. Order appetizers, when they arrive, order your mains - and just relax and enjoy the place and your dining companion(s). read more

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This place has such cute pirate decorations and really sticks to the theme well! My friend and I each ordered different pirate pockets and swapped halves, and both were so good! We got the mushroom one and the cabbage one, and they were actually quite different. The outside of them was so crispy and it was a very unique dish! The hibiscus rose tea was also really tasty and I love that they serve it with some shortbread cookies. The service was very slow, as they seemed to only have two people working and a large party came in at the same time as I did. The food took a long time to come out and we didn't get our tea until the end of the meal, even though we ordered it first. However, this place is very small with only a few tables and a few workers, and the slow service didn't impact my experience. The servers were very helpful and friendly. I would just advise to come early if you want to get a table, or opt for takeout if you want your food a bit quicker. read more

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I really wanted to like this place. I've been missing a good Mediterranean lunch spot since Cairo Grill closed oh so many years ago. This place needs a true lunch special menu. Too expensive for what you get at lunch. Might need to give this a try for a diner and give it a second chance. Otherwise, average for me. read more

First time trying this lovely restaurant. Absolutely loved it. It is a very small hidden gem. The staff was so very welcoming and the food was authentic and tasty tasty tasty. Had a down home feel where the staff took great pride in their heritage. Will definitely come back the next time we are in Gainesville. read more

Pirates Grill is a small restaurant located not far off of Interstate 75 in Gainesville, Florida. It is in a shopping plaza, so parking is not really an issue. The service here was friendly and overall, added to my experience. The food was pretty good and if you are craving some pretty solid Mediterranean food, I would definitely recommend Pirates Grill. read more

Pirates Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Ate lunch there and had the Chicken Pirate Pocket. It was a very large serving and 1/2 became another meal. The food was delicious and service was excellent. I took home a piece of honey cake and enjoyed that as well. Ambiance very cute with a pirate theme. Only 5 tables so a reservation is recommended. read more

This is a cool place with incredible food! The hummus was the best we've ever had, and their chicken schwarma was big enough to split. This is also a true local family restaurant, but it's worth the wait. We even got a free treat while they made everything for us, and it was a quiet place to relax and linger over dinner. read more

Pirates Grill - Chicken Schwarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Lunch was very good. It's a small place but it has excellent Mediterranean dishes. I will definitely add this to my stops since it is located close to the interstate. read more

Overpriced and poorly cooked. Served us gelatinous bloody pork and refused to take it off the bill. Then they had the nerve to try to argue after I already paid. Oh, and my shawarma was the driest thing I've ever eaten. Spend your money elsewhere read more

All the food is homemade and fresh! This restaurant is a delightful small business that will reward you for supporting it. The ambiance is charming and a little eclectic- the walls are decorated with a loose pirate and port town theme. The menu is geographically a mixture of Mediterranean favorites and some Eastern European dishes for adventurous eaters. All the produce and herbs were fresh and bright. The service from this family team is charming, but be prepared for a wait as the dishes are made fresh to order and some meals take significantly longer to come out than others. I would say that the treasure they deliver is worth the wait- but if you urgently need to eat quickly consider ordering a soup like the borscht, the kafta skewers or the hummus to get served quickest. read more

Pirates Grill - Mushroom skewers - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This is a small restaurant with 4 - 4 tops. There is a row of stools facing the street. What we ate: Tabbouleh- this was nice. I thought it was a tad salty but my husband disagreed. Nice combo of parsley, tomatoes and bulgar. Lentil soup: nicely seasoned. A thicker soup as the lentils are puréed. Pork Kabob: pork was very tender just wish that it was seasoned. About 5 chunks with a shredded lettuce salad topped with tahini sauce and sliced tomatoes. Pita on the side. Gyro: tasty, the meat doesn't look like it came off the spit but it was still good. Overall we had a nice experience. Thought to see people walk out that didn't want to wait for a table. read more

We stopped here since we have been hearing about this place from several people so we wanted to try it. Small restaurant with really cute decor. We were seated immediately. There is only a couple tables so tip is try to avoid peak times so that you don't have to wait for a table. If you have little ones just a heads up no kids menu but plenty of options for them to eat. We ordered small order of chicken tenders and side of fries. Kids enjoyed it but just an FYI the fries come seasoned with pepper. We ordered the chicken shish kebab, comes with lettuce, tomato, onions and pita bread. Food was good. I ordered the hummus platter but I didn't receive the pita bread. My husband ordered the beef shawarma it comes with no side but the size is honestly large enough to share. Only complaints was the timing of the food. All our food came out at different times by the time my little ones and I were finishing up our food my husband was just then getting food but I think there issues they are working out. Also when your ready to pay just go up to the front register to pay. read more

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Cute, locally owned restaurant with unique ambience and lots of healthy options and vegetarian menu items. If you generally like the items they have on their menu, you will like it. Just make sure you have time to eat and aren't in a hurry. Specifics: Food: Excellent, high quality ingredients made to order. Many vegetarian options, large portions for the gyros and pita sandwiches. It is definitely not fast food in both quality and the actual time to be prepared. The hummus and tzatziki are incredibly good. Service: Very quaint, mom and pop vibe. Attentive, but the food is a bit slow (see above "made to order"). We felt taken care of and enjoyed our time there, despite the food being a bit slow. Ambiance: It is a cute little spot in a strip mall, with only 4(!) tables. There are some bar type seats facing out the front for overflow seating. We will definitely be back! read more

Pirates Grill - Sparkling wine - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This tiny "home-in-the-wall" is the best kept secret in Gainesville! However, it should not be! Charming service m, delicious food and fun decor that keeps everyone - young and old - exploring every inch of this place. Get the Shawarma. Get the Gyro. Have dessert. read more

Food was excellent; homemade from the salad to the dessert. Service was attentive and gave good suggestions as we were first-time customers. Ambiance perfect. A kids area is so great. There are 4 tables and a window bar stool area. There were multiple carryout meals picked up while we enjoying our kabobs ( with a side salad and rice). This place is a gem. read more

Very cute little place. The woman running it was so kind and definitely made us feel welcome. The decor is fun and unique. The French fries were crispy and flavorful. Loved the gyro - but if you're not a super saucy person maybe ask for easy on the tahini. This plaza has seen a few places turn over in this spot, but I hope this one stays! read more

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Such a cute place! Owners are so sweet, they were slammed today (valentines day) and it was a bit of a wait for the food, but the owner gave us free dessert as an apology for the inconvenience. There was only one cook, to feed about 20 people in there. Food was amazing, and I will definitely come back/recommend it to others! read more

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Very eclectic atmosphere. Good food and awesome coffee. It's a small place and relaxed service, so if you are rushed, wait until you are not

A must try! The food is fresh, authentic, and everything is made to order. The best hummus I've ever had and I'm still thinking about it. I got the KAFTA KEBAB (50/50 beef and lamb and my husband for the beef shawarma - both were so good. The dining area is small so tables can fill up quickly. Plates come out as they're ready and can take awhile, but it's worth the wait (order the hummus for the wait!) read more

Pirates Grill - KAFTA KEBAB 50/50 beef and lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The French fries are really good. It's quite small inside with only 4 tables. The service is extra slow and the shawarmas,chicken and beef, were tasteless. They need to add seasoning to their food. I was taken back with the appetizer hummus not coming with pita or veggies. The food did not have any flavor and the price was quite high. $21 for a chicken pita WITHOUT French fries just the pita. A lot too pricey for what we received. Unfortunately, we won't be back! read more

Made a reservation for 6. They have 4 tables, I helped move 2 together. No silverware on the tables, so when we asked for them, waiter had to reach over people to put them on the table. It took over an hour for the entire meal to be served, including appetizer (cheese, crackers, jam and olives) and salad that did not need to be cooked. They may be able to seat 6, but they can't serve a six-top together. Not ready for prime time. And they charge for water, giving us bottles....what are they washing dishes with? read more

Went for lunch with my mom. The food was wonderful, the tea list is enormous, and the service was fantastic. Nika (apologies if im spelling it wrong) was sweet and attentive. On the way out, she told me they would be open on Christmas and when I expressed sympathy, she explained it was because there are so many people who may be alone or unable to cook and she wants them to have someplace comforting to go. We will definitely be back! read more

Pirates Grill - Cardamom tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Well after seeing Simone's review , just had to try it!! We walked in and there was one table left, but it had a cup of water on it, so I did ask about the table, i was told it was reserved. I was like we will just get take out. They took our order and then the sweet lady came out explaining it will take some time to cook it, i said no problem, The girl who took our order already had mentioned it would we about 30 mins. Well went to pay cash, and they didn't have change, it was only like $14.00 change, so we had to sit there and wait while someone went somewhere to get change. about 20 mins later got my change , then went and drove around looking at stores,etc. About another 15 mins or so got a call from them stating my order was ready. Picked it up, they thanked me for my business, and i was off, my car smelled amazing all the way home. Got home and as you can see we got a nice spread, and it tasted amazing!! 5 stars for food!! The taste of everything was a burst of flavor on my tongue! The tzatziki sauce was best i have had. Shish Kebab was loved by the wife, and she loved her Gyro. But unfortunately the take aways for improvement are like the others, service! The table that was reserved was never full of people by the time i got there for our food all the tables were now vacant, so we could of easily sat at the table and there would have been a table available for the supposed reservation. And to make sure you have cash available for change for cash paying customers. Poor lady had to go out and get change, i would of sent the younger employee to run out in this heat to get change. All in all, i hope this nice restaurant improves, they are new so, but they definitely have some amazing food!! I recommend calling in for takeout if you choose to order out versus hoping to get a table. As a couple people did walk out rather than sit along the wall on high stools. It has some cool mediterranean vibes to the atmosphere, walls are all covered with pirate decor. Very quiet in there for having a full house(3 full tables) read more

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Pirates Grill is one of my favorite restaurants in Gainesville. The food is delicious and there's a lot of unique dishes on the menu. In fact, they just added several new dishes and desserts to the menu that I haven't tried, but I look forward to it.. I've enjoyed several of their kebab dishes and salads, and they're all amazing. The people that work there are very kind and provide great service. It is a cute cozy location. read more

The tiny restaurant with the big flavor. Delicious hummus and soups are so tasty. The beef and pork was tender and delicious. The service was quick and on time. The owner and waitress were very attentive. We will be back. read more

Omg the food is amazing!!! We got the chicken and beef shawarmas and it was SO flavorful. My vegetable hating husband ate the entire thing, every onion, cilantro and tomato. I've never seen him do that before!!! That alone is the highest compliment he can give to a restaurant The workers were so nice and polite. It's a little mom and pop store that's nestled in a shopping plaza. I love the pirate themed decorations!! Overall, we will definitely be coming back for more. read more