08/21/08

Heaven on Earth

by lumba

The food here is on another planet from anything I have ever tasted (and I've sampled the finest restaurants in the country from French Laundry, to Perse, to Masa). They all pale by comparison. I was on business in Seattle when a friend colleague recommended Phoenecia, he said, and I quote, " You will be speechless". He was wrong, I can't stop singing its praises. I went back the next night and it was even better! Bring an appetite, and put your faith in the owner when he offers to order for you - he is after-all - a magician!

• Pros: food, service, view, value
• Cons: none

06/01/08

overpriced

by kakkmontana

I enjoy trying new restaurants. I especially enjoy Mediterranean food. Not only is the food way overpriced, but the drinks are too. My friend and I ordered wine by recommendation of the waiter. It was terrible wine and full of sediment. Which as he poured it and served it was obvious. He ignored it and charged us $9 a glass! In addition, when I pay for an expensive meal I at least expect the facility to be clean. It wasn't. The bathrooms were especially filthy. I will never go back.

• Pros: view, location
• Cons: overpriced, dirty

05/15/08

Great customer service

by kenyonty

My husband, 7-year-old daughter, and I went to Phoenicia last night. As I said in the title, the service was great. The waiter asked if she wanted a pizza, but she said she's rather have pasta. He immediately brought a large plate of pasta with red sauce. But it tasted not very good at all. It tasted very sweet, as if someone had put a tablespoon of sugar in it. My husband ordered the broiled lamb and I ordered the broiled chicken. Both the meats were dry and tasteless. I was very disappointed. Our daughter wouldn't eat the pasta. We ate our meat, but didn't like it very much. And to top it all off, the price was very high. We won't be back.

• Pros: Ambience, Service
• Cons: Tasteless food

09/30/07

Fantastic food, but I won't be back

by seattle_foodie_chick

Whenever I was in the West Seattle area, I used to make a special point of eating at Phoenicia. The food had consistently been delicious, and the service excellent. Middle Eastern dips such as the homemade Hummus and Baba Ghanouj were particularly tasty and well-done, and the likewise homemade pistachio ice cream was exquisite.

However, last summer, a female friend and I went there for dinner. I had had a very busy day, and no time for lunch, so I was exceedingly hungry. Hence, I ate my meal rather quickly, while my (granted, skinny), friend ate hers more slowly. When the owner/waiter came over to check on us during the meal, he eyed my empty plate and said, "ah, see, this is why she is skinny," (gesturing to my friend), "because she eats more slowly."

My friend and I were both shocked. Regardless of my weight or the speed at which I eat, it's horribly rude for a restauranteur to make such a comment (also, I had to wonder if the same comment would have been directed at a man--I'm female). We paid our check and left. I haven't been back since, and I won't be eating there again--Phoenicia permanently lost my business due to that incident. It's a pity, because I love their food. But there are plenty of other good restaurants in town that will take my money without comment.

• Pros: Ambience

07/22/07

A taste adventure

by sspdavis

This cozy little restaurant offers special individualized attention with delicious Middle Eastern food. Be prepared to sit back and savor exotic flavors.

• Pros: food, service

10/24/06

Savor a taste of the Mediterranean with a view along Alki Beach to match.

by Contributor

The Scene
Named after the ancient civilization that was centered in today's Lebanon, this restaurant serves Middle Eastern specialties in an atmosphere that is both low-key and elegant. The avuncular Hussein Khazaal runs a homey dining room, roaming from table to table, eager to prepare a personal meal for the neatly attired (but not overdressed) clientele. Add in white linens and a view of Elliott Bay, and it's no wonder this West Seattle fine-dining institution has been attracting a crowd for 34 years.

The Food
Watching the bright Seattle sun sink behind the Olympics while enjoying warm bread, hummus and a cold Retsina definitely puts patrons in a Mediterranean mood. Appetizers cover familiar ground like smoky baba ghanoush, but the ultra-tender calamari stands out with a sweet pomegranate twist. Entrees, including broiled lamb, ahi tuna and broiled chicken, boast big flavors with Greek and some Italian accents.

10/20/05

Amazing

by theexperienceddiner

The food is always wonderful. The service is always great. I have a magical experience everytime I visit the Phoenecia. I highly recommend the seafood and the curry dishes. I also recommend ordering off the specials menue. You can't leave without trying their very special dessert which is a rose and lavender icecream.

I highly recommend the Phoenecia.

• Pros: food, friendly service, view

05/31/05

Wonderful staff

by hansen5

The Phoenecia at Alki has been a family favorite for many years. While the food and atmosphere are excellent, it is the Phoenecia's owner and staff that take the cake. As noted in the other reviews, the owner, Hussein, is very kind and attentive. However, his wife and daughter are also servers and provide excellent service. The food is (appropriately) pricier, but the service is not pretentious. The Phoenecia has the perfect mixture of great food and atmosphere without the pomp and pretense frequently found in restaraunts of its class. Alki is an area that lets you feel as though you are a world away from the bustling city and provides the perfect locale for an intimate dinner.

• Pros: service, friendly staff, established business

02/05/05

Inconsistent?

by ladyjaypee

My husband and I went there last fall and had such a great meal; I had chicken and he had salmon and we raved about it to everyone due to the food and the very attentive service by the owner. Then we brought friends/family there, a few weeks ago, and were very disappointed after we'd talked it up so much. One of us had lamb, two had scallops, my husband had salmon again and I had tiger prawns. The scallops and prawns were sort of fishy tasty in a sauce that was too strong and not-great-flavor for the seafood. The lamb was described as ok, and my hub liked the salmon. It was a lot of money for a not-so-good experience that time, and very disappointing. We sort of lost our excitement about having found a good place to go to in our neighborhood.

• Pros: attentive service, good location, intimate setting
• Cons: food quality

07/16/03

So Good

by matcat

My husband and I eat out regularly at some great downtown restaurants but we love to come out to West Seattle for Phonecia's great seafood and sauces. The owner is wonderful and we never feel rushed.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Parking