Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen

What a find. I happened to be in the area and specifically looked for Mediterranean food at the time, and stumbled upon this spot with a handful of reviews but reviewed highly. Gave it a shot, and was completely wowed by the food and service, and small shop homey vibe. The regulars and locals that come here are lucky this spot isn't as accessible for folks living in seattle/north seattle because I guarantee this place would be absolutely swamped if that were the case. Great portions, freshly made dishes, awesome service (privately run). Definitely get the hummus app, and take stuff to go if you have leftovers!

I had the pleasure of trying this place this evening and I wanted to jump on and add my review to Marlaina's!Ambiance: Marlaina's is located in downtown Burien, where there is limited diagonal street parking. When you walk into Marlaina's you are greeted with Mediterranean decor, as if you are right in someone's kitchen. It is very home-styled and comforting. The kitchen is small and facing outward to the dining area, and you can see the chef working away at orders.Food: Marlaina's has a small menu, with lamb, beef and vegan options. There is also an extensive drink and appetizer menu that has the likes of baba ganoush and hummus with warm pita. Because of the wait, the kind waitress gave us hummus with pita on the house. The texture was thick and creamy, and just the right amount of seasoning to it. It was probably one of my favorite hummus I have had personally! The pita is more thicker than usual, but just as great if not better.I ordered the gyro plate which consisted of the grilled lamb and beef meat, basmati rice, spinach salad, pita bread and tsatziki sauce. I usually don't eat lamb, but there was nothing gamey about the meat! Everything was seasoned well, super fresh and so filling. The portions were huge on this platter! My mom had the vegan stew, which was also very flavorful. The eggplant was soft and tender, and the tomato based sauce complemented the veggies and rice as well. Everything was huge! We were super filled afterwards, but we definitely had room for baklava. They usually are served with two, but the waitress was so kind to let us have one extra since we were a party of three. It was my first time having it, and it was perfectly crispy and had the right amount of sweetness with the glaze. The almond spread was also very wonderful and complemented the delicate crust.Service: It was definitely busy on a Sunday night! There was only one waiter working for the entire dining area, so definitely be mindful of the wait! Everyone in the restaurant was super friendly and welcoming. The chef was also very wonderful and he was laughing when I devoured the bakalava!Overall, definitely will be back with more friends and family to enjoy this little slice of the Mediterranean in Burien. Please give this little family restaurant a try!

Dined here last week after arriving on a flight into SeaTac. EXCELLENT choice! My wife (very picky) and daughter were both amazed. Service was extremely attentive and quick to offer a substitute when a small side sauce was not preferred by my wife. I had the Gyro platter, which was a whole lot of gyro meat - too much. My wife proclaimed her chicken dish was excellent and she always has some critique to offer, but not this night. Thank you Marlanina for a wonderful welcome to the PNW.

Extremely fresh, unpretentious, delicious food that's cooked with love. Honestly, it feels like a hug when you're eating here.I live very close to this place but hadn't tried it until the other day for a Yelp event. We got to meet Chef Musa and his son Ishmael. They were incredibly welcoming and kind. We tried so many wonderful dishes including: hummus, tzatziki, baba Ganoush (my favorite!!), pita, saffron rice, chicken stew, lamb stew, vegetarian stew, Mediterranean salad, and great wine selection. I will definitely be coming back and can't wait to bring and friends and family here too.

What can I say.... Everything was amazing. Wine was delicious. Appetizers were really yummy and I tried things I'd never had before and was delighted to know that I really liked them. Main dishes we tried a few and every one of them was amazing. The right spices. Tender meat... focaccia bread was sooo yummy! The food literally felt "Like Home". Good food that sticks with you. You can tell this is a point of pride in the owner who is now training his son to take over the business!!!! The restaurant was clean and decorated with (of course) a Mediterranean flair. This little restaurant has been in my Burien neighborhood for a while and I hadn't had a chance to go in but now I can't wait to come back!!!!Definitely highly recommend!!

Second visit was just as good as the first. We had 4 adults and 2 teenage boys. Two got lamb shanks, two got lamb pizzole, one got gyros and one got lamb skewers. We shared the mezzo platter to start. Bread is home made. Everything was wonderful as before. I did nto take any pictures because there are lots of good ones already on the review site. Wine pour is huge. Service was great. This is by far one of the best mediterranean restaurants I have sampled and we have eaten this kind of food in Spain, Turkey and Morocco. The flavors ware wonderful, meat is tender and the sides and sauces are perfect. I have tried 3 of the dishes and seen many others and I cannot wait to try the rest. Come on a week night when it is not so crowded.

Very nice atmosphere within the restaurant. The food and service were also top notch. I would definitely recommend Marlaina's Mediterranean Kitchen to friends and family!

Tried the place on a whim and boy were we glad we did...outstanding, fresh, flavorful and a delight to some of the most discerning palettes.Restaurant is cute inside with some booths and tables...cozy with great music. Service is outstanding, attentive but not invasive. If you like Mediterranean food, give it a try! One of my favorites and we will definitely be back!

I gotta tell you about my recent stop at Marlain's Mediterranean Kitchen - it was a real gem! From the moment we walked in, they treated us like family. And let me tell you, after a long drive, that hospitality was just what we needed.What really blew me away was their Turkish tea. I was craving it like crazy, and they served it up with some nabat, just like the real deal. It was exactly what I was dreaming of after a hectic day on the road.Overall, Marlain's totally nailed it. The food was delicious, the vibes were cozy, and I left feeling seriously satisfied. If you're after some authentic Mediterranean flavor and a warm welcome, this is the spot to hit up. Can't wait to go back for more!

Absolutely amazing salmon dish. Well seasoned and unlike anything I have ever had. While I didn't get the rice, I feel like anyone who didn't chose the potatoes would be missing out. Nice location downtown and I enjoyed dining on the sidewalk watching families walk by. I was surprised at the large portions with such reasonable prices.