I liked Petra. I put off ordering take out from this restaurant,a couple steps from our apartment, because the reviews weren't glowing, and we know Middle Eastern food well. Between trips to North Africa, friends from Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon, we have dined on some...great food. I don't include Israeli cuisine because I feel that still has some Eastern European influence.
Petra certainly caters to western palates, and tones down the spices. This was disappointing. Everything was a bit dry, but tasted good. I yearned for some sauce to mitigate the puckering dryness. My favorite was the Ouzi, a Jordanian dish packed with meat, peas, rice, and flavorful spices that helped me to recall the warmth and welcome of a Middle Eastern meal. I wanted more flavor, but the dish was good. Falafel was okay, again a bit too dry.
I think Petra Bistro may try to be too much, the kitchen putting out food representative of several countries: Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon etc. Perhaps if Petra focused on Jordan and the Levantine, their culinary skills would shine. However, I will return for more of Petra's cooking.More