Corina L.
Yelp
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!