by Crystal C.

We came in for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night at 8:30.  We were warmly greeted by Phara herself, and our waitress was helpful in explaining the dining/hookah process to us.  The ambiance of the place was lovely and relaxing.  There is ample patio seating, and the owner/mgmt is smart enough to provide bug spray if you need any!  I ordered a chicken entrée.  The portions were generous, and the food was well-done.  The grilled vegetables that came with my entrée were delicious and adequately seasoned.  My friend, who normally doesn't eat anything without legs, surprisingly devoured his vegetables.After we told the staff that it was our friend's birthday, Phara entertained us with beautiful song and dance.  Our friend was also treated with birthday baklava, which we all fought over.The hookah was GREAT.  It lasted our party of four a very long time and it was the perfect accompaniment to our meal.I wish I had known about this place sooner, as I would have surely brought family and friends here for a good time.

by Rebecca L.

I don't smoke hookah, but I think this place is 100000x better than Kasbah on the drag. For one, the people are much nicer and 2) they have belly dancers! Their food is also very tasty. Try the baba ganoush or the shawarma plate. Also they have a huge space outdoors where you can smoke/chillax. It's BYOB and there's a $3 corkage fee. Be warned: you might be made to belly dance. Also, please don't be a creeper and stare at the belly dancers like they're strippers. I'm sure they don't like that. I know I wouldn't. On my birthday the belly dancer did a candle dance for me and they gave me some baklava with a candle in it :)

by Erica V.

I adore Phara's and I wholeheartedly mean that. I already loved hookah, arabic music, middle eastern food, and belly dancing so it was right up my alley. However, it has been my great surprise that everyone I have introduced to it has liked it and oftentimes loved it and gone back on their own. I went almost 3 months ago for date night because of Yelp reviews and I've gone back almost every 2 weeks since then.This is the best hookah lounge experience I could have imagined. Authentic, friendly, lingering-allowed, and not nickel-and-diming you for every coal. It makes me hate Kasbah. Sitting outside with friends getting tipsy off BYOB and laughing is about the best thing I can think of that's happened recently. $3/person corking fee.Phara is very accommodating, calls you back personally for reservations and will walk around making sure everything is great.Their humus ($5) is very creamy and their lamb shank ($21) is delicious and enough to share. Their special blend arabic coffee ($3) I love... and I'm not even a big coffee drinker.I love that this place is friendly and doesn't make you feel weird for sitting around for 2-3 hours at a time. Even after they close our waiter has told us to not worry and sit around and relax.I encourage everyone to at least go once even if it's not your scene.

by C Malcolm K.

Since I've been in Austin, I've been hanging out at bars, primarily. Grad students don't have lots of money for eating out. But last week, I tried an actual restaurant--Phara's with my wife and was very impressed.I'm still getting over the fact that a gravel backyard with plastic chairs is acceptable as "outdoor seating", but that seems to be an okay Austin style. And the food didn't disappoint, so I quickly got over it.We had two vegetarian entries--mine was a sampler with hummus, grape leaves, marinated green beans, etc. She had an okra dish that (though I didn't try it) she thoroughly enjoyed.Unfortunately, the place doesn't have a liquor license yet, so we had to bring our own wine and pay a corkage fee. Oh, and Phara came by our table to ask how we were enjoying our dinner--always a nice touch. It was early (just after 6) when we were seated, and only a few other diners were there, but the belly dancer arrived as we left and I plan to go back and check it out later in the evening sometime.

by paul s.

this place could be big fun.  we went early on a saturday night and did not get to enjoy the belly dancing so I'll mostly stick to food.we sat out back and the mosquito and flies were abundant.  as we were leaving almost two hours later they were lighting citronella lamps, wasn't much relief for us.  we took our own wine as did every table.   I noted that some tables had more bottles than they did people.  it was gonna be a party.  we started w/ the appetizer sampler and later found it to be redundant.  nearly everything on there also came as a side to our entrees.  the lamb shwarma was good.  I had the vegetarian curry dish and it was just OK, I was hoping for something spicy and it was not.  we'll try this place again when we can round up a group of friends and leave the kids at home.  it looks like it could be a great place to get rowdy and loud.  can we put glaucoma medicine in the hookah?

by Amy W.

I didn't even know this cool area of North Loop existed. It's totally groovy. I went on a date to Phara's and am now totally enamored with it (sadly I can't say the same about my date). The service was pretty good but not great. However, the food was delicious and it's BYOB.  If that isn't enough to make it my new favorite place the hookah lounge out in their back patio area sealed the deal. It was comfortable, romantic and sort of mysterious to hang out in the hookah lounge, relaxing on the cushions and smoking some shisha.

by Whitney W.

The food was AMAZING!  The belly dancer was excellent, the waitstaff was helpful and friendly, the shisha was delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect.  I cannot say enough good things about Phara's.Food recommendations:baba ghanouj, aloo chana (vegetarian), roasted lamb shank, beef la zeez...personally, I thought their aloo chana was the best and I'm not a vegetarian.

by Heather B.

I am always up for trying new restaurants in Austin, and this was not a disappointment. One of my girlfriends decided to up and get married and move to Denver, so we decided to take her to the new version of Ararat's (which I'd never been to when it was open) and send her off on a magic carpet ride (or at least ensure she had a well-defined buzz that night).When we arrived, my friend had made a reservation, although it didn't seem too crowded for a Friday night. It's tucked far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Friday night in Austin - it's in a run-down 'strip mall' (a term I'm using loosely because when this place was built, the strip mall concept had thankfully not hit Austin yet). Our party of four was seated outside at a table in a little gazebo area. The only thing that Phara's could have done to make this better was to add a fan or turn off the heat outside (e.g., the sun). We picked a hot and humid day to visit as it turns out, but this place is BYOB, so we tore into the wine right away to forget the possibility of heat stroke and get to the business at hand (eating, drinking and laughing). We decided to eat family style - not really referenced on the menu, but that's how we wanted to roll that night. We tried the hummus (best stuff since - gasp - the Alligator Grill's!) and the beef and chicken kebobs. I think the chicken kebabs were my favorite. We also had some mango ice cream for dessert. The owner, Phara, came to our table several times to talk to us and ask us if she could get us anything. I thought that was really nice and genuine. I like when owners come talk to us little people. The wait staff was also totally accommodating and had great attitudes. Then the party got started. A belly dancer (I think her name was Imara) came out and danced. She had on this pink "I Dream of Jeannie" outfit and a smokin body. I watched in awe and thought to myself how it would be a great core workout. Later that night, she came to the gazebo and gave us a couple of lessons. Also, she was very nice and it turns out, she does give lessons somewhere in South Austin. Finally, our group decided to smoke a hookah. I thought they would bring out a menu of flavors a la Amsterdam style, since our waitress rattled off about 50 combinations. We chose the melon-mint flavor. They brought "Big Bertha" to the table (that was the name of the bong) and they gave everyone a sanitary mouth piece. It was like smoking flavored air, but the experience was fun. Will I go back? You bet. Will I order my own chicken kebab and not share family style? Absolutely.

by Katie P.

I went to Phara's with a girlfriend for a Girls With Hats night. The wait staff and owners were very nice and helpful. The BYOB factor is great - $3 per person.For an app we had the dula - wraped grape leaves. Yum! The yogurt dipping sauce was super smooth.I had the recommended veggie dish - Aloo Channa. I felt like it could have tasted bolder, it wasn't lively enough on my tounge. My friend got the beef and I tried a bite and very impressed.So then we took our second bottle of wine to the patio and sat beside the fire order a hooka. It was my first time so I trusted the waiters opinion and went with Melon Mint. Smooth!We'd go back again, next time with more girls in hats!

by Kathryn H.

The food was okay when we ate at Phara's, but I'm still grumpy because our service was terrible! No one ever took our drink orders. We waited about 15 minutes for the waitress to come take our food order, and then my date's meal arrived with my salad course, 20 minutes before my entree. His lamb kabob was delicious, but he had completely finished eating by the time my schawarma plate arrived. Our waitress didn't even notice the mistakes because she never came to check on us. Furthermore, we were never served any pita bread, which was supposed to come with both our meals. (This wouldn't have been such a big deal except most of my schawarma plate was intended to be eaten with pita, not by itself, so I wasn't even able to eat most of my food.) The only good thing about the meal was that it was free-- after we had been waiting over an hour, our waitress finally came and apologized for the horrible service and comped our meals. I appreciate the gesture, but my date was pretty much ruined, and I never did get any pita bread! I'd like to give Phara's another try, but I just don't know if I have the patience.

by t j.

Had a great dinner here and enjoyed the excellent food and relaxed atmosphere.  Looking forward to having a party in the hooka room for dinner and guests to enjoy!

by Chris B.

Recipe for a good summer night = go to Phara's with a big group, bring lots of booze, stuff your belly with plenty of delicious food, drink more booze, chill and hang out until midnight, call a cab...

by Amy O.

Phara's is SO good.  After years of visiting Ararat and watching the menu go downhill as they approached closing, I am so happy that Phara has reopened and improved the place so much.  I love the new yard, tasty food, and hookah lounge.  Great place for large groups if you make a reservation (some friends had their rehearsal dinner about a year ago in the private room next door and it was great!)

by M B.

Great Middle Eastern food!  Our group of four got the mezza sampler for an appetizer - lots of raves about the green bean stew and the baba.  For dinner, 3 out of 4 got lamb dishes - lamb kabob, lamb sirloin, and lamb in the form of gyro meat.  All were very good - lots of lamb taste but not gamey, and is tender and chewy (in a good way) to boot.  The fourth got the okra and garbanzo bean stew, which was flavorful but not spicy, tomato-based, and the veggies in it were cooked well but not stewed down too much.  Yum.  The rice was done well too - I'm picky about my rice and this was just right - fluffy and light with just a few dried cranberries in it.We sat in the outdoor dining area in the back - it was like eating dinner in someone's backyard.  Definitely not fancy, but cozy and fun, with twinkling strings of lights, and roaring fire in a pit (it was a chilly Jan night) and lots of other groups having as good a time as we were.  Service was very friendly - engaging chit-chat without being too overbearing.  Did I mention the belly dancer?  She danced very well and was quite attractive.  The guys at the table liked her a lot and kept adding dollar bills to her tip basket.  All in all, a great place to go with a big group to have a good time.  BYOB.

by meg c.

Phara's has been the location of many a girls night for me and my lady friends and we've had a great time, every time.-BYOB!-Orion. He's a great waiter, he's friendly and patient, even when the ladies have too much byob wine and start singing to him. -The food is great, I've been vegetarian for 7 years and my policy has always been, if it's new and it looks good, I'll have a bite. I had a bite of the lamb schwarma and it was worth it, even though the iron-rich meat made my stomach hurt later that night, I would do it again!-The hookah, it's delicious and lasts hours, which is how long we end up staying there, happy and giggly from the Orion and the wine.

by Tee D.

I loved Phara's! The atmosphere was great, and everyone there was extremely friendly and attentive. We went last night for dinner and hookah! We started with the appetizer sampler, there was a little of everything: hummus, baba ghanouj, dolma, tabbouleh and tzatziki sauce. YUMMY! That was some of the best hummus I've ever had. For entrees, I ordered the lamb shank, which the server highly recommended. I'm glad I listened to him, because the meat was so tender and flavorful. I had a taste of the beef tenderloin and the Aloo Channa, which was their spin on a curry dish. Both were fantastic as well. It's BYOB, but there's a 3 dollar corking fee per person; I personally don't think that's bad at all. They provide you with bottle and wine openers and glasses, so everything is really taken care of for you. After dinner, we headed outside to the hookah lounge, where we lazed around for a couple hours with the hookah. Phara was belly dancing that night, and she put on quite a show. I definitely recommend checking this place out, if not for the hookah, then at least for the delicious food and festive atmosphere. :)

by Tara M.

I have only been to Pharra's once; but, I enjoyed my experience there so much I keep thinking about it and can't wait to go back. We started with the Shwarma Hummus plate and the Baba Ghanouj both served with yummy warm pita bread. We loved both the dips but were not crazy about the Lamb; so, I fed it to my dog who was camped out under the table - she loved it! I had the Steamed Salmon with Roasted Habanero Garlic Sauce and loved my fish and the spicy sauce but felt the sides of veggies and rice were lacking in flavor so I took them home to mix in with my pup's kibble. My dining companion Erykha W. had the Chicken Shish Kabob - I tried it and it was very juicy, tender and flavorful. The large back patio is dog friendly and has fire pits to keep you warm - that combined with delicious Mediterranean food gets them a full 5 stars from me!

by Nicole L.

This has become a new favorite spot to bring my "girl" dates.  Just bring a bottle or 2 of your own vino to split and enjoy the great outdoor atmosphere and dancing.  You can't go wrong with The Sampler they have on the appetizer menu - great presentation, delicious mix of classic dips, etc. with delicious homemade pita.  I've yet to try the hookahs, but will definitely get my shisha on when I can share the pleasure of smoking with several friends.

by Mary Ann D.

I went to Phara's a few nights ago, and I cannot wait to go back. We ate in the dining room, which has a really nice and cozy feel. We had the beef tenderloin la zeez and the shwarma, and both dishes were delicious. The hummus was some of the best I've ever had. After dinner we went outside and I was so surprised at how large it was out there. There are tons of tables, for bigger and smaller parties, a gazebo and what looked like a pretty comfy lounge area with lots of seating and little tables. I had never tried hookah before, I tried the kiwi and it was nice, but I'd rather spend the money on something more fun to smoke. =) There was a belly dancer, which was fun to watch and the owner was walking around introducing herself and talking with everybody. Great food, relaxing atmosphere, I will definitely be going back.

by Nicole G.

I had such a wonderful experience at Phara's that I was inspired to write my first yelp :) The ambiance (great lighting) and cozy dining room was perfect for sharing a nice, intimate meal with that special someone. Taking advantage of the BYOB policy, we took a bottle of red along with some Belgian style golden ale which the server offered to put in the fridge or to set up a chiller beside our table (we opted for the latter). This was just the beginning of the top notch service we received that night. Our server, Brian, gave us some great appetizer recommendations and we ended up going with the homemade hummus which was delicious. My dinner companion said she prefers her hummus with a splash more olive oil, keep in mind she could drink that stuff straight. I was more than slightly disappointed when he broke it to me that they were out of their signature dish, lamb shank, but I soon forgot about this once I was savoring the exquisite flavor and tenderness of the lamb la zeez. My friend ordered the equally tasty beef tenderloin shish kebab. The food was amazing and beautifully prepared, but what really made the experience was the Phara's family. Brian was very attentive and never intrusive. He even brought us some baklava on the house to finish out our meal. We sat for hours enjoying great food, drinks, and conversation and never once felt rushed. Phara is the sweetest lady and a wonderful hostess. She went by every table to say hello as if she was welcoming us into her home. She is also a wonderful dancer and even managed to get me up dancing with her, teaching me some of her moves. The cutest moment of the night had to be when the two chefs popped out of the kitchen for a moment to see everyone enjoying their culinary delights, we toasted them in gratitude of course. Once we realized that we had been there for almost three hours we finally asked for the check and thanked Brian profusely for the superb service. In return he offered to take us on a tour of the rest of Phara's and Christoper's. I can't wait to go back, hopefully with weather nice enough to dine alfresco and try out their hookah. You should give this place a try... you know you want to!

by Nicole L.

Phara is an excellent dancer.  Yeah, excellent, excellent dancer, yeah.  As Lucky D. says, she really does enjoy what she's doing, and while the music is a bit too loud while she's dancing, but it doesn't last forever.  (Like I can concentrate on a good conversation when all that shakin' is goin' on anyways!)  The best part of her dance might have been when she approached the table of good-looking dudes next to ours.  They were obviously of Middle Eastern descent, and one of them- let's call him Mr. Hott- got up to dance with Phara!  Mr. Hott had about 4% rhythm, but that didn't matter.  Oh yeah, we ate food there, too!  It was fantastic, and Orion was a great waiter.  The dolmas were perfect, and so was my lamb.  I pretty much NEVER eat meat in a restaurant, but I got some sort of crazy hair and decided to go against my normal habits.  I was the opposite of disappointed.  DROOL.I shall return, Phara.  I shall return.

by laura P.

I went with a giant group to Phara's last night for a birthday party, and o man, was it glorious!First things first- the restaurant itself is pretty amazing. The front room is pretty small and intimate; it opens into a gigantic, covered outside area, and from there, you can reach more dining rooms, such as the one that accommodated our sizable group. The decor is rich, but not over the top. My favorite bit- the bathrooms have those column fans, so you get a nice breeze while doing your business. Just like an oasis.Next up- the food. For vegetarians, options are more or less limited to the usual fare of appetizer stuff (hummus, tabbouleh, dolmas, etc.), salads, a grilled veggie plate, and dessert. Still, there is more than enough yum to go around here, and I could easily have filled up on warm pita bread. And by 'could have' I mean 'did'. Our carnivorous company was happily sated with their lamb shanks and chicken dishes.While some fellow yelpers appear to be disenchanted with the service at Phara's, we had a great server. She was swamped with large parties, but checked in on us often and made everyone feel at home. They were very nice too, about our splitting the check about six hundred ways. The belly dancer for the evening (not Phara herself, who I hear is phenomenal) wowed everyone and got about half our table up and dancing at one point or another.Phara's rocks the Casbah, and I'd even go so far to say the sherif WOULD like it.

by Alberto N.

3 stars because:I didn't think Phara's would be the place that half of the graduating UT class and their fifth cousins sister's best friend would be coming to celebrate, but boy were we, and the staff of Phara's wrong. I understand a place getting really busy and the service taking a hit for the worse, but even paying for our (just 2!) meal took about 30 minutes. It was also unfortunate that the way the inside eating area is set up, you can hear the staff when they get a little more *ahem* heated about certain things that are seemingly happening.Why I want to give them 5 stars and I will be coming back:THE FOOD! The Baba Ganoush left me rubbing the smiley face on tummy, as did my shwarma plate and baklava I had for dessert. The portions were defintely too big for one sitting, but we ate all of it anyways. I also love the fact that this is BYOB, and the corkage fee is a very reasonable 3 dollars per person. I smoke hookah as well, so I'm going have to come back and enjoy everything they have to offer and hope I catch them on a normal day.

by James B.

4.5 stars out of 5 for sure...I almost selected 5 stars.  As a frequent visitor to the restaurant years ago under the name  of "Ararat" I was pleasantly surprised that the new owner has retained the great chiefs that had been working there years ago.  The dishes are a little more simplified than I remember from years ago, but the flavor is almost identical.  We started with the Mezza Sampler, which comes with hummus, baba ghanouj, dolma, tabbouleh and tzatziki.  It is severed with warm pita bread.  Everything on the plate was very good.  The only complaint I have about the entire meal is the pita bread came out a little less fresh than I would of preferred.  I ordered the Lamb La Zeez and requested it to be "Desi hot" as the waitress assured me the chief was from Indian and I would not be disappointing.  The dish was superb, and not at all too hot to taste the wounder flavor of the Lamb (although I like food that is quite spicy).  My wife ordered the Chicken La Zeez and was also pleasantly surprised by the familiar bouquet of flavors.  I was lucky enough to sample a piece of the Chicken as well (the serving size was more than ample) and I have to admit the chicken was just as good, if not better than the Lamb.  Overall the food was amazing, the only thing that was less than perfect was the pita bread.  By the way, if you remember the old Ararat, the new owner has put some time and effort into remodeling of the entire property, inside and  the out back dinning area.  The back area is quite impressive.  Take a look here: http://www.pharas.com for both pictures and menu items.

by Jaime M.

As the only occupied table on the gigantic patio for most of our meal, we were able to get a really good look at the place, though I think we missed out somewhat on the atmosphere others have mentioned -- it seemed just like a giant gravel area filled with plastic tables, nothing special. I imagine it'd be nice when it was all filled up and lively, though.The server (and his trainee) seemed to have a hard time balancing too much and  not enough -- it took a really long time to get our bill and pay it and to place our order, but we were visited at least four times while eating our meal by our waiter and the owner (no, the quality of the food didn't change every 10 minutes, interestingly enough).The vegetarian thali platter (I thought that was an Indian concept, but whatever) had salad, hummus, baba ghanouj, basmati rice, asparagus in sauce, tabouli, dolmas and tzatziki. My dining companion took one of my two pitas, so I was forced to eat much of the dip with a fork, but it was still mostly enjoyable. If I were able to customize, I'd have reduced the tzatziki portion by half, seasoned the tabouli a little better, and given more asparagus (my memory is failing me right now and I'm trying to remember if they were actually green beans -- whatever they were, they were delicious). The hummus others rave about was just OK and I'd have skipped the dolmas entirely -- too sweet. Nothing stood out as a must-have for a repeat visit, but it was all fine.His meat dish looked, well, meaty. And he seemed to enjoy it. I brought a bottle of wine that turned out to taste pretty bad (only the dozens of flies at our table liked it), but I can't blame the restaurant for that. I'm not used to BYOB, but I thought it was funny that we were charged $3 for access to glasses and bottle opener but they didn't open the bottle for us. (Is this the standard?)Would I go back? If someone else wanted to, sure. Three and a half stars is fine once in a while, but Sarah's Mediterranean less than a mile away is half the price and better food (though the market doesn't offer the ambiance, or potential ambiance, of Phara's).

by jeremy w.

The food there is wonderful, and the entire staff is incredibly friendly.  It was empty when we went (no students) so everything was probably more pleasant than usual.  They have a very nice patio in back for the smoking of the hookah.  We had cappuccino, but next time we are trying the chocolate.  It is byob, but they will give you ice for your wine, champagne, etc.I will definitely be back.

by Ricky H.

Really? This place has four and a half stars? My lamb was dry and the service was awful. We waited an hour to get our food--AN HOUR! And there were only four other tables! No. Don't waste your time, money, or hopes for a good meal.

by Liz B.

I went to Phara's with a group of friends and WOW, we were super impressed! We called in to reserve a table for 7 and were promptly seated upon our arrival. We pretty much had the entire back room to ourselves, which was kind of cool (we can be a loud bunch =). We even had our own private belly dancer for a while.We brought our own bottles of wine, since Phara's is BYOB and only charges a one-time $3 per person corking fee. TOTAL money saver there. We ordered a sampler appetizer that included hummus, tzaziki, babaganoush, and dolma. Everything was delicious, the hummus was my favorite. My boyfriend and I shared the Lamb La Zeez, which was VERY tasty. Some of the other at our table ordered the Lamb Shwarma plate and said it was very flavorful, tender, and delicious. After dinner, we ventured out to the huge outdoor patio area for a hookah and belly dancing. Phara's has a vast hookah flavor selection and the hookah prices are very reasonable. They even have a hookah happy hour during the week. Overall, we had a great time and can't wait to return. Phara's is the kind of place where you can take it slow, don't have to (or don't feel) rushed through your meal. Drink a few glasses of wine, smoke a hookah, and relax. Very Mediterranean feeling all around.

by MB L.

This is one of my favorite spots in Austin. The food is tasty (great couscous), the service is fantastic, and the shisha tobacco flavors offer something for everyone. Spacious outdoor seating: we even got our very own heat lamp. I especially like the fact that they brought a lamb shank for my dog to gnaw on.  We had lemon-flavored shisha in our hookah and it was wonderfully mild. LOVE this place!

by Helen B.

Let me first say that the service my friends and I received while we were at Phara's was amazing. From the moment we walked in (with a welcoming smile and greeting) to the moment we left (with a smile and a thank you, and have a great night) we were extremely impressed with how nice the people were.Then there's the hookah. If you go, get the chocolate coconut. It's a lot like an almond joy flavor. Even if you don't like coconut, it's great. So smooth! Their hummus is amazing. It's served with fresh hot pita bread, and it is a must try!The entertainment was so unique. We heard live Indian music and watched a belly dancer! So cool.I'm going back there VERY soon!

by Kerstin M.

Phara's hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner for a member of my family. The food was very hit or miss. The chicken was great, but the beef, although alright in flavor, was quite tough. I found the basmati rice with butter and green onions to be too plain, and the hummus was just OK. The desserts of preserved mango, baklava, and Turkish delight were all fine. Phara's also served falafel which I had in my original review characterized as very dry and lacking in flavor. According to a staff member who wrote me a venomous private message on Yelp threatening legal action, the falafel was provided at the request of the bride from another Mid-Eastern restaurant since Phara's does not offer falafel on its menu. Although I appreciate Phara's efforts to accommodate the bride's request, I think the restaurant should take responsibility for what they *serve* as well as what they make in-house. For example, if a restaurant does not have its own bakery or pastry chef and must get bread or desserts from another vendor, it would behoove it to choose a vendor that makes a product that it is proud to serve as its own. The customer is not likely to distinguish what is made in-house and what is an "import". This is my opinion as a diner and a former bakery manager.

by erik w.

Yum.  So Friday night I went on a little double date and checked out Phara's.  I've been dieing to check this place out for the longest time because I'm a huge fan of Mediterranean food. We were literally the second people in the door at Phara's at 7pm on a Friday night, but by the time we left at 8:30 it had filled up nicely.  We sat inside (I would have preferred eating outdoors, but it was a little on the warm side for the ladies).  The outdoor patio is gorgeous.  I really liked the lighting.  Bathrooms.  Kinda of an issue.  I was a little scared I might get a venereal disease or something.  They were extremely small.  As described in all the reviews, the food and the service was excellent.  The hummus here was really good, but I fell in love with the tzatziki sauce.  I thought the dolma was a little on the dry side.  I like the fact that this place is BYOB.  They provided us with an ice chest thing for the beer and wine.They have a belly dancer here.  She dragged me and my date into the middle of the room and put a sword on my head.  I was mortified.Another thing that I loved about Phara's was that instead of the typical restaurant rush feel, the waiter made it seem like we were welcome to hangout the entire night if we so pleased.  Pretty awesome.

by walker f.

What a cute place! Our party of four sat indoors at a little round table with padded wooden chairs low to the ground. With two bottles of wine, some beers (BYOB!), and spicy-ass food, we were all set!  The warm pita kept coming and our server was very attentive and friendly. I felt like I was in someone's livingroom, very comfortable and inviting.Appetizer sampler was huge and perfect to share. I got the Lamb La Zeez which was hot as hell, but amazing flavor. It tasted more like beef really, so I'd give it a shot even if you aren't a big lamb fan. (Then again, they might of just given me the beef tenderloin la zeez by mistake now that I think about it....whatever. It was great!) Belly dancer came out eventually and that was certainly interesting. She was a bit older, not the cutest gal around, but the woman could shake it. We of course had to take a turn and put swords on our heads (or hips!?) and do a shimmy while out friends laughed their ases off and took pics. Remember to bring a couple singles to tip, as they have no shame about bringing the basket around. (And at her age, she earned every single dollar.)Would try the patio next time as it looked pretty quaint, but might be a different vibe out there. All in all a pretty cool place. If you are up for something different, give it a shot!

by M T.

I haven't had Greek/Mediterranean food since I had moved to Austin at the end of February.  I get facebook notices that my friends in KC were going to Holy Land Cafe and my mouth would water. Imagine my surprise when I was searching for restaurants and Phara's popped up on Google.  It had 4 1/2 stars and about 50 reviews.  I thought I would check it out.I ordered the mezza sampler, the lamb shisk kebab, and the baklava.  Both were very yummy and there was plenty for 3 meals (except for the baklava, I devoured that in one sitting).  I'm giving it 4 stars - 1 for parking, which is challenging and 1 for price.  By the time I left the tip, for 1 person carryout, it was close to $40.  Even splitting it through 3 meals, that leaves me with a total of $13/serving.  It's good food and it satisfied my craving, but I won't be able to afford it very often.

by Samantha D.

This was a cool little spot. The menu was a bit limited in terms of variety, but the food was excellant. The service could have been a bit faster, but staff was very friendly.

by Kamni G.

My husband and I went on a double date an it turns out the other couple had wanted to try this place forever as well. It's byob and we went with beer and wine. The atmosphere doesn't transport you to

by Devon W.

The reviews on here made Phara's seem like a fantastic weekend spot to eat with friends or date, but I found that it didn't live up to my expectations. Maybe it's the hookah and belly dancer that makes this place so popular, because I really can't figure out any other reason.Me and my boyfriend got there at 7 on a rainy Friday night and the place was dead. Couldn't go for the patio, no belly dancer yet. We ordered Tabbouleh for an appetizer, and when it came out, we were sorely disappointed. It tasted good, but we paid $5 for a tiny plate that wasn't nearly enough for 2 people to share. Not worth it.  I ordered the Lamb La Zeez and I was very excited because I've had very good, tender lamb Mediterranean style before. Again, it the flavor was there, but it was chewy and over-priced. $17 for a plate of a small portion of chewy, over cooked cubes of meat, white rice, and grilled veggies .I was looking for a justification for the prices and I couldn't find one. The building and location are mediocre at best, the atmosphere is also mediocre at best, at least at 7 on a rainy Friday. The inside is very small and cramped, and the dining tables and chairs are very bare-bones. While the wait-staff was good, we prefer the Clay Pit's Indian over this place any day. It has that downtown charm, it's a few bucks cheaper, the atmosphere is miles better (especially if you can get into the roomy romantic, low ceiling cellar), and the food is cooked properly with better portions. Sad night.

by L. S. E.

Went back with a group for hooka happy hour and had a thoroughly wonderful time.  Great service, great food.Orange cream shisha was especially (and surprisingly) good.  Chocolate, california dream, and double apple mint were also tried and enjoyed.All around a very positive experience (again).Love. This place is great.Every single person working here was friendly and helpful.  The food was…

by Alon B.

Lives have patterns. In mine, I'll find round trip tickets to LA for $250 three hours after I book them for $400. I'll lose my cell phone in a bar, buy a new one, and have the old one returned a day later. In the case of Phara's, I found the single best first date place in Austin. This, of course, occurred shortly after I entered a committed relationship where I don't anticipate ever having another first date. FMLPhara's is a very deceptive little restaurant. It's across the street from a heavy metal pizza place and a sex toy store. It looks tiny when you enter it but it has a HUGE patio an private room. General impressions - First date restaurants say a lot about you. If it is off the beaten path and unique it shows that you are smarter than the last guy she went out with. If it is a unique cuisine it shows that you are more cultured. If it is dark and romantic it shows that you are ...um.... dark and romantic. Point is, for a first date it doesn't hurt to appear romantic, cultured and smart. If you are all of those things and you do NOT bring up an Ex or say something about "looking everywhere for the right girl because you are tired of banging random bar sluts every weekend" you might actually get to third base. Whatever. Point is, inside or on the patio Phara's has a great ambiance and general vibe. Food/Drinks - IMPORTANT - Phara's is BYOB so make sure that you bring whatever it is that you plan on drinking. NOW: they DO charge a $3 per person corking fee but if you think about it, a bottle of wine that sells in a store for $18 will usually cost $40 in a restaurant so you are getting out pretty cheap... especially if you are going to go through multiple bottles and in reality, a restaurant DOES need to turn a profit so I won't complain about an extra $3 a person. Food - We ordered the Mezza sampler and it was incredible. The hummus was fresh, the tzatziki was great, everything was wonderful. For my entree I ordered the Beef Tenderloin La Zeez which was absolutely incredible. It is prepared in a habanero garlic sauce which is spicy and delicious and can be tempered with the tzatiki sauce if you are a little girly man. Service - Our waiter, Orion (I think that's right), was perfect. He suggested menu items but wasn't upselling us. He let us know about everything Phara's had to offer but we never felt like it was a sales pitch and he split the entree of my girlfriend and her friend into two portions on two plates. He also let us know about upcoming events at Phara's and other amenities it had to offer. He also said that we could camp at our table as long as we wanted after we finished eating despite the fact that the restaurant wouldn't get any extra revenue from our BYOB wine. My service at Phara's was probably the best I'd had in at least a year. Overall - I loved Phara's and will probably go back at least once a month. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was perfect and festive and the service was impeccable. I would happily recommend it to anyone.

by The Grave Maurice X.

Is it ironic that this Mediterranean restaurant is literally an oasis of  atmospheric dining in the desert of 'pub-grub-heavy North Central Austin'?One would never expect what is behind the aquamarine-colored facade of Phara's if you were a first time visitor.  As you enter the restaurant, you are ushered into a cozy dining room, which is suitable for a romantic dinner.  If you are looking for something to quicken your pulse, step out into back patio -- and the word 'patio' is selling it short ... its more like a back-acre -- where tables from 2-20 are arranged in various set-ups, including on-stage and under the gazebo.  Hookahs adorn most of the tables and patrons puff away on beautifully scented tobaccos.Farah's is BYOB, which plainly stated, is AWESOME.  Sure, there is a $3 corking fee, but compared to cities with BYOB spots, this is a very small sum and unworthy of being bitched about.  Also, North Loop Market is just across the street with a superb beer selection and decent wine selection in case you forget to bring your booze, or simply run out in the midst of your good time. For dinner, my fiancee has the vegetarian sampler, which she enjoyed.  I had the shawarma platter (thinly sliced lamb on this particular sampler) and its was amazing.  Their pita was average, but the hummus was amazing, as was the baba ganouj and the yogurt cucumber salad (i always forget what this is called).Prices are fair for the area, and certainly worth every cent for the pricier dinners.  Dinner for two (bringing our own wine) including an appetizer was $40 without tip.  That's hard to beat anywhere for a Friday night dinner.

by The Grave Maurice X.

Is it ironic that this Mediterranean restaurant is literally an oasis of  atmospheric dining in the desert of 'pub-grub-heavy North Central Austin'?One would never expect what is behind the aquamarine-colored facade of Phara's if you were a first time visitor.  As you enter the restaurant, you are ushered into a cozy dining room, which is suitable for a romantic dinner.  If you are looking for something to quicken your pulse, step out into back patio -- and the word 'patio' is selling it short ... its more like a back-acre -- where tables from 2-20 are arranged in various set-ups, including on-stage and under the gazebo.  Hookahs adorn most of the tables and patrons puff away on beautifully scented tobaccos.Farah's is BYOB, which plainly stated, is AWESOME.  Sure, there is a $3 corking fee, but compared to cities with BYOB spots, this is a very small sum and unworthy of being bitched about.  Also, North Loop Market is just across the street with a superb beer selection and decent wine selection in case you forget to bring your booze, or simply run out in the midst of your good time. For dinner, my fiancee has the vegetarian sampler, which she enjoyed.  I had the shawarma platter (thinly sliced lamb on this particular sampler) and its was amazing.  Their pita was average, but the hummus was amazing, as was the baba ganouj and the yogurt cucumber salad (i always forget what this is called).Prices are fair for the area, and certainly worth every cent for the pricier dinners.  Dinner for two (bringing our own wine) including an appetizer was $40 without tip.  That's hard to beat anywhere for a Friday night dinner.

by The Grave Maurice X.Alon B.L. S. E.

Is it ironic that this Mediterranean restaurant is literally an oasis of  atmospheric dining in the desert of 'pub-grub-heavy North Central Austin'?One would never expect what is behind the aquamarine-colored facade of Phara's if you were a first time visitor.  As you enter the restaurant, you are ushered into a cozy dining room, which is suitable for a romantic dinner.  If you are looking for something to quicken your pulse, step out into back patio -- and the word 'patio' is selling it short ... its more like a back-acre -- where tables from 2-20 are arranged in various set-ups, including on-stage and under the gazebo.  Hookahs adorn most of the tables and patrons puff away on beautifully scented tobaccos.Farah's is BYOB, which plainly stated, is AWESOME.  Sure, there is a $3 corking fee, but compared to cities with BYOB spots, this is a very small sum and unworthy of being bitched about.  Also, North Loop Market is just across the street with a superb beer selection and decent wine selection in case you forget to bring your booze, or simply run out in the midst of your good time. For dinner, my fiancee has the vegetarian sampler, which she enjoyed.  I had the shawarma platter (thinly sliced lamb on this particular sampler) and its was amazing.  Their pita was average, but the hummus was amazing, as was the baba ganouj and the yogurt cucumber salad (i always forget what this is called).Prices are fair for the area, and certainly worth every cent for the pricier dinners.  Dinner for two (bringing our own wine) including an appetizer was $40 without tip.  That's hard to beat anywhere for a Friday night dinner.Lives have patterns. In mine, I'll find round trip tickets to LA for $250 three hours after I book them for $400. I'll lose my cell phone in a bar, buy a new one, and have the old one returned a day later. In the case of Phara's, I found the single best first date place in Austin. This, of course, occurred shortly after I entered a committed relationship where I don't anticipate ever having another first date. FMLPhara's is a very deceptive little restaurant. It's across the street from a heavy metal pizza place and a sex toy store. It looks tiny when you enter it but it has a HUGE patio an private room. General impressions - First date restaurants say a lot about you. If it is off the beaten path and unique it shows that you are smarter than the last guy she went out with. If it is a unique cuisine it shows that you are more cultured. If it is dark and romantic it shows that you are ...um.... dark and romantic. Point is, for a first date it doesn't hurt to appear romantic, cultured and smart. If you are all of those things and you do NOT bring up an Ex or say something about "looking everywhere for the right girl because you are tired of banging random bar sluts every weekend" you might actually get to third base. Whatever. Point is, inside or on the patio Phara's has a great ambiance and general vibe. Food/Drinks - IMPORTANT - Phara's is BYOB so make sure that you bring whatever it is that you plan on drinking. NOW: they DO charge a $3 per person corking fee but if you think about it, a bottle of wine that sells in a store for $18 will usually cost $40 in a restaurant so you are getting out pretty cheap... especially if you are going to go through multiple bottles and in reality, a restaurant DOES need to turn a profit so I won't complain about an extra $3 a person. Food - We ordered the Mezza sampler and it was incredible. The hummus was fresh, the tzatziki was great, everything was wonderful. For my entree I ordered the Beef Tenderloin La Zeez which was absolutely incredible. It is prepared in a habanero garlic sauce which is spicy and delicious and can be tempered with the tzatiki sauce if you are a little girly man. Service - Our waiter, Orion (I think that's right), was perfect. He suggested menu items but wasn't upselling us. He let us know about everything Phara's had to offer but we never felt like it was a sales pitch and he split the entree of my girlfriend and her friend into two portions on two plates. He also let us know about upcoming events at Phara's and other amenities it had to offer. He also said that we could camp at our table as long as we wanted after we finished eating despite the fact that the restaurant wouldn't get any extra revenue from our BYOB wine. My service at Phara's was probably the best I'd had in at least a year. Overall - I loved Phara's and will probably go back at least once a month. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was perfect and festive and the service was impeccable. I would happily recommend it to anyone.Went back with a group for hooka happy hour and had a thoroughly wonderful time.  Great service, great food.Orange cream shisha was especially (and surprisingly) good.  Chocolate, california dream, and double apple mint were also tried and enjoyed.All around a very positive experience (again).Love. This place is great.Every single person working here was friendly and helpful.  The food was…