Restaurant Recommendation
Petra Cafe
31 East Center Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas
479-443-3090
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Residents of northwest Arkansas who never have had the good fortune to travel in the Middle East can at least have a taste of the experience by visiting the Petra Cafe, located one block east of the Square in Fayetteville. The menu in this splendid little restaurant offers a variety of delectable, reasonably-priced fare, including baba ghanouge (baked eggplant with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and spices), falafil (patties of ground garbanzo beans cooked with herbs and spices), and foule (fava beans cooked on a low fire with onions, tomatoes, herbs, and spices), as well as stuffed grape leaves, tabouleh, baklava, and Turkish coffee. Customers can also choose from an assortment of combination platters, sandwiches, and salads, and there is a lunch special and soup of the day Monday through Friday. Owner/host Saleh Faur makes everyone feel welcome in his restaurant, and his genial presence, the delightful food, and the pleasant atmosphere in the Petra Cafe together convey a sense of the warmth and hospitality that have traditionally been at the heart of Middle Eastern cultures.
