Mazra - Mediterranean, San Bruno

504 San Bruno Ave W
San Bruno, CA 94066
(650) 225-9027
Parking: small parking lot, street parking

Hours: 11am-8pm Daily

https://www.eatmazra.com

Last Visited: January 3, 2021

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

When I first heard about Mazra opening in San Bruno, I was excited to have another option for casual Mediterranean food.  Their menu looked so appetizing; offerings include wraps, grilled kebabs, mezza (salads, baba ghanoush, hummus etc), and of course, baklava. 

In Arabic, Mazra means 'farm;' essentially, this is Arabic/Mediterranean farm to table, or these days, take out order. Walk into Mazra and be hit with the inviting aromatic scent of spices - it will make you hungry just standing there.  You'll also find the decor to be warm and inviting, with some humor inserted into the art that reminds you to 'take it easy, habibi, good food takes time.'

During my two visits, I've found the guys behind the counter are super friendly and warm as they take your order and thank you for waiting.  I was so distracted by the amazing smells on the car ride home, that by the time I took out the food from my first visit, I forgot to take photos.

- Falafel Mezza Plate - 4 falafels, 5 signature sides, and pita bread.  I had a little problem during my first visit - they forgot the falafel.  However, when I called to let them know, I spoke to a manager and they were really apologetic, refunded me for the dish, and even offered free falafel during my next visit.  I appreciated how they went the extra mile to make up for the problem.  While I didn't have the primary item, the hummus, olives, grape leaves, and salads were really tasty and the falafel was still slightly warm.  This is a great plate. $13

- Falafel - Since I couldn't try it the first time, I had to order it during my second visit!  The falafel are filled with green herbs and well flavored.  Tahini is included as well as a few pickled turnip pieces. Solid. 6 for $4

- Kibbeh - These fried beef/lamb balls are made with bulgur, minced onion, and spices.  Well flavored.  I'm not an expert about what these should be like, but I can tell you it tastes good.  It's not crunchy on the outside, but the outside browning kept the whole fritter together. This is also served with tahini.  2 for $6

- Kebab Wrap with a side of fries - Choice of lamb, chicken, or shrimp - I opted for lamb and ordered the extra side.  The meat is juicy and not at all gamey.  The wrap is served on pita bread and includes tomato, onion, pickle, and tzatziki.  The flavors meld together so well and it's filling.  The seasoned fries are tasty and even better after warmed up in the air-fryer.  It's a healthy portion that makes the addition a good value. $13 for lamb + $2 fries

They also offer family style platters including a whole chicken with side dishes, kebab packs, and mezza platters.  There are also a number of shwarma options available if you prefer a plate.

This is a place I can see myself returning to again and again.  Good flavorful food, friendly people, and a nice addition to the San Bruno area.  

Note that you can't order over the phone - they take online or in-person orders only.  Also, if you pay with a credit card, there is an extra service fee.

Amoura - Mediterranean, South San Francisco

713 Linden Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 754-6891
Parking: parking lot
http://www.amourasf.com/
Hours: Lunch opens at 11:30am, Dinner opens at 5:30pm, Closed Sundays

Last Visited: May 27, 2016

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$

Amos, my Mediterranean food expert friend, first told me about Amoura back when they opened about a year ago and in August 2015, we visited and created our own tasting menu for lunch.

After this initial visit, I soon returned for dinner and recently went back for lunch.  I've also had the food for takeout a number of times, but aside from the salad, it's never as good as immediately from their kitchen.

Located in a brick building, you wouldn't expect Amoura to look like much on the inside, but the decor is bright and classic, great for small or large parties.  They also have a bar, but I have yet to see someone sit at it.

I've tried a few things on the menu which changes minimally throughout the seasons.

- Fried chickpeas - During our 2015 visits, both for lunch and dinner, we were given fried seasoned chickpeas as an appetizer.  These were nicely flavored and the frying lightened the texture of the chickpea.  However, gone is this complimentary perk though in 2016.  You can order spiced nuts for $4 though.

- Falafel and Tahini Sauce (6) - Amos told me it's good when there is a lot of green in them.  These were light and had a lot of green.  Based on his expert assessment they're good.  The outside is golden brown and crunchy and you can see the abundance of sesame.  I thought the sauce was just okay though. $6

- Avocado and Roasted Carrots Salad - This is probably my most favorite thing from this restaurant.  With just a touch of black and white sesame, creamy avocado is paired with roasted carrots and persian cucumbers.  The light touch of dill, feta, and olive oil round out this simple salad that tastes oh so good.  Must try. $8

- Smoked Black Cod Flatbread - charred green onion, creme fraiche, dill - The flatbreads are sizable and good for sharing.  While there are several flatbread choices, this is one of their most popular and unique ones.  Depending on the season, you may see sturgeon with the same ingredients in place of cod.  The smoke flavor is pretty strong, but not overwhelming.  All of the flavors pair well together, even if the charred green onion may sometimes be a little too charred, but never inedible.  You do need to enjoy dill though - there is lots of it.  I've tried this one multiple times now. $13

- Grilled Lamb Kebabs - summer squash, cucumber, bulgur, green chutney - The lamb is juicy and did not have a gamey flavor.  There is a lot of squash and bulgur, almost too much compared to the quantity of meat.  $15

- Chickpea Stew - Swiss chard, spiced yogurt - I was hoping the stew would come out piping hot, but according to Amos, it's not unusual for it to be served just slightly above room temperature. The texture of the stew was nice and it was just above room temperature.  The photo shown here is for a half portion (which they kindly split for us when we told them we were going to share all of our dishes).  $16

- Braised Lamb Shank - beluga lentils, chicories, tumeric - The two rib lamb shank is tender and well seasoned, but ever so slightly gamey. The lentils were a little too hard for my tastes, and although I brought most of this home as leftovers, I still didn't enjoy the lentils the next day.  $23

- Special Pizza - Prosciutto, arugula, and egg - This was just okay. The flatbread had the right texture, and the egg, which must have been cooked separately, was cooked fine, but the prosciutto and arugula were put on the flatbread a little too early and had started to dry out a little (you can see how shriveled up the arugula is), so I didn't enjoy the toppings as much. Price unknown.

- Mango Vanilla Mojito (non-alcoholic) - mango, citrus, mint, and seltzer - Refreshing $6

The good: the food is tasty, there is parking adjacent to the restaurant, and the setting is pretty nice for South San Francisco.  Dinner service is a lot more attentive since it's not nearly as busy as during lunch.

The bad: if you're coming here for lunch, it's not one of those places you can go to quickly and be out in an hour.  For our party of four, we were there for over an hour and noticed that a nearby party more than twice our size took even longer to receive food even though they ordered at the same time we did.  We were nearly halfway through our meal before they were served.  This is the largest area of opportunity for them.  Also, it takes a really long time to have them give you a check, even after you ask for it.  They were apologetic during my most recent visit about taking a long time (more than 15 minutes) to bring the check, but it's still rough to wait so long during a weekday lunch.

I recommend trying Amoura, but just give yourself extra time for dining, especially during lunch.

Mid East Market - Middle Eastern/Mediterranean, San Bruno

1776 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 875-7100
Parking: very small parking lot, street parking

Last Visited: August 13, 2014

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $ to $$

Mid East Market is a market with a deli behind it that sells items from their deli case and serves items such as shawerma and falafel cooked to order.  Of course, these are also available in a wrap.  Prices range from $5.99 to $9.99 and while it's not gourmet dining, I think it offers a good alternative for lunch.

All plates are served with pita bread.

- Chicken Shawerma plate - Marinated chicken breast is cooked on the flat top.  Served with hummus, a tomato and cucumber salad, and pickles, it will definitely fill you up.  The meat was flavorful, but does tend to get dry near the end of the meal. The salad is fresh and the pickles add a good balance to the dish.  Depending on your school of thought, you might find the hummus not the right temperature because it's served cold, but it's smooth and has the right consistency.  Two sauces are also served with the dish.  Good. $7.99

- Beef Shawerma plate - Marinated beef is grilled on the flat top.  Similar to the chicken shawerma plate, it too is filling.  I liked the beef more than the chicken.  $8.49

- Falafel plate - During my first visit in July, I tried the falafel plate and found the falafel to be super fresh.  There was a big mound of cooked falafel and then they finish it off for serving.  It contains a lot of fresh herbs so when you bite into it, much of it is green.  According to my middle eastern friend, this is a good thing.  $7.99

- Falafel wrap - On my second visit, I tried the falafel wrap, but this time, I found the flavor of baking soda to be a bit stronger so I liked this falafel less than the previous visit.  The wrap is simple - a shmear of hummus, the falafel, some pickles, and then a few more pickles on the outside. $5.99

On both occasions, the deli is manned by one and at most two people.  It tends to be a bit hectic for the guy cooking when he doesn't have help and depending on the day, he can be a bit moody/less customer service oriented. The trail of ants that were making its way to the counter during my second visit made eating there less appetizing than the first time.  The setup is very simple in that there are probably two to three tables next to the refrigerator holding canned beverages and storage/display racks.  Definitely nothing fancy and it feels dated, but it will do.

Overall, I think it's a good place for takeout and to opt for something different, but it's no frills so as long as you know that going in, you'll be ok.  The market has some ethnic offerings that are somewhat hard to find in a regular grocery store, so since you have to go there to pay anyways, it's a good way to kill time while you wait.

Decks - Seafood/Mediterranean, Tiberias, Israel

Gdud Barak Street, Tiberias, Israel
9724-672-1538
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.tourwise.co.il/virtualTours/?tour=61_HE

Last Visited: May 2013

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: unknown

Decks is located in Tiberias along the Sea of Galilee.  Enjoy open air seating in a large space with beautiful views from its pier.  From this location, you can also take an hour long cruise (not sure how that gets arranged, but you could probably ask them). 

Our tour group came here for an enjoyable lunch featuring Peter's fish (red tilapia), available fried whole or grilled.

-  Pita bread - Giant pieces of lightly seasoned warm pita was served with plates of smooth hummus that also contained whole garbanzo beans.

- Salad - Large leaves of lettuce are lightly dressed with a vinaigrette with chopped shallots.  This was so simple, yet deliciously refreshing and of course, we had seconds.

- A huge fried onion - Like the blooming onion you get at Outback Steakhouse in the US, this onion is cut into chunks and is shared amongst the table.  These were terrific - much less the greasy than what you would find at the chain restaurants and well-seasoned.

- Fish - Lots of fresh lemon wedges came with fresh fried tilapia, lined up on a plate making for a perfect picture moment.  The fish was beautifully golden, and fairly moist.  This can be hard to eat for those whom aren't accustomed to it, but the oil was definitely fresh. We were also offered a grilled version with a dollop of pesto for those whom preferred it which was also very nice.  


- French Fries - That fresh oil was again featured by the lightly salted golden French fries. 


After our meal, the owner sang a song for us from the stage area.
This is an especially popular place for tour groups and in the evenings, you can often hear more music coming from Decks as you drive by the area. 

Service is friendly, although it's sometimes hard to get the servers' attention, especially when they're serving about 50 people at once.

If you enjoy Mediterranean food, you'll like Decks.  The atmosphere is casual, as evidenced by the servers attire.  Great food served family style in a gorgeous setting along the water - you can't go wrong.

Merriman's Market Cafe - Mediterranean, Waikoloa, Hawaii

250 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Suite J106, Waikoloa, HI 96738
(808)886-1700
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Open daily; Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, Happy Hour 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 9pm, Light Fare & Bar 9pm - 9:30 pm
http://merrimanshawaii.com/market_cafe.htm

Last Visited: October 2012

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $ to $$$

I had heard that Merriman's is rather expensive, but offers a fine dining experience.  Peter Merriman has a strong culinary background and this cafe was described as follows on the restaurant website: "His culinary innovation remains the predominant creative force here as well, but the menu is rooted in Mediterranean flavors in a Tapas style."

It seemed like the market cafe would give me a taste of what the restaurant was all about and it was conveniently located near the hotel I was staying at.  The casual bar, tables, and outdoor dining facing the mall offer a relaxed atmosphere.

When we arrived at the restaurant, there were two hostesses just outside, but both seemed occupied as they were having a conversation with one another.  When we were close enough that there was no denying the fact that we wanted to dine there, one greeted us and walked us to our table.  After looking at the menus, a staff member came to pour water into our glasses, but was unable to answer questions about the menu.  She told us that she would have the server come to our table.  About ten minutes later, our server, Barry, arrived and apologized for not coming over sooner and asked if we had any questions.  This was the beginning of the mish mash of varied service that we experienced throughout our time dining there. 

At first glance, I thought the menu offerings was more Italian than Mediterranean.  However, there is often a crossover between both styles of dishes, so I ordered some light fare.  I arrived during happy hour and tried a few items.

- Crispy Calamari - Buttermilk fried calamari with house tomato herb marinara and cilantro aioli - This is one of the items listed on the regular menu.  Large calamari, much larger than usual, is lightly breaded and served with a wedge of lemon and the other sauces.  The meat was tender and the breading was crispy. $12.95

- Garlic Truffle Fries - This is a very full plate of fries.  When you pay regular price, you can expect that you'll be full.  The fries come with a mustard based aioli that I didn't particularly care for - I preferred to accompany the fries with the aioli from the calamari.  At happy hour prices, this is a generous portion.  If you have tried Gordon Biersch fries in San Francisco, you'll find that these are a lot crispier, but the truffle garlic butter isn't mild in comparison.  I thought it tasted good, but could have a stronger garlic flavor.  $4.95 Happy Hour, $6.95 Dinner

- Romaine Caesar Salad - White anchovy and handcrafted crostini are served atop dressed romaine leaves.  Compared to romaine in California, I thought these greens had a texture more like a combination of butter lettuce/red leaf lettuce.  I would have preferred to swap the size of the fries with that of the fries - this is an extremely small plate (though hard to tell from the photo) - probably just enough to fit on the saucer of your tea cup.  The dressing also tasted more like ranch than caesar. If I had paid regular price, I would have expected a lot more, but it turns out that the portions are the same no matter when you order. $4.95 Happy Hour, $6.95 Dinner

While waiting for food, we heard another server share the specials with her table - this was the first we had heard of any specials being available.

The server had asked if everything could be served at once, and we answered yes.  However, the food came in spurts - the calamari and fries first and the server (perhaps a junion one) that served them told us to enjoy the food.  Then five minutes later, he came back with the salads and told us to enjoy them again. 

The same server that took our order came back to check on us one time and his kindest words came wiht the check.  As we left, the hostesses again ignored us and the only person that said thank you as we departed was another server (she was the one we had seen earlier that had shared the specials) despite us passing a number of staff members who looked at us and would look rapidly away.  

Merrimen's offers good food and happy hour dishes are very reasonable.  Service is lacking from Barry and from the hostesses whom are so pre-occupied with their own conversation that patrons get neglected.  The one server who is on top of things kept the range up to 2 stars for service.  If you are staying in Waikoloa, considering ordering to go to avoid the service issues, but still enjoy good food.

Papa's Taverna - Greek, Petaluma

5688 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma CA 94954

(707) 769-8545

Hours: Closed Mon and Tues, Wed and Thurs 11:30am-2pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-10pm

http://www.papastaverna.com/

Last Visited: July 9, 2011

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

It's been more than a few years since I've been to Papa's Taverna.  I had a craving for Greek food and met a friend out here for dinner one evening.

Their website says that they're under new ownership.  Maybe that's part of the reason I felt the place had changed.  I had come here many moons ago for a family dinner and had found the place rather charming for our table of many guests, but now it seems like it could use a renovation and remodel.

Enter the restaurant in the evening and you'll be given the option to be seated near the band or in the other dining area.  I chose the area away from the band because the sun was about to set and this room offers views of the water, boats, and other scenery.  The decor seems a bit dated and less than wow.

The service to start the evening right from the start could have used some improvement.  The server was abrupt and trying to be both host and server with plates in her hand.  I wouldn't have minded waiting for her to finish serving first before coming over to seat us.  Once seated, the order process was fine, but her timing for checking on us was a bit off.

- Fried Calamari - Although the frying oil was fresh and the color on the calamari was good, the batter was too soft and it seemed like frozen calamari that had been breaded versus breading done in house.  The cucumber slices and pieces of tomato addded a nice freshness, but I still found it lackluster.  $10

- Mousaka - Greek vegetable, meat lasagna.  Served with a half Papa's horiatiki salad.  The salad is served first and comes with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta chunks.  I really liked how this feta wasn't too salty.  The presentation of the mousaka could be more pleasing - the darkened edges make the pasta look dry.  The flavor was ok.  The vegetables were alright, but nothing to write home about. $18

- Pork Gyro with French Fries - The gyro was tasty with the toasted pita bread and fresh vegetables with the grilled meat.  The pita is grilled until warm and slightly crisp.  The amount of thick cut french fries are good and they were fried to an acceptable crispness. I would have liked them to be even a little crispier.  Of the dishes tried, the gyro was probably one of the better dishes of the evening.  $14

While the server was pleasant, her overall demeanor could use some polishing.  The atmosphere is old and outdated.  Pricing on their menu is a bit high for dinner entrees.  If prices were lowered $2 to $3 per dish, I would find it more palatable for my wallet considering the overall ambiance.

Papa's Taverna might be a good place to go to watch the belly dancing or hear live music, but it's a bit expensive considering the service and atmosphere.  The gyro is a good choice.

Harvest Moon Cafe - Californian/Mediterranean, Sonoma

487 First St West, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-8160
Parking: street parking in the plaza
Hours: Dinner Sun - Thurs 5:30 to 9pm, Fri - Sat 5:30 to 9:30pm
http://harvestmooncafesonoma.com/

Last Visited: March 12, 2006

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$

Harvest Moon Café recently opened in January of 2006. Thanks to the P family for bringing us here. The décor is earthy and warm with sunset orange paint and some rustic teal or green depending on the lighting. Olive branches surround the light fixtures and a general olive theme is seen on the menu and in other locations. There’s a bar in the rear and some bar seating facing the kitchen area as well. It’s a cozy atmosphere with tables somewhat close together. The music playing on the stereo reminded me of some Italian style music and some jazz-like tunes.

Chef Nick Demarest, formerly of Eccolo and Chez Panisse in Berkeley, opened this restaurant with his wife Jen, a pastry chef. The cuisine is reminiscent of that of La Haye just off the square. The style of cooking brings a delicate quality to the dishes, with light richness (which although seemingly contradictory, you’ll know what I mean when you taste the flavorful sauces).

Upon our arrival, we were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. After ordering, we were provided with rustic bread. What was strange is that although we had four people, we were only given two pats of butter, and thin pats at that. I felt like they were restricting us a bit, but we asked for more and were given more.

Most appetizers are between $7 and $12. There’s an emphasis on local ingredients and the menu changes daily to reflect that.

Beet salad with frisee – Sweet yellow, red, and purple beets are coined and plated with frisee in the center. I don’t know my lettuces well enough, but I think arugula accompanied the frisee. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful and presented simply. Two crostini spread with gorgonzola accompanied the salad. Very good.

Other appetizers available this evening included artichokes with prosciutto and chopped egg, sardines with salad, and baby lettuces. There were about six or seven choices available for dinner entrees this evening. All ranged between $17 and $24. Most listed below had fancier names, but I didn’t take home a menu this evening, so these descriptions will be fairly general.

- Pasta with ahi tuna and olives – A hint of garlic and onions are the base for a pasta mixed with green olives, cubes of ahi tuna, and spinach. The presentation is colorful. The pasta is similar to spaghetti, but with larger diameter and very al dente. The olives add flavor to the light mix of tender tuna and spinach. I liked the concept of this dish, but being a fan of sushi, I would have liked it even more if the ahi had been rare inside, but this was still tender and delicious. Good.

- Pork scallopine with fava bean stew – Two pieces of tender pork are pan fried with lots of pepper and a light sauce. Fava beans are stewed with diced pork pieces – perhaps a bacon or ham that give the beans lots of flavor. Spinach is sautéed with garlic and accompanies the pork and fava beans. The overall flavor is rich, yet not too heavy. The pork is juicy and is probably one of the best pork dishes I’ve had in a while. If you like thin pork chops, this is one to try. Very good.

- Swordfish with Sicilian salsa verde and rapini – Swordfish is served over brocolini/rapini sautéed in olive oil. The swordfish is topped with a salsa made of green olives, onions, and fresh herbs. Also accompanying the fish are Yukon gold potatoes that are slightly browned until crispy on the outside. The fish is delicate and the flavorful salsa gives it a lot of additional texture. I didn’t get to try the rapini, but it had great color and looked very fresh. The potato is yummy. Good.

- Brisket with chicken and homemade sausage in a light broth – This dish had an interesting name that I had never heard before. The meat was sitting amidst light caramel colored broth along with tender carrots and vegetables. The sausage round is wrapped in kale that creates an interesting presentation. The brisket and chicken were both very tender and flavorful. The chicken was boneless and moist. The sausage had nice flavor and is on the denser side; the presentation of the sausage certainly made it interesting and added color to the presentation. Good.

A selection of desserts are also available along with after dinner drinks. Desserts on the menu included a meyer lemon cheesecake with blood orange sauce, Scharffenberger bittersweet chocolate pots de crème, and a sweet tart with vanilla bean ice cream. Although they sounded delightful, I was still full from the entree.

Harvest Moon has fine fare with a hint of the Mediterranean. Service is non-invasive and professional, although it somehow didn’t sparkle as much as it could have. Fresh local ingredients and great flavor all around make this restaurant a place to which I would like to return. Check out this local treat.