La Méditerranée is a true gem in San Francisco. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a…read morewarm, welcoming, family-style atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. Service attentive and friendly, adding to the overall experience. The food is excellent, with rich, authentic Armenian and Mediterranean flavors. A standout is the Armenian coffee--strong, rich, aromatic, and perfectly prepared with mini bakhlava. It's the perfect way to end a meal. A place of both comfort and quality.

This place is fantastic! It's cozy (but not loud or cramped) and the food is varied and delicious…read more My recent trip included a sampling plate of all 4 fillo offerings (the cheese karni and the Levantine meat tart were the best), Armenian potato salad, lemon chicken rice soup, and the saffron chicken kebab over rice pilaf (dinner special of the night). The kebabs were made with chicken breast, but very tender and moist, and the side of hummus was fresh, creamy and delicious. We also tried the sangria which was great- not too sweet and decently strong (not watered down bad wine). For dessert, the lemon cake was tasty but odd that dried cranberries were sprinkled into the whipped cream. I appreciated the variety offered on the menu- not just typical Greek food you find everywhere else that touts "Mediterranean food". The service was super nice and efficient, and I like that it has been family owned and run (sadly an increasingly rare San Francisco characteristic these days)- you can tell the difference in the quality and thought put into the experience.

Old Jerusalem is so yummy! Our eyes were differently bigger than our stomachs. We ordered the…read moreStuffed Falafel, Mosabaha, Meat Combo, Mousakhan, and Kunafa. There was complimentary bread which was insanely good and fluffy and warm plus tahini and an onion tomato sauce I think along with radishes and olives. We are not olive ppl sadly but I tried one and it was pretty okay. The service was great and all the servers were super attentive and accommodating. The Stuffed falafel was so good and huge 1 is enough for 2 people. The mosabaha was very refreshing and so good. The meat combo was good overall and everything was very herbally spiced, I wasn't impressed by the lamb tho but the kebab, hummus, and chicken were great! I haven't had Mousakhan before so not sure how it should taste but to me it was sweet and savory with really well cooked chicken. I honestly felt pretty healthy overall cause I was eating hella veggies and everything tasted so fresh. The kunafa was good we got it crispy and was yummy imo but was a lil oily (I think this is normal tho). Arab food isn't really spicy but it is spiced and very herbal which I felt in the food here, I appreciate that chili sauce is provided for the spice lovers. Overall, would highly recommend. It was about $100ish for everything and they recently increased their prices but tbh the portion sizes are huge and I feel like it is so worth it we had hella leftovers. If we had 4 ppl instead of 2 it would've been perfect portions for everyone.

We've come across and heard about Old Jerusalem before and felt like having middle eastern food…read moretonight, so we took a chance and tried them out. When we arrived at around 7:30 pm, there were tables available. It's a comfortable cafe-like restaurant with mural paintings on the wall. Service was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the food wasn't as good as the ambiance and waitstaff. ***OUR PICKS*** BEEF SHAWERMA ENTREE ~ the beef was overly salted, saffron rice was ok, hummus was really thick, like peanut butter. My guy ordered this and thought it was average. 3/5 LAMB SHISH KEBAB WRAP ~ this was my dish. I ate one half of the wrap and it only held two cubes of lamb meat. The lettuce and tomatoes made the wrap bland. The meat was seasoned, but everything was plain, so it needed more seasoning. Honestly, this was missing flavor! I'll have to add something to it when I eat the rest of this wrap at home. 2.5/5 HALF ROASTED CHICKEN AND RICE ~ Our friend ordered this dish. It needed more sumac. This tasted like plain roasted chicken. Maybe it needs more seasoning while marinating. It wasn't dry, so that's a relief. Rice was ok and it wasn't dry or soggy. 3.5 We've been spoiled and have had better food in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Nothing stood out for any of us. Prices are a bit high for what you get. Sadly, probably won't be back.

EAT HERE. NOW!!…read more pros: -kotlet and lavash special = SO GOOD -cutest restaurant inside and out -fast service cons: -none

After hearing about Lavash for years, I was excited to finally try it. Unfortunately, it was a…read moreletdown. The two stars are mainly for the ambiance. The restaurant has a warm, authentic Persian feel that I genuinely appreciated. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting. The kebabs were surprisingly bland and lacked the depth of flavor I'd expect from Persian cuisine. The quality of the meat was average at best, and nothing on the plate really stood out. Service was also mediocre. It wasn't unfriendly, just indifferent and forgettable. If you're completely new to Persian food and happen to be in the neighborhood, Lavash is a convenient introduction. But if you've experienced Persian restaurants across California, this is unlikely to impress. I've eaten at more than 35 Persian restaurants throughout the state, and based on that experience, Lavash falls well below average. I really wanted to like it after hearing so much about it over the years, but I left disappointed. Two stars is the most I can honestly give.

Set your expectations right and this place is close to perfect: it's a small counter spot near 16th…read moreSt BART, mostly takeout, a few stools inside and a couple of tables out front. It is not a sit-down restaurant and doesn't pretend to be. What it is, is consistently excellent food at prices that still make sense in a city where that's getting rare. We're regulars, and we usually go on Sunday evenings after my girlfriend gets off work. Falafel wrap and chicken shawarma are our usual order -- the falafel has that crisp-shell, tender-middle thing going, and the wraps are generously built. We've branched out plenty and everything we've tried has been good. The other reason we keep showing up is the people. Turna usually takes our order, and she is genuinely lovely -- friendly in a way that isn't a customer-service script. My girlfriend and I always walk out in a better mood than we walked in with, which is worth a lot. Practical notes: halal, lots of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, open until midnight Fri/Sat, and they cater. Grab some napkins if you're eating the wrap on the move -- it's a big one, and that's a compliment.

Solid Mediterranean spot. The meat tastes fresh, and you can actually see it being prepped when you…read moreorder, which is always a good sign. I'm a big fan of the chicken shawarma--it's really flavorful and hits the spot when it's done right. That said, on a couple of my previous orders the meat was a bit on the dry side, but I still find myself coming back because when it's on point, it's really good. Staff is friendly, and most of the time you can stand on their ledges to eat or sit outside. There were 2 small tables that seat 2-3 per table. Pro tip: ask for the tahini and hot sauce on the side and load it into your wrap--it takes it up a notch.

Dinner at Kokkari last night and it reminded me again why open fire cooking is undefeated. Had the…read morebranzino, fried smelt, and the mesquite roasted pork chop special. There's just something primal and perfect about smoke hitting a juicy piece of pork... honestly any meat... or even fish like the branzino. The flavor gets deeper, richer, more alive. You can taste the fire in the best way possible. The pork chop was the standout for me -- smoky outside, incredibly juicy inside. The branzino was clean and delicate but still carried that subtle char from the grill. Even the fried smelt disappeared fast. Kokkari just understands how to cook over fire without overcomplicating things. Simple, rustic, confident food.

Super clean flavors, quality ingredients, and a menu that feels elevated without trying too hard…read more It has that classic San Francisco charm while still feeling a little bougie. The area itself can be a bit off putting with the number of unhoused individuals nearby, but once you're inside it's a completely different experience. Stephanie was our waitress and she was absolutely amazing. So warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. Her service alone is one of the reasons we continue coming back. Being married into a family that specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, I admit I'm a bit biased. The flavors here lean more Greek inspired, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I found them to be a little too subtle for my personal taste. I tend to gravitate toward bolder Mediterranean flavors, so I wasn't extremely impressed by the food itself. That being said, I can absolutely understand why this restaurant is so popular. The dishes are approachable, balanced, and refined in a way that I think appeals to the American palate. The food is consistently good every visit. My favorite dish is the octopus, and I also love the biscuit platter from their selection of sweets. Everything tastes fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The restaurant itself is beautiful, although the seating near the entrance can feel a little cramped when it's busy. The vibe is formal casual, if that makes sense. Maybe don't show up in training clothes like I did once, but even then they were nothing but kind and welcoming. Super cute spot and definitely the type of place where the men with trust funds who are somehow 6'5" seem to gather for lunch and after work drinks. Calling ahead for reservations is your best bet.

This place is so reliable. Good service up front. You can order and eat inside or in their cute…read morebackyard. They keep the options limited but you can mix and match your style. It's a pick your protein and pick your style. I usually get the chicken wrap. But occasionally get the salad with chicken. Their hot sauce is delicious too! We often grab it to go and eat it up the hill in Alamo Square for a lunch with a great view on a nice day. Souvla offers very tasty food with good ingredients prepared faithfully time after time. It's an easy go-to choice for me and my wife on a sunny weekend day.

This place you can eat here or order to-go and pick up at their pickup window. The only saving…read moregrace of this place is the food comes fast. We ordered the Chicken Sandwich, Lamb Sandwich, Greek Fries, Juicy Potatoes, and Baklava Crumbles & Syrup. The Chicken Sandwich was very mediocre since it was pretty much just Shredded Chicken with Veggies and the Pita Bread, which also was a weird texture and meh in flavor. The Lamb Sandwich was was also very meh. The Lamb itself was on the tough side of life and this didn't really have any flavor to it besides the taste of Feta Cheese. The Greek Fries were the best thing and those were also pretty okay. They were nice and crispy but that was all. The Juicy Potatoes were indeed juicy, but that was really it. The problem was that they didn't have any flavor. The Baklava Crumbles and Syrup was okay. The Frozen Yogurt was okay and the Baklava that went with it was very meh in terms of taste and texture. This was definitely the worst Baklava tasting thing that I have tasted before and wish that there was the Pilo Dough to give it some texture instead of being mushy. Overall, very mediocre in taste and overpriced in terms of taste.

I'm generally pretty indifferent about mediterranean food, but this place really impressed me!…read more Every dish I tried had amazing flavors, and everything was prepared perfectly. We started off with the hummus and the moussaka (eggplant and tomato sauce). The hummus was pretty standard, but still great, and the moussaka was SO delicious. This was definitely the standout dish to me, and I'd hiiiighly recommend it. For mains, I was doing Meatless Monday, so I got the super falafel wrap. This wrap was also sooo delicious and massive! The falafel was really flavorful, and all the toppings and tahini sauce were just perfect additions. The restaurant itself is really pleasant and bright, great for pretty much any occasion. Service was also good (you order via QR code, but they bring the food out to you) and prices are reasonable given the quality and portion size. Definitely a new fav spot in SF!

This place is sooo underrated! I live in Mission for a couple yrs & so mad I'm just now trying it!…read more I'm a big fan of Mediterranean, so high expectations. Bomb: - chicken Shawarma (super moist and flavorful chicken & comes with pita at no extra cost!) - beef Shawarma plate - hummus was incredible - literally the best baklava I've ever had Highly recommend!

Lovely spot to have dinner in West Portal. Cozy spot,…read moreupscale casual dining. Great wine menu - I am picky with my red wines these days and enjoyed my $11 glass of old vine Zinfandel. We loved the Combo appetizer plate which came with generous portions of 9 different items. I loved everything ! I'm an eggplant lover and two of the dips were eggplant based . My new favorite dip is the Mercimek Kofte which is a red lentil based chunky dip ; I would've guessed garbanzo bean based dip. The Haydari dip was also super addictive, a thick creamy dip made of kefir cheese and Greek yogurt. So many delicious but gut healthy items of the combo plate; which comes with thin lavash bread. Also loved the red lentil soup, which was warming on a rainy day. I thought it was flavorful without being overly spiced or too thick. My husband enjoyed the lamb kebabs. Tender juicy cuts of lamb that were well seasoned , comes on a bed of salad and rice. We also liked the charred red peppers and onions on the kebab . Service was sufficient Overall great little find for dinner !

New favorite Mediterranean place!…read more This is about a 15 min walk from where I live so I'll be coming here more often. Big fan of the portions at this restaurant. We ordered the combo plate which came with a lot of Pita bread, definitely enough to share among 4 people. Dishes came with a big helping of hummus too. I personally got the Kofte Kebab which filled me up. I had enough to bring home for lunch the next day. Getting a frozen yogurt at Easy Breezy is a must afterwards!!