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    Zaytinya

    4.3 (397 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Zaytinya Photos

    ZAYTINYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Zaytinya

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    Reviews With Photos

    Samantha S.

    Came to zaytinya on a Sunday night in a group of 4. Inside the restaurant is very modern and clean. Lots of natural light, love the ambiance. Service was good. Food was amazing!! We shared a bunch of dishes. Our favorites were the seared halloumi, hummus and kofte kebab. The Turkish coffee chocolate cake was soooo good too. They have pitas for the table, ask for as many as you want ;) Would definitely come back

    Brandon L.

    Came here with coworkers so we ordered a lot. Good excuse to try almost everything. All the spreads were solid, we got the baba ganoush, labneh, hummus, etc. The pides were good too, can't go wrong there. The octopus was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Table favorite for a lot of us. But the real star was the lamb shoulder. Perfect amount of woodiness, seasoned perfectly, came with a bunch of sauces and paired with the bread they give you it was such a simple but great combination. Tender but still meaty, which is exactly how I like lamb. I don't like when it just falls apart. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium for the group. The whole fish was moist and cooked well, though a little bland on its own. Paired with the other sides on the table it worked really well though. The cocktails were also really good. The 3PM in Istanbul was a group favorite. Not too sweet and the flavors kind of evolved as you drank it. They also have a lot of solid vegetarian options which is always nice to see. The ambiance inside is sooo nice and the decor is really well done. This would make a fantastic date spot. Service was extremely friendly. Wish I had caught our waiter's name because they were amazing. I'll be back!

    Hutch C.

    We did the tasting menu which my boys loved! Plenty of food even though I skipped a few things (oysters and shrimp). Waitress was awesome and she offered to sub things for these courses, but boys were happy to eat the extra. Also did the wine tasting which was fine and reasonably priced. The kebabs were the star of the show. Lively atmosphere, good drinks, a nice addition to Stanford Mall (actually coming back with a friend 2 nights later!)

    CAULIFLOWER TIGANITES
    Tina K.

    First off, the decor and details inside this place are beautiful. It's a large spacious restaurant with lots of seating. One thing to note, it is a noisy dining experience (maybe because our booth was right by the bar area). Our server was great and all the staff we interacted with were very nice. We opted to order everything family style so we could try as many dishes as possible. The portions are pretty small, but the flavors were great. The dishes that stood out: * cauliflower was perfectly cooked * smoked beet salad was incredible and truly had a smoky flavor * the chicken blew us away, the perfectly crispy skin was 10/10 * kebab platter was a good assortment of different types of meats for all of us to try. Everything was well seasoned. The dips and bread were really great too, but nothing extraordinary especially based on the price. Overall, a great elevated dining experience. I look forward to coming back.

    KEBAB PLATTER*
    Tiffany H.

    Had high expectations for this place since it's one of Jose Andres restaurants. Loved the decor and the service was first class. People came around to check on us frequently and to refill our water. For the price, however, I was expecting more. Tried the smoked beet salad and hummus to start. The portion for the salad was quite small and was like a side salad but I enjoyed the flavors and it was delicious! The pita bread was a nice fluffy puff and served hot. The hummus had a good blend and flavor as well. We split the kebab platter which had 4 different kebabs, onions and tomatoes. It was enough for two mildly hungry people to split but was also a fairly small portion for $70. It had good flavors and we liked the meats and sides which we put in our pitas. We overall enjoyed the meal and service.

    Ivan B.

    What an amazing experience in a Mediterranean restaurant at Stanford Shopping Center! Really excited to come here with my mom and her friends. I'd like to thank them for inviting us here! Place looks really nice inside and I like how staff takes care of the tables while we're still dining here. Just imagine living here. I mean it's nicely decorated with good materials to build this place. About the menu, not really much options when scrolling through everything since obviously there were a few pages, but definitely know that they will serve good food. Food is really tasty and authentic here. Not really big portions though the quality of the food is very peak. Also, the bread tastes good. Highly recommend wrapping around meats and other sauces with the bread. My favorite dishes are the ones that come with three meats and ones that look like cheese pizza. If you're planning to come here, it can get crowded especially on the weekends. Just be sure to plan ahead since it can get packed during that time.

    Lin C.

    We went for the Mother's Day menu and it was a disappointing experience. Seems like there might have been a mix up with items coming out of order- we waited almost 50 min for our 2nd course to come out, and instead they brought out our 3rd course. We then had to let them know that we never got the 2nd course and so they brought it out after. We did not get any refills of pita breads after the first basket and no one really checked on us to see if we had questions or concerns. We absolutely love the Zaytinya in DC so we were really excited for the Palo Alto location. Unfortunately it did not live up to our expectations.

    Karla M.

    One year to celebrate my best friend and I's birthday. We made reservation reservations for the evening and we were sat down within 10 to 15 minutes. Firstly, the ambience is pretty loud for dinner time. Felt like I had to definitely yell a little bit to have a conversation. The restaurant inside, however it was really chic and classy. The order of brussels sprouts and a salad for starters and for our main dish we got the platter. The bread that was served is also very delicious. I definitely see their brussels sprouts are a must-- you can never go wrong with that and I really loved the taste of the salad. I felt like I never got tired of it. The platter was also very interesting because they allow you to try different meats I did think that I had liked the chicken a bit more and there was also some lamb but it's still a good experience to try.

    HOMMUS
    Phong T.

    Zaytinya is a restaurant nestled at the Stanford Shopping Center by renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés. They opened in December 2025 so my friend and I were excited to try as this is my first experience at one of his restaurants. We walked in on a Sunday afternoon around 1PM for lunch. Since it was sunny and warm, I asked for an outdoor seat when checking in with the host, but the wait was up to 45 minutes. Fortunately, there was a table inside right by the opening to the outdoor seating near the bar, so we were able to catch partial sun rays. SERVICE Based on previous reviews, there was a lot of feedback about the customer service. Like any restaurant, there is a period when improvements are made. I can assure anyone reading my review that the service was excellent. From the host to our server, Gil, great personalities and good vibes all around. FOOD We ordered a few apps & mezze to share. - Complimentary Bread with Oil & Vinegar - HOMMUS purée of chickpeas, garlic, tahini, harissa chili crisp - FALAFEL traditional crispy chickpea fritters, tumeric pickles, cherry tomato, tahini - ZAYTINYA FRIES crispy potatoes, house mushroom salt, roasted garlic yogurt - OCTOPUS SANTORINI grilled mediterranean octopus, marinated onions, capers, yellow split pea puree - SHISH TAOUK grilled chicken skewer, sumac onions, garlic toum, grilled tomato Everything was fresh and tasty. Highlights we really enjoyed were the hommus (so smooth and fresh!) and falafel. My only main feedback was that the octopus was overcooked and dry. The pea puree was flavorful but quite thick and slightly gritty. We thoroughly enjoyed our server and the delicious food. I will definitely return to try more menu items and explore the dinner offerings. The interior decor is immaculate, truly transporting you to a Mediterranean destination.

    FATTOUSH
    Tina A.

    Sitting at Zaytinya, you'll be transported to the stunning Mediterranean. This beautifully decorated space, with its whitewashed walls, terracotta pots with olive trees, and soothing hues of blue, will make you feel you are sitting at an elegant seaside taverna. Throughout our meal, service was exceptional - friendly, efficient and attentive. We started with the Hommus dip, which was as creamy and flavorful as it should be! The green chickpea garnish added a great finishing touch to the dish! The warm, puffy pita bread with olive oil swirled with pomegranate molasses was so one of the highlights of our meal and our server was kind enough to keep replenishing the warm bread. The Garithes Me Anitho (Shrimp with dill, shallots, lemon and mustard) was excellent. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and we couldn't resist dipping our bread into the zesty lemony sauce. The Fatoush Salad, while refreshing, surprised us with its absence of the traditional lettuce component. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts Afelia was one of our favorite dishes & the fried Brussel sprouts contrasted nicely with the barberries & garlic yogurt sauce. It was also one of the more generous portions of the dishes we ordered. The Octopus Santorini was tender and succulent & it was complemented by the creamy yellow split pea puree. However, we couldn't help but be taken aback by the small portion size of the Kofta Kebab, priced at a hefty $19. This was a recurring theme throughout our meal - the dishes were incredibly tasty and beautifully presented, yet the portion sizes were shockingly small for the prices. We understand the high rents in the Stanford Mall, but customers also deserve value for their money. The Chicken Muhammara was the only dish that was a decent portion size. I guess that is considered a "main dish" but that too came with a hefty price tag of $45. So our final thoughts are that Zaytinya is an excellent choice for those seeking upscale Mediterranean cuisine. However, be prepared for small portion sizes and higher prices.

    OLIVE OIL CAKE
    Shia L.

    Meh. Have you been to Santana Row lately and tried one of those contemporary-looking, over-priced restaurants with bland food? Zaytinya felt like their Palo Alto sibling. Dishes supposed to be hot were all lukewarm. Not enough spices. Service was slow and lacky. I would go to Meyhouse any day over this place. M is slightly pricier but worths every extra penny.

    OCTOPUS SANTORINI
    Winnie T.

    We ordered Kebab platter Sesame salmon Octopus Santorini The ambiance is good and service is 5 star Will definitely come back again

    Open, airy, bright. High ceilings,unique lighting at ZAYTINYA
    Racquel R.

    The space itself is breathtaking.- all soaring high ceilings and massive floor to ceiling windows draped in sheer linen that lets light through. From the moment we sat down, our waiter, Ivan, struck the perfect chord. He was attentive and thoroughly professional, but anchored everything with a sincere, confident warmth and a genuine smile that made us feel instantly welcomed. The kitchen moved with an impressive, effortless rhythm, filling our table with beautiful small platters that were practically art. We started with the homemade pita bread, which arrived light, fluffy, and still warm from the oven--the absolute perfect companion to the aromatic za'atar pide (our favorite) Smoked beet salad (unique flavor for beet salad). kofte kebab, falafel, garides me anitho(shrimp) To drink, the Pomona cocktail with distinct anise notes of the ouzo lent an authentic, refreshing touch. For dessert, we shared olive oil cake. It melded a slightly crumbly texture with the perfect balance of salty and sweet, all brightened by fresh strawberries. It's the kind of place that's perfect to laugh out loud and just be happy with friends.

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    19 days ago

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    3 days ago

    Excellent restaurant, excellent service and atmosphere. Thank you Jesse for your hospitality

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    21 days ago

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    11 days ago

    I have been here twice, and food and hospitality have been consistently great! Special thanks to Jess for taking care of me today. :)

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    3 days ago

    enjoyed our lunch so much, spreads, flatbread and kabob, Jes our server was wonderful

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    16 days ago

    Baris was an amazing server! We had a great time. Food was amazing. The zaatar margarita was delightful highly recommend!

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    7 days ago

    Food was great, atmosphere was very nice as well, Jess was great and very kind. Lovely service

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    11 days ago

    Wonderful food and atmosphere! The grilled halloumi and the shrimp were some of our favorites. Excellent service from Jas.

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    22 days ago

    Gil was our waiter! Excellent. Indoor outdoor vibe was perfect on a warm sunshiny day. Good drinks and food

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    Page 2 of 10

    Zaytinya Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Zaytinya

    Are there quiet tables?

    Not really but you could pick a corner and hope it'll be quiet.

    Can I bring my own bottles of wine? Is there a corkage fee?

    Hello Curtis, Our corkage fee is $30 per 750ml bottle with a maximum of 2 bottles per reservation.

    Is this restaurant child/baby friendly?

    Yes, plenty of space indoors and outdoors other patio--it's upscale casual :-) When we went, we saw toddlers!

    Do you have outside seating available?

    Yes. Patio seating is available.

    By any chance, is the meat halal?

    Everything except the steak.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Iraklis

    Iraklis

    4.7
    (569 reviews)
    13.1 mi
    $$

    Four and half stars. I really love Middle Eastern food and all the shawarma videos I've seen on…read moreYoutube and how. Alot of people have said that the Syrian version is the best I know I needed to try it. Behold Iraklis ended up being only five minutes from my house. I remember that this place used to be so many other restaurants,and now has been replaced by this great place. You know the food is going to be good when the owner or manager comes out to ask you how the food is to each costumer. I felt that warmth for sure. As for the food it was very delicious the stand out was of course was rmthe shawarma I got chicken which came with the pomegranate molasses, which was good, but maybe next time I can ask for a little less because I do want to also try the chicken flavor itself, which is why I also for the chicken kakbab on the side to which was very well seasoned and delicious. The pickles and hummus on the side for both plates are a very nice touch they help cut some of the richness down. The fries are the underrated gem also. The way they are fried and cooked here, I think they do fresh batches every time, that is the vibe I get with this place. The hibiscus juice was also really refreshing to drink. It's a small place but most of the tables were all seated by people, and people were coming in and ordering to go, so you know it's good! Definitely give this place a try!

    Can't believe I haven't written a review for Iraklis yet! I've tried quite a number of things on…read morethe menu, and have thourugly liked just about everything! My favorites include the shawarma lamb wrap damascus style, falafel tacos, the original chicken shawarma wrap, and of course the pickles and toum. I also really enjoyed the Fatteh. You can't really go wrong with anything here, it's just about what your personal favorites are. The owners are so kind and friendly, always chatting with everyone in the restaurant, they create a very warm and welcoming environment, and you can tell they really care about what they do.

    Photos
    Menu (Apr. 2026)
    Menu (Apr. 2026)
    Mango Lassi ($3)
    Mango Lassi ($3)
    Chicken Shawarma Taco

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    Chicken Shawarma Taco
    Tannourine

    Tannourine

    3.9
    (532 reviews)
    10.1 mi
    $$

    Had dinner here with my girlfriends and had a very pleasant experience! We came on a weekday around…read more6pm and the restaurant was completely empty. There wasn't even any music or anyone inside to greet us so it felt a little awkward. Luckily, a nice hostess came out shortly and gave us a nice seat by the window. We ordered the cheese boruk as an appetizer and the chicken and garlic as my entree. The cheese boruk was fresh and crispy on the outside. The chicken and garlic was also very good! The chicken was nicely cooked and I liked the garlic sauce (definitely on the stronger side!) and potato wedges. I wish the chicken was a little more grilled for some extra char, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, good food and pleasant dining experience! Hope this restaurant gets more attention!

    The appetizer is pita bread with yogurt, olive oil, herbs and sesame seed. Had to take out what was…read moreleft cause there was a lot of food. We ordered chicken caesar salad, it was fresh with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and other greens. The lamb shank was cooked so tender and fall off the bone perfection. The spice is just enough so you won't taste the gaminess of the meat. I would recommend to those who wanna try and appreciate meditterran food to check it out. When we went there, there were about three tables occupied, the service was just right on time and ambiance is good for medium size family gathering or party. The place cam accomodate maybe 40-50 people.

    Photos
    Tannourine
    Lamb couscos
    Lamb couscos
    Veggie Couscos

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    Veggie Couscos
    Spread Kitchen

    Spread Kitchen

    4.8
    (280 reviews)
    62.2 mi
    $$

    Such a gem in Sonoma. They might seem small when you walk in, but the move is to sit in the…read morebackyard. Dip plate is fun to start with, it's not mindblowing but it's good. The turmeric chicken though was the real highlight. Every bite was juicy, and you can't go wrong with grain bowl or wrap. The za'atar fries were great too.

    I thought perhaps this restaurant was over rated but indeed it is not…read more Nice smallish space inside, much larger nice space outside. Neat as a pin, tiny open kitchen cranking out some awesome food. Of course we ordered too much to try a wider of variety of things but the leftovers will be fantastic no doubt. Ordered a Dip Plate and the Dirty Fries and really could have sopped there. The Dirty Fries were very very tasty and the Baba Ganoush and Muhammara we ordered with the Dip Plate were excellent. Lots of Pita quarters to go along with those sauces. Service was very friendly and amazingly fast. I ordered the local style Lavash Wrap with Lamb Kofta and Tahini Yoghurt sauce and it was extremely good; took half home. The pickled veggies were all outstanding. The other three ordered Grain Bowls, two with Lamb Kofta and one with turmeric chicken with toum. All were delicious with plenty for the next day. The Moroccan red wine we ordered was very dry so perfect with the spicy (but not too spicy) food. A Sonoma gem for sure. Brisk takeout business. Parking is difficult unless you opt for the small public parking lot a block South which is what we did; underused parking lot so parking is not an issue. We will be back.

    Photos
    Inside dining room
    Inside dining room
    Whipped Feta and Beet and falafel
    Whipped Feta and Beet and falafel
    Summer salad with beef/lamb. Added feta

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    Summer salad with beef/lamb. Added feta
    Beit Rima

    Beit Rima

    4.3
    (504 reviews)
    26.9 mi
    $$

    From the River to the Sea…read more This is the second location for this local, family-owned Palestinian restaurant that opened in 2019 and is operated by Samir Mogannam, the son of the former owner of the Burgermeister that formerly occupied this space, as well as the original Church St. location. Mogannam did a complete rebrand from an American burger restaurant to a fast-casual "Arabic comfort food" establishment that's named in honor of his mother and features her scratch-made recipes. To say it's a success is an understatement, as they've been named one of the best restaurants in SF not just by the Chronicle, but even made the NY Times' "The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now." After one visit, it's clear to see why. The Good: * Yelp Waitlist available * Bus stop right outside the door * Outdoor dog-friendly seating * Fast-casual order at the counter, and they bring the food out to you. * Service was friendly and efficient. * Palestinian and Jordanian beers in bottles! I didn't even know that was a thing. * Falafel were about 98.753% like my mom's. In a word: delicious. * Musakhan was phenomenal. The chicken was cooked perfectly with crispy skin and the sumac-onion "relish" was spot on. Get this. * Handmade pita bread was delicious. * Carissa enjoyed her Shish Tawook plate, as they were smart again and used chicken thighs which kept the well-seasoned meat nice and juicy. The concomitant hummus was fantastic, and the "Mom's Rice" was fuhgeddaboudit good. She did think the chicken could've used an extra thirty seconds on the grill to firm up the meat just a touch, but otherwise it was perfect. The Meh: * The Fattoush salad was just OK. It was overdressed and needed more dates that were cut into smaller pieces so that you get more of it in each bite to help offset the vinegar. The Ugly: * Parking here is a real hassle, as it's street parking only and it's all neighborhoods. So, be prepared to drive around endlessly looking for an opening. Conclusion: Best Palestinian food outside of me mum's kitchen. 'Nuff said. **https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/best-san-francisco-restaurants/ ***https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-san-francisco-restaurants.html

    I loved this spot! The first thing you notice is how cozy and welcoming it is with the staff being…read moreso warm and willing to help for anything. It's a small spot but their waitlist system works great if you join ahead of time. And a bonus is that the N line on the muni drops you off directly in front of it! As for the food, it's safe to say that every dish I had was delicious. The mezze platter is a sample that I would highly recommend you get. The lamb shank was perfectly falling off the bone and the fried branzino was my favorite! It was cooked to perfection with the lemon and herbs on it and the crispy skin. I had their white wine and I loved that on the menu it tells you which wine would pair best with what you order. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and would definitely come back!

    Photos
    Outside sitting
    Outside sitting
    Musakhan ($20)
    Musakhan ($20)
    Complimentary TEPID Water ($0)

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    Complimentary TEPID Water ($0)
    Paprika Cafe

    Paprika Cafe

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    59.5 mi
    $$

    What a cute place! The falafel wrap was one of the BEST I ever had! So fresh and made with love…read more The SPICY LEMONADE was outstanding, we never had anything like it. A wonderful surprise and a joy for our tastebuds! Small and comfy area to sit. Very casual and awesome! One man show and made with love. THANK YOU!

    What an amazing little hidden gem. This place is the real deal. Very authentic, and very…read morethoughtfully cooked. The man who made our food was making it to Order and he had been running this business for over 40 years! The service was excellent and it felt very personal. The food was absolutely delicious! Everyone in our party completely agree agreed that they loved everything they ate. There were two omnivores, one vegan, and one vegetarian. And the vegan baklava! What an incredibly unique and special treat to find baklava vegan! Absolutely delicious! I'm a huge fan of spanakopita, but I haven't been able to eat it for a long time because I'm the vegan in the group and when I said something about that out loud, he said he would make me a special vegan spanakopita! Right there! Made To Order! This man is amazing. Seating is very limited, so several of the people we saw that came behind us got their food to go. I think most people there need to expect there would be a little bit of a weight and that seating is very limited and it's outdoors. Although the outdoor seating does have covering. All the people in line, waiting for food seem to have no problem waiting for it because they knew it would be worth it. And honestly... Considering the line of people we saw behind us (10-11?) and the fact that there were three ahead of us... no one really had to wait very long at all! It was really impressive how much he could get done by himself. The next time you're in Monterey, California, you definitely need to check out Paprika. I only managed to get one photo of my plate of food because I was too distracted by deliciousness to remember to take photos of anyone else's food. And obviously, by the time I remembered to photograph the baklava.... Several pieces seem to be missing.

    Photos
    Outdoor seating
    Outdoor seating
    Insanely delicious vegan baklava
    Insanely delicious vegan baklava
    Outside of Paprika cafe

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    Outside of Paprika cafe

    Zaytinya - turkish - Updated June 2026

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