Mediterranean Wraps

433 S. California Ave

Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 321-8189
http://www.kanzeman.com/medwraps

Reviewed 10/28/2008

I used to love Med Wraps. The word shawarma would set off a flight-or-fight response that screamed: destination Med Wraps.

But now that I've tried other Middle Eastern places, the sympathetic NS says: destination Elsewhere.

This place is good for fast food. It's well priced and quick and the service is delightful. Also the men preparing the food always look like they are enjoying themselves, and the owners care about the customers. This has been the case for years.

But the tabbouleh is consistently too lemony, the humus a bit bland, and tonight the dolma was filled with mush. It was like porridge inside. And the bread is just, well, you could get it from Safeway.

Falafel is the best offering of what I have tried. Actually the chicken shawarma is (or used to be) good too.

I like the festive, inviting and casual and I'd keep going with some improvements in But for now, I‘d rather get my Mediterranean cravings elsewhere. :(

Sultana

1149 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 322-4343
www.thesultana.net

Reviewed 7/12/2008

Think: creamy and thick... I think I may have found my Middle Eastern restaurant--in Silicon Valley anyway. Definitely on the Peninsula.

All the offerings on my veggie combo plate, except of course for the tabbouleh and dolma, were thick and creamy...and delightful. They could call their plate Turkish Delights but of course that might cause confusion. But each offering on that plate was a treat, like the candy.

I can't give it top billing yet since I just got take-out. But I'll gladly give it another star if I continue to enjoy my experiences there, as I did eating out of my Styrofoam container.

So on this day, a mediocre hummus would have satisfied me given the intense craving I was having. Instead I had possibly the best hummus and babaganoush I have tasted short of the kind my Lebanese-raised friend, G, makes. Dolma too. And throw in the tabbouleh.

I can't tell you how often I will order this combo elsewhere and it is too lemony, or salty, and I need a fire hydrant to cool my throat. But I'll order it anyway because I am too lazy to make it myself and I am howling for this stuff. But it looks like I no longer have to settle!

It was my first time trying ezme, which is described as "blended fresh tomatoes, onion walnut, and spices." I would call it a creamy spread the color of roasted pepper soup. It's slightly sweet and a little tangy. And then after you decide you like it, it kicks you in the back of the throat. Ditto for kizartma, which reminded me of ratatouille topped with yogurt. LOVED it.

This place is potentially habit-forming. I feel an addiction coming on.

I want to try the lavash wraps and the lentil soup that I have heard much about.

Will Sultana become the Sultan of my Middle Eastern restaurant options? To be continued, because I will be coming back here.

Zaytoon

209 E Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-1293

Reviewed June 26, 2009

This place is preening with charm.

Fireplaces, waterfalls, adorable lighting, indoor and alfresco options, pretty flowers, and gorgeous food.

Lighting inside

Plus the food is yummy. Three of us shared the Vegetarian Feast, which was just the right portion for three reasonably-hungry-but-not-famished adults.

Inside

Faves:
Labneh- creamy and thick
Hummus- wonderful smoked flavor
Tabbouleh--almost entirely parsley--delicious

Service was reasonable. I didn't get any eye contact, but that could have been because I was with The Good-Looking Couple. It was, at least, efficient.

Our bread basket caught on fire, so watch the flames.

And if you sit by the mini-waterfall, make sure your hearing is good so you can hear the dinner conversation.