Exploring the Bay Area

'   Gusto In my opinion, this might be the most exciting new restaurant in Berkeley right now! The stripped-down, casual setup allows the real focus to be on the food and company. It’s the first Algerian restaurant I have tried in the area, and it pulls off a menu of Algerian flavors with real gusto (pun intended)! You order and pay at the counter or kiosk up front. The menu is short and to the point, and the kitchen works relatively fast, churning out beautiful, delicious Mediterranean (Algerian) dishes in a jiffy. While you wait, you might want to sip one of their Algerian sodas from the cooler; my favorite is the carbonated lemonade. After you order, you can take a seat at one of the simple tables or the stripped-down bar that overlooks Downtown Berkeley. You may discover that this new restaurant is so popular that it’s hard to find an empty table. One time, when we came, we had to move some tables and chairs to accommodate our small group. There are some nice tiles and a logo o...

Olympus Caffe and Bakery Nestled in downtown Mountain View on Castro Street is one of the Bay Area's best kept secrets: Olympus Caffe and Bakery, the Turkish- and Greek-inspired Mediterranean cafe. This restaurant serves fascinating Mediterranean dishes alongside dishes that are more common in this culture, ensuring that there is something for everyone. This is a sit-down restaurant where you order and pay at the counter, and then they give you a number to take with you to your table. When the food is ready, they will bring it to you. There are some tables indoors and some outdoors; you can pick what you prefer. If you sit outdoors, you may witness some live music or other entertainment on Castro Street.  One of their main specialties is their espresso bar. They have a wonderfully extensive selection of coffee and tea beverages, including lattes, mochas, and americanos, some hot and some iced. Unique to this shop are the options of Turkish coffee and Turkish tea. Every time I drin...

Rojbas Grill Rojba's Grill is a down-to-earth, family-owned, small restaurant in Berkeley that specializes in delicious Mediterranean food. The service is always incredibly friendly. It is plainly obvious that they take great pride in what they do, and we come back frequently because it is one of our favorite places. We’ve never gotten bad food or bad service here! The menu has a set of interesting options, including salads, wraps, and gyro plates. Everything is prepared with love in a small kitchen behind the register. You can hear the food sizzling while you wait. The vegetables are always fresh, and the meat is always tender, succulent, and well-seasoned. Everything is served with a special hot tea and delicious pita bread that is easy to devour. In the way of appetizers, the hummus and babaganoush are wonderful to dip the complimentary pita bread in. They are a savory and satisfying way to start your meal. (See top picture.) The salads can be served with a side of any of their ...