Mediterranean Grill House now offers Adeni chai, made from black tea, evaporated milk, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and a touch of sugar. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify the relationship between Mediterranean Grill House and Sana’a Cafe.
For nearly two decades, Mediterranean Grill House has been churning out halal wraps, plates and skewers along Castro Street in Mountain View. Now, it’s getting a revamp with a remodeled interior and a new Yemeni coffee program.
Adeni chai can be ordered by the cup or pot at Mediterranean Grill House. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Mediterranean Grill House celebrated the launch of its new menu Feb. 21, showcasing its new marble walls, plush patterned banquet seating and Nuova Simonelli espresso machine. The restaurant now sells coffee, tea and pastries from Sana’a Cafe, a franchise established in San Francisco in 2022 that specializes in Yemeni coffee and Adeni chai, made from black tea, evaporated milk, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and a touch of sugar.
Yemeni coffee is known to be one of the oldest coffee varieties, with coffee cultivation practices dating back to the 15th century. The flavor tends to be darker, richer and less acidic than other coffee varieties. Sana’a’s coffee is imported from Yemen and roasted in Hayward.
Specialty Yemeni coffee drinks available at Mediterranean Grill House include the Sana’ani with cardamom, Jubani with ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, Mofawar with cardamom and cream and Qisher with cinnamon and ginger. These drinks are available in two cup sizes ($4.49-$5.49) and three shareable pot sizes ($9.49-$16.95).
The newly renovated interior of Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
The newly renovated interior of Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
The newly renovated interior of Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Mediterranean pastries now available at Mediterranean Grill House include handmade knafeh; cheesecakes in flavors such as pistachio, Biscoff and Dubai chocolate; Mediterranean pies stuffed with beef, feta and spinach; and milk cakes in flavors such as pistachio and rose.
Crème brûlée cheesecake at Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View now offers Dubai chocolate cheesecake. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Pistachio cheesecake at Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View now offers Biscoff cheesecake. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Created by Hasan Ibrahim, Mediterranean Grill House was originally a smoke shop since 1997 that he converted to a casual eatery in 2008.
“He has eight kids and 17 grandkids, so he wanted something more family-oriented, something where his kids and grandkids can come see him and visit him at work,” said Aaliyah Abukhdeir, general manager of Mediterranean Grill House and Ibrahim’s daughter.
Post Covid, Mediterranean Grill House’s business significantly declined, so Ibrahim decided to revive his longtime restaurant with a new coffee program.
The exterior of Mediterranean Grill House in downtown Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel.
For Abukhdeir, Mediterranean Grill House is all about community.
“We have customers that we’ve had since 2008,” Abukhdeir said. “I’ve watched their kids grow up, and now some of them are in high school and going off to college. I even had a toddler that started coming to us in 2008, and now she’s getting married, and we got invited (to the wedding).”
Pistachio milk cake at Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Baklava at Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Rose milk cake at Mediterranean Grill House in Mountain View. Courtesy Mediterranean Grill House.
Expect more Yemeni coffee and tea available soon along the Peninsula, with Sana’a Cafe planning to expand to Foster City’s Waterfront Pizza, as well as to Sunnyvale, according to its website.
Mediterranean Grill House, 650 Castro St., Unit 110, Mountain View; 650-625-9990, Instagram: @meditarreaniangrillhouse. Open Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight. Hot food available daily from 11 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. During Ramadan, open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight. Hot food available daily from 11 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
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