La Mediteranee
2210 Fillmore Street, San Francisco (415) 921-2956
288 Noe Street, San Francisco (415) 431-7210
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When I came to San Francisco, I left behind the best Greek food I had ever eaten (Vasili’s in Santa Cruz--The tzatziki alone is worth the trip). So I search out Greek restaurants in the City to eat at when I am really missing Vasili’s. A recent find of mine is La Mediteranee’ found in both the Castro and Pacific Heights. While La Mediteranee’ does not measure up to Vasili’s in all areas (there is no tzatziki), it is an excellent and affordable place for Mediterranean food.
My cousin Kris insists the Pacific Heights La Mediteranee’ tastes better than the one on Castro, but I have yet to determine which, if either, is best. La Mediteranee’ on Fillmore can have a bit of a wait because it is thankfully a small, narrow, low key kind of restaurant. Greek and Mediterranean restaurants, I believe, are best experienced in intimate dining areas.
Due to the wait, Erika, Kristin, Leslie and I ventured down to Harry’s bar for a glass of wine during our half hour wait, but we should have held off until dinner. The Australian red wine at La Mediteranee’ was far better than any of our selections from Harry’s. The crisp, dry wine was so good I took a sip between bites of our mixed appetizer.
The mixed plate consisted of dolmas, humus, pita bread, olives and pepperocinis--a nice variety with slightly uneven results. Only one of the four of us liked the dolmas. I found the grape leaves slimy and the enclosed rice mixture too crunchy. The pita was serviceable--too dry for my tastes but improved greatly with the delicious humus.
La Med’s humus should set an industry standard. I never before found humus to have a real taste. It usually seemed a little like a batter of sawdust, but this humus was so garlicky and lemony that I was smearing it on every pita triangle I could get my hands on.
We tried two soups--one Java bean and one lemon chicken. I surprised myself by liking the hearty and cold-curing Java bean over the weak, too frothy lemon chicken.
I hesitantly had ordered the pomegranate chicken on Kris’ recommendation, but worried because it was drumsticks and I’m not a fan of chicken legs. My dinner, though, was amazing. The meat was deliciously flavored by the reddish marinade and cooked until it fell off the bone. The amount of sauce was perfect--enough to season the meal, not bathe it. I found myself chewing on the ends of the drumsticks searching for more morsels--a ritual I usually try to keep out of the public eye.
My companions all ordered the La Mediteranee’ plate which came with rice, one meat choice, and two phyllo dough pockets. Erika’s lamb skewer turned out to be a ground lamb meatball which she didn’t like, but Leslie relished. Leslie and Kris, though, each ordered a pomegranate drumstick like those in my dinner.
The phyllo concoctions again surpassed my expectations. The cinnamon, nutmeg flavored chicken phyllo pocket tasted like a dessert and I kept stealing bites from Erika’s plate. The spinach and goat cheese phyllo was a more typical combination, but just as good.
The last surprise was the bill: smaller than expected. Although we had appetizers and wine with our dinners it was $13 a piece including tax.
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