August/September 2017 91
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HEALTHY ETHNIC
SAJJ
MEDITERRANEAN
This is yet another build-your-own dining spot,
but featuring Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
food, which lends itself well to the concept.
Launched from a successful food truck, Sajj
uses some locally sourced products, with the
falafels crisp and the hummus creamy. Guests
start with a protein like tasty falafel balls,
pomegranate chicken or shawarma (spiced,
grilled mixed meats), then decide if they want
it on top of a salad, in a wrap or accompanied
by rice in a bowl. Then the diner picks from
among a long list of side dishes (sumac onion,
eggplant ragout, tasty roasted cauliflower),
chutneys, sauces and dressings. Generous portions
and friendly service have produced many
fans. Vegans and vegetarians can find plenty
to like and guests particularly compliment the
baklava for dessert. Signature house-made
beverages include mint lemonade, a sweettart
tamarind beverage and mint-yogurt drink.
Most of the five Bay Area locations are in the
South Bay. San Jose, 408/944-9022; Mountain
View, 650/941-7255; Sunnyvale, 408/746-5970;
Menlo Park, 650/322-7255. sajjstreeteats.com HEALTHY ETHNIC
NICK THE GREEK
Another enormously tasty variety of
Mediterranean food is Greek cuisine,
which is well prepared by the three
cousins—all named Nick—who launched
this South Bay chain in 2014. Calling
itself the “souvlaki and gyro house,”
this restaurant group also does quite
a good job on falafels—thus appealing
to vegans and vegetarians—and
creations like “Greek fries,” which accompany
the spuds with feta cheese,
garlic and green onions. The souvlaki
(chunks of flavored grilled meats) and
gyro (spiced mixed meat cooked on
a rotisserie) are quite wonderful and
generously portioned. Be sure to try
them with the tasty tzatziki sauce, a
yummy dill-garlic-yogurt combo. Or
try the delicious beef-lamb “burger”
with feta cheese. Naturally lemony
avgolemono soup and Greek salad are
on the menu, as are loukoumades, soft
Greek donuts with nuts and honey. San
Jose, 408/620-1095; San Jose, 408/816-
7829; San Jose, 408/622-8720; San Jose,
408/649-3500; San Jose, 408/294-
6425; Sunnyvale, 408/685-2830; Redwood
City, 650/260-0081. nickthegreek
sj.com n
FROM TOP: COURTESY OF SAJJ MEDITERRANEAN; COURTESY OF NICK THE GREEK
Sajj
Wraps
Chicken
Souvlaki
Plate
