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Went here on the recommendation of friends who live in the area - I actually thought it was Afghani, until I just noticed their card says Kurdish. So I guess I tried a new cuisine and didn't know it (although it did seem pretty different from most other Afghani places I've been to)!
I really liked this place; it has a warm, homey feeling, and everything tastes home-cooked. We had the maste (yoghurt) dish with fresh-baked bread to start, and the bread was excellent - warm, delicious, we could've eaten a pile of it. The yoghurt was good, too, very thick and tasty, not watery and sour like too many other places (yes, I am a yoghurt snob). Next was spinach and feta fried fritters with a mildly spicy chili glaze, which was also quite good and just the thing for a cool night. For main dishes, we picked out the beef/lamb kebab, and also the borani, upon the suggestion of the waitress, who said it's their most popular dish. I wouldn't have ordinarily tried the borani, it sounded a little out there (swiss chard as the featured item? I love swiss chard, but could it carry a dish?), but I'm so glad we took her suggestion - it was a really excellent, delicious, substantial dish. Bonus - it's also vegetarian!
We were too stuffed to get a dessert (or even figure out if they had any desserts), and we didn't try their pizzas, either, which our friends also highly recommended. We'll just have to wait until next visit, this is definitely a place I'd love to come back to. I have pretty high standards for middle-eastern food, and this place easily met them. I also liked the waitress, who was very nice, although you shouldn't come here if you're in a hurry -- things came out at their own pace, like real home-cooking, I guess. The restaurant is cozy and on the small side, and so not a good idea for large groups. Our friend said they got some dirty looks when they came here with their kids, too, so it's perhaps too small a place to be kid-friendly when it's crowded (or even half-full, probably). Still, it was the perfect place for a relaxed Sunday night dinner, and I would definitely recommend it.
Great small restaurant on Santa Cruz featuring Kurdish (Middle Eastern) food. Got to try the falafel entree and the lamb casserole; food looked and tasted very authentic. The flavors were well-balanced and not overly spiced nor pungent. But the real show here is the waiter / owner.
The man runs the show himself and is ridiculously hospitable and charming. He even hooked me and my buddy up with an extra falafel so that we "would not brawl in his restaurant over the 3rd one." Great service and food at respectable prices is hard to find but Silan definitely got it.
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Had a simple but decent lunch here last weekend - their lamb wrap with hummus and some other stuff. May have enjoyed the big, open windows more if the weather hadn't been so hot. Really liked the decor.
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We ate here because the BF is a dolma-whore. Seriously.
The appetizer plate ($10) was OK. Large portion of stuff and I love the eggplant concoction (especially mixed with the chili sauce on the table!). Our entree was the Petaluma chicken shish kebab. Small order of food, but perfect for one person, unlike huge portions at other places. The mustard glaze on the chicken was pretty good. The best part? The broccoli. I'm thinking there's probably at least a tablespoon of butter per broccoli piece, and I'm OK with that. Why else do we go to restaurants if not to be completely ignorant to the sheer amount of calories we're taking in? Yum!
BF got the dough (yogurt) drink and said it was very bland. I hate those things anywhere and everywhere, so I'll take his word for it.
Summary: cute ambiance, small restaurant, the food is OK (nothing to write home about or anything). We may or may not be back. 3-stars.
Kurdish food!! I finally found a new cuisine I haven't tried.
I loved this restaurant. It's small - maybe 8-10 tables total, but super cute. Located in downtown Menlo Park, which I didn't even know existed.
The menu is interesting and reasonably priced. Since my friend and I met for lunch we chose to go with a cabrese appetizer and wraps (chicken and lamb). The wraps were $8-9 and neither of us finished more than half. The food was truly excellent (their lavash bread is to die for) and the service was super attentive.
I definitely recommend coming on a Sunday to take advantage of the fabulous farmer's market on a neighboring street. Almost entirely fruit and veggie (I think I saw one honey stand and one fish stand), and the prices were really reasonable.
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Atmosphere: Since moving to the Bay Area last year, I've been continually disappointed in the atmosphere in most restaurants. BUT this place has a really nice atmosphere in addition to delicious, flavorful food.
Food: Awesome! The bread is fresh from their wood fired oven, served with yogurt. It has a really nice smokey flavor. The first time I asked the waiter for an entree suggestion and he told me to go with a traditional Turkish dish with barley and swiss chard. Wow! I ate slowly to savor it.
Service: The reason I went back a second time is because of the waiter. Super friendly, really concerned that we enjoy our meal. We tried 3 different wines before deciding on a bottle.
Overall: One of the best deals in the area. The atmosphere, ambiance, food, service, and affordability are reasons why you should visit Cafe Silan. Don't blink or you will walk right past it!
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Upon arriving, we were seated by a young, serious looking boy who brought us our menus.
We were served doughy lavash bread with a yogurt dipping sauce when we arrived. My two peeps and I got 2 appetizers - I'm afraid I can't quite remember their names, but one was a mixed grilled vegetable dish, served cold with pesto and sliced beets, and the other was a fried ravioli filled with eggs and cheese, and served with a sweet chili sauce. Both were intriguing and unusual. For our entrees, one of us got a salmon and shrimp dish, served on a bed of bulgur (although the menu said rice), another got a grilled lamb dish, and I got one of the grilled folded pizzas with spinach and onions (sort of a like a flattened and less filling calzone). We liked everything well enough, although it didn't blow our minds.
I have to make note of their interesting serving ware - not at all mitchy-matchy; it seems as though they went and bought up a bunch of stuff at a Goodwill store and used it here. I liked it :) The service was unobtrusive but attentive, and the restaurant is family-run. It's definitely the place to go to have a long, leisurely meal.
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This is a great little neighborhood restaurant. We love the food and have always had a wonderful experience here. The service is the crowning jewel; the waiter (I can't remember his name) is an absolutely charming, sweet man who makes us feel like we're the only ones in the restaurant even when it's packed and he's the only one waiting on all the tables. Whenever my husband I want a special night out this is our go-to place.
VEGETARIAN REVIEW
This is my favorite restaurant in Menlo Park, hands down. Not corporate, lovely homey decor, and good ethnic music. The service can be slow, but the food is usually incredibly good and fresh. Our favorites are the cold appetizer plates and the kebabs (especially when tomatoes are in season). We also really enjoy the spinach and the folded pizza bread -- you will, too!
For dessert, stay away from the baklava and order the fruits and cream. They are lush, delicious, and spectacular.
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Another GREAT meal at Silan! The restaurant was relatively quiet when we arrrived at 6 but by the time we were leaving it was hopping! The waiter, Sami, was just as great this visit as during our last one. He's very funny and charming. There was an error in our order and he was super apologetic, got it fixed and brought us a second beer on the house while we waited. He also treated us to a complimentary dessert (the Kurdish version of rice pudding) for the extra wait. Service like this is hard to find! And, the food is delicious--I had the barley, garbanzo dish again (keledosh sp??) and my husband had the vegetarian bulgur/kale dish. We started with the Med platter again and devoured the bread because it was so tasty and warm.
We just had dinner here tonight. What a great find! It was my first Kurdish meal but it won't be… Read more »
I went to this place once and had a great experience, but went back today for lunch with some coworkers, ordered the same wrap I had last time, and halfway through my wrap, I chomped down on a QUARTER! Yes, as in the 25 cent piece you put in a parking meter.
I let my mind wander as to how a quarter could have found it's way into my wrap, but I'll spare you the details now. Suffice it to say that I was sufficiently grossed out and didn't eat the rest of my meal.
The waiter (and owner, I think?) didn't charge me for my meal (which I didn't eat most of), and gave me a couple of half-hearted apologies, but he lacked the shock or concern I expected for something so bizarre and disgusting.
I really liked this place, but I definitely won't go back now! Eeewww!
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For something different- that is Kurdish, Cafe Silan is one little gem tucked away quielty on Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park (next door to Baskin Robbins). Deco is carefully put together with small pieces of unique cultural items hanging on the wall- such as the Turkish Blue Eye symbolising good luck.
Silan is a small cosy restaurant and as expected, there is just one chef and one lady at the front of the house to cover. We went on a weeknight and sat by the sidewalk to take advantage of the cool summer breeze at night.
Food was excellent, we had a taste of their seafood kebob and also lamb kebobs. Both come with rice and bread on the side. Serving was plenty and cooked well to our satisfaction. In terms of prices, it's not expensive either. An entree is about $15 and appetisers were approx $8. Dessert menu looks mouthwatering and local too, but we were too full to try any as we just managed to finish our meals.
Will recommend this place to anyone who appreciate a nice meal and at the same time- not running a tight timetable!
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Conflicted! I first came here on a cold and rainy night 20 minutes before closing, and was seated and given warm bread with yogurt dip, and minty tea by a polite and friendly waiter. That was a pretty winning gesture right off the bat, given that I came in sopping wet and so close to closing time, but the deal was sealed when the chef came out and said "sorry, we're pretty much closed, but if you like I can make you something special while we close up?"
I couldn't refuse that offer, and twenty minutes later I was in front of a plate of bulgur wheat, yogurt sauce, bright red saffron oil, and various vegetables. It looked delicious, it tasted amazing, I was fully stoked.
Since that, I've been coming to Silan on and off for a few years. The bread and yogurt that accompanies your meal is really amazingly delicious. The main dishes are good too (Lopekan, a spinach and feta calzone-like dish is recommended, as is the bulgur wheat ball dish.)
They used to serve a dessert called Kaddiyifi (one of those "every fertile crescent culture has a variant of this dish) dishes involving puffy and crunchy pastry layers and sugar, but they no longer have it. The figs are pretty good though.
Although it's by no means expensive, it has gotten pricier over the years, and not just to match inflation ;).
e: recent change: they added... italian food to the menu? stop! this is a horrible mistake, and I'm not going to change my review because of it, in hopes that they will quickly revise this error.
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Cool, cozy Kurdish cafe.
Great place for a mellow meal of kebobs, lamb stew, and a variety of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean sauces and appetizers [like hummous (chickpea dip), baba ghanoush (eggplant dip) and dolmas (grape leaves)...except offered on the menu under their Kurdish names, which I can't recall].
If you don't expect prompt service, you won't be disappointed. This place is excellent if you're in the mood for a reasonably-priced meal in a no-rush, comfortable and casual environment.
Only one complaint: the quality and taste of the Maste Siwan (yogurt based cucumber dip) can be really inconsistent, so I wouldn't recommending eating just that dish as your main meal (which any normal person...besides me...wouldn't do anyway).
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This is one of my favorite places for lunch...its close to sand hill for a quick lunch if you go at an off-peak time.
We also cater food from them for lunches at the office and everyone loves the food.
My favorites are the chicken kabob, the wonderful bread and the yogurt dip. Their baklava is delectable too.
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3.5 stars
This is a review by a vegetarian
They say you always remember the first time you have Kurdish food. At least I'm guessing that Kurds say that. For those of us who don't routinely travel in Eastern Turkey, Northen Iraq, and Northwestern Iran, Cafe silan offers a simpler alternative for familiar yet newish cuisine.
The Good: friendly service and good atmosphere. It's got not-really-sitting-in-downtown-Menlo feel. The owners talk to you without interjecting themselves fully into your meal. The bread is baked on premises but for our dinner it was not warm. I can only assume that as this is a small space that they bake all their stuff in the morning and don't keep it going throughout the rest of the day. This bodes well for lunch. Lentils and humus and the chick pea croquets were all top notch.
Mediocre: the greens with the chick pea balls were very salty and bitter. Barely edible.
This is probably deserving of another half to full star for the carnivores.
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Ahh!! Almost forgot @ this cozy little place tucked on Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park. As a Kabob lover, I rarely miss any place that says Kabobs, and this one is one of the top one for me.
This is a "Kurdish Restaraunt" (I Love Bay Area, where else you can get food from so many ethnicities, New York, You Stink!!!)
You have to try "HEVIR U GOST", This a thin Bread topped with "Veal, Tomato, Onion and Parsley", Since they make their own dough this when comes out of the oven is sooo hot and fresh....writing this makes me hungry
Guess what go ahead and try every dish they have , trust me its worth it!!
What ever you do, don't miss their Tea. (You will need an acquired taste to like this). They also have very good wines!!!
Went here this week for dinner with a friend who frequents this place regularly for its Kurdish food. Had their garlic-style pita bread to start off with, which was very good. I had the spinach ricotta dumplings for a main course and absolutely loved it. The meal really hit the spot! The portions are huge which is great because that means I can eat leftovers for lunch. Another nice thing is that they serve free tea that is yummy!
Just a side note: the waiter broke a glass of red wine next to my friend (who then got poked by some glass). Accidents happen. He was extremely apologetic and brought a ton of bandages/alcohol out to my friend. Our dinner was on the house and he gave us a free pear dessert which was yummy.
Also, here's an article on it from the Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/...
Yum. We had been wanting to try this place for awhile after walking by hundreds of times ... I wish we'd tried it sooner!
Atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. Food is delicious ... we thought this was an Italian restaurant, so we were sort of in a pizza/pasta mode ... tried gnocchi (perfect little pillows swimming in a light but flavorful sauce!) and raviolis (awesome ... really a wonderful pesto-based sauce, we were dipping bread in it to sop it all up!) ... both were great.
The waiter was friendly and yes, busy ... he was the only one serving all fifteen guests in this tiny little place. But if I wanted to snap my fingers at someone and have him delivering the check at the very moment I put my silverware down, I would have gone somewhere else! In today's fast-paced, crazy world, it is important to remember that "service" hasn't always translated directly to "speed" ... sadly, that is what people expect, but it also means a lot of things, including respect, courtesy, attention to detail. This waiter had it all, recommending a delicious pumpkin dessert and bringing us complimentary mint tea to help us digest afterwards when we told him we were stuffed! How can that not be great service?! Who cares that it took ten minutes to get the check?
This place is great. Come here if you go out to eat for relaxation and good food ... you probably won't like it if you demand speedy "service."
I really want to try the Kurdish food. When we sat down. The waitress asked us " What do you want"? water came 10 min later.
I'm all about not being hustled in and out the door at a restaurant, but they took leisurely to a new level. My friend B and I arrived about a minute after they opened. There was another table with two people sitting when we found our table. The waitress came over and handed us our menus immediately but it took a full ten plus minutes before she came back to ask us what we wanted. We each ordered the Dep kebob (seasoned ground beef) and I also asked for the Taroq app. She was about to leave when I interjected that I would also like a soda and B wanted a sparkling water. The waitress seemed a little annoyed we were adding something else to our order but was polite when she told us that she would have to check if they still had sparkling water for B.
And so B and I chatted. The other table got their app and we continued to chat. Another two people came in and were seated. After about 15 minutes, our drinks arrived after the third table was served their drinks. Just before our meal order arrived (a good 30 minutes after we ordered), we were given the lavash/pita bread with yogurt dipping sauce which was nice. The Dep kebab was okay. It wasn't that especially seasoned. You could see green bits of parsley but not a whole lot of flavour. B's was slightly raw in the middle. The rice was a little too al dente - it might have needed another five minutes to keep it from being as crunchy on the inside as it was. It was nice to see some veg on the plate - they were cooked perfectly.
My app never arrived and we never were charged for it which was nice. Our plates were taken off when we were done a few minutes after we finished and the check arrived quickly after that. They may not have been all that quick to make sure we ate but they were quick to get us out the door again.
The restaurant is tiny so it's not as if they could fill up the place and have problems with service. There are only about six or eight tables in the place. Considering there were no more than three two tops going, I had a hard time understanding why we were getting the slowest service (the first table got quick service and the third table was getting quick service but for some reason, not us). It's a nice relaxing enviro to be in and if you like sitting a chatting, it's fabulous. But it would have been nice to have our orders taken correctly and seen a waitstaffer more than to merely deliver our orders.
Will I go back? Maybe.
I really wanted to like this place because it was small and so unique - it's the only place in the Bay Area that specializes in Kurdish food. Unfortunately the food wasn't up to snuff and was pretty forgettable. The baklava was a sin against baklava and was way too sweet.
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We went here for dinner at the last minute, and it was really great. The owner was very hospitable, even though we came very near the closing time. We had the Silan pizza and the Gnocchi. The pizza was decent, but the gnocchi was excellent. The flat bread with yogurt dip was even better. My wife also liked the mint tea. The atmosphere was also really friendly and homey. Will definitely go here again.
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We went to Cafe Silan for the first time last week. (two adults one child.) The waiter was friendly, quick and great at recommending things we had not heard of before. The naan (kurdish version) was home baked and terrific. He gave us extra naan with our doggy bag. The flavors of all the items we ordered were fabulous. Lots of food for reasonable prices. We would definitely go there again soon.
cafe silan is tucked away in a tight little corner in the downtown menlo park strip. i am a big kabob lover & i'd have to say this is up there with my other 2 favorite places like Best Bite in Mtn View, & Chelokababi in sunnyvale.
i have gotten the lamb wrap here which is filled with lettuce, tomatoes, rice, & some unique sauce. it is very full-filling. i have also gotten their koobideh kabob which is also excellent.
it's a tiny place but cute & quaint...great for lunchtime. the only negative thing i have to say is that the service can be really slow...
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After a year in Menlo Park, my wife and I have tried most all of the restaurants and this is our favorite. We've been almost 30 times, many times with friends, family. The Kurdish food is great, atmosphere nice, service relaxed and friendly, prices low. For a stellar dining experience, choose another place. For distinctive food, affordable prices, casual dining, we like it. Lots of meat dishes, lots of vegetarian dishes, plus unusual pizzas, wraps, salads, pita sandwiches. $8 lunch, $12 to $14 dinner entree. Good wines and beers. Note: closed 3-5, closed Mondays. ( "Silan" = rose hips in Kurdish)
Added: I just noticed they make and bake their bread fresh -- even during dinner -- great to have warm from the oven.
They have some outside tables, on Santa Cruz Ave; we prefer the inside tables, especially when the sliding windows are open. There are about 2 dozen seats inside, maybe 8 outside. If you've got to bring the kids, park them next door at the sandwich/bagel shop -- you can readily see them while you have adult food. If you have a group, try Sultana (Turkish, nearby on El Camino) or Spice Hut (Indian, large place, good food, no hut)
Parking is readily available behind the restaurant in the Menlo free lots.
Added 11/11/08: Our regular server at Silan's is a wonderfully outgoing fellow, sincerely happy to see everyone, and even good with children.
Ask about their specials. I had a pumpkin with pistachio mousse -- wonderful.
THe first time i've had Kurdish food. It was very intresting. The portion was HUGE and very affordable. I got a really big meaty stuffed salad wrap for 5.50 and I only could finish half. The hummus was also really yummy.. the bread they served it with was to die for! You can tell they make everything from the bread to the wrap fresh. Has a home cooked meal touch to it. The service IS a lil slow since there is only one server and one cook... but this place is really small and cozy so its not that bad...The server is so nice though... very friendly and making sure everything is alright. and since its in lovely Santa Cruz Avenue... and the weather is so great... you can't NOT like this place.
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I wanted so much to like this place, and I went a bunch of times. Every time I was disappointed. The food runs from mediocre to bad, and they play the same 45 minute music loop eternally, half of which is good, half bad, but all of which wears very thin after you've heard it a dozen times. Slow, bad service. I'm perplexed by why so many people claim to like this place. Once Sultana opened just down the road, I abandoned Silan completely (and yes, I realize they are different ethnicities, but the end product is fairly similar).
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Yum! A great place for vegetarians and for meat-eaters! The friendly waiter gave us lots of their delicious homemade bread. He even gave us extra to pack with our leftovers. We were a party of 5 and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our food. Well-balanced, intricate flavors. Would definitely go there again!
My wife and I had dinner here last night. The food was SUPERB. I guess I can get some of the complaints about service--it wasn't your typical super-chipper-howdy-do-sit-down kind of service, but whatever. The food just rocked, and you should definitely come here. For dessert I had apricots and prunes with creme fraiche and balsamic vinegar--and I really liked it.
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An excellent little restaurant for lunch or dinner. The cuisine is mediterranean, with delicious vegetarian as well as lamb and chicken based dishes. Be sure to try their fabulous breads (baked fresh in house) as well as their drinks (try the fantastic dried fruit drink). The space is a little small, with seating for about 20 people, but the food and the culture is worth the wait.
Closed on Mondays. Silan is one of my favorite places to go when I need comforting food. I've tried nearly half the menu at this point and I must report that everything is wonderful. The cuisine is Kurdish and it is the only place that I know of where you can find it. They have a "bottomless" bowl of bread that is just great. The bread is like a hand made pita but not quite. Very hard to describe. Anyhow, you need to try this place if you haven't.
Cute little restaurant. I came here on a Sunday evening and I loved the fact they have an option of getting the big or small kebabs. The chicken and the rice was excellent and the prices are reasonable. I also ordered the appetizer muscles and they are GREAT!
I love this place! The bread is delicious so as the dishes. The waiter is so nice and funny. The appetizers are small but very tasty so you will be satisfied.
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This is my favorite place in the Bay Area! It is hard to find open, but when you do it is always a special treat. Some of the stuff is average, but their more traditional fare is amazing. Try the (don't remember the name) dish with bread squares, beef, some sort of tomato-based sauce, a fresh bit of creamish sauce, spices, herbs, and cheese. Ahh! It is amazing. Their pizza-ish meal is great too. You will leave this place feeling fresh and light--not bloated. And you'll want to go back IF you order the right thing. The kabobs aren't so great. To find this tiny nook of a place, look for their round "Cafe Silan" sign. It's on the same side of the street as Peets.
Excellent bread, but the meat in their kebab was horrendously fatty and undercooked. Not enough vegetables in the wrap, far too much bulgar wheat.
Very tasty food, great prices, nice atmosphere. I love the smell of the wood burning stove. This place may become one of my local favorites -- I will be back!
I tried this restaurant on my friends' recommendations. The place is small and a little crammed up. The food was nothing extrordinary for what I had heard about it and overpriced. To top it all off, the service was super-slow. We had to ask the waiter 2ce before he got us water. Then he vanished for a long time before he came back to take our orders. Then he vanished again for half an hour before we got our food. Then it took another quarter of an hour to get our checks.. We were totally pissed by the end of it all!! We would never go back to this place..
great options for veggies/carnivores alike. if you're not in a hurry, it's a great place to take friends and enjoy the open-air design of the front of the house.
a friend and i stumbled in for dinner and were pleasantly surprised! we were under no time crunch, so the fact that the service was slow (one cook, one waiter) was perfectly fine by us -- especially with the bottomless basket of pita bread and the tea they served upon sitting down. i definitely would not go back if i needed to pick up a quick meal, but if you're in the mood to linger, this is a great place. on the advice of the waitress we had a sort of a lamb stew and a chicken pasta dish -- both were very good and very unusual. $15/entree is a little more than we were planning on spending for the evening, but it was a really great change of pace. definitely recommended.
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