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Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPAMon. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"Saha has been growing on me, and is now a "go to" restaurant when I'm craving upscale Middle Eastern fare. Thus far, the standout favorites…" read more »
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We stopped by here on a whim before going to the Indie Mart at the The Independent. When we first got there, it wasn't too crowded, but it quickly filled up - glad we went in when we did!
We had the vegetarian maza: hummus, babaghanouge, falafel, cucumber yogurt, dolmas and tabouli - really really good and thoroughly enjoyed it all! Then we shared a Shawerma Plate with chicken (tasty!) and a side of french fries. A good balance to the vegetarian maza!
The service was a-ok. Ziryab is lively and it was great place for my friend and I to catch up - good times!
Shared vegetarian maza+Shawerma Plate+tip+tax = $17/person
I had zero experience with hookah prior to my visit here (and it showed, I looked like an idiot in all the pictures we took).
They seem to have a large enough selection of flavors. Their mint tea was nice.
The waitress kinda came and left quickly...which was very inconvenient, especially when our hookah fell apart. Luckily we were able to figure things out and had a good time.
Nice to see one of my old fave's is still pulling in 4 stars. The first thing you notice about Ziryab is the decor, simple with a hint of "you're on vacation". Divisadero is nothing great to look at but the little patio out front manages to create an environment of it's own.
We had the Mint Mojitos, they weren't even over priced at 7 each and the server told us that they're 5 during happy hour!
The dishes are medium portioned and very flavorful. We had the Chicken Tajine and the Beef and Lamb Shwarma. Both were really tasty.
Sweet pick for our final alone night.
On a YELP hunt for a really good Gyro or Shwarma, we came across Ziryab on Divisadero. I'm just so… Read more »
The only reason this place is in business is because NOPA always has such a long waiting list. It's the only reason I can think of why people eat at this establishment.
There was a worm in our food.
Oh it gets worse.
We told the waitress. She said eww. She took it away. We asked to see the manager. He claimed it wasn't a worm and continued to tell me that it couldn't have been because he feeds the food to his kids. He was insistent that he would never feed worms to his kids.
Gross.
Bad service.
Don't do it people. There are much better options in this neighborhood.
Had an amazing pumpkin soup here. I don't even like pumpki , but it was really good :)
i don't know much about hookah, and our server was no help in that arena. in fact, she seemed pretty out of it, period. luckily, my friend was able to teach us the basics, so we could puff to our heart's delight.
that said, this place was clean and their food looked good. perhaps, i will give it another try sometime!
Just scoping out the ol' hood...
Scotty's Transmissions - GONE!
Eddie's Cafe doesn't show SOUL FOOD on the window...
Wauzi Records - GONE!
What is this Ziryab, with the outdoor patio seating?
It's more Middle Eastern than Mediterranean. Not a huge place. I understand they do the hukkah thing at night. Waitress was very nice, but she should smile more. First we had appetizers. We got the sampler plate. Without doubt, the very best falafel I've ever tasted. Warm, so delicious... my fav deli can't touch this. It also came with humuus, tabouli, and babaghanooj. These were alright... not great. I had the lamb shish kabob entree for lunch, served on skewers with couscous. It was alright... not great. One of us ordered the lamb wrap. That looked pretty good, and she liked it a lot. For dessert we split an order of Baklava. OK, now this was excellent. Ten times better than any liquor store on Geary. So light and sweet. Along with some Turkish Coffee, this is a great way to end a meal.
This is a nice place to just hang out and whip out your lap top on a nice day. Sip a glass of wine... discuss World Cup Soccer, SAABS, Audis, Volvos, your last Men At Work CD...
Said I would be back, so here I am!!
The food was again, was beyond delicious!! We got the hummus sampler plate that came with falafel and some cucumber yogurt, and two other kinds of hummus. SO good.
I of course, without hesitation, ordered the Special of the Day...their signature lamb/beef kabob, wrapped in some pita bread, topped with some spicy red sauce and draped with even more yogurt.
It was SOO good...both tables next to ours ordered it once they saw it come out and placed right in front of me. Simply mouthwatering!! :-D
I've never had that happen to me before. Have you ever had complete strangers comment on your food and then call the waitress so that they can cancel their orders and reorder what you're having???
LOL. Love it!
Went to this place for a little blind date action, and I have to say it was really delicious!!! Our… Read more »
Good stuff. Had a really great mezza platter (my fave was the garlicky cucmber yogurt dip). Vegetable tagine was also very flavorful. I ordered the Beyty Kebab (ground lamb/beef rolled in lavash bread over yogurt) and liked it alot but was too full from the apps LOL
Extra bonus for being open late :)
I recently discovered the crazy happy hour. $2 Drafts noon 'til 7pm. I drink a bunch and finish them off with a Shawerma wrap. Never would have thought to try the lentil soup but the waitress recommended it and it was awesome.
I just had Ziryab for the first time and it's so good! I had a small Maza plate, the dolma and falafel is amazing. And I loved the cucumber yogurt. I also had the Kebbeh which was good, but i was full by the time I got to it. Their happy hour menu looks like a good deal...definitely coming back!
After a long drive up from LA and nothing but Luna Bars and crap for 6 hours, I was hungry. I was cold. I was tired. I needed some good food.
Lucky for me Ziryab was open late and right around the corner from where I was staying. Mediterranean food is the safe staple of all veggies. You can always get by on falafel and hummus. One look at the menu and I thought, "This'll do."
What I wasn't prepared for was that this was some of the best falafel I've ever had, they were moist and tasty and their lentil soup was awesome! It was a little on the pricier side, but they also kicked it up a notch from the usual presentation.
Loves.
Nice atmosphere on the front patio if you enjoy hookah, but since we had dinner plans already we just wanted to sit under the heatlamps and people watch some. Trust me, you will see some interesting characters walking this portion of Divisidero.
We had a few of their Brut Champagne for sipping while we tried to think of our plans for the rest of the evening and weekend. The waiter was completely cool and let us sip our drinks. The first filling he even poured it for us.
I took a walk to the restroom and caught a glimpes of some of the best looking plates that were huge and very tasty smelling. I was sooo tempted to order here but alas I did not.
Would be a great venue for large parties or just hanging out with a couple of friends. Nice music too...I heard everything from French to jazz playing over their system.
Gotta love the Western Addition!!
I have some fond memories of smoking hookah on the terrace in the fog under some intense heat lamps. It's nice to relax after a long day and have a gentle middle eastern smoke with some killer schwerma wraps. The lamb is unbeatable. Great falafel. Whoever cooks here knows what they're doing.
The brunch is amazing! A salad, two sides and sujak flat bread for $17 bucks? That's pretty affordable brunch for two, and filling.
That brings me to the sujak (sp?). It's amazing. Spicy sausage over cheese with egg and spices served on the most perfectly moist and soft bread. It's amazing and is a $30 item for $8. A must have for the brunch folk.
I'm sad this place isn't more full. It's got the best food. Try the arabian coffee. It's like drinking a battle scene from Lawrence of Arabia. You feel like you should have a gun at your hip while you sip it.
This review is only for the drinks, and the outdoor patio, both of which I enjoyed one Saturday afternoon. A group of us planned on going to Madrone, which is not open in the afternoons (contrary to their recording!)
Anyway, this place has $7 mojitos and some great happy hour specials, including some strong $5 martinis. They also have a GREAT story on the menu cover about the restaurant's namesake, who invented wearing bangs. Read the menu cover!
Went here for the first time for dinner last night with a friend and had a great experience! Started out with a mojito and the small maza platter (babaganoush, hummus, cheese, falafel, and yogurt with plenty of pita).
I ordered the pan roasted salmon as an entree, and it was amazing! Cooked perfectly with tender vegetables in a buttery herb broth, so good! My friend had the classic falafel, which I tried a bite of and that was really yummy too--falafel was perfect texture and very flavorful with lots of fresh veggies.
We ended dinner by moving outside to the covered heated front patio for some Moroccan tea and 'sweet melon' hookah--good flavor. The only thing I have to complain about was the overpriced hookah--$16 for two people! Other than that, everything was perfect. Good service, nice atmosphere, and most importantly, delicious food!! I will definitely be going back.
Deliciously spiced falafel, the hommous can be a little acidic, but overall this place rules. Number one, it's close-by. I stick with my falafel sandwich, usually, because I love it and I know it's going to be good. I don't particularly care for the baba ghanoush at Ziryab, it has mint in it which weirds me out. Mint and eggplant? Not for me...
I like the front patio section, great for people-watching and smoking hookah. Check out their happy hour specials and have a great meal.
I love the food at Ziryab and the location is great if you're looking for something close to lower haight / nopa. Unfortunately I had a bad service experience here last night so I need to knock my review down to three stars but if this review was solely based on the food it'd be four stars.
Last night's service was horrible, had to wait 15 mins for water and drinks and then the food took quite a while to show up. I asked two different waiters for extra bread for our humus dish but it never arrived. To top it all off the credit card machines went down but I don't blame the staff for that. Hopefully the service will improve and get Ziryab back up the ratings.
The Salmon was really good last night and the Lamb schwarma was delis...
I really want to try the outdoor patio area next time and perhaps get a hookah. I saw a couple of groups sitting outside last night and they all looked to be having a great time.
Best place to weekend happy hour in SF
Love this place. The little Euro-cafe seating area out front is awesome, and you can smoke some Shisha hookahs as you choose from a whole mess of great middle eastern dishes. The wine selection is good too, and whole laid-back Mediterranean vibe is very appealing to a guy who used to live in Europe and misses the whole cafe-culture thing.
Biggest surprise: The recently added brunch menu--an embarrassment of culinary riches. Seriously like 30 options, more than I've ever seen.
Downsides Sometimes the chicken shish kebabs can be a little underseasoned for this hot-pepper-junkie, but liberal application of the harisa hot sauce fixes that ASAP. (You have to ask for it though.) Also, some of the hookah flavors aren't so good (I recommend the Guava).
"How come your hookah smoke cloud is bigger than ours?" Asks the guy at the table next me.
"Simple, you just have to suck it harder" I reply.
My BFF Katie B. has no qualms about interjecting; "Yeah Natasha sure knows how to suck it hard...."
"Katie!!" :-O "Enough with the double entendres!!"
The always classy and angelic Miss B. and I are big hookah fanatics. Nothing better than a glass of wine and a hookah to share while we gossip about boys. Zirayb is a 10 minute walk from my house, and although it seemed like more of a restaurant, they do have pretty good hookahs. Our waitress seemed to be having a grouchy night, she was attentive with the coals. Overall it was a good time.
Next time I return I will be sure to bring my appetite because I am dying to try their food (that picture of the pesto hummus is killing me right now). Ziryab is just another cool place on Divis, yet not completely over run with hipsters... +1
Ziryab rocks my Mediterranean boat. Their hummus isn't stellar, and their Pita isn't very good...but there are still 5 reasons for 5 stars.
1.) lovely waitresses (one really hot blonde)
2.) fat tire on tap
3.) maza platter
4.) kababs
5.) varied hookah flavors
the waitresses seriously rock. there was a period of time that I thought all of them were cracked out, but they finally started hiring some really cool cats. there was even a dude there for awhile, a ziryab first!
This is what that date e-mailed me with 4 days later....
"I'm sorry our date didn't really work out for you. I thought you were really nice. I hope you weren't unpleasantly surprised by anything when we met.
On a side note, I might have a friend that would be a better match for you if you are interested."
My sister said I should say yes to see what kind of friends an anti-hipster has...:-P
Date took me here. Of course this is after he thought the menu was crappy, and then discovered NOPA… Read more »
I went to Ziryab during happy hour yesterday... very nice!
The cocktails were fancy (and very cheap during this hour), and after a lemon drop and a French martini, my roommie and I were served these GIANT plates of deliciousness.
She got the lamb/veal shwaerma which I am totally getting next time because it looked fantastic! She ate the whole ginormous thing in about 5 minutes. I got the Mediterranean maza, an appetizer sampler plate which I ordered for dinner. It comes with warm pita bread (yum) and a lot of interesting tasting portions of Mediterranean cuisine! If you're not familiar with this kind of food, definitely try this appetizer so you can taste EVERYTHING.
I am a hummus lover, and this was some of the best I've tasted. Delicious! The yogurt was also amazing. The falafel was intense - a very strong meaty flavor coming from that green garbanzo bean filling! I also liked the feta cheese and sweet beets in the middle (I think that's what they were?). Things on the plate I didn't like were just too bland: Babaghanouge, Tabouli, and those grape leaf thingies... Oh! "Dolmas" (I cheated and looked it up online).
At least the experience is fun, whether you like every little sample or not, it's interesting to expand your palette and try something you would never ordinarily find while drinking on Divis. The interior of the restaurant itself is very unique too, they've got painted stone arches and murals. The only place in SF I've seen that was similar was Aub Zam Zam; but they don't serve food, so it's a different experience for your senses.
Because I live so close by, I will be back for sure. You know I can't pass up a $5 French martini. Maybe next time I will be hungrier and I'll try an entree. Mmmm!
Love 'em for the late-night shawerma or maza plate (ok, now everybody who works there has already figured out who I am.) For some reason every other restaurant in this neighborhood (except for the execrable yuppie rip-off joint NOPA, where I urge you to never, ever spend your money) seems to think nobody gets hungry at night. And, hey, I'll say it: I've been eating at Ziryab a long time, seen many, many staff come and go, and this place has beautiful waitresses every time. OK, not a draw for some people, but to me it adds to the pleasantness of the atmosphere, you know?
Ziryab is a solid no hassle option on Divis. While it might not have the allure of Nopa, Bar Crudo, Alembic and other "hotspots" around the area its always delivered for me. Good service, good food, and typically no wait. I have left Nopa's bar after getting sick of competing with weird yuppies and douche-bags for seats only to find solace in a cheap glass of wine and a plate of kebab at Ziryab's outdoor heated patio. If you have room in your stomach try the beyti kebab. It is DELICIOUS. Another good tip is their brunch is fantastic. WAY better than I thought it would be. And no wait in my experience.
if you can't get into nopa come here. great food. shisha. seriously.
My fiance and I were just roaming around in SF and this popped up.
We went in and it had a nice feel to it -- cozy yet very open and with summer colors.
I was impressed! ...not just by the food but by the customer service of one particular waitress. I think she made the difference between a good vs. a bad day. She welcomed us like no other attendant and made sure we were filled with the dishes we had ordered at no extra charge (for the extra portions). On top of that, we didn't know we had a get a minimum in the restaurant but she waived that.
Because of her, I will definitely revisit that place.
Oh yes, the food was excellent. We are vegetarians and the hummus/falafels are to die to for.
Cheers!
Location: Great location on Divisadero. Easy access for anyone and everyone. Easy public transit and parking. Also near some bars and the Lower Haight so you can get plastered either before or after. (And isn't that what everyone looks for in a dinning establishment?)
Space: Not a fabulous establishment, but definitely clean and tasteful. There's also outdoor seating which brings the rating from at 2 to a 3 star situation.
Ambiance: Same as space, not a fabulous group of people or vibe, but definitely clean and tasteful. There is a good mix of people for the most part. Everyone is friendly but not drunk enough.
Service: Great service with wonderful, friendly staff.
Food: The food was ok. Nothing special. The vegetarian tagine was quite good with a good assortment of fresh vegetables. The fries were fries and the appetizer sampler was also good. Nothing was new or mind-blowing, but good.
Drink: A 3 star for having hard liquor. The cocktails were not too diverse or particularly fabulous, but well made and... like I said, it was hard alcohol. They also have a good selection of wines aged quite diversely for your wino particular taste.
Overall: This place has hookah! I really want to give this place a 4 star for just having hookah, but if you're coming here just to eat, it's certainly just a 3 star. It's also kind of pricey for the quality of the meal/drinks and this is coming from the ultimate spindrift. A good place to come with your friends to have decent conversation, have a couple of drinks and smoke some hookah.
Great place for a relaxing afternoon - especially a date. We popped in Ziryab after a long afternoon walk, and decided to sit outside to grab a drink and smoke a peach hookah. With the heat lamps and the mediterranean-style patio ambiance, we enjoyed ourselves very much.
I definitely prefer Ziryab to "Pride of the Mediterranean" on Fillmore & Sutter . And next time we visit Ziryab, we plan to try the food, too!
I went here with the boyfriend on a night when we were both starving. I was a little hesitant about going here, but only because was tummy was saying "if you don't feed me NOW I will embarass you later. You know I will!"
The wait wasn't long at all.
We ordered the babaghanouge as the appetizer. It was decent, but I don't think I would order it again.
My boyfriend ordered the slow-braised lamb for his main dish, and I ordered the rack of lamb. Baa. I think they were both quite tasty and well cooked.
The dessert we ordered was delicious. On the menu it's described as 'puffy pastry cream fill with fresh straw.' (Somethig like that.) Don't let that gibberish fool you! It's really a delicious heart shaped puffed-pastry with a white chocolate cream filling and fresh strawberries. So delicious.
I ordered the Moroccan tea, and I loved it. It's a minty tea and they bring it to you in a teapot and glass with sugar to add to it. A new favorite drink of mine.
When I left here I felt perfectly satisfied. My tummy was happy and I hoped it learned the lesson that good things come to those who wait. Good, puffy, delicious, white chocolatey things.
Says my Arab friends, Ziryab keeps them coming back because it's "traditional." When it comes to good food, there's nothing better than traditional cooking. Which is why I made them take me with them. I was introduced to several new things: "Arabic Absinthe" and knafe (a pastry made with ricotta cheese, butter and sugar) as well as some old favorites (the med plate, slow cooked lamb). This is a great place for casual dining, some hookah and a great, low key spot to dine with friends.
Ziryab is one of my favorite resturants. Reasons
1)Above average food and a below average price
2)One of the few places in this neighborhood that has good food and a full bar. yup thats right a G&T with your food who would have thought that was a good idea
3)Good beer and wine selection
4)Now open for brunch on the weekend
5)Hardly ever a wait for a table and easy take-out
6)Friendly staff
7)Clean bathroom
8) Outside seating
So i guess why you are asking why not 5 stars? well its great food and good drinks but its not over the top. but its above average consistently good meals and drinks period. Enjoy!
I walked by today and noticed they have changed their Happy Hour schedule and pricing! Happy Hour is now Monday-Thursday NOON-7pm, Friday-Sunday 2-7pm...However they told me that alcohol on the weekends is happy hour price beginning at noon, but the food doesn't change prices until 2 pm. Also, beer is now $2!!! Wine still at $3, cocktails $5, food as cheap as $4. Ziryab is the best! So happy to have such a rad Happy Hour in this neighborhood!
Whoa! Ziryab just started doing breakfast and lunch during the week! I was looking for a place to… Read more »
Yummmmm
Excellent hummus, veal & lamb shawerma, and manouche!! I met with my meetup group here on a Sunday afternoon to talk about Sufism (thought the middle eastern themed restaurant would be the right atmosphere to discuss whirling dervishes) and it was a great spot for some good grub & conversation. The best part? Even on a Sunday they had happy hour specials- for food too! My veal & lamb shawerma was only $7!
I finally made it back to Ziryab, and this time I was hungry! Although I wish they had a few more vegetarian entrees like combo plates, salads, and rice dishes.....we had no problem finding plenty to order.
I highly recommend starting off with a plate of the pesto hummus for the table. If you are feeling like something a little different and you like pesto it's a nice twist to the traditional dish. I ordered the veggie combo appetizer as my main dish and everything was good. I especially enjoyed the yogurt cucumber salad and the hummus. The babajanoush was okay.
The food was good, service was good and the place was busy.
*Note by-the-glass wine list is not too big but the Rofosco Merlot was pretty good ($9).
We arrived just in time to grab a table that was nicely situated in a corner on the patio. Thank… Read more »
good portion maza + freshly made falafel- that is all you need to know
Absolutely incredible Turkish coffee. And in general, great food great drinks, great hookah. While I understand them having hookah only outside so that the inside isn't all smoky, would it really be that hard to have separate sections on the inside.
This place kind of seems to have a bit of an identity crisis, they make much more of an effort with their food and menu than any other place that also has hookah.
EDIT: finally smoked hookah here; it's a bit pricier than other hookah places, but also better. And the dessert is delicious.
The food is good, but Knafé made with feta cheese? What the hell is up with you man?
It's not the cheapest middle eastern food around; their hookahs keep getting worse!
Horrible service! Only had hookah and drinks here. The waiter never came back to our table, forgot orders, and just had an apathetic attitude. Save your money and your time.
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