28 Best Mediterranean Restaurants near Orinda

“Quality service at its best! Nothing artificial. Nothing fake. Two wonderful ladies offering us nutritious food topped with their sincerity and love for cooking. I am adding 5 hearts to the 5 stars for their effort to share their best ♡♡♡♡♡“

“Bistro 4293 is truly something special. The food is absolutely incredible, with every dish prepared with exceptional care, flavor, and attention to detail. You can tell there is real passion behind everything that comes out of the kitchen.

What makes this restaurant even more memorable is the owner, Anar. He is one of the kindest and most genuine people you could ever meet, and his warmth and hospitality make you feel completely welcome from the moment you arrive. It is rare to find a restaurant where both the food and the people leave such a lasting impression.

Bistro 4293 deserves every bit of praise it receives. Outstanding food, wonderful service, and an owner who truly cares about his guests. I cannot recommend Anar and this restaurant highly enough. An absolute gem!“

“Un rendez-vous avec la bonne gastronomie le service rapide et l’endroit agréable merci 🙏“

“Wow, unbelievably delicious, and a beautiful, calm vibe, too! A wide selection of amazing-looking salads to mix and match; I got one with figs, fennel, and goat cheese and one with sweet potatoes and roasted tomatoes, and both were super-good. The salads come with rice and arugula, and you can add extra proteins if you want. Very enjoyable — I’ll be back!“

“Amazing food, warm hospitality, and a relaxing and beautiful ambience on the outdoor patio. My husband and I have come here repeatedly because it's always such a wonderful experience. Perfect for date nights or just spending time with friends. The chef, manager, and staff are always so friendly and kind. One of my favorite spots in Alameda!“

“I've been living in the neighborhood for years and I've noticed this spot and I've always wanted to check it out. Thank God I finally did. The food was excellent. The chicken was tender. The lamb and beef shawarma was delightful
Falafel was seasoned and cooked to perfection.
I will be back!“

“Wonderful food, amazing staff and great atmosphere.
Kabobs were tender, delicious and juicy, and taste Persian. The couscous dish was fantastic and is worth going back for.

I found this place on a work trip, while looking for a place to watch a world cup match and I cannot believe my luck.

While chatting with the chef Aghiles, he described the dishes and their Algerian/Berber origins of the menu and the Persian cuisine influence (You can see th in the spelling).

Many thanks to chef Aghiles and the staff for an amazing experience. I'm looking forward to be back and taste all the items on the menu.“

“Great organic and delicious wraps burritos and plates thank you 😊“

“I've seen this place hyped up on social media as one of the best chicken sandwiches out there and had to give it a try.

Got the szechuan chicken sando, the turkey salami and the sesame chocolate chip cookie. Does it live up to the hype?

The short answer is not really, at least in the chicken sando arena. It's a good chicken sando, it could absolutely do with some more pickled flavor, it's a little one note, I'd love the slaw to be pickled to break up the flavor. The bun is excellent, but the sandwich should be $5-6 cheaper, it's almost $20 and for what it is, while good, is simply not worth it when you can get extremely good chicken sandos all over oakland for much cheaper. Again, it's tasty, probably a one and done for me.

The turkey salami was kind of the star. Great bread, big sando (has to be for almost $20), you can tell it's a quality sando. Would I make a habit of getting sandwiches this expensive? Absolutely not. But it's worth trying and is very good.

The cookie was pretty good, room temp but managed to still have gooey chocolate. $7 is a lot for a cookie but it was tasty and not gonna gripe. Seems like a standard choc chip cookie tho, didn't really get a sesame flavor or see any sesames.

The staff were hustling and this place was doing a lot of business so clearly everything is going right. It's a take out only spot and they have a line so be prepared for that.

TLDR- Is it good? Yes. Is it a must try? No. Is it worth trying? Absolutely. Does $50 for 2 sandos and a cookie in oakland feel like highway robbery? A little bit.“

“I do love the breakfast here. The polenta with greens is my standard order. The green shakshuka really is greener than you were expecting. If you come as a party you can sample the various different kinds of hummus. Haven't been disappointed by anything on the menu.“

“5 stars. Amazing food from the lentil soup to dessert. Highly recommend.“

“Took my family to this new Mediterranean spot in Oakland and we were blown away. The shawarma plate comes loaded with seasoned saffron yellow rice, crispy spiced fries, fresh salad, and the meat is charred and tender with tahini and paprika on top. The hummus is silky and authentic. The Kabab was really juicy and well cooked, and the chef is very hospitable.
But what really got us? They brought out tea without us even asking. That kind of hospitality hits different.
Oakland needed this place. We’re already planning our next visit. 🥙🫶​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“

“rice pudding, cookies, borek,“

“I used to eat here faithfully everyday 30 years ago, it was then called Truly Mediterranean, now with just the one word change, they still have the same look, and the same great food they had back then!! I love this place, keep up the good work my friends!“

“Nice large TV screen for FIFA World cup viewing. Great Halal food. Recommend the chicken Shawarma wrap. Everything is fresh and price is very decent. Wish they had more seating but plenty of space to hang out with the boys and watch soccer if youre into that.“

“Great food and service! Special atmosphere“

“Absolutely loved this place! The food, service, and atmosphere were all outstanding. The cocktails were delicious, and the oysters were truly top notch 👌

We also tried the fish and chips, which came with a surprisingly tasty mango slaw, and the mushroom ravioli was cooked to perfection. Every dish exceeded expectations.

Highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a great dining experience!“

“Huge thank you to Akbar and team. We hosted a family baby shower, about 50 people, at Saffron Kitchen. Our guest were all happy about the ambiance at the venue and gave us many glowing reviews about Saffron's wonderful foods. Setting up the event with Akbar was very simple and took a load off of us. Akbar let us come in early the morning of to decorate and ensure there was enough food for all guests through the event. We would definitely recommend Saffron!!“

“Tahina is an abslute delight for anyone who loves fresh, flavorful Mediterranean cuisine! Every dish is packed with vibrant ingredients and perfectly balanced flavors that leave a lasting impression.

The falafel is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, while the hummus is incredibly smooth and rich—some of the best you’ll ever have. Everything tastes fresh, healthy, and made with care.

The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff are warm and welcoming, making the experience even better. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or a relaxed meal, Tahina is a place you’ll want to return to again and again. Highly recommended!“

“Decent Mediterranean spot in Montclair for a quick bite. They have some seating inside. I got a Philly and falafel for about $25. Portions are huge and took me a meal and a half to finish. No toum (garlic sauce). Nice staff. Will likely try a plate next time.“

“Great Lunch Menu Specials!!!“

“Waterfront Deli in Alameda is a fantastic spot for a delicious bite! The waterfront views create a lovely backdrop for a casual meal. The menu features a variety of sandwiches, salads, and breakfast options that are all made with fresh ingredients. Their signature sandwiches are hearty and packed with flavor, and the homemade sides are a perfect complement. The staff is friendly and efficient, providing great service to ensure a pleasant experience. Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or enjoying a leisurely breakfast, Waterfront Deli is a gem you won’t want to miss!“

“Absolutely delicious!“

“YUM!!! That’s all I have to say! I LOVE the food here! Healthy, tasty, and pricing is decent for the amount you receive (bowls).“

“My wife and I came out from the Concord area to beat the inland heat and spend the day in Berkeley. We got hungry and decided to stop in here for lunch. The food was delicious!! I’m sad the fact the only picture I took I shared to my Instagram stories and don’t have a picture of my plate. But I had the beef kabob plate with, rice, salad, naan, and hummus. The beef was very tasty and tender. The rice was perfectly cooked and salad was fresh and crispy. My wife had the chicken kabob plate, which came with rice, salad, naan, hummus. The food portions were great and the price is amazing, and the staff is really friendly and welcoming. Great atmosphere to enjoy lunch. I’ll definitely be taking the drive from Concord again here in the near future. As this place is a winner every time.“

“what a gem this spot is, I loved the chicken kabab plate, beef shawerma fries and the lahmbajin manakish they were soo good and the service and staff were friendly thank you I will definitely be back again.“

“I could tell I was going to have a rough day at work and this was the closest spot to grab a coffee. Ended up being one of the best mochas I’ve ever had. My brain lit up in such a positive way and it made me get up and go.

The breakfast sandwich hit the spot as well. It was perfect amount to get me to my next meal.

Service was nice and efficient.“

“I never write reviews, but I came back to this location for the albacore tuna melt sandwich which is amazing. My personal edits involve sourdough bread and substitute Swiss cheese for cheddar. No produce. Can’t wait to enjoy it again! :)“