Grill House Cafe

One of the best quality food in san diego. Try DZ or Bagheleh Poolo or many types of Kabab.

This café is tucked in the back of the complex it is in. Inside you’ll immediately notice how clean and spacious the restaurant is. There’s a beautiful indoor fountain and designs on the wall. The staff are so sweet, calm and accommodating!
This was my husband’s first time trying Mediterranean food! I ordered hummus for us to start with. I ordered the gyro plate and he had the beef and chicken combo. Our plates were HUGE. We could have easily shared 1 plate, (we know for next time now).
The meat is so tender and full of amazing flavor. My husband liked the chicken a lot but not so much the beef. It tasted like onions were in it and he’s not an onion person but I am, so I enjoyed it!
We paid less than $ 50 for both of us and I think it’s a fair price for the quality of food and service you are receiving.

Second time here and it’s been great both times. The people are friendly and the service is fast. They filled up our water and iced tea multiple times. The food is delicious. I got a stew with some rice on the side the first time and it was too much food! Susan got a skewer of chicken and substituted salad for rice. The second time we both got skewers and salad: Susan got chicken again and I got lamb. Both were excellent. We also got a cucumber dip as an appetizer. It featured lightly toasted pita bread and a good portion of a tasty yogurt-​based cucumber/​dill sauce. The restaurant is quiet, bright, and welcoming. We’re definitely going to return often.

The staff here was so attentive and extremely nice. The chicken kebab combo was enough protein for 2 – 3 people to share when you add a extra kebab. The rose water pistachio «Persian» ice cream was legit. The toddler warrior could not get enough of the rice.
Would definitely recommend to Mil personnel.

Good people and food. Though they close at 9 they gave us wonderful service with a smile. Answered all our questions.
The café is a nice little place that can accommodate large parties.
Try the hummus and you need to experience Dizi, it’s delicious.

I kind of have mixed feelings about this place. On one hand the portions are big and the flavors are pretty unique in that they’re flavors I haven’t really had before. On the other hand though, the flavors are pretty light that I couldn’t taste them too much, the staff didn’t really seem too happy to serve us, and it’s pretty expensive at about $ 15 each person.
We wanted to try some Persian food one Saturday morning so we came in here. I really had no idea what some of the things were and the person taking our orders seemed a little impatient while we were asking what some of the things were so I ordered a chicken kabob ($ 15). We also ordered the hummus ($ 7) and the baghali polo ($ 15), which is basically rice and a lamb shank.
I just looked at their site for the prices and saw that their lunch menu is wayyy cheaper than their dinner menu, with the exact same items. We came in at about 11:30 am on a Saturday on a non-​holiday, and I remember that we paid the dinner menu price, so I don’t know if they cheated us or if there’s no lunch menu on the weekends?
All our plates came with a salad so we got those first. Nothing too special, just lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions with italian dressing on top. Then we got the hummus, which we were looking forward to since so many people recommended it. When I tasted it though, the flavor was super light that I can’t even explain it because I don’t remember. I felt like its function was just to moisten the flatbread so that you’re not just eating plain bread.
When I got the chicken kabob, my first impression was that I’m not going to finish this. There were only a few pieces of chicken, but they piled on the rice on the other half of the plate. The chicken has a sort of nutty flavor, but it was a little dry that I had to dip it in hummus. They had white and yellow rice on the plate but I couldn’t really tell the difference. They put so much though that I kind of wish that they had more chicken and less rice.
The baghali polo was actually pretty good, but after a while I think it gets a bit salty. The lamb shank comes in a soup so the meat isn’t too dry, and the rice is a little different than the one from my chicken kabob. I don’t think there was also not as much piled on the plate as there was in mine, though there was still quite a bit. I would probably get this if I ever come back.
I think the food was decent here, and they basically give you enough food to last you two meals. However, the service was a little off putting and the fact that they gave us a dinner menu during lunch time seemed a little fishy.

For muslims: enjoy the meat is halal
I recommend ‘Tahdig with Fesenjun’: it is traditional food, crispy and mildly sweet.
I also liked their Kabab, especially barg.
My wife also really likes it here and brings our guests here.
Disclaimer: my friend worked for the owner.

Just ate here again for the 100^th time and never write a review… So I decided to write one.
First off, we got seated almost immediately upon arrival. Menus were handed out quickly and we were given our drinks while thinking of what to order.
We ordered three combo plates, one chicken plate, the dizi, and lots of tea. The food was very delicious and I ended up eating all of mine!
The service was pretty amazing! The Hispanic girl was always checking up on us and making sure we had everything we needed. I didn’t get her name but her service is impeccable.
Thank you!

I stopped in the area to get Indian Food originally, but found this gem… I had the greek or persian salad (same thing just different dressing recipe), add the chicken with yogurt mint dip on the side… everything was great tasting EXCEPT the bread on the side was very disappointing and hard and some parts of it was soft, so I wasn’t sure if I was eating stale bread or what, and way too expensive.
My chicken salad cost me $ 19.85 out the door and I don’t even pay that at a 5* resort.

My co-​workers recommended this place and then looked on Unilocal.You all did not disappoint!
I got the Lamb/​Chicken combo to try both proteins. The lamb was very good and didn’t have the gamey lamb taste or smell. Chicken was also good! Overall the meal was not greasy and looked healthy to me. The dish came with salad and some flat bread.
Def my new go two place for lunch and dinner next time!

I think the food is great, service is good but on President’s day at lunch time, they said they don’t have lunch menu because it is a holiday. To be honest that is the dumbest excuse I have ever heard in my life.“We want to charge you dinner menu prices even at lunch and now we have an excuse to do it. President’s day???”
Solid place but don’t try to get an extra $ 5 for a plate from your loyal customers. Sleezy way to conduct business.

Thanks to the high ratings, and excellent reviews from fellow Unilocalers, particularly Saleen D. & Maria C., this restaurant caught my attention.
I love the flavors of gyros and slow cooked meats that Persian restaurants are good at preparing. This was no exception!
This is a very casual, local restaurant, that has an authentic menu and preparations. The owner and staff were very friendly, and accommodating, while checking on me several times during my solo lunch.
Portions, as described elsewhere, are generous and ample. I could have finished my lunch combo of lamb & chicken (see photo), but I resisted, desiring some for a bite at home. I don’t know if hot tea or pita is offered, or included in the normal plate luncheon, as I only ordered water. However, when my plate came, I did ask for pita, and a hot plate of pita (see photo) immediately came to my table, at no additional charge!
The lamb was very tender and the chicken had the right texture; both were very flavorful, and worth ordering again.
A very satisfying lunch, and I could easily see myself returning for other items in the future.

Great Mediterranean food for a great price. I go here with my friends or to pick up food for lunch and it’s always great every single time. The place itself is pretty clean and the staff is always friendly.
While we do get large portions of food (which justifies the price imo!) and it is always delicious, the food CAN take a while to get out. Nothing too crazy, but if you’re on a time crunch and you go at a time when it’s really busy… you might be in for a bad/​frustrating time haha.
My biggest complaint with Grill House Café, though, is its location and parking. Since it’s located in a small strip mall, it can get difficult to find decent parking — especially during busy hours.
Other than that, it’s a great place to go if you feel like eating Mediterranean food and really satisfies your craving!

August 18: This place is located in Mira Mesa area. I ordered their chicken kabob plate. The dish is $ 13.99. Seems a bit more expensive then what I’m used to. But then the food came out the portions are huge and beautifully presented as well. My meal came with a small salad. It was more than enough food.
Great food! Will come again.

Grill House Café is tucked into a strip mall area surrounded by Indian cafes, a middle eastern grocery, and a yoga instruction center.
I was greeted by a young and very friendly dude whom I assume was an owner. I sensed his pride of ownership and I was happy to give him my business. He happily reviewed the menu with me and I got the chicken and beef kabob combo with rice, salad, and a side of the eggplant dip. He even offered me to taste the Persian yogurt drink which I found salty and spicy. Also, he offered me baklava which was delicious.
I wasn’t a big fan of their bread, which I didn’t find to be the freshest. So four stars instead of five.
But overall an awesome meal, tasty and healthy, and more importantly prepared and offered by a proud owner and gracious host. This place represents the warmth of the middle eastern people and it’s wonderful cuisine. I’d come back here in a heartbeat.

A surprising find. The service was great and the food was excellent.
I would return if nearby and craving middle eastern cuisine.

What a yummy little hidden gem! This place is so adorable and the food is pretty delicious for the price! It is definitely a legitimate Persian restaurant because all the employees are Persian and even the owner was hanging out at the restaurant with his buddies.
I got the chicken kabob entrée which was ($ 13.99). This was such a huge portion and it came with rice and a salad. I asked for some tzatziki sauce because it didn’t come with it and was charged an extra $ 1.00 for it. So my meal came out to be $ 14.99 plus tax and tip (which is pretty reasonable for dinner).
I really liked the wait staff and the service because they were friendly and didn’t kick us out after they closed at 9pm. We didn’t really keep track of how late it was and had a conversation that made our dinner go a little over our expected dinner time.
I highly recommend this place because it was highly recommended to me by Persians/​Iranians I know. It is definitely good portions and the service isn’t too bad.

This place is tucked away in a little shopping center off Miramar Road. Nice little café with indoor and outdoor patio seating. We found a nice table inside, and we were promptly greeted with menus.
I opted to order the gyro plate, which comes with a small salad, rice, pita bread, and sliced up lamb ($ 14). The portions are really generous as I only had half my platter. The entrée was delicious, and the flavor was great.
Our service was amazing. The staff were really friendly, and accommodated our 3 hour dinner. We never felt rushed to leave, which was nice as we were the last people in the restaurant.

So yum! My girlfriend recommended this place & I am glad we came! It is a hidden gem in the business park of Miramar. We ordered:
Gyros Plate, served with rice, salad, 2 pita breads, & gyros dressing — The best, juiciest gyros I have ever tasted, no need for additional dressing! It is so tender, filled with so much flavor, & they are very generous with their portions. The plate came with butter & my girlfriend told me to put it on my rice?! What?! I have never heard of or done that but it was a great discovery because it made the rice that much better.
Beef & Chicken Combo, served with rice, salad — The beef is so juicy & yummy! The chicken is flavorful as well.
Persian Tea — A great way to end your meal! Very tasteful.
The staff was friendly but the customer service was just okay. I asked 2 different employees for a container to put my leftover tzatziki sauce in but never got one. I just gave up asking.

One of my friends on Unilocal reviewed this place and the pictures looked great so I decided to give it a try. I happened to be in the area and it was lunch time so perfect time to give it a try.
It’s located in a sort of industrial area very close to several other restaurants. It’s kind of a small strip mall and there seems to be plenty of free parking. I walked in an there is a sign asking you to wait to be seated. It seemed odd because the place was essentially empty but I waited. I was given my choice of tables and they have indoor and a small outdoor patio. We elected for the indoor seating although it was a nice day out.
The menu had the typical menu items you would expect from a Persian/​Middle Eastern restaurant so I started off with the Hummus. Sort of a staple for this type of food and if it isn’t good, it’s a good indicator of what the rest of the meal will likely be like. The hummus was delivered with some fresh hot bread. The hummus presentation was beautiful… too bad the taste wasn’t. It was overwhelming garlic. The consistency was nice and smooth but the taste of garlic was just too much and I really didn’t enjoy much of the hummus. Too bad because the fresh bread that came with it was exceptional.
For the next starter, I tried the Greek salad. It looked so good on the menu, but as they say, looks can be deceiving. The lettuce, goat cheese, olives and peppers were all very fresh and tasty. It was the dressing. It lacked any flavor at all and they give you a bottle to put on as little or as much as you would like. Well, it didn’t matter how much dressing I put on the salad because there just was no taste to it.
Last, I tried the traditional Gyro sandwich. It was served nice and hot with a small side of the dressing. The pita bread it was served in kept falling apart so ultimately I had to eat it with knife and fork instead of like a true sandwich. The flavor of the meat was nice, but bland when I compare it to other restaurants that serve the same. Again, the meat was fresh as was the bread and veggies inside, but there was nothing about it that made me want to come back and have it again.
Overall, a pretty average place for this type of food. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean and the servers were very pleasant. I didn’t have to wait long for anything and it started filling up after I got there so for people who work in the area I’m sure it’s popular but I don’t think I would intentionally drive to eat here unless I was in the area. There are too many other restaurants in San Diego that really serve great Persian style food.